The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings across the U.S. Southwest, covering parts of Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and sections of California, through June 28 for gusty winds, low relative humidity and high fire danger. Local offices that posted warnings include NWS Salt Lake City (warnings through June 28 at 9:00 PM MDT), NWS Tucson (warning from 10 AM Saturday to 8 PM MST Sunday), NWS Reno (11 AM June 26 to 11 PM June 27 PDT) and NWS El Paso/Santa Teresa (through June 28 at 8:00 PM MDT), with additional notices from Grand Junction, Denver and Albuquerque. The warnings encompass areas such as Lake Mead, Death Valley, the Mojave, the Southwest Mountains and deserts, and the Four Corners/Intermountain West. Forecasters flagged conditions as capable of producing extremely critical fire behavior and rapid fire spread if ignitions occur; Southern Utah received a rare "particularly dangerous situation" designation in one post. Fire crews battling the Cottonwood Fire warned that dropping humidity and increasing winds under the Red Flag Warning could produce extreme fire behavior and rapid growth. Officials and residents in affected zones reported precautionary measures including fire restrictions and, in northern Arizona, preparations for possible precautionary power outages that could affect water supply.
