Alert archive / Alabama / Red Flag Warnings in 2008

Red Flag Warning 89, NWS Mobile, AL

December 21, 200810 counties in Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this red flag warning at Dec 21, 2008, 2:23 PM CST for 10 counties in Alabama. It took effect at Dec 22, 2008, 8:00 AM CST. It was in force for 12 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
Dec 21, 2008, 2:23 PM CST (20:23 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 22, 2008, 8:00 AM CST
Expired
Dec 22, 2008, 8:00 PM CST
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL

Counties Butler County, AL, Choctaw County, AL, Clarke County, AL, Conecuh County, AL, Covington County, AL, Crenshaw County, AL, Escambia County, AL, Monroe County, AL, Washington County, AL, Wilcox County, AL

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 138 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:28 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

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 182 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, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2008-12-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2008-12-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -170 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
2 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
550 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
70 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-170 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-98 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 
WWUS84 KMOB 212023
RFWMOB

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
223 PM CST SUN DEC 21 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM CST MONDAY FOR
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA DUE TO LONG DURATION OF LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY BELOW 25 PERCENT...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM CST MONDAY FOR THE
NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO LONG DURATION OF LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY BELOW 35 PERCENT...

.DISCUSSION...COLD AND DRY HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE
REGION IN THE WAKE OF A COLD FRONT.  ALTHOUGH TEMPERATURES WILL
BE COOL ON MONDAY...VERY DRY AIR WILL RESULT IN RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES DROPPING BELOW CRITICAL LEVELS ACROSS SOUTHWEST AND
SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA AND THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE.

FLZ001>006-221230-
/O.UPG.KMOB.FW.A.0076.081222T1500Z-081223T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KMOB.FW.W.0089.081222T1400Z-081223T0200Z/
INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-
223 PM CST SUN DEC 21 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM CST MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM CST MONDAY. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

RELATIVE HUMIDITIES ON MONDAY WILL DROP BELOW 35 PERCENT DURING THE
MID MORNING HOURS AND DROP TO NEAR 20 PERCENT FOR SEVERAL HOURS
THROUGH LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$

ALZ051>060-221230-
/O.UPG.KMOB.FW.A.0076.081222T1700Z-081223T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KMOB.FW.W.0089.081222T1600Z-081223T0000Z/
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-
223 PM CST SUN DEC 21 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM CST MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM CST MONDAY. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL DROP BELOW 25 PERCENT LATE MONDAY MORNING
AND FALL TO NEAR 20 PERCENT FOR SEVERAL HOURS THROUGH LATE MONDAY
AFTERNOON.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$

ALZ061>064-221230-
/O.NEW.KMOB.FW.W.0089.081222T1600Z-081223T0000Z/
UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-LOWER BALDWIN-
223 PM CST SUN DEC 21 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM CST MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM CST MONDAY. 

RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL DROP BELOW 25 PERCENT LATE MONDAY
MORNING AND FALL TO NEAR 20 PERCENT FOR SEVERAL HOURS THROUGH LATE
MONDAY AFTERNOON.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS84 KMOB 221119
RFWMOB

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
519 AM CST MON DEC 22 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM CST
THIS AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWEST ALABAMA DUE TO A LONG DURATION OF CRITICALLY
LOW HUMIDITIES WELL BELOW 30 PERCENT...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM CST
THIS EVENING FOR THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO A LONG DURATION
OF CRITICALLY LOW HUMIDITIES WELL BELOW 30 PERCENT...

.DISCUSSION...A LARGE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BRING A VERY DRY
AIRMASS TO THE REGION TODAY. HUMIDITIES ARE FORECAST TO MODERATE BY
TUESDAY AS THE HIGH MOVES EAST OF THE REGION.

FLZ001>006-230200-
/O.CON.KMOB.FW.W.0089.081222T1400Z-081223T0200Z/
INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-
519 AM CST MON DEC 22 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CST THIS
EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CST THIS EVENING.

DEWPOINTS RANGING FROM THE SINGLE DIGITS TO TEENS COMBINED WITH
DAYTIME HIGHS IN THE MID 40S TO NEAR 50 ALONG WITH BRISK NORTHERLY WINDS
WILL CAUSE LOWEST HUMIDITIES TO RANGE FROM 15 TO 20 PERCENT.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG
WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH
POTENTIAL.

$$

ALZ051>064-230000-
/O.CON.KMOB.FW.W.0089.081222T1600Z-081223T0000Z/
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-
519 AM CST MON DEC 22 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO
6 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO
6 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON. 

DEWPOINTS RANGING FROM THE SINGLE DIGITS TO TEENS COMBINED WITH
DAYTIME HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MID 40S ALONG WITH BRISK NORTHERLY
WINDS WILL CAUSE LOWEST HUMIDITIES TO RANGE FROM 15 TO 20 PERCENT.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE
GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$
000 
WWUS84 KMOB 222103
RFWMOB

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
303 PM CST MON DEC 22 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA DUE TO A LONG DURATION OF CRITICALLY LOW
HUMIDITIES BELOW 25 PERCENT...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR THE
WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO A LONG DURATION OF CRITICALLY
LOW HUMIDITIES WELL BELOW 35 PERCENT...

.DISCUSSION...A LARGE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE EASTERN 
UNITED STATES MOVES OFF INTO THE ATLANTIC THROUGH TUESDAY WHILE A
LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ADVANCES ACROSS THE PLAINS.  DRY CONDITIONS AND
LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES BELOW CRITICAL LEVELS THIS AFTERNOON WILL
RETURN ABOVE CRITICAL LEVELS LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY
EVENING HOURS.

ALZ051>064-230000-
/O.CON.KMOB.FW.W.0089.000000T0000Z-081223T0000Z/
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-
303 PM CST MON DEC 22 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON. 

LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES BELOW 25 PERCENT WILL RETURN ABOVE
CRITICAL LEVELS BY 6 PM.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE
GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$

FLZ001>006-230200-
/O.CON.KMOB.FW.W.0089.000000T0000Z-081223T0200Z/
INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-
303 PM CST MON DEC 22 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CST THIS
EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CST THIS EVENING.

LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WELL BELOW 35 PERCENT WILL RETURN ABOVE
CRITICAL LEVELS BY THE EARLY EVENING HOURS.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION
OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE
GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Mobile, AL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 21, 2:50 PM CSTFreeze WarningMOB14 hr
Dec 21, 2:50 PM CSTHard Freeze WarningMOBButler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw and 4 more14 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Alabama, 2008Red Flag Warnings in Florida, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.