Alert archive / Alaska / Red Flag Warnings in 2008

Red Flag Warning 3, NWS Fairbanks, AK

May 13, 2008

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this red flag warning at May 13, 2008, 2:24 AM AKDT. It took effect at May 13, 2008, 8:00 AM AKDT. 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
May 13, 2008, 2:24 AM AKDT (10:24 UTC)
In effect from
May 13, 2008, 8:00 AM AKDT
Expired
May 13, 2008, 10:00 PM AKDT
In force
14 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

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

000 
WWAK63 PAFG 131524
RFWAFG

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
724 AM ADT TUE MAY 13 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM ADT THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WIND FOR A PORTION OF THE CENTRAL INTERIOR...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM ADT THIS
EVENING FOR STRONG WIND FOR A PORTION OF THE NORTH SLOPES OF THE
ALASKA RANGE...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM ADT THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WIND FOR A PORTION OF THE NORTH SLOPES OF THE ALASKA RANGE...

AKZ223-132330-
/X.NEW.PAFG.FW.W.0003.080513T1600Z-080514T0600Z/
DELTANA AND TANANA FLATS-
724 AM ADT TUE MAY 13 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM ADT THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WIND...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM ADT THIS EVENING. 

DISCUSSION...SOUTH WINDS WILL GUST TO 40 MPH AND HUMIDITIES WILL
DROP BELOW 30 PER CENT AGAIN TODAY. WIND SPEEDS WILL FALL BELOW
WARNING CRITERIA AND RH VALUES WILL RECOVER THIS EVENING. 

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING OR WILL
OCCUR WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE AND DANGEROUS
FIRES. IT IS DIRECTED TOWARD FIRE AGENCIES...AND THROUGH THEM...
TO THE PUBLIC.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

$$

AKZ225-132330-
/X.NEW.PAFG.FW.W.0003.080513T2000Z-080514T0600Z/
DENALI-
724 AM ADT TUE MAY 13 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM ADT THIS
EVENING FOR STRONG WIND...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM ADT THIS
EVENING. 

DISCUSSION...SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL GUST TO 55 MPH AND HUMIDITIES 
WILL DROP TO 30 PER CENT AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON. WIND SPEEDS WILL
FALL BELOW WARNING CRITERIA OVERNIGHT AND RH VALUES WILL RECOVER
THIS EVENING.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING OR WILL
OCCUR WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE AND DANGEROUS
FIRES. IT IS DIRECTED TOWARD FIRE AGENCIES...AND THROUGH THEM...
TO THE PUBLIC.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

$$

AKZ226-132330-
/X.NEW.PAFG.FW.W.0003.080513T1600Z-080514T0600Z/
EASTERN ALASKA RANGE-
724 AM ADT TUE MAY 13 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM ADT THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WIND...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM ADT THIS EVENING. 

DISCUSSION...SOUTH WINDS WILL GUST TO 45 MPH AND HUMIDITIES WILL
DROP BELOW 30 PER CENT AGAIN TODAY. WIND SPEEDS WILL FALL BELOW
WARNING CRITERIA OVERNIGHT AND RH VALUES WILL RECOVER THIS
EVENING.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING OR WILL
OCCUR WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE AND DANGEROUS
FIRES. IT IS DIRECTED TOWARD FIRE AGENCIES...AND THROUGH THEM...
TO THE PUBLIC.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWAK63 PAFG 132106
RFWAFG

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
106 PM ADT TUE MAY 13 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM ADT THIS
EVENING FOR STRONG WIND FOR A PORTION OF THE CENTRAL
INTERIOR...

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM ADT THIS
EVENING FOR STRONG WIND FOR A PORTION OF THE NORTH SLOPES OF
THE ALASKA RANGE...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WIND FOR A PORTION OF THE EASTERN
INTERIOR...

AKZ223-140600-
/X.CON.PAFG.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-080514T0600Z/
DELTANA AND TANANA FLATS-
106 PM ADT TUE MAY 13 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM ADT THIS
EVENING FOR STRONG WIND...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM ADT THIS
EVENING. 

DISCUSSION...SOUTH WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO GUST TO 45 MPH AND 
HUMIDITIES WILL REMAIN BELOW 30 PER CENT INTO THIS EVENING. 
WIND SPEEDS WILL FALL BELOW WARNING CRITERIA AND RH VALUES 
WILL RECOVER OVERNIGHT.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING OR WILL
OCCUR WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE AND DANGEROUS
FIRES. IT IS DIRECTED TOWARD FIRE AGENCIES...AND THROUGH THEM...
TO THE PUBLIC.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

$$

AKZ225-140600-
/X.CON.PAFG.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-080514T0600Z/
DENALI-
106 PM ADT TUE MAY 13 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM ADT THIS
EVENING FOR STRONG WIND...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM ADT THIS
EVENING. 

DISCUSSION...SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO GUST TO 50 MPH 
AND HUMIDITIES WILL REMAIN BELOW 30 PER CENT THIS AFTERNOON 
AND EVENING. WIND SPEEDS WILL FALL BELOW WARNING CRITERIA AND
RH VALUES WILL RECOVER OVERNIGHT.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING OR WILL
OCCUR WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE AND DANGEROUS
FIRES. IT IS DIRECTED TOWARD FIRE AGENCIES...AND THROUGH THEM...
TO THE PUBLIC.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

$$

AKZ226-140600-
/X.CON.PAFG.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-080514T0600Z/
EASTERN ALASKA RANGE-
106 PM ADT TUE MAY 13 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM ADT THIS
EVENING FOR STRONG WIND...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM ADT THIS
EVENING. 

DISCUSSION...SOUTH WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO GUST TO 45 MPH AND
HUMIDITIES WILL REMAIN BELOW 30 PER CENT THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. RH VALUES WILL RECOVER OVERNIGHT AND WIND SPEEDS WILL
DIMINISH AND SHIFT TO THE EAST BY MORNING.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING OR WILL
OCCUR WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE AND DANGEROUS
FIRES. IT IS DIRECTED TOWARD FIRE AGENCIES...AND THROUGH THEM...
TO THE PUBLIC.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

$$

AKZ224-140600-
/X.NEW.PAFG.FW.A.0002.080514T1800Z-080515T0300Z/
UPPER TANANA VALLEY AND THE FORTYMILE COUNTRY-
106 PM ADT TUE MAY 13 2008

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WIND IN THE YUKON RIVER VALLEY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

DISCUSSION...SOUTHEAST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO GUST IN EXCESS OF 
25 MPH THROUGH THE YUKON RIVER VALLEY ON WEDNESDAY...THESE WINDS
ALONG WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITIES BELOW 30 PER CENT SHOULD CREATE
RED FLAG CONDITIONS EARLY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. WINDS MAY NOT 
MATERIALIZE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES. 
UPGRADE TO A WARNING IS VERY DEPENDENT ON TIMING THE NEXT SHORT
WAVE.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD LEAD TO
THE POTENTIAL FOR A RED FLAG EVENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THIS WATCH
WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL IT IS UPGRADED TO A RED FLAG WARNING
OR THAT IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE RED FLAG EVENT WILL NOT
DEVELOP.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS FIRE WEATHER WATCH.

$$
000 
WWAK63 PAFG 140549
RFWAFG

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
949 PM ADT TUE MAY 13 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM ADT THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WIND FOR A PORTION OF THE CENTRAL INTERIOR...

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM ADT THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WIND FOR A PORTION OF THE NORTH SLOPES OF THE ALASKA
RANGE...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WIND IN THE YUKON RIVER
VALLEY...

AKZ223-140700-
/X.EXP.PAFG.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-080514T0600Z/
DELTANA AND TANANA FLATS-
949 PM ADT TUE MAY 13 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM ADT THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WIND...

THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM ADT THIS EVENING. 


$$

AKZ225-140700-
/X.EXP.PAFG.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-080514T0600Z/
DENALI-
949 PM ADT TUE MAY 13 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM ADT THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WIND...

THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM ADT THIS EVENING. 


$$

AKZ226-140700-
/X.EXP.PAFG.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-080514T0600Z/
EASTERN ALASKA RANGE-
949 PM ADT TUE MAY 13 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM ADT THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WIND...

THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM ADT THIS EVENING. 


$$

AKZ224-141600-
/X.CON.PAFG.FW.A.0002.080514T1800Z-080515T0300Z/
UPPER TANANA VALLEY AND THE FORTYMILE COUNTRY-
949 PM ADT TUE MAY 13 2008

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WIND IN THE YUKON RIVER
VALLEY...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

DISCUSSION...SOUTHEAST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO GUST IN EXCESS OF
25 MPH THROUGH THE YUKON RIVER VALLEY ON WEDNESDAY...THESE WINDS
ALONG WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITIES BELOW 30 PER CENT SHOULD CREATE
RED FLAG CONDITIONS EARLY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. WINDS MAY NOT
MATERIALIZE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES.
UPGRADE TO A WARNING IS VERY DEPENDENT ON TIMING THE NEXT SHORT
WAVE.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD LEAD TO
THE POTENTIAL FOR A RED FLAG EVENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THIS WATCH
WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL IT IS UPGRADED TO A RED FLAG WARNING
OR THAT IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE RED FLAG EVENT WILL NOT
DEVELOP.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS FIRE WEATHER WATCH.

$$

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 Fairbanks, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this red flag warning went out at May 13, 12:51 AM AKDT, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 13, 12:51 AM AKDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
551 AM ADT TUE MAY 13 2008

.SYNOPSIS...
ALOFT...CYCLONIC FLOW WILL PERSIST OVER MAINLAND ALASKA WILL
PERSIST INTO THU AS SEVERAL SHORT WAVES MAKE THEIR WAY NORTH INTO
NORTHERN ALASKA. WEAK RIDGING ALOFT WILL REDEVELOP OVER MAINLAND
ALASKA BY THE WEEKEND. THIS MEANS CONDITIONS WILL BE A BIT COOLER
AND MORE CLOUDY WITH ISOLATED/SCATTERED SHOWERS THROUGH FRI AND
THEN A BIT DRIER AND WARMER ON THE WEEKEND.

SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE NORTH OF THE ARCTIC COAST WILL
DISSIPATE WED. NORTHEAST WINDS AND FOG ALONG THE ARCTIC COAST WILL
DECREASE WED.

A SHORT WAVE TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED SURFACE OCCLUDED FRONT THAT
LIES FROM ST LAWRENCE ISLAND TO EAGLE WILL MOVE TO THE BERING
STRAIT TO OLD CROW BY 4PM TUE...TO BARTER ISLAND TO THE BERING
STRAIT BY 4AM WED...TO DEADHORSE TO THE BERING STRAIT BY 4PM
WED...THEN DISSIPATING ALONG A BARROW TO BERING STRAIT LINE BY 4AM
THU. EXPECTED ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS ALONG THIS
TROUGH/FRONT WITH THE PRECIPITATION FALLING AS SNOW ALONG THE
ARCTIC COAST AND WESTERN CAPES OF THE WEST COAST. NORTHEAST WINDS
15-25 KT NORTH OF THE FRONT WILL DECREASE SOUTH OF THE FRONT.
WINDS ALONG WESTERN CAPES OF 30-40 KTS WILL DECREASE SOUTH OF THE
FRONT AS WELL.

A SECOND SHORT WAVE ALONG THE GULF OF ALASKA COAST WILL MOVE TO
BETHEL TO FAIRBANKS BY 4PM TUE AND THEN MERGE WITH THE FIRST SHORT
WAVE BY 4AM WED. WILL SEE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS WITH THIS
AND THEN CLEARING SOUTH OF THE FRONT.

A MODERATE CHINOOK IN THE SOUTHEAST INTERIOR WILL KEEP WINDY
CONDITIONS THERE TODAY AND KEEP CONDITIONS DRIER AS WELL UNTIL
DECREASING TONIGHT.

A THIRD FRONT MOVING NORTH INTO THE SOUTHEAST INTERIOR WED WILL
MOVE TO A DENALI TO OLD CROW LINE BY 4AM THU AND THEN DISSIPATE
THU. WILL SEE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS WITH THIS.

CONVECTION...LIFTED INDEXES WILL NEAR ZERO IN ZONES 217 AND 219
TODAY BUT NO THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
MODELS INITIALIZE WELL AND SHOW SIMILAR SOLUTIONS. THE GFS MOVES
THE SHORT WAVE CURRENTLY IN THE NORTH PACIFIC NORTH FASTER THAN
THE NAM ON WED AND THU. SATELLITE PICTURES SHOWING STRONG
CYCLOGENESIS NOW OCCURRING AND FASTER THAN MODELS INDICATED CAUSE
US TO PREFER THE FASTER GFS SOLUTION.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
WILL NEED TO RE-ISSUE RED FLAG WARNINGS FOR WINDS GUSTING OVER 25
MPH TODAY FOR ZONES 223 224 AND 226

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
FLOOD WARNING FOR THE BUCKLAND RIVER AT BUCKLAND AND
FLOOD WATCH FOR YUKON RIVER AT NULATO AND KOYUKUK.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY FOR AKZ225.

FLOOD WATCH FOR AKZ216.

HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FOR PKZ225-PKZ230.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ210.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230.
&&

JB MAY 08

The office that day

Everything else NWS Fairbanks, AK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 12, 4:09 PM AKDTWind AdvisoryAFG12 hr
May 12, 4:59 PM AKDTFlood WatchAFG17 hr
May 12, 10:54 PM AKDTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG30 hr
May 12, 10:58 PM AKDTGale WarningAFG10 hr
May 13, 7:18 AM AKDTAreal Flood WarningAFG80 days
May 13, 8:06 AM AKDTFire Weather WatchAFG24 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Alaska, 2008Every red flag warning in 2008

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.