We’ve Been Getting Rain, Why is There Still a Fire Warning?

We just had a couple of good storms here in Arizona, but there is still a Red Flag warning in the area. It just rained, so why are we worried about fire? There are quite a few reasons why Arizona is still worried about wildfires, even with the recent downpours.

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green grass field under white clouds during daytime

What is a Red Flag Warning?

According to the National Weather Service, a Red Flag Warning is a warning issued when there is humidity under 15%, frequent wind gusts around or above 25 miles per hour, and dry thunderstorms.

READ: How To Stay Cool During Arizona's Hot Summer Months

Scott Olson, Getty Images

Dry plants

This past week, the temperature has reached over 100 degrees multiple days in a row. According to the University of Arizona, "Heat further accelerates the loss of water through higher transpiration demand by plants and more evaporation from the soil." Just because the plants were soaked yesterday doesn't mean they won't be good fire fuel today.

Tall dry grass in foreground with pine trees beyond.

Lightning

With rain comes lightning. That mixed with the dry plants is a recipe for flames. All it takes is one strike of lightning hitting a patch of grass or a tree before a storm to set the entire area up in flames. Last week in Northern Eastern Tucson, a lightning strike hit a Saguaro cactus, damaging the plant and reminding us that sometimes a storm is more dangerous than a dry spell.

In Arizona, there have been many times lighting has caused fires, all on its own. In 2024, a thunderstorm started over 9 fires that burned over 21,000 acres of land.

READ: Arizona's 3 big Safety concerns this Spring

Cactus struck by lightning last week. / Photo by Val Davidson/TSM.

Wind

Wind is one of the most dangerous conditions when it comes to wildfires. Winds supply fires with oxygen, carry embers into unburned areas, and can contribute to making a fire hotter. While wind isn't the danger on its own, it can exacerbate fires and make the situation harder to contain. This weekend, we are expecting wind gusts ranging from 25 to 30 miles per hour.

READ: How Arizonans Can Prepare For Wildfires And Floods

a lightning bolt striking across a dark sky

Although we have experienced a lot of rain this week, wildfire season is still around. Make sure to avoid fires this weekend and keep flammable materials away from dry grass. We aren't out of the woods quite yet!

CONTINUE READING: How Arizona’s Heat And Drought Fuel Wildfire Season