Alert archive / Florida / Red Flag Warnings in 2006

Red Flag Warning 45, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

April 5, 20066 counties in Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this red flag warning at Apr 5, 2006, 1:24 PM EDT for 6 counties in Florida. It took effect at Apr 6, 2006, 5:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 14 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 5, 2006, 1:24 PM EDT (17:24 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 6, 2006, 5:00 AM EDT
Expired
Apr 6, 2006, 7:00 PM EDT
In force
14 hr
Issued by
NWS Tampa Bay, FL

Counties DeSoto County, FL, Hardee County, FL, Highlands County, FL, Pinellas County, FL, Polk County, FL, Sumter County, FL

The radar

The Tampa radar (KTBW), 49 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:25 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), launched 12:00Z, 5.4 hours before the alert went out and 49 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Tampa Bay, FL at 12:00Z on 2006-04-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Tampa Bay, FL at 12:00Z on 2006-04-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -3 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1360 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-3 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
49 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WWUS82 KTBW 051724
RFWTBW

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
124 PM EDT WED APR 5 2006

...DRY AIR CONTINUING ACROSS THE FLORIDA PENINSULA THIS AFTERNOON AND
CONTINUING THURSDAY...

DRY HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE FLORIDA PENINSULA
THROUGH THURSDAY...WITH 4 OR MORE HOURS OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
EXPECTED EACH AFTERNOON AWAY FROM THE COAST AS TEMPERATURES
REMAIN WARM AND HUMIDITY REMAINS LOW.

FLZ039-042-043-048-049-051-052-055>057-061-052300-
/O.UPG.KTBW.FW.A.0034.060406T1700Z-060406T2300Z/
/O.NEW.KTBW.FW.W.0045.060406T1700Z-060406T2300Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0044.000000T0000Z-060405T2300Z/
LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK-MANATEE-
HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-DE SOTO-
124 PM EDT WED APR 5 2006

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM EDT THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM
EDT THURSDAY. A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT
THIS EVENING.

VERY DRY AIR HAS SPREAD ACROSS ALL OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA AWAY
FROM THE IMMEDIATE COAST THIS AFTERNOON...WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY
HAVING FALLEN TO BETWEEN 15 AND 25 PERCENT AS OF 1 PM. UP TO 8
HOURS OF HUMIDITY BELOW 35 PERCENT IS EXPECTED IN MANY AREAS.

A SLIGHT MODIFICATION IN THE AIR MASS WILL INCREASE DEW POINTS A
BIT ON THURSDAY...BUT NOT ENOUGH TO COUNTER SLIGHTLY WARMER
TEMPERATURES. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL FALL TO
BETWEEN 25 AND 30 PERCENT IN MOST OF THE WARNED AREA...WITH
BETWEEN 4 AND 7 HOURS TOTAL DURATION EXPECTED.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD.


$$

FLZ060-062-065-052300-
/O.NEW.KTBW.FW.A.0035.060406T1700Z-060406T2300Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0044.000000T0000Z-060405T2300Z/
SARASOTA-CHARLOTTE-LEE-
124 PM EDT WED APR 5 2006

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN
EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING. 

VERY DRY AIR IS SPREADING INTO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AWAY FROM THE
IMMEDIATE COAST THIS AFTERNOON...WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY FALLING
TO NEAR 30 PERCENT AS OF 1 PM. HUMIDITY WILL CONTINUE TO DROP THIS
AFTERNOON...WITH SOME LOCATIONS FALLING TO BETWEEN 20 AND 25
PERCENT BY 3 PM AND CONTINUING THROUGH 6 PM.  UP TO 8 HOURS OF
HUMIDITY BELOW 35 PERCENT IS EXPECTED IN MANY AREAS.

A SLIGHT MODIFICATION IN THE AIR MASS WILL INCREASE DEW POINTS A
BIT ON THURSDAY...BUT PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH TO COUNTER SLIGHTLY
WARMER TEMPERATURES. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE EXPECTED
TO FALL TO NEAR 30 PERCENT IN MOST AREAS. HOWEVER...4 OR MORE HOUR
DURATIONS ARE NOT YET CERTAIN. STAY TUNED FOR A POSSIBLE UPGRADE
TO A WARNING OVERNIGHT.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN FAVORABLE CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE IN 24 TO 48 HOURS OR MORE.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD.

$$

BSG
4 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS82 KTBW 052347
RFWTBW

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
747 PM EDT WED APR 5 2006

...DRY AIR CONTINUING ACROSS THE FLORIDA PENINSULA ON THURSDAY 
AFTERNOON...

DRY HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE FLORIDA PENINSULA
THROUGH THURSDAY...WITH 4 OR MORE HOURS OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY EXPECTED
THURSDAY AFTERNOON AWAY FROM THE COAST AS TEMPERATURES REMAIN
WARM AND HUMIDITY REMAINS LOW.

FLZ039-042-043-048-049-051-052-055>057-061-061200-
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0045.060406T1700Z-060406T2300Z/
LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK-MANATEE-
HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-DE SOTO-
747 PM EDT WED APR 5 2006

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM EDT
THURSDAY...

VERY DRY AIR HAS SPREAD ACROSS ALL OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA AWAY
FROM THE IMMEDIATE COAST THIS AFTERNOON...WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY
HAVING FALLEN TO BETWEEN 15 AND 25 PERCENT AS OF 1 PM. UP TO 8
HOURS OF HUMIDITY BELOW 35 PERCENT IS EXPECTED IN MANY AREAS.

A SLIGHT MODIFICATION IN THE AIR MASS WILL INCREASE DEW POINTS A
BIT ON THURSDAY...BUT NOT ENOUGH TO COUNTER SLIGHTLY WARMER
TEMPERATURES. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL FALL TO
BETWEEN 25 AND 30 PERCENT IN MOST OF THE WARNED AREA...WITH
BETWEEN 4 AND 7 HOURS TOTAL DURATION EXPECTED.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD.

$$

FLZ060-062-065-061200-
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.A.0035.060406T1700Z-060406T2300Z/
SARASOTA-CHARLOTTE-LEE-
747 PM EDT WED APR 5 2006

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...

VERY DRY AIR IS SPREADING INTO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AWAY FROM THE
IMMEDIATE COAST THIS AFTERNOON...WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY FALLING TO
NEAR 30 PERCENT AS OF 1 PM. HUMIDITY WILL CONTINUE TO DROP THIS
AFTERNOON...WITH SOME LOCATIONS FALLING TO BETWEEN 20 AND 25
PERCENT BY 3 PM AND CONTINUING THROUGH 6 PM. UP TO 8 HOURS OF
HUMIDITY BELOW 35 PERCENT IS EXPECTED IN MANY AREAS.

A SLIGHT MODIFICATION IN THE AIR MASS WILL INCREASE DEW POINTS A
BIT ON THURSDAY...BUT PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH TO COUNTER SLIGHTLY
WARMER TEMPERATURES. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE
EXPECTED TO FALL TO NEAR 30 PERCENT IN MOST AREAS. HOWEVER...4 OR
MORE HOUR DURATIONS ARE NOT YET CERTAIN. STAY TUNED FOR A
POSSIBLE UPGRADE TO A WARNING OVERNIGHT.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN FAVORABLE CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE IN 24 TO 48 HOURS OR MORE.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD.

$$
000 
WWUS82 KTBW 060900
RFWTBW

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
500 AM EDT THU APR 6 2006

...DRY AIR CONTINUING ACROSS THE FLORIDA PENINSULA TODAY...

DRY HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE FLORIDA PENINSULA
TODAY...WITH 4 OR MORE HOURS OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY EXPECTED
THIS AFTERNOON AWAY FROM THE COAST AS TEMPERATURES REMAIN WARM
AND HUMIDITY REMAINS LOW.

FLZ060-062-065-062300-
/O.UPG.KTBW.FW.A.0035.060406T1700Z-060406T2300Z/
/O.EXB.KTBW.FW.W.0045.060406T1600Z-060406T2300Z/
SARASOTA-CHARLOTTE-LEE-
500 AM EDT THU APR 6 2006

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO
7 PM EDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT. 

A SLIGHT MODIFICATION IN THE AIR MASS WILL INCREASE DEW POINTS 
A BIT TODAY...BUT NOT ENOUGH TO COUNTER SLIGHTLY WARMER
TEMPERATURES. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO
FALL TO NEAR 30 PERCENT AWAY FROM THE COAST WITH DURATIONS OF 
4 TO 5 HOURS EXPECTED.

A RED FLAG WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN VERY FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR
THE SPREAD OF WILDFIRE ARE OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL OCCUR WITHIN
24 HOURS.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD.

$$

FLZ050-062300-
/O.EXB.KTBW.FW.W.0045.060406T1600Z-060406T2300Z/
PINELLAS-
500 AM EDT THU APR 6 2006

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO
7 PM EDT THIS EVENING. 

A SLIGHT MODIFICATION IN THE AIR MASS WILL INCREASE DEW POINTS 
A BIT TODAY...BUT NOT ENOUGH TO COUNTER SLIGHTLY WARMER
TEMPERATURES. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO
FALL TO NEAR 30 PERCENT AWAY FROM THE IMMEDIATE COAST WITH
DURATIONS AROUND 4 HOURS EXPECTED.

A RED FLAG WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN VERY FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR
THE SPREAD OF WILDFIRE ARE OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL OCCUR WITHIN
24 HOURS.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD.

$$

FLZ039-042-043-048-049-051-052-055>057-061-062300-
/O.EXT.KTBW.FW.W.0045.060406T1600Z-060406T2300Z/
LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK-MANATEE-
HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-DE SOTO-
500 AM EDT THU APR 6 2006

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM EDT
THIS EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM EDT
THIS EVENING.

A SLIGHT MODIFICATION IN THE AIR MASS WILL INCREASE DEW POINTS 
A BIT TODAY...BUT NOT ENOUGH TO COUNTER SLIGHTLY WARMER
TEMPERATURES. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL FALL TO
BETWEEN 25 AND 30 PERCENT IN MOST OF THE WARNED AREA AWAY FROM 
THE IMMEDIATE GULF COAST...WITH DURATIONS BETWEEN 4 AND 7 HOURS
EXPECTED.

A RED FLAG WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN VERY FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR
THE SPREAD OF WILDFIRE ARE OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL OCCUR WITHIN
24 HOURS.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD. 

$$

PRC
000 
WWUS82 KTBW 061824
RFWTBW

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
224 PM EDT THU APR 6 2006

...DRY AIR CONTINUES ACROSS ALL OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA THIS AFTERNOON WITH LOW HUMIDITY EXPECTED OVER INTERIOR
WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

DRY HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE FLORIDA PENINSULA
TODAY...WITH 4 TO 8 HOURS OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY EXPECTED THIS
AFTERNOON AWAY FROM THE COAST. MOISTURE WILL BEGIN TO RETURN ON
FRIDAY...BUT WARMER TEMPERATURES AND SOME LOW LEVEL DRYING OVER
INTERIOR CENTRAL FLORIDA MAY BRING HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35
PERCENT FOR 4 OR MORE HOURS BY AFTERNOON. INCREASING SOUTHERLY
WINDS AND AN INCREASED MIXING LAYER WILL PRODUCE CRITICAL
DISPERSION VALUES AS WELL IN MUCH OF CENTRAL FLORIDA.

FLZ043-052-057-062300-
/O.NEW.KTBW.FW.A.0036.060407T1700Z-060407T2300Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0045.000000T0000Z-060406T2300Z/
SUMTER-POLK-HIGHLANDS-
224 PM EDT THU APR 6 2006

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN
EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING. 

RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES HAVE FALLEN TO AROUND 25 PERCENT IN
SUMTER COUNTY...AND ARE FALLING TOWARD 35 PERCENT IN POLK AND 40
PERCENT IN HIGHLANDS COUNTY. BY 3 PM...MOST OF POLK COUNTY SHOULD
BE BELOW 35 PERCENT AS WILL THE NORTHERN THIRD OF HIGHLANDS
COUNTY. DURATION OF CRITICALLY LOW HUMIDITY WILL RANGE FROM AROUND
4 HOURS IN SOUTHERN POLK AND NORTHERN HIGHLANDS COUNTY TO 8 HOURS
IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN SUMTER COUNTY...WHERE MINIMUM VALUES WILL
REACH 20 PERCENT OR LESS.

ON FRIDAY...MOISTURE WILL HAVE INCREASED ACROSS THE AREA IN THE
MORNING. HOWEVER...INCREASING SOUTH WINDS AND A HIGHER MIXING
HEIGHT WILL ALLOW DRIER AIR ABOVE THE SURFACE TO MIX
DOWN...REDUCING AFTERNOON HUMIDITY NEAR OR BELOW 35 PERCENT FOR
SEVERAL HOURS. THE INCREASED WINDS MAY ALSO RESULT IN LAVDAS
DISPERSION INDEX VALUES OF 75 OR GREATER...CRITICAL TO ENHANCING
THE SPREAD OF WILDFIRES.

A RED FLAG WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN VERY FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR
THE SPREAD OF WILDFIRE ARE OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL OCCUR WITHIN 24
HOURS. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN FAVORABLE CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN 24 TO 48 HOURS OR MORE.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD.

$$

FLZ039-042-048>051-055-056-060>062-065-062300-
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0045.000000T0000Z-060406T2300Z/
LEVY-CITRUS-HERNANDO-PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-MANATEE-HARDEE-
SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE-
224 PM EDT THU APR 6 2006

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING.

VERY DRY AIR REMAINS ACROSS THE SUNCOAST FROM THE TAMPA BAY AREA
NORTHWARD THROUGH LEVY COUNTY...WHERE RELATIVE HUMIDITY HAS FALLEN
BELOW 20 PERCENT IN MANY AREAS. THESE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE THROUGH 7 PM...WITH MINIMUM HUMIDITY AS LOW AS 15 PERCENT
IN SOME AREAS. SOUTH OF TAMPA BAY...INCLUDING THE SUNCOAST AS WELL
AS HARDEE AND DESOTO COUNTIES...HUMIDITY VALUES WERE APPROACHING
35 PERCENT AND SHOULD FALL TO BETWEEN 28 AND 34 PERCENT FOR UP TO
4 HOURS BETWEEN 3 AND 7 PM.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS
IN THE FIELD.

$$

BSG
000 
WWUS82 KTBW 062307
RFWTBW

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
707 PM EDT THU APR 6 2006

...DRY AIR CONTINUES ACROSS ALL OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA THIS AFTERNOON WITH LOW HUMIDITY EXPECTED OVER INTERIOR
WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

WARMER TEMPERATURES AND SOME LOW LEVEL DRYING OVER INTERIOR
CENTRAL FLORIDA MAY BRING HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35 PERCENT FOR 4
OR MORE HOURS BY AFTERNOON. INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS AND AN
INCREASED MIXING LAYER WILL PRODUCE CRITICAL DISPERSION VALUES AS
WELL IN MUCH OF CENTRAL FLORIDA.

FLZ043-052-057-071115-
/O.EXP.KTBW.FW.W.0045.000000T0000Z-060406T2300Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.A.0036.060407T1700Z-060407T2300Z/
SUMTER-POLK-HIGHLANDS-
707 PM EDT THU APR 6 2006

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING.

MOISTURE WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE AREA IN THE MORNING.
HOWEVER...INCREASING SOUTH WINDS AND A HIGHER MIXING HEIGHT WILL
ALLOW DRIER AIR ABOVE THE SURFACE TO MIX DOWN... REDUCING
AFTERNOON HUMIDITY NEAR OR BELOW 35 PERCENT FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE
INCREASED WINDS MAY ALSO RESULT IN DISPERSION INDEX VALUES OF 75
OR GREATER...CRITICAL TO ENHANCING THE SPREAD OF WILD FIRES.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN FAVORABLE CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN 24 TO 48 HOURS OR MORE.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD.

$$

FLZ039-042-048>051-055-056-060>062-065-070015-
/O.EXP.KTBW.FW.W.0045.000000T0000Z-060406T2300Z/
LEVY-CITRUS-HERNANDO-PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-MANATEE-HARDEE-
SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE-
707 PM EDT THU APR 6 2006

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED...

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this red flag warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tampa Bay, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this red flag warning went out at Apr 5, 1:16 PM EDT, 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 5, 1:16 PM EDT, 8 minutes before
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
116 PM EDT WED APR 5 2006

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT - FRIDAY)...FAIR WARM DAYS WITH ONE
COMFORTABLY COOL NIGHT (TONIGHT) SUMS UP THIS FORECAST. CHAMBER-
OF-COMMERCE WEATHER RIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...THEN STILL NICE BUT A
BIT WARMER INLAND...AND MORE HUMID NEAR THE COAST...BY FRIDAY. ALL
THIS COURTESY OF HIGH PRESSURE THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE. AS THE 500
MB RIDGE MOVES OVERHEAD THURSDAY NIGHT...THE SURFACE HIGH WILL
SHIFT INTO THE AREA BETWEEN BERMUDA AND THE BAHAMAS...WITH
SOUTHERLY FLOW AIDING A 10 DEGREE RISE IN NIGHTTIME/EARLY MORNING
TEMPERATURES SATURDAY MORNING COMPARED TO FRIDAY MORNING. AS USUAL
THIS TIME OF YEAR AND WITH THIS PATTERN...BEACHES WILL BE SOME 7
TO 10 DEGREES COOLER WHEN THE SEA BREEZE KICKS IN...PROBABLY
AROUND NOON EACH DAY. ENJOY...AGAIN

.LONG TERM (FRIDAY NIGHT - WEDNESDAY)...DEEP LAYER RIDGING OVER THE ATLANTIC
WILL DOMINATE THE CWFA INTO SAT WITH DRY AND STABLE CONDITIONS WITH
TEMPS RUNNING ABOVE CLIMO. ELSEWHERE...AN UPPER TROUGH WILL DIG
ACROSS THE MIDWEST WITH AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT SWEEPING INTO THE
GULF BY THE END OF SAT. THE UPPER TROUGH REACHES THE EASTERN SEA
BOARD SUN WITH THE FRONT SLOWING AS IT MOVES INTO FL WITH AN
INCREASE IN CLOUDS AND A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAINFALL. THIS FRONT MAY
SAG INTO SOUTH FL MON BUT CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SOME LOW POPS ACROSS
THE CWFA AS A SHORT WAVE TROUGH MOVES INTO THE GULF AND ACROSS FL...
WITH A WEAK WAVE(S) FORMING ALONG THE FRONT. THE WAVE(S) MOVES EAST
OF THE STATE TUE AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS ACROSS THE MID-ATLANTIC
STATES AND MOVES OFFSHORE. BY THE END OF THE PERIOD UPPER RIDGING
BUILDS NORTH FROM THE GULF AS THE ATLANTIC HIGH CONTINUES TO MOVE
EAST. THE GFS/DGEX/ECMWF ALL ARE SIMILAR IN THE BIG PICTURE BUT
HAVE ISSUES WITH LOCATION AND TIMING. THE LATEST GFS(12Z) IS NOW
PUSHING THE FRONT WELL TO THE SE OF THE AREA. SHOULD THIS PAN OUT
THE LOW ODDS OF PCPN MON WOULD BE EVEN LOWER. FOR NOW WILL KEEP THE
CURRENT FORECAST IN PLACE WITH ONLY SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...RED FLAG CONDITIONS SOLIDLY UNDERWAY EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON...WITH A CRASH IN DEW POINTS AROUND 11 AM LEADING TO
CURRENT HUMIDITY VALUES BETWEEN 15 AND 25 PERCENT CENTRAL/NORTH.
THESE VALUES WILL CONTINUE HEADING SOUTH AND WARNING AREA SHOULD
EASILY VERIFY WITH 5 TO 8 HOURS. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR PINELLAS
AS SEA BREEZE CURRENTLY BEING OVERTAKEN BY DRY AIR FLOW FROM THE
NORTH.

MORE OF THE SAME THURSDAY DESPITE THE GRADUAL TURNING OF THE WINDS
TO THE SOUTHEAST. EXPECT SOME HIGH-BASED (6K FEET) CUMULUS BY LATE
AFTERNOON AND PERHAPS SOME CIRRUS ABOVE...BUT THICK LAYER OF DRY
AIR AND ANALOGOUS SITUATIONS IN APRILS PAST MAKE TOMORROW A LOCK
FOR THE CURRENT WATCH AREA...SO UPGRADE IS IN ORDER. SOUTHWEST
CORNER IS ALWAYS TRICKY AND WILL OFFER WATCH FOR NOW AS CRITICAL
HUMIDITY DURATIONS INLAND WILL FLIRT WITH 4 HOURS BUT MAY NOT REACH.

FRIDAY IS SHOWING INCREASING POTENTIAL FOR A HOT DRY SITUATION
ACROSS INTERIOR WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA OVER TOWARD THE EAST COAST
WITH SOUTHWEST WINDS PICKING UP TO 10 TO 15 MPH...PERHAPS WITH A
FEW HIGHER GUSTS. WITH DRY ADIABATIC MIXING EXPECTED AFTERNOON
HIGHS SHOULD REACH NEAR 90 WHILE DEWPOINTS PLUNGE INTO THE MID OR
UPPER 50S. BECAUSE THE GFS IS A BIT LESS AGRESSIVE WITH 2M
TEMP/DEWPOINT WILL HOLD OFF ON AN INTERIOR WATCH AND DEFER TO NEXT
SHIFT.

&&

.MARINE...LIGHT WINDS/SLIGHT SEAS AWAY FROM SEA BREEZE CIRCULATION
THROUGH THURSDAY. A GRADUAL INCREASE IN SOUTH...THEN
SOUTHWEST...FLOW THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY CONTINUING INTO
SATURDAY AHEAD OF NEXT SYSTEM. 12Z GFS IS MUCH MORE PROGRESSIVE
WITH THE NEXT AIRMASS FRONT AND ADVERTISES NEAR CAUTION VALUES
ON SUNDAY BEFORE WINDS VEER TO THE EAST. WILL HAVE TO WATCH THE
TRENDS AND WILL NOT BITE ON JUST A SINGLE RUN. THAT SAID...WHEN
DRY KEEP IT DRY...SO THIS PATTERN SHIFT WOULD NOT SURPRISE US.

&&

.AVIATION...CLEAR. NORTHERLY WINDS 10KTS WILL BACK TO MORE NW THIS
AFTERNOON AND THEN DECREASE AFTER S/S AS THEY VEER TO N AND THEN
NE BY LATE THU MORNING.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TPA  56  82  63  83 /   0   0   0   5
FMY  56  84  61  86 /   0   0   0   5
GIF  54  86  61  88 /   0   0   0   5
SRQ  55  81  63  82 /   0   0   0   5
BKV  42  84  51  86 /   0   0   0   5
SPG  60  81  66  83 /   0   0   0   5

&&

.TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR CHARLOTTE-
     CITRUS-DE SOTO-HARDEE-HERNANDO-HIGHLANDS-HILLSBOROUGH-LEE-
     LEVY-MANATEE-PASCO-POLK-SARASOTA-SUMTER.

     RED FLAG WARNING FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM EDT THURSDAY FOR CITRUS-DE
     SOTO-HARDEE-HERNANDO-HIGHLANDS-HILLSBOROUGH-LEVY-MANATEE-
     PASCO-POLK-SUMTER.

     FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY
     EVENING FOR CHARLOTTE-LEE-SARASOTA.

GULF WATERS...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...88/BSG
LONG TERM/AVIATION....09/RKR
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 5, 5:31 AM EDT, 7 hours 53 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
531 AM EDT WED APR 5 2006

FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-051545-
LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK-
MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE-
531 AM EDT WED APR 5 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

DRY AIR WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA TODAY AND THIS WILL LEAD TO CRITICAL RELATIVE HUMIDITY
VALUES ACROSS THE AREA AWAY FROM THE COAST THIS AFTERNOON. CONDITIONS
WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR THE SPREAD OF WILD FIRES FROM NOON TO 7 PM
EST AND THUS A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ON THE DRY SIDE THROUGH THURSDAY. A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE NATURE
COAST AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA.
INCREASING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ON FRIDAY AND BEYOND SHOULD ALLEVIATE
THE SITUATION AND BRING RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES BACK TO ABOVE
CRITICAL LEVELS.

OTHERWISE...NO WEATHER HAZARDS ARE EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

PRC

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 5, 1:24 PM EDTFire Weather WatchTBW16 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Florida, 2006Every red flag warning in 2006

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.