Alert archive / Arizona / Red Flag Warnings in 2009

Red Flag Warning 13, NWS Phoenix, AZ

October 27, 20094 counties in Arizona; Imperial County, Riverside County, California

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this red flag warning at Oct 27, 2009, 1:51 PM MST for 4 counties in Arizona; Imperial County, Riverside County, California. It took effect at Oct 28, 2009, 11:00 AM MST. It was in force for 6 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
Oct 27, 2009, 1:51 PM MST (20:51 UTC)
In effect from
Oct 28, 2009, 11:00 AM MST
Expired
Oct 28, 2009, 5:00 PM MST
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Phoenix, AZ

Counties La Paz County, AZ, Maricopa County, AZ, Pinal County, AZ, Yuma County, AZ, Imperial County, CA, Riverside County, CA

The radar

The Yuma radar (KYUX), 113 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:54 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

Yuma Intl Airpor, AZ (KYUM), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 97 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, Yuma Intl Airpor, AZ at 12:00Z on 2009-10-27Temperature 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°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Yuma Intl Airpor, AZ at 12:00Z on 2009-10-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 105 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
4961 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
105 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
138 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 
WWUS85 KPSR 272051
RFWPSR

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
151 PM MST TUE OCT 27 2009

AZZ131-132-CAZ231-232-280900-
/O.UPG.KPSR.FW.A.0009.091028T1800Z-091029T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KPSR.FW.W.0013.091028T1500Z-091029T0000Z/
/O.CON.KPSR.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-091028T0300Z/
ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 131                                    
YUMA/MARTINEZ LAKE AND VICINITY/LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY AZ-
ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 132                                    
SOUTH-CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST DESERTS-
CALIFORNIA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 231                                 
LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY CA-
CALIFORNIA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 232                                 
IMPERIAL COUNTY AND EASTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY-
151 PM MST TUE OCT 27 2009 /151 PM PDT TUE OCT 27 2009/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST /8 PM PDT/
THIS EVENING FOR THE DESERTS OF SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA...THE LOWER
COLORADO RIVER VALLEY FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW HUMIDITY...AND HIGH
FIRE DANGER...

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM MST /8 AM PDT/ TO 5 PM
MST /5 PM PDT/ WEDNESDAY FOR THE DESERTS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA
FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW HUMIDITY...AND HIGH FIRE DANGER...

WINDS CONTINUE TO INCREASE ACROSS THE AREA AS A STRONG COLD FRONT
SWEEPS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH. WINDS HAVE ALREADY REACHED RED FLAG
CRITERIA IN PARTS OF SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA...AND WINDS WILL SLOWLY
TAPER OFF TONIGHT. HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO ABOVE 15
PERCENT THIS EVENING. 

THE STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL MOVE
ACROSS THE SOUTHWESTERN STATES THIS EVENING. WINDY CONDITIONS WILL
DEVELOP TONIGHT AND LINGER INTO WEDNESDAY FOR THE ARIZONA DESERTS.
LOW HUMIDITY WILL ALSO OCCUR WITH THESE STRONG WINDS...THUS CRITICAL
FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE NOW EXPECTED FOR ZONE 132 WEDNESDAY.

THE WINDY AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH LATE WEDNESDAY.
WINDS WILL DROP TO BELOW CRITICAL THRESHOLDS BY WEDNESDAY EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

AZZ133-CAZ230-280300-
/O.CON.KPSR.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-091028T0300Z/
ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 133                                    
SOUTHERN GILA COUNTY/TONTO NATIONAL FOREST FOOTHILLS-
CALIFORNIA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 230                                 
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK-
151 PM MST TUE OCT 27 2009 /151 PM PDT TUE OCT 27 2009/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST
/8 PM PDT/ THIS EVENING...FOR SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHWEST
AND SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA...FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW HUMIDITY AND
A HIGH FIRE DANGER...

AN UNSEASONABLY STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED COLD
FRONT IS MOVING ACROSS THE SOUTHWESTERN STATES. WINDS HAVE BEEN
CLOCKED AT UP TO 42 MPH AT JOSHUA TREE NP WITH RH BELOW 15 PERCENT.
WINDS HAVE BEEN STRONG IN THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN GILA COUNTY AS
GUSTS TO 48 MPH WERE RECORDED IN THE PINAL MOUNTAINS NEAR GLOBE.
TEMPERATURES WILL FALL RAPIDLY TONIGHT...ALLOWING RH VALUES TO
RECOVER SOMEWHAT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$
SIPPLE
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS85 KPSR 280248
RFWPSR

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
748 PM MST TUE OCT 27 2009

AZZ131-132-CAZ231-232-281500-
/O.EXP.KPSR.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-091028T0300Z/
/O.CON.KPSR.FW.W.0013.091028T1500Z-091029T0000Z/
ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 131                                    
YUMA/MARTINEZ LAKE AND VICINITY/LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY AZ-
ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 132                                    
SOUTH-CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST DESERTS-
CALIFORNIA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 231                                 
LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY CA-
CALIFORNIA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 232                                 
IMPERIAL COUNTY AND EASTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY-
748 PM MST TUE OCT 27 2009 /748 PM PDT TUE OCT 27 2009/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM MST /8 AM PDT/ TO
5 PM MST /5 PM PDT/ WEDNESDAY...
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MST /8 PM PDT/ THIS
EVENING...

THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MST /8 PM PDT/ THIS
EVENING. A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM MST /8 AM
PDT/ TO 5 PM MST /5 PM PDT/ WEDNESDAY. 

A STRONG COLD FRONT CONTINUES TO PUSH SOUTHEASTWARD ACROSS CENTRAL
ARIZONA THIS EVENING. GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS TO AROUND 30 MPH ARE
BEING OBSERVED BEHIND THE FRONT. AS THE TEMPERATURE COOLS...RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES WILL BE INCREASING TO ABOVE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
THRESHOLDS. THEREFORE...THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO
EXPIRE AT 8 PM MST/ 8 PM PDT/ THIS EVENING. 

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM MST /8 AM
PDT/ TO 5 PM MST /5 PM PDT/ WEDNESDAY. WINDY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE
INTO WEDNESDAY AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO MOVE ACROSS THE
SOUTHWEST. A DRY AIRMASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE...WITH HUMIDITIES
EXCEEDING CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER THRESHOLDS DURING THE LATE MORNING
INTO THE LATE AFTERNOON.

THE WINDY AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH LATE WEDNESDAY.
WINDS WILL DROP TO BELOW CRITICAL THRESHOLDS BY WEDNESDAY
EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

AZZ133-CAZ230-280400-
/O.EXP.KPSR.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-091028T0300Z/
ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 133                                    
SOUTHERN GILA COUNTY/TONTO NATIONAL FOREST FOOTHILLS-
CALIFORNIA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 230                                 
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK-
748 PM MST TUE OCT 27 2009 /748 PM PDT TUE OCT 27 2009/

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MST /8 PM PDT/ THIS
EVENING...

THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MST /8 PM PDT/ THIS
EVENING.

A STRONG COLD FRONT CONTINUES TO PUSH SOUTHEASTWARD ACROSS CENTRAL
ARIZONA THIS EVENING. GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS TO AROUND 30 MPH ARE
BEING OBSERVED BEHIND THE FRONT. AS THE TEMPERATURE COOLS...RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES WILL BE INCREASING TO ABOVE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
THRESHOLDS. THEREFORE...THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO
EXPIRE AT 8 PM MST/ 8 PM PDT/ THIS EVENING. 

$$
000 
WWUS85 KPSR 281153
RFWPSR

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
453 AM MST WED OCT 28 2009

AZZ131-132-CAZ231-232-290000-
/O.EXT.KPSR.FW.W.0013.091028T1800Z-091029T0000Z/
ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 131                                    
YUMA/MARTINEZ LAKE AND VICINITY/LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY AZ-
ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 132                                    
SOUTH-CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST DESERTS-
CALIFORNIA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 231                                 
LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY CA-
CALIFORNIA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 232                                 
IMPERIAL COUNTY AND EASTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY-
453 AM MST WED OCT 28 2009 /453 AM PDT WED OCT 28 2009/

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM MST /11 AM PDT/ THIS
MORNING TO 5 PM MST /5 PM PDT/ THIS AFTERNOON...

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM MST /11 AM PDT/
THIS MORNING TO 5 PM MST /5 PM PDT/ THIS AFTERNOON. 

DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP ONCE AGAIN LATE THIS
MORNING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. WINDY CONDITIONS...SUSTAINED
20-FOOT WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH...WILL CONTINUE
TODAY AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST. THE
STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE ACROSS SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHWEST
ARIZONA...INCLUDING THE WESTERN HALF OF FIRE WEATHER ZONE 132. A DRY
AIRMASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE...WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES FALLING
BELOW 15 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON.

THE WINDY AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH LATER TODAY AS
WINDS DROP BELOW CRITICAL THRESHOLDS AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES
INCREASE DUE TO MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES MOVING IN FROM THE NORTH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

INIGUEZ

The office that day

Everything else NWS Phoenix, AZ issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 27, 2:36 AM MSTFire Weather WatchPSRLa Paz, Maricopa, Pinal, Yuma11 hr
Oct 27, 3:36 PM MSTBlowing Dust AdvisoryPSR5 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Arizona, 2009Red Flag Warnings in California, 2009Every red flag warning in 2009

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.