Arizona, 2023Wildfire in Arizona, August 6 to 18, 2023
August 6 to 18, 2023 · NWS TWC · 1 event in 1 county or zone
Three separate lightning caused fires in northern Greenlee County, the Corduroy, Boundary, and Willow fires, which had a combined size around 1,000 acres, increased in complexity and became known as the Black River Complex on August 6. A total of 2,357 acres were consumed before total containment was achieved on August 18.
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.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
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- 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.
Three separate lightning caused fires in northern Greenlee County, the Corduroy, Boundary, and Willow fires, which had a combined size around 1,000 acres, increased in complexity and became known as the Black River Complex on August 6. A total of 2,357 acres were consumed before total containment was achieved on August 18. Fire suppression costs tallied $3,750,000.
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 Aug 6, 2:23 AM MST, 3 hours 37 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 6, 2:23 AM MST, 3 hours 37 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
223 AM MST Sun Aug 6 2023
.SYNOPSIS...Another day of afternoon temperatures reaching excessive
heat levels then somewhat cooler the remainder of the coming week.
A few showers and thunderstorms are possible Tucson southward this
afternoon then the scattered showers and storms will spread across
the remainder of the area Monday through the end of the week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...The upper level high is easing up its grip on the area
a little bit with mid-level temperatures cooling a couple of degrees
C today and south to southeast flow beginning to develop. This flow
is already beginning to advect moisture northward with PWs increasing
south of the border and low level moisture moving northward over
western Pima county this hour. What that means for today is that
afternoon high temperatures will be 1-3 degrees cooler than yesterday
with the largest change to the west. Still in excessive heat
category for many areas so the warning will remain in place through
today. The moisture will continue to slowly increase today and that
combined with the slight cooling aloft will bring about the chance
for some convection during the late afternoon into the evening hours.
For today it all looks to come together over Santa Cruz county and
potentially up into eastern Pima county with a chance of some showers
and thunderstorms. A welcome change!
Then as we move into the work week the moisture continues to increase
across the area with PWs ranging from around 1 inch far east to 1.5+
inches Tucson westward. This will bring about daily rounds of
scattered showers and thunderstorms Monday into the early part of
next weekend. A low to mid grade monsoon pattern. At the same time
temperatures will cool further, however they are still expected to be
just above normal, but better than what we are dealing with now.
Hopefully we can dampen down some of the ongoing wildfires without
having too many new lightning starts.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 07/12Z.
SKC thru 20Z with SKC-FEW clouds AOA 12-15 kft AGL for areas south
and east of KTUS. SFC winds will be NWLY at 10-15 kts with gusts up
to 25 kts possible from 06/18Z through 07/03Z. Otherwise SFC winds
will be variable and remain under 10 kts. Afternoon -SHRA/-TSRA are
possible for areas south and east of Tucson including KOLS and KDUG.
Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Hot and conditions through today with afternoon
gustiness, which continue to dry fuels somewhat. Minimum humidities
today will be 14 to 20 percent in the lower elevations and 20 to 30
percent in the mountains due to the increase in moisture. Due to
this moisture, storm chances today are highest along the
International border and the higher elevations for areas south and
east of Tucson. Looking ahead, moisture begins to move further north
the remainder of the week which will bring back the chance for daily
rounds of mainly afternoon and evening thunderstorms.
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM MST this evening for
AZZ501>509.
&&
Public...Cerniglia
Aviation...Tetrault
Fire Weather....Tetrault
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
Wildfire, White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties
- When
- August 6, 6:00 AM MST to August 18, 4:00 PM MST
- Where
- White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties forecast zone
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
- Coordinates
- 33.074, -109.563 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Three separate lightning caused fires in northern Greenlee County, the Corduroy, Boundary, and Willow fires, which had a combined size around 1,000 acres, increased in complexity and became known as the Black River Complex on August 6. A total of 2,357 acres were consumed before total containment was achieved on August 18. Fire suppression costs tallied $3,750,000.
- 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.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, August 6, 20232 deaths · 2 injured · $119,000 · 65 kt wind · 14 events
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Alabama, August 6, 2023$246,000 · 56 kt wind · 78 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Illinois, August 6 to 7, 2023EF2 · 29 events
- Excessive Heat in Florida, August 6 to 9, 202383 events
- Damaging Winds in Georgia, August 6, 2023$50,000 · 60 kt wind · 49 events
- Damaging Winds in South Carolina, August 6 to 7, 2023$18,000 · 60 kt wind · 63 events
- Flash Flood and Hail in Indiana, August 6 to 7, 2023$145,000 · 1 in hail · 7 events
- Heat in Texas, August 6 to 10, 202352 events
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Indiana, August 6 to 7, 2023EF1 · 24 events
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Texas, August 6 to 10, 202344 events
- Damaging Winds in Illinois, August 6 to 7, 2023$48,000 · 56 kt wind · 4 events
- Excessive Heat in Louisiana, August 6, 202336 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: 1129751.