Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2011

Red Flag Warning 5, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

March 19, 20115 counties in Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this red flag warning at Mar 19, 2011, 4:16 AM MDT for 5 counties in Colorado. It took effect at Mar 19, 2011, 12:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 7 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
Mar 19, 2011, 4:16 AM MDT (10:16 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 19, 2011, 12:00 PM MDT
Expired
Mar 19, 2011, 7:00 PM MDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Counties Adams County, CO, Arapahoe County, CO, Douglas County, CO, Elbert County, CO, Lincoln County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 47 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:19 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

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 00:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 100 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, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 2011-03-19Temperature 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 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 2011-03-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 37 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
2227 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
37 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
174 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.

169 
WWUS85 KBOU 191016
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
416 AM MDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...DRY AND WINDY TODAY...

.WARM TEMPERATURES WILL COMBINE WITH STRONG SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST
WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES TO CREATE VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER OVER THE
PALMER DIVIDE REGION TODAY. A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR
THE AREAS WITH THE HIGHEST FIRE DANGER SOUTH AND EAST OF DENVER.
IT WILL ALSO BE DRY AND WINDY IN SURROUNDING AREAS...BUT THE OTHER
AREAS EITHER HAVE HIGHER HUMIDITIES OR HAD RECENT SNOWFALL.

PLANNED BURNING IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE DELAYED IF POSSIBLE...AND
EXTRA CAUTION SHOULD BE USED WITH POTENTIAL SOURCES OF IGNITION
SUCH AS WELDING TORCHES OR OFF ROAD VEHICLES. SOME LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS RESTRICT BURNING WHEN A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN
EFFECT...CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL FIRE OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
FOR DETAILS.

COZ241-245>247-200100-
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0005.110319T1800Z-110320T0100Z/
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
416 AM MDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
241...245...246 AND 247...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM MDT THIS
EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 241...CASTLE ROCK...
  ELBERT...FONDIS...KIOWA...LARKSPUR...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 245...
  BENNETT...BYERS...DEER TRAIL...LEADER...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  246...AGATE...HUGO...LIMON...MATHESON...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  247...FORDER...KARVAL...KUTCH...PUNKIN CENTER.

* TIMING...STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES WILL BECOME WIDESPREAD
  BY NOON...WITH CONDITIONS IMPROVING DURING THE EARLY EVENING.

* WIND...SOUTH WINDS AT 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...MINIMUM HUMIDITIES OF 8 TO 15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...FIRE DANGER WILL BECOME VERY HIGH THIS AFTERNOON.
  FIRES WILL IGNITE EASILY AND SPREAD QUICKLY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE
OFFICIALS AND FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

GIMMESTAD
4 follow-up statements
177 
WWUS85 KBOU 191732
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
1132 AM MDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...ANOTHER VERY DRY...WARM AND WINDY DAY FOR PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL
COLORADO...

.ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES...GUSTY SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST AND VERY LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE WITH DRY FUELS TO CREATE CRITICAL
WILDLAND FIRE DANGER MAINLY ALONG THE PALMER DIVIDE EAST TO
LINCOLN COUNTY AND ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS OF ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE
COUNTIES TODAY. THE HIGHER TERRAIN TO THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST OF
DENVER WILL ALSO SEE WARM AND GUSTY WINDS TODAY...POSSIBLY AS
STRONG AS 35 TO 45 MPH...BUT FUELS IN THESE AREAS ARE RELATIVELY
WET DUE TO THE RECENT SNOWFALL.

PRESCIBE BURNING IN AREAS UNDER THIS RED FLAG WARNING SHOULD BE
POSTPONED...AND EXTRA CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN USING POTENTIAL
SOURCES OF IGNITION SUCH AS FIRE PITS...BAR-BE- QUES...WELDING
TORCHES AND WHEN OFF ROADING. SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENTS RESTRICT
BURNING WHEN A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT. CHECK WITH YOUR
LOCAL FIRE OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR DETAILS.

COZ241-245>247-200100-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0005.110319T1800Z-110320T0100Z/
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
1132 AM MDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 241...
245...246 AND 247...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 241...CASTLE ROCK... 
  ELBERT...FONDIS...KIOWA...LARKSPUR...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 245... 
  BENNETT...BYERS...DEER TRAIL...LEADER...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  246... AGATE...HUGO...LIMON...MATHESON...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  247... FORDER...KARVAL...KUTCH...PUNKIN CENTER.

* TIMING...GUSTY WINDS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITIES ARE LIKELY THIS
  AFTERNOON...BUT BY EARLY THIS EVENING WIND SPEEDS WILL BEGIN TO
  DECREASE AS RELATIVE HUMIDITIES RISE.

* WIND...SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL BE COMMON
  BY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF HIGHER GUSTS
  TO 40 MPH BY MID-AFTERNOON.

* HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL LOWER TO 7 TO 15
  PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON DURING MAXIMUM HEATING. 

* IMPACTS...THE GUSTY WINDS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITIES WILL PRODUCE
  FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE GROWTH AND SPREAD OF WILDFIRE
  THROUGH VERY DRY AND CURED FUELS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE
OFFICIALS AND FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$
BAKER
690 
WWUS85 KBOU 191734
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
1134 AM MDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...CORRECTION FOR MISSING WORD IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH...

...ANOTHER VERY DRY...WARM AND WINDY DAY FOR PARTS OF EAST
CENTRAL COLORADO...

.ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES...GUSTY SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS AND
VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE WITH DRY FUELS TO CREATE
CRITICAL WILDLAND FIRE DANGER MAINLY ALONG THE PALMER DIVIDE EAST
TO LINCOLN COUNTY AND ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS OF ADAMS AND
ARAPAHOE COUNTIES TODAY. THE HIGHER TERRAIN TO THE WEST AND
SOUTHWEST OF DENVER WILL ALSO SEE WARM AND GUSTY WINDS TODAY...
POSSIBLY AS STRONG AS 35 TO 45 MPH...BUT FUELS IN THESE AREAS ARE
RELATIVELY WET DUE TO THE RECENT SNOWFALL.

PRESCIBE BURNING IN AREAS UNDER THIS RED FLAG WARNING SHOULD BE
POSTPONED...AND EXTRA CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN USING POTENTIAL
SOURCES OF IGNITION SUCH AS FIRE PITS...BAR-BE- QUES...WELDING
TORCHES AND WHEN OFF ROADING. SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENTS RESTRICT
BURNING WHEN A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT. CHECK WITH YOUR
LOCAL FIRE OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR DETAILS.

COZ241-245>247-200100-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0005.110319T1800Z-110320T0100Z/
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
1134 AM MDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 241...
245...246 AND 247...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 241...CASTLE ROCK... 
  ELBERT...FONDIS...KIOWA...LARKSPUR...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 245... 
  BENNETT...BYERS...DEER TRAIL...LEADER...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  246... AGATE...HUGO...LIMON...MATHESON...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  247... FORDER...KARVAL...KUTCH...PUNKIN CENTER.

* TIMING...GUSTY WINDS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITIES ARE LIKELY THIS 
  AFTERNOON...BUT BY EARLY THIS EVENING WIND SPEEDS WILL BEGIN 
  TO DECREASE AS RELATIVE HUMIDITIES RISE.

* WIND...SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL BE 
  COMMON BY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF 
  HIGHER GUSTS TO 40 MPH BY MID-AFTERNOON.

* HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL LOWER TO 7 TO 15 
  PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON DURING MAXIMUM HEATING.

* IMPACTS...THE GUSTY WINDS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITIES WILL 
  PRODUCE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE GROWTH AND SPREAD OF 
  WILDFIRE THROUGH VERY DRY AND CURED FUELS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE
OFFICIALS AND FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$
595 
WWUS85 KBOU 192149
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
349 PM MDT SAT MAR 19 2011

COZ241-245>247-200100-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-110320T0100Z/
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
349 PM MDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 241...
245...246 AND 247...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 241...CASTLE ROCK... 
  ELBERT...FONDIS...KIOWA...LARKSPUR...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 245... 
  BENNETT...BYERS...DEER TRAIL...LEADER...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  246... AGATE...HUGO...LIMON...MATHESON...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  247... FORDER...KARVAL...KUTCH...PUNKIN CENTER.

* TIMING...GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITIES LATE THIS
  AFTERNOON...WILL TRANSITION TO LIGHTER WINDS AND HIGHER HUMIDITIES
  THIS EVENING.

* WIND...SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH AND GUSTS TO 40
  MPH FOR THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON...WILL DECREASE TO UNDER 20
  MPH THIS EVENING.

* HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES OF 8 TO 15 PERCENT THIS
  AFTERNOON WILL RISE TO ABOVE 25 PERCENT IN THE EVENING.

* IMPACTS...THE GUSTY WINDS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITIES WILL 
  PRODUCE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE GROWTH AND SPREAD OF 
  WILDFIRE THROUGH VERY DRY AND CURED FUELS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE
OFFICIALS AND FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$
BAKER
414 
WWUS85 KBOU 200105
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
705 PM MDT SAT MAR 19 2011


COZ241-245>247-200215-
/O.EXP.KBOU.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-110320T0100Z/
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
705 PM MDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 241...245...246 AND 247...

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 


$$

Nearby

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