Arizona, 2022

Wildfire in Arizona, June 1 to 27, 2022

June 1 to 27, 2022 · NWS FGZ · 1 event in 1 county or zone

The Crooks Fire burned 9,402 acres in the mountains south of Prescott by June 27.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS FGZ wrote it up.

The Crooks Fire burned 9,402 acres in the mountains south of Prescott by June 27.

What forecasters said that day

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 31, 8:52 PM MST, 3 hours 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 8:52 PM MST, 3 hours 8 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
852 PM MST Tue May 31 2022

.SYNOPSIS...Temperatures will warm to a few degrees above normal
this week, with generally light southwest winds. Winds may become
locally gusty each afternoon, especially over higher terrain. High
temperatures will dip a bit by this weekend, with southwest winds
increasing once again, especially on Saturday.

&&

.UPDATE...Quiet evening across the high country tonight. West to
southwest winds remain around 5 to 10 mph in spots, but should
continue to diminish becoming light and variable overnight.
Overall, forecast looks in good shape and only minor adjustments
were needed this evening.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION /220 PM MST/...Locally breezy conditions have
developed this afternoon, although nothing like what was seen
Monday. In fact, a few areas have not even mixed out yet, but
should soon. This is due to one final s/wv that is rotating
through the long wave trough position to our north this
afternoon. This long wave trough will finally eject eastward
after today and will be replaced by zonal flow, with above normal
hghts over the southwest.

This means a warming trend is on the way, with temperatures
peaking on Thursday or Friday. Temperatures then drop off a few
degrees by the coming weekend, but still remaining around normal.
This is due to yet another long wave trough taking up residence
over the Pacific Northwest, which will also bring us increased
southwest winds and potential fire weather concerns.

Next week, early look, seems like a significant ridge will build
over the southwest, bringing heat concerns back into the picture.
Stay tuned.

&&

.AVIATION...For the 06Z TAF package...Clear skies and VFR conditions
through TAF period. Light and variable winds overnight. West to
southwest winds will gradually increase between 17z and 20z with
localized breezy winds. Peak gusts will generally be below 20 kts.
Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Warm temperatures and very low humidity. Primarily
southwest winds both days, increasing Thursday with peak gusts
between 20 and 30 mph. Haines Indices of 5 and 6 Thursday.

Friday through Sunday...Gusty southwest winds Friday into the
weekend with areas of critical fire weather possible. Very dry
conditions persist with above average temperatures. Widespread
Haines Indices of 5 to 6 Friday before decreasing over the weekend.

&&

.FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.

&&

PUBLIC...Meola/Peterson
AVIATION...JM
FIRE WEATHER...JM

For Northern Arizona weather information visit
weather.gov/flagstaff

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, Yavapai County Mountains

When
June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 27, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Yavapai County Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Park/Forest Service
Coordinates
34.600, -112.554 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Crooks Fire started in the mountains about 11 miles south of Prescott on April 18th. The fire grew to around 9,400 acres and burned well into June. The fire was reached 96% containment by May 25th and access restrictions for the area were lifted. The fire was 100% contained by June 27.

What these are

Wildfire
A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, June 2022

Sources

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: 1040463.