Alert archive / Washington / Red Flag Warnings in 2011

Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Seattle, WA

September 6, 201111 counties in Washington

NWS Seattle, WA issued this red flag warning at Sep 6, 2011, 3:17 PM PDT for 11 counties in Washington. It took effect at Sep 7, 2011, 11:00 AM PDT. It was in force for 13 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 6, 2011, 3:17 PM PDT (22:17 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 7, 2011, 11:00 AM PDT
Expired
Sep 8, 2011, 12:00 AM PDT
In force
13 hr
Issued by
NWS Seattle, WA

Counties Clallam County, WA, Grays Harbor County, WA, Jefferson County, WA, King County, WA, Lewis County, WA, Mason County, WA, Pierce County, WA, Skagit County, WA, Skamania County, WA, Snohomish County, WA, Whatcom County, WA

The radar

The Seattle radar (KATX), 74 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:20 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

Quillayute State, WA (KUIL), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 152 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, Quillayute State, WA at 12:00Z on 2011-09-06Temperature 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, Quillayute State, WA at 12:00Z on 2011-09-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 33 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1208 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
33 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
48 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.

747 
WWUS86 KSEW 062217
RFWSEW

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
317 PM PDT TUE SEP 6 2011

...CRITICALLY DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS EXPECTED OVER MOUNTAIN
ZONES ON WEDNESDAY...

.A STRONG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE IS IN PLACE OVER THE NORTHWEST. AS A
RESULT...A STRONG SUBSIDENCE INVERSION WILL SINK DOWN INTO THE
LOWER ELEVATIONS ON WEDNESDAY. LOCATIONS ABOVE THE SUBSIDENCE
INVERSION...ROUGHLY ABOVE 2000 FEET...WILL BE EXPOSED TO AN
EXTREMELY DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS WITH SOLID MID-LEVEL HAINES 6
CONDITIONS.

WAZ658-659-661-071600-
/O.UPG.KSEW.FW.A.0002.110907T1800Z-110909T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KSEW.FW.W.0002.110907T1800Z-110908T0700Z/
NORTH CASCADES-CENTRAL CASCADES-
EAST PORTION OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS-
317 PM PDT TUE SEP 6 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM WEDNESDAY TO MIDNIGHT
PDT WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR CRITICALLY DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS FOR
THE CASCADE AND OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR CRITICALLY DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 11 AM WEDNESDAY TO MIDNIGHT PDT WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 658...659 AND 661...INCLUDING
  OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK...OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST...MOUNT BAKER-
  SNOQUALMIE NATIONAL FOREST...NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK...AND
  MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY ON WEDNESDAY OF
  15-25 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S AND 80S AT
  HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

* HAINES INDEX...MID-LEVEL HAINES 6 (HIGH). HIGH-LEVEL HAINES 5
  (MODERATE). 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

&&

$$

WAZ652-071600-
/O.NEW.KSEW.FW.W.0002.110907T1800Z-110908T0700Z/
WEST PORTION OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS-
317 PM PDT TUE SEP 6 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM WEDNESDAY TO MIDNIGHT
PDT WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR CRITICALLY DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS FOR
THE CASCADE AND OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR CRITICALLY DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 11 AM WEDNESDAY TO MIDNIGHT PDT WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 652...INCLUDING OLYMPIC
  NATIONAL PARK AND OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY ON WEDNESDAY OF
  20-35 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S AND 80S AT
  HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

* HAINES INDEX...MID-LEVEL HAINES 6. HIGH-LEVEL HAINES 5.

* IMPACTS...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

HANER

WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLE
2 follow-up statements
195 
WWUS86 KSEW 071113 CCA
RFWSEW

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
411 AM PDT WED SEP 7 2011

...CRITICALLY DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS EXPECTED OVER MOUNTAIN
ZONES ON WEDNESDAY...

.A STRONG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE IS IN PLACE OVER THE NORTHWEST. AS A
RESULT...A STRONG SUBSIDENCE INVERSION WILL SINK DOWN INTO THE
LOWER ELEVATIONS ON WEDNESDAY. LOCATIONS ABOVE THE SUBSIDENCE
INVERSION...ROUGHLY ABOVE 2000 FEET...WILL BE EXPOSED TO AN
EXTREMELY DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS WITH SOLID MID-LEVEL HAINES 6
CONDITIONS.

WAZ658-659-661-080500-
/O.UPG.KSEW.FW.A.0002.110907T1800Z-110909T0100Z/
/O.COR.KSEW.FW.W.0002.110907T1800Z-110908T0700Z/
NORTH CASCADES-CENTRAL CASCADES-
EAST PORTION OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS-
411 AM PDT WED SEP 7 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM WEDNESDAY TO MIDNIGHT
PDT WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR CRITICALLY DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS FOR
THE CASCADE AND OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR CRITICALLY DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 11 AM WEDNESDAY TO MIDNIGHT PDT WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 658...659 AND 661...INCLUDING
  OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK...OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST...MOUNT BAKER-
  SNOQUALMIE NATIONAL FOREST...NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK...AND
  MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY ON WEDNESDAY OF
  15-25 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S AND 80S AT
  HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

* HAINES INDEX...MID-LEVEL HAINES 6 (HIGH). HIGH-LEVEL HAINES 5
  (MODERATE). 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

WAZ652-080500-
/O.NEW.KSEW.FW.W.0002.110907T1800Z-110908T0700Z/
WEST PORTION OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS-
411 AM PDT WED SEP 7 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM WEDNESDAY TO MIDNIGHT
PDT WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR CRITICALLY DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS FOR
THE CASCADE AND OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR CRITICALLY DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 11 AM WEDNESDAY TO MIDNIGHT PDT WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 652...INCLUDING OLYMPIC
  NATIONAL PARK AND OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY ON WEDNESDAY OF
  20-35 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S AND 80S AT
  HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

* HAINES INDEX...MID-LEVEL HAINES 6. HIGH-LEVEL HAINES 5.

* IMPACTS...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

HANER

WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLE
291 
WWUS86 KSEW 072118
RFWSEW

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
218 PM PDT WED SEP 7 2011

...CRITICALLY DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS EXPECTED OVER MOUNTAIN
ZONES TODAY...

.A STRONG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE IS IN PLACE OVER THE NORTHWEST. AS A
RESULT...A STRONG SUBSIDENCE INVERSION SINKING DOWN INTO THE LOWER
ELEVATIONS TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT. LOCATIONS ABOVE THE SUBSIDENCE
INVERSION...ROUGHLY ABOVE 2000 FEET...WILL BE EXPOSED TO AN
EXTREMELY DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS WITH SOLID MID-LEVEL HAINES 6
CONDITIONS.

WAZ652-658-659-661-080700-
/O.CON.KSEW.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-110908T0700Z/
WEST PORTION OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS-NORTH CASCADES-
CENTRAL CASCADES-EAST PORTION OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS-
218 PM PDT WED SEP 7 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT PDT TONIGHT
FOR CRITICALLY DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE CASCADE AND
OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 658...659...652...AND 661...
  INCLUDING OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK...OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST...
  MOUNT BAKER- SNOQUALMIE NATIONAL FOREST...NORTH CASCADES
  NATIONAL PARK...AND MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY ON WEDNESDAY OF 
  15-25 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S AND 80S AT 
  HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

* HAINES INDEX...MID-LEVEL HAINES 6 (HIGH). HIGH-LEVEL HAINES 5 
  (MODERATE).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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...WARM TEMPERATURES AND
UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

JBB
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLE

The office that day

Everything else NWS Seattle, WA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 6, 12:26 AM PDTSmall Craft AdvisorySEW6 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Washington, 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.