The Tussock Fire burned 5,546 acres about 7 miles southwest of Crown King. The human caused fire burned across areas that are above/below 5000 feet (Yavapai County Mountains/Yavapai County Valleys and Basins).
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Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS FGZ wrote it up.
The Tussock Fire burned 5,546 acres about 7 miles southwest of Crown King. The human caused fire burned across areas that are above/below 5000 feet (Yavapai County Mountains/Yavapai County Valleys and Basins). The fire burned through short Grass (1 foot), brush (2 feet), and chaparral (6 feet). The fire was primarily been carried by short brush and sparse grasses in the lower elevations and dense cured brush in the mid-elevation drainages.
GR1; short sparse grass and cacti (hairy grama, blue grama, cacti). GS2; cured, grama/muttongrass and scattered short shrubs.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Flagstaff, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 8, 1:36 PM MST, 39 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 136 PM MST Sat May 8 2021 .SYNOPSIS...A few light rain showers will be possible through Monday with cooler temperatures and continued afternoon breezes. High pressure will build back over Arizona starting late Tuesday into Wednesday bringing lighter winds and warmer temperatures. && .DISCUSSION...A few light showers have developed across portions of northern Coconino, Apache, and Navajo counties this afternoon. Many of these showers are likely not reaching the ground. The isolated shower chances will likely continue into the early evening for these same areas. These showers will also have the potential to produce localized gusty winds. For Sunday, southwest winds will increase with gusts 25-35 mph possible. This will create near critical fire weather in the afternoon as relative humidites remain int he teens to single digits. Isolated showers will be possible in the afternoon and in the northeast with gusty winds and little to no precipitation expected. Better, but still limited, chances will be possible overnight Sunday into Monday as a shortwave rotates through the longwave trough. By Monday afternoon, showers will end with a return to quiet weather for all with continued afternoon breezes. A ridge will build in through the midweek with warming temperatures and much lighter winds and quiet weather. By next weekend, long range models and cluster analysis continue to indicate that a trough will set up across the area with the return of gusty winds. The exact location and timing of the trough remain low confidence. && .AVIATION...For the 00Z package...Scattered-broken cumulus with a few light showers possible along and north of a KCMR - KSOW line through early this evening. Westerly surface winds 10-15 kts with gusts up to 25 kts. A few higher gusts possible near showers. Winds decreasing to mainly less than 10 kts after 03Z, then increasing again by 18Z Sunday. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...A trough passing north of the state will bring breezy weather through Monday. West to southwest winds increase on Sunday with gusts of 30 to 35 mph and a few areas nearing critical fire weather during the late afternoon. There is a low chance for a few light showers over the northern third of the state through Monday. Tuesday through Thursday...Dry conditions, warmer temperatures, and typical Spring afternoon breezes are forecast. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && PUBLIC...ET AVIATION...MCT FIRE WEATHER...MCT For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The Tussock Fire burned across portions of the Yavapai County Mountains.
The Tussock Fire burned across portions of the Yavapai County Valleys and Basins.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, May 2021
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 952186, 952187.