NWS Issues Red Flag Warning For Pima, Pinal, Cochise Counties

TUCSON, AZ —The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Red Flag Warning —wildfire danger —for southeast Arizona for Thursday and Friday.

Early Thursday morning, the NWS issued a Red Flag Warning for areas near Pima County, Pinal County and Cochise County beginning at around 2 p.m. Thursday and lasting until 6 p.m. Friday.

The NWS said the Red Flag Warning applies to areas in Cochise County and Santa Cruz County from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.

The areas in Cochise and Santa Cruz Counties are expected to experience strong winds —20 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph — and low relative humidity —11 to 15 percent — from an approaching storm system. Fire danger is expected to be high.

"Any fires that develop or are ongoing will have the potential to spread rapidly and resist control efforts," the NWS said in a statement.

In Tucson, the Thursday afternoon forecast calls for partly sunny skies with a high near 86, with southeast winds 6 to 14 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon.

On Thursday night, skies will be mostly cloudy with gradual clearing. The low is 50 degrees. South winds are expected at 6 to 10 mph, becoming east southeast in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Friday is expected to be breezy and sunny with a high of 73 degrees. In the morning, southwest winds could blow 17 to 22 mph. Patchy blowing dust is expected in the late afternoon and winds could gust as high as 36 mph during the day.

Skies will be mostly clear on Friday night, with a low around 51. West southwest winds will be 10 to 15 mph, becoming light and variable heading into Saturday morning.