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Dangerous Heat Expected For Days To Come, Forests Move To Stage II Fire Restrictions

istock.com

A period of dangerously hot weather is in the forecast for Arizona. The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for nearly the entire state, including the lower elevations of Coconino and Yavapai counties.

The Warning goes into effect tomorrow morning and extends through all of next week. High temperatures between Saturday and Monday for elevations below 5,000 feet expected to be between 100 and 120 degrees. Next week, Flagstaff is expected to reach the mid 90’s, the low hundreds for the Hopi Mesas, 120 for Phantom Ranch.

The U.S. Border Patrol in southern Arizona is warning of the dangers that border crossers face as summer temperatures soar. The Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector says migrants are putting their lives at risk when they cross the Sonoran Desert. It notes that adults traversing that area in the current heat must consume at least two gallons of water daily to survive. An excessive heat warning for many parts of southern and central Arizona is expected to begin Saturday and stretch at least through June 18, with a potential Wednesday high of 120 degrees.

National Forests, cities and counties across northern Arizona moved to Stage II fire restrictions today as record drought continues across the Southwest. The Coconino, Prescott, Apache-Sitgreaves and Kaibab National Forests now prohibit all open fires and stoves, and restrict smoking to within vehicles. A temporary closure has been implemented southwest of Williams to protect the Bill Williams Mountain watershed from severe wildfire and potential post-fire flooding. Current fire restrictions can be viewed at Coconino.az.gov/firerestrictions.