Strong Winds to Fuel Wildfire Spread in the Desert Southwest

Posted: April 26, 2022 12:42 pm

Fire crews in the Southwest are not going to get any favors from Mother Nature this week. As fires continue to rage in this corner of the country, the weather pattern calls for warm, dry, and gusty conditions, raising the threat of new fires while also making it more challenging to get the existing blazes under control.

Current Wildfire Situation

Last week seemed like the unofficial start to wildfire season throughout the Four Corners region of the U.S. Hundreds of residents were evacuated when fires broke out throughout Arizona and New Mexico.

The Tunnel Fire is currently raging near Flagstaff, Arizona. As of Monday, the fire had already burned over 21,000 acres with only 3% containment. This fire got started on April 17, spreading quickly and forcing the evacuations of people in its path.

Meanwhile, the Crooks Fire is currently still burning approximately 10 miles south of Prescott, Arizona after starting on April 18. This blaze is now at about 4,000 acres, meandering through the area after intense winds sent the flames scattering in all directions and making it more difficult for crews to get it under control. As of late Monday, the fire was 22% contained.

New Mexico is also dealing with their fair share of wildfires. The Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak fires are two separate blazes burning east of the city of Santa Fe. These fires have burned over 54,000 acre with only about 125 containment. Above average temperatures paired with no precipitation in the short-term forecast spell trouble for crews trying to temper these flames.

Weather to Raise Fire Danger

The bad news is that an area of high pressure is forecast to set up over the region in the coming days, sending temperatures even higher and erasing any chance of rain to help to fan the flames of these fires. For example, the mercury is predicted to inch near 100 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday in Arizona cities such as Phoenix and Tucson.

It will also be unseasonably warm in Las Vegas with highs on Tuesday and Wednesday predicted to come close to breaking the 90-degree mark. These readings are approximately 10 degrees above average for the end of April in this region.

In addition to the dry and warm conditions, gusty winds will also increase the risk of new fires popping up. A storm moving into the Pacific Northwest and through the Rockies will usher gusty winds into the Desert Southwest on Wednesday and Thursday. These winds will push out any possible moisture while simultaneously setting the stage for fire growth.

The strong winds will make it easier for the flames to spread more quickly than crews can contain them. The incoming stormy conditions may also create isolated storms throughout New Mexico and Colorado, putting the risk of lightning strikes and the resulting new wildfires into the picture.

This wildfire threat is predicted to continue throughout the Southwest through the rest of the week and beyond. With the mercury expected to remain 5 – 10 degrees above average through at least early next week, wildfire season may be getting an early start this year.

Did you find this content useful? Feel free to bookmark or to post to your timeline for reference later!

Recent Posts