Coconino County and the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests all reopened forests to the public on Tuesday.

However, Bill Williams Mountain near Williams remained closed to the public and fire restrictions remained in effect across the forest because the persistent drought in the region meant that fire danger remains high, officials said in a statement.

Forests had been closed since June 23 when officials were juggling numerous fires across northern Arizona and the state. But now, many of the fires that had stretched firefighters to the max have been largely contained.  

The lightning-caused Rafael Fire that had threatened nearly a quarter of Flagstaff with evacuations is now 95% contained while the lightning-caused Backbone Fire that had forced the evacuations of Pine, Strawberry and threatened Camp Verde is 98% contained.

To the north, the Slate Fire is now 100% contained.

On top of that, forest officials say the decision to reopen the forest was made based on the amount of rainfall that has fallen across northern Arizona in recent days, and the lower relative temperatures that the region has been experiencing.

With forests reopening, staff are now asking the public for patience as they begin unlocking and opening gates and forest roads across thousands of acres of forest.

Still, officials warn that persistent drought means fire danger is still very high, and the forecast calls for warm and dry weather with isolated thunderstorms that bring the risk of dry lightning.

As such, although the forests are now open, stage 2 fire restrictions remain in effect across the city of Flagstaff, county and national forest land.

Those restrictions prohibit fires, including the use of charcoal grills, across national forest land. Smoking is also prohibited unless inside a vehicle or in an area free of flammable material.

Visitors to the forest are also asked to remain vigilant and refrain from any behavior that may accidentally start a wildfire. Drivers should avoid dragging chains and driving vehicles over dry vegetation that may ignite.

Violation of the restrictions on national forests is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment up to six months, or both.

Some areas of the forest do remain closed in the vicinity to ongoing wildfire operations, or in areas where fire has recently burned.

Sections of both the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests are closed near the Sycamore Canyon area where firefighters recently battled the Rafael Fire.

Warm and dry week ahead

The summer months are generally known in Flagstaff for monsoons and beautiful 80-degree weather. But after recording a 94-degree high in mid-June, Flagstaff could see daily temperatures rise into the 90s again this week.

In other words, expect it to be quite a bit warmer than it was over the holiday weekend.

After beginning the month with daily temperatures reaching high 70s to low 80s, a warm front blanketing the western U.S. is causing temperatures to rise. That began this weekend as Fourth of July celebrations were met with a high of 83 degrees on Sunday and 82 degrees on Monday.

But heading into the week, forecasts from the National Weather Service in Bellemont suggest that even hotter days are in store. Throughout northern Arizona, temperatures could rise by as many as five degrees over a one-day span beginning Tuesday.

That means Flagstaff could break 90 degrees as soon as Wednesday. The trend is expected to continue through the end of the week -- Thursday’s forecast high of 88 serving as the only exception. The weekend days are expected to be the hottest, reaching up to 92 degrees on Saturday and 91 degrees on Sunday.

The warm weather comes on the heels of a potent wildfire season, which has already experienced an abundance of warm and dry conditions. This upcoming week should see much of the same, with afternoon humidity remaining below 15% for most of northern Arizona through the weekend, according to the NWS.

Wind, however, should remain relatively light in Flagstaff and reach a maximum speed between 10-15 mph each day. That is good news for the current wildfire conditions, even if showers and thunderstorms are mainly limited to portions of eastern and central Arizona.

“It will be getting hotter through the week as high pressure strengthens over the southwest United States. Thunderstorm activity will decrease in coverage and be confined to far eastern Arizona [Tuesday] and Wednesday spreading across the area south of Interstate 40 on Thursday into Saturday,” the NWS said.

Those traveling to the Grand Canyon should take extra precautions during the dangerously hot conditions

Weather officials placed an excessive heat advisory warning in the Marble and Glen Canyon areas, including Page and Lees Ferry, as temperatures are expected to reach between 105 and 111 degrees this week. The warning will begin on 9 a.m. Wednesday and last through 8 p.m. Sunday.

That warning extends to the lower elevations of the canyon as well, including Phantom Ranch and the Colorado River where temperatures could reach up to 116 degrees.

The weather service recommended limiting outdoor exposure and wearing lightweight clothing. Other tips included drinking plenty of fluids, staying in an air-conditioned room, avoiding the sun and knowing the signs of heat exhaustion. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments.