Northern Arizona is likely to see drought, higher-than-average temperatures and a big fire season that could start early, fire forecasters predicted late last week.

The monsoon is expected to arrive on time in early or mid July, but drought is expected to intensify across the Southwest in the weeks beforehand, an advisory released by the U.S. Forest Service stated.

This is after an El Nino weather pattern didn’t deliver anticipated moisture to the Southwest. A La Nina is now predicted to cause drier weather for the Southwest.

Flagstaff is about 66 percent behind on rain for the year and 43 inches below average on snowfall, according to the National Weather Service.

The big question now is when fire season and fire restrictions or forest closures might start.

azdailysun.com