Quad City weather forecast calls for more rain attributed to monsoon thunderstorms in the next few weeks, so Yavapai County and Prescott National Forest officials announced fire restrictions starting at 8 a.m. Friday, July 15. has been canceled.

The county enacted Stage II fire limits and outdoor fire bans in May following the Crooks Fire, which burned approximately 9,400 acres about 12 miles south of Prescott in late April and early May in the Prescott National Forest. bottom.

But this week, county officials announced that Board of Supervisors chairman Mary Mallory met with Yavapai County emergency management chief Ashley Ahlquist, local forest service officials, and fire experts to discuss the current situation. We reported that we discussed the danger of fire.

Officials at the meeting said they thought it appropriate to remove all fire restrictions. Stage II restrictions specifically prohibit the issuance of residential or commercial burning permits (see bit.ly/3cfU5FW for more information).

“Precipitation is increasing in the county,” Ahlquist said in a July 14 news release. “Prescott National Forest he’s seen everywhere from .66” [six-tenths of an inch] Up to 4.66 inches across the woods. In addition to increased precipitation, forecasts of more rain in the coming weeks and a mild fire index support the lifting of restrictions. “

The withdrawn restrictions cover the northern, central, eastern, and southern fire ordinance areas of Yavapai County. Thus Prescott, Prescott Valley, Dewey Humboldt, Mayer, Cordes Junction, Black Canyon City, Congress, North Wickenburg, People’s Valley, Yarnell, Wilhoite, Cottonwood, Sedona, Camp Verde, and the unincorporated cities and towns of these region.

“While we recognize the inconvenience of imposing these restrictions on our communities, we appreciate all those who have worked hard to protect our local forests and homes,” Mallory said. The risk of fire in our county is a serious concern and we appreciate your efforts to protect our great county.”

Fire risk remains high

Despite lifting fire restrictions, Prescott National Forest officials said the fire risk remains high throughout the forest, even with rainfall so far.

“Visitors are urged to remain vigilant and avoid activities that could accidentally cause wildfires,” the Forest Service said in a July 14 news release.

Specifically, forest recreation enthusiasts and campers “should refrain from setting up campfires on dry, windy days and remember that leaving a campfire unattended is always illegal,” the release said. added.

Fireworks are prohibited in national forests.

Quad City Weather Forecast

Embry-Riddle Meteorology Professor Curtis James reported on Monday, July 11, that the high temperatures Quad City has experienced over the past few weeks will drop a few degrees this week.

Highs are near 95 degrees on Monday, with highs expected to drop to 90 degrees by Sunday, July 17. With morning lows in his high 60s, James said there could be a “gradual increase in moisture” in the afternoon and evening. Expected throughout the week.

James added that thunderstorms move slowly, moving west or southwest at about 5 mph, and are “generally short-lived” or less than an hour. Nonetheless, he said these storms could be “locally heavy rain, strong gusts of wind, small hail, and lightning from clouds to the ground.”

“As is often the case during this time of continental heat, a high-pressure dome is now anchored in northern Arizona and southern Utah. [the] It’s in the middle and upper layers of the atmosphere,” James reported. “On the surface, low pressure systems are forming, mainly in western Arizona, southern Nevada, and eastern California. This is a very typical monsoon flow pattern for the southwestern United States.”

A clockwise rotation in the upper atmosphere and a counterclockwise rotation in the lower atmosphere, says James, “combines with the already hot and unstable air masses and gradually pushes the wetter air into our atmosphere.” It will circulate in the region,” he added.

Dew points hovered around 40 degrees on Monday, rising to 50 degrees later this week and could reach 60 degrees next week on July 17, James added.

Quad City thunderstorms are expected to continue to spread more widely into next week. Most of the storms will be single cell or air mass storms, James said. This is because winds “generally do not shear high enough to organize stronger thunderstorms.”

“Air mass storms are generally not severe and move slowly, but they can bring localized downpours or strong gusts from microbursts,” James added.

Fire restrictions remain in other parts of Arizona

For information on fire restrictions, visit wildlandfire.az.gov/fire-restrictions. For more information on what’s happening in Prescott National Forest, visit fs.usda.gov/prescott/, facebook.com/PrescottNF and twitter.com/PrescottNF.

Follow Doug Cook on Twitter @dougout_dc. Email dcook@prescottaz.com or call extension 928-445-3333. 2039.