Red Flag Warning Issued for Southeast Arizona: High Fire Danger and Strong Winds Expected Thursday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a Red Flag Warning for Southeast Arizona. This alert signifies that critical fire weather conditions are expected to develop due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry vegetation.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the southern portions of Fire Weather Zones 151, 152, and 154. Specific geographic regions include:

• Eastern Pima and Southeastern Pinal counties
• Santa Cruz and Western Cochise counties
• Southern Graham and Southern Greenlee counties
• Central and Eastern Cochise county
• Lower elevations of the San Carlos Apache Nation in Graham County
• Mountainous areas above 5,500 feet

What You Should Do

Residents and officials should prepare for the possibility of rapid and erratic fire growth. Any fires that develop or are currently ongoing will have the potential to spread quickly. It is advised that appropriate officials and fire crews in the field be notified of these critical conditions.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: Southwest to West winds between 20 to 25 mph, with gusts reaching up to 40 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 10 percent.
• Fire Danger: High fire danger is present due to the combination of wind and dry conditions.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is in effect from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM MST on Thursday, March 5, 2026.