Alert archive / Alaska / Red Flag Warnings in 2011

Red Flag Warning 17, NWS Fairbanks, AK

September 13, 2011

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this red flag warning at Sep 13, 2011, 10:21 AM AKDT. It took effect at Sep 13, 2011, 12:00 PM AKDT. It was in force for 10 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
Sep 13, 2011, 10:21 AM AKDT (18:21 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 13, 2011, 12:00 PM AKDT
Expired
Sep 13, 2011, 10:00 PM AKDT
In force
10 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

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

955 
WWAK63 PAFG 131821
RFWAFG

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1021 AM AKDT TUE SEP 13 2011

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

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

AKZ223-140600-
/X.NEW.PAFG.FW.W.0017.110913T2000Z-110914T0600Z/
DELTANA AND TANANA FLATS-
1021 AM AKDT TUE SEP 13 2011

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

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

* 20 FT WINDS...SOUTH WINDS GUSTING TO 40 MPH WILL DEVELOP
  THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...LOW HUMIDITIES OF 28% ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON 

* TEMPERATURES...HIGH TEMPERATURES OF 65 TO 70 WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON.

* TIMING...RED FLAG CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND 
  CONTINUE THROUGH 10 PM. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.NEW.PAFG.FW.W.0017.110913T2000Z-110914T0600Z/
DENALI-
1021 AM AKDT TUE SEP 13 2011

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

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

* 20 FT WINDS...SOUTH WINDS GUSTING TO 40 MPH ARE NOW OCCURRING IN PASSES 
  AND WILL GUST TO 55 MPH THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...LOW HUMIDITIES OF 30-40% ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON 

* TEMPERATURES...HIGH TEMPERATURES OF 60-65 WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON.

* TIMING...RED FLAG CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND 
  CONTINUE THROUGH 10 PM. 


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.NEW.PAFG.FW.W.0017.110913T2000Z-110914T0600Z/
EASTERN ALASKA RANGE-
1021 AM AKDT TUE SEP 13 2011

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

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

* 20 FT WINDS...SOUTH WINDS GUSTING TO 40 MPH ARE NOW OCCURRING IN PASSES 
  AND WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...LOW HUMIDITIES OF 28% ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON 

* TEMPERATURES...HIGH TEMPERATURES NEAR 65 WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON.

* TIMING...RED FLAG CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND 
  CONTINUE THROUGH 10 PM. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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
648 
WWAK63 PAFG 132128
RFWAFG

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
128 PM AKDT TUE SEP 13 2011

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

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

AKZ223-140600-
/X.CON.PAFG.FW.W.0017.000000T0000Z-110914T0600Z/
DELTANA AND TANANA FLATS-
128 PM AKDT TUE SEP 13 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM AKDT THIS
EVENING FOR STRONG WIND NEAR DELTA JUNCTION...

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

* 20 FT WINDS...SOUTHEAST 20 MPH GUSTING TO 45 MPH NEAR DELTA JUNCTION.
  WINDS WILL DECREASE AFTER MIDNIGHT. 
 
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 25 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...HIGHS NEAR 70.

* TIMING...RED FLAG CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 10 PM TONIGHT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.0017.000000T0000Z-110914T0600Z/
DENALI-
128 PM AKDT TUE SEP 13 2011

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

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

* 20 FT WINDS...SOUTHEAST 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH IN PASSES.
  WINDS WILL DECREASE AFTER MIDNIGHT.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...30 TO 40 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE 60S.

* TIMING...RED FLAG CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 10 PM IN PASSES. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.0017.000000T0000Z-110914T0600Z/
EASTERN ALASKA RANGE-
128 PM AKDT TUE SEP 13 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM AKDT THIS
EVENING FOR STRONG WIND IN PASSES WEST OF THE TOK CUTOFF...

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

* 20 FT WINDS...SOUTH 25 MPH GUSTING TO 45 MPH IN PASSES WEST 
  OF THE TOK CUTOFF. WINDS WILL DECREASE AFTER MIDNIGHT. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...25-35 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...65 TO 70.

* TIMING...RED FLAG CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 10 PM
  IN PASSES WEST OF THE TOK CUTOFF. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$
752 
WWAK63 PAFG 140544
RFWAFG

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
944 PM AKDT TUE SEP 13 2011

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

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

AKZ223-140645-
/X.EXP.PAFG.FW.W.0017.000000T0000Z-110914T0600Z/
DELTANA AND TANANA FLATS-
944 PM AKDT TUE SEP 13 2011

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

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

WINDS HAVE DIMINISHED TO LESS THAN 30 MPH AND THE RELATIVE
HUMIDITY HAS INCREASED TO MORE THAN 30 PERCENT OVER THE DELTANA 
AND TANANA FLATS.  

$$

AKZ225-140645-
/X.EXP.PAFG.FW.W.0017.000000T0000Z-110914T0600Z/
DENALI-
944 PM AKDT TUE SEP 13 2011

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

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

WINDS HAVE DIMINISHED TO LESS THAN 35 MPH AND THE RELATIVE 
HUMIDITY HAS INCREASED TO MORE THAN 40 PERCENT OVER THE DENALI
ZONE.

$$

AKZ226-140645-
/X.EXP.PAFG.FW.W.0017.000000T0000Z-110914T0600Z/
EASTERN ALASKA RANGE-
944 PM AKDT TUE SEP 13 2011

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

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

WINDS HAVE DIMINISHED TO LESS THAN 30 MPH AND THE RELATIVE
HUMIDITY HAS INCREASED TO MORE THAN 30 PERCENT OVER THE EASTERN
ALASKA RANGE.

$$

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 Sep 13, 4:22 AM AKDT, 5 hours 59 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 13, 4:22 AM AKDT, 5 hours 59 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
422 AM AKDT TUE SEP 13 2011

.DISCUSSION...
THERE IS AN UPPER LOW IN THE NW BERING SEA EARLY THIS MORNING WITH
A TROUGH EXTENDING FROM THE LOW CENTER TO SOUTHEAST TO NIKOLSKI.
SHORTWAVE ENERGY ROTATING AROUND THE MAIN LOW CENTER WILL CAUSE
THE LOW TO RE-ORGANIZE FURTHER EAST NEAR THE PRIBILOF'S TONIGHT.
THE LOW IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO BRISTOL BAY BY 00Z FRI. A STRONG
RIDGE EXTENDS FROM THE NORTHEAST PAC AND THROUGH BC AND INTO
NORTHERN AK THIS MORNING. THE RIDGE WILL GRADUALLY GET NUDGED EAST
THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS BY THE ENERGY IN THE BERING SEA. A PIECE
OF THE RIDGE IS EXPECTED TO SPLIT OFF ACROSS THE SOUTHERN CHUKCHI
SEA WEDNESDAY.

SURFACE...A 990 MB LOW ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW ALOFT IN THE NW
BERING SEA MOVES IN STEP WITH THE UPPER LOW...ENDING UP IN
BRISTOL BAY BY 00Z FRI. LITTLE CHANGE IN THE DEPTH OF THE LOW IS
EXPECTED AS IT MOVES EAST. ANOTHER LOW IN THE SOUTHEAST BERING SEA
THIS MORNING ROTATES OUT TO THE NORTHWEST AND PASSES SOUTH OF ST
LAWRENCE ISLAND TONIGHT AND CONTINUE WEST INTO THE WESTERN BERING
SEA AND WEAKENS THURSDAY. A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS CENTRAL
RUSSIA WILL EXPAND TO THE EAST ACROSS THE CHUKCHI AND BEAUFORT
SEAS THROUGH THU.

INTERIOR...A WARM AIRMASS FOR MID-SEPTEMBER WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE
INTERIOR THROUGH MID WEEK. THE 850 MB TEMP ON THE 00Z SOUNDING WAS
+8C...AND HAS CONTINUED TO WARM TO +12C AT 12Z THIS MORNING.
HIGHS YESTERDAY WERE IN THE 60S...AND TODAY SHOULD BE JUST AS
WARM...AND IN MOST AREAS A LITTLE WARMER. CERTAINLY IN LOW
ELEVATION AREAS WHERE THERE IS ENOUGH SUN TEMPS WILL HIT 70
DEGREES (IN ALL LIKELIHOOD FOR THE LAST TIME THIS YEAR). THERE ARE
MORE SCRAPS OF HIGH AND MID LEVEL CLOUDS EVIDENT ON SAT PICTS
MOVING NORTH FROM A WEAK LOW IN THE GULF WHICH IF THERE WAS ENOUGH
CLOUD COVER IT COULD CUT DOWN A BIT ON THE HEATING. CHINOOK FLOW
MAYBE ENOUGH THOU TO COUNTERACT SOME INCREASE IN THE CLOUD COVER
TODAY. AS THE RIDGE AXIS ALOFT MOVES EAST AND A WEAK SURFACE RIDGE
DEVELOPS SOUTH OF THE ALASKA RANGE THERE WILL BE SUPPORT BOTH
SURFACE AND ALOFT FOR STRONGER WIND IN THE AK RANGE PASSES. WIND
GUSTS TO AROUND 50 MPH ARE LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT AT
WINDY PASS WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH IN THE NORMAL WINDY SPOTS IN/NEAR
THE EASTERN AK RANGE BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON. MAINLY DRY THE NEXT
COUPLE OF DAYS WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS POSSIBLE THIS MORNING ALONG
THE SOUTH SLOPES OF THE AK RANGE. A SHORTWAVE MOVES NORTH ACROSS
THE INTERIOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY WITH A FEW SHOWERS.

NORTH SLOPE...AS THE LOW LEVEL FLOW HAS BECOME WEAKLY ONSHORE THERE
ARE PATCHES OF STATUS AND FOG ALONG THE BEAUFORT SEA COAST. THE
VISIBILITY AT DEADHORSE IS 1/4 MILE OR LESS EARLY THIS MORNING AND
WILL ADD A DENSE FOG HEADLINE FOR ZONE 203 THIS MORNING. THE
VISIBILITY AT OTHER SITES ALONG THE BEAUFORT SEA COAST HAS BEEN
ONE MILE OR LESS AT TIMES. MUCH OF THE FOG WILL LIKELY BE DIURNAL
AND WILL LIFT BY LATE THIS MORNING. OTHERWISE THERE ARE ONLY A FEW
SCRAPS OF HIGH/MID LEVEL CLOUDS EVIDENT ON SAT PICTS EARLY THIS
MORNING. AS THE HIGH BEGINS TO BUILD OFFSHORE THE ELY FLOW WILL
INCREASE...AND AREAS OF STATUS AND FOG SHOULD BECOME MORE EXTENSIVE
BY MID WEEK. TEMPERATURES WHICH HAVE BEEN WELL ABOVE NORMAL WILL
TREND TOWARD MORE SEASONABLE LEVELS AS THE ELY FLOW STRENGTHS THE
NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

WEST COAST...SHORTWAVES ROTATING AROUND THE LOW IN THE BERING SEA
WILL PRODUCE SOME SHOWERS/AREAS OF RAIN ALONG PARTS OF THE WEST
COAST TODAY AND TONIGHT FROM THE SEWARD PENINSULA SOUTH. THE BEST
CHANCE OF RAIN WILL BE FROM NOME WEST TO SAINT LAWRENCE ISLAND
TONIGHT AS A SHORTWAVE MOVES THROUGH.

MID-RANGE GUIDANCE IN BROAD AGREEMENT EARLY IN THE MID-RANGE...WITH
LOW ALOFT OVR BRISTOL BAY DECAYING INTO A WEAK FLOW REGIME OVER
NORTHERN ALASKA BY LATE FRI. THEREAFTER MODELS DIVERGE ON HANDLING
DEVELOPING LOWS OVER THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS...SIBERIA AND NRN
GREENLAND. MUCH OF THIS UNCERTAINTY IS PERIPHERAL TO NORTHERN ALASKA
BUT ULTIMATELY WILL IMPACT TEMPS AND PRECIP CHANGES. 00Z MON RMOPS
FROM THE GFS SHOW FAIRLY LOW PREDICTABILITY OVR MOST OF THE CWA. AT
THIS POINT WE HAVE OPTED TO LEAN TOWARD HPC GUIDANCE THOUGH
CONFIDENCE BEYOND DAY FIVE LOWER THAN USUAL.

COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAYS 3 AND 4...NONE.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...MIN RH'S WILL DROP TO 30 TO 35 PCT IN MUCH OF THE
CENTRAL AND EASTERN INTERIOR THIS AFTERNOON. CHINOOK FLOW
INCREASES TODAY WITH WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH POSSIBLE BY THIS
AFTERNOON AT WINDY PASS...AND TO 40 MPH IN PASSES WEST OF THE TOK
CUTOFF. CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY BE CLOSE TO RED FLAG CRITERIA AT
DELTA JUNCTION FROM 2-7 PM TODAY.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...NONE.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR PKZ225-PKZ230.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS FOR PKZ210.
&&

CB/RT SEP 11

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 13, 1:53 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG3 days
Sep 13, 2:02 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG12 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Alaska, 2011Every red flag warning in 2011

Sources

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