Arizona, 2022Wildfire in Arizona, May 23 to 25, 2022
May 23 to 25, 2022 · NWS TWC · 2 events in 2 counties and zones
The human caused Elgin Bridge Fire started May 23 near Elgin in Santa Cruz County. The wildfire was driven by wind gusts to 35 mph at times and spread east quickly into the Mustang Mountains, encompassing 2,000 acres by the next day.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
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 human caused Elgin Bridge Fire started May 23 near Elgin in Santa Cruz County. The wildfire was driven by wind gusts to 35 mph at times and spread east quickly into the Mustang Mountains, encompassing 2,000 acres by the next day. The fire caused temporary evacuations of 11 residences, but no structures were damaged. The fire consumed 2149 acres before forward progress was stopped May 25.
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 Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 23, 3:18 AM MST, 7 hours 42 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 23, 3:18 AM MST, 7 hours 42 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
318 AM MST Mon May 23 2022
.SYNOPSIS...Dry weather, breezy afternoons and near normal
temperatures will continue until warming toward the latter half of
the week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...Near normal high temperatures and afternoon breezes
to start off the week then a warming trend to end the week as
high pressure builds over the area. Temperatures moderate a bit
next weekend.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 23/12z.
SKC to SCT clouds AOA 20k ft MSL thru valid pd. Variable terrain
driven winds less than 12 kts through 22/19z and after 23/04z. At
other times, SWly winds at 12-16 kts with occasional gusts to 25
kts during the afternoon from surface heating. Aviation discussion
not updated for TAF amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Dry conditions with near normal temperatures are
expected until a warming trend arrives toward midweek. Winds
remain gusty at times during afternoons, particularly across the
Upper Gila River Valley for today and Tuesday. Add in low
humidities and a few isolated spots may briefly approach critical
fire weather conditions.
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.
&&
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Wildfire, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys
- When
- May 23, 11:00 AM MST to May 25, 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys forecast zone
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
- Coordinates
- 31.812, -111.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The human caused Elgin Bridge Fire started May 23 near Elgin in Santa Cruz County. The wildfire was driven by wind gusts to 35 mph at times and spread east quickly into the Mustang Mountains, encompassing 2,000 acres by the next day. The fire caused temporary evacuations of 11 residences, but no structures were damaged. The fire consumed 2149 acres before forward progress was stopped May 25.
Wildfire, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains
- When
- May 23, 11:00 AM MST to May 25, 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
- Coordinates
- 31.834, -110.796 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The human caused Elgin Bridge Fire started May 23 near Elgin in Santa Cruz County. The wildfire was driven by wind gusts to 35 mph at times and spread east quickly into the Mustang Mountains, encompassing 2,000 acres by the next day. The fire caused temporary evacuations of 11 residences, but no structures were damaged. The fire consumed 2149 acres before forward progress was stopped May 25.
- 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.
- Rip Current in Wisconsin, May 23, 20221 death · 1 event
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 23 to 24, 2022$5,000 · EF2 · 28 events
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, May 23 to 24, 20222 injured · $470,000 · 1.75 in hail · 10 events
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in North Carolina, May 23 to 24, 2022$223,000 · EF0 · 29 events
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, May 23, 2022$40,000 · EF1 · 4 events
- Tornadoes and Damaging Wind in North Carolina, May 23, 2022$30,000 · EF1 · 3 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, May 23, 2022$50 · 1 in hail · 15 events
- Damaging Winds in South Carolina, May 23, 202250 kt wind · 13 events
- Flash Flood and Debris Flow in Puerto Rico, May 23 to 26, 2022$10,000 · 0.25 in hail · 10 events
- Hail in New Mexico, May 23, 20221.75 in hail · 10 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, May 23, 202255 kt wind · 9 events
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Florida, May 23 to 26, 2022$4,000 · 50 kt wind · 8 events
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: 1032341, 1032344.