Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2011

Red Flag Warning 8, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

March 24, 201112 counties in Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this red flag warning at Mar 24, 2011, 2:38 AM MDT for 12 counties in Colorado. It took effect at Mar 24, 2011, 12:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 8 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 24, 2011, 2:38 AM MDT (08:38 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 24, 2011, 12:00 PM MDT
Expired
Mar 24, 2011, 8:00 PM MDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Counties Adams County, CO, Arapahoe County, CO, Boulder County, CO, Broomfield County, CO, Clear Creek County, CO, Denver County, CO, Douglas County, CO, Elbert County, CO, Gilpin County, CO, Jefferson County, CO, Lincoln County, CO, Park County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 36 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:39 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, 8.6 hours before the alert went out and 145 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 2011-03-24Temperature 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 2011-03-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 35 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
3528 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
75 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
35 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
205 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.

920 
WWUS85 KBOU 240838
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
238 AM MDT THU MAR 24 2011

COZ216-241-246-247-242045-
/O.UPG.KBOU.FW.A.0005.110324T1800Z-110325T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0008.110324T1800Z-110325T0200Z/
JEFFERSON AND WEST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET/GILPIN/CLEAR
CREEK/NORTHEAST PARK COUNTIES BELOW 9000 FEET-
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
238 AM MDT THU MAR 24 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
216...241...246 AND 247...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 216...BAILEY...CENTRAL 
  CITY...EVERGREEN...GEORGETOWN...IDAHO SPRINGS...NORTHERN 
  RAMPART RANGE...TARRYALL...WESTCREEK...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  241...CASTLE ROCK...ELBERT...FONDIS...KIOWA...LARKSPUR...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 246...AGATE...HUGO...LIMON...MATHESON...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 247...FORDER...KARVAL...KUTCH...PUNKIN CENTER. 

* TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE EARLY THURSDAY WITH HUMIDITIES 
  LOWERING THROUGH THE DAY.

* WIND...SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST AT 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH
  WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST AROUND MID AFTERNOON.

* HUMIDITY...WILL FALL TO 8-15% THIS AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL 
  COMBINE TO PRODUCE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE RAPID GROWTH 
  AND SPREAD OF WILDLAND FIRES.

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.

&&

$$

COZ214-239-240-245-242045-
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0008.110324T1800Z-110325T0200Z/
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PARK COUNTY-
BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET/WEST BROOMFIELD
COUNTY-
NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/DENVER/WEST ADAMS AND
ARAPAHOE COUNTIES/EAST BROOMFIELD COUNTY-
CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES-
238 AM MDT THU MAR 24 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
214...239...240 AND 245...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 214...ELEVEN MILE CANYON 
  RESERVOIR...FAIRPLAY...GUFFEY...HARTSEL...LAKE GEORGE...SOUTH 
  PARK...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 239...ARVADA...BOULDER...GOLDEN...
  LAKEWOOD...LONGMONT...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 240...AURORA...
  BRIGHTON...CITY OF DENVER...DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...
  HIGHLANDS RANCH...LITTLETON...PARKER...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  245...BENNETT...BYERS...DEER TRAIL...LEADER.

* TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE EARLY THURSDAY WITH HUMIDITIES 
  LOWERING THROUGH THE DAY.

* WIND...WEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH WILL
  DEVELOP BEHIND A COLD FRONT AROUND MID AFTERNOON.

* HUMIDITY...WILL FALL 10 TO 15 THIS AFTERNOON%

* IMPACTS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL 
  COMBINE TO PRODUCE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE RAPID GROWTH 
  AND SPREAD OF WILDLAND FIRES.

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.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
145 
WWUS85 KBOU 241907
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
107 PM MDT THU MAR 24 2011

COZ214-216-239>241-245>247-250200-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-110325T0200Z/
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PARK COUNTY-
JEFFERSON AND WEST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET/GILPIN/CLEAR
CREEK/NORTHEAST PARK COUNTIES BELOW 9000 FEET-
BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET/WEST BROOMFIELD
COUNTY-
NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/DENVER/WEST ADAMS AND
ARAPAHOE COUNTIES/EAST BROOMFIELD COUNTY-
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-
107 PM MDT THU MAR 24 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 214...
216...239...240...241...245...246 AND 247...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 214...ELEVEN MILE CANYON 
  RESERVOIR...FAIRPLAY...GUFFEY...HARTSEL...LAKE GEORGE...SOUTH 
  PARK...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 216...BAILEY...CENTRAL CITY... 
  EVERGREEN...GEORGETOWN...IDAHO SPRINGS...NORTHERN RAMPART 
  RANGE...TARRYALL...WESTCREEK...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 239... 
  ARVADA...BOULDER...GOLDEN...LAKEWOOD...LONGMONT...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 240...AURORA...BRIGHTON...CITY OF DENVER... 
  DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...HIGHLANDS RANCH...LITTLETON... 
  PARKER...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...WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON WITH
  LOWERING HUMIDITY THROUGH THE DAY.

* WIND...SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH WILL BECOME WESTERLY BY
  LATE AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH BEHIND THE PASSAGE OF A COLD
  FRONT.

* HUMIDITY...10 TO 15 PERCENT CAN BE EXPECTED.

* IMPACTS...STRONG...GUSTY AND SHIFTING WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH
  LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY TO PRODUCE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE
  RAPID GROWTH AND SPREAD OF WILDLAND FIRES.

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.

&&

$$
LESZCYNSKI
319 
WWUS85 KBOU 250201
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
801 PM MDT THU MAR 24 2011

COZ214-216-239>241-245>247-250315-
/O.EXP.KBOU.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-110325T0200Z/
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PARK COUNTY-
JEFFERSON AND WEST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET/GILPIN/CLEAR
CREEK/NORTHEAST PARK COUNTIES BELOW 9000 FEET-
BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET/WEST BROOMFIELD
COUNTY-
NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/DENVER/WEST ADAMS AND
ARAPAHOE COUNTIES/EAST BROOMFIELD COUNTY-
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-
801 PM MDT THU MAR 24 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 214... 216...
239...240...241...245...246 AND 247...

THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING. 

GUSTY WEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL MORE HOURS THIS
EVENING...THOUGH THEY WILL NOT BE AS STRONG AS EARLIER THIS
EVENING. WEST WINDS AT 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH WILL
STILL BE EXPECTED UNTIL LATE EVENING. HUMIDITIES IN THE 20 TO 30
PERCENT RANGE WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE.

$$

GIMMESTAD

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.