Alert archive / Nevada / Red Flag Warnings in 2011

Red Flag Warning 1, NWS Las Vegas, NV

April 29, 2011Clark County, Nevada; San Bernardino County, California; Mohave County, Arizona

NWS Las Vegas, NV issued this red flag warning at Apr 29, 2011, 2:53 PM PDT for Clark County, Nevada; San Bernardino County, California; Mohave County, Arizona. It took effect at Apr 30, 2011, 2:00 AM PDT. It was in force for 19 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
Apr 29, 2011, 2:53 PM PDT (21:53 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 30, 2011, 2:00 AM PDT
Expired
Apr 30, 2011, 9:00 PM PDT
In force
19 hr
Issued by
NWS Las Vegas, NV

Counties Mohave County, AZ, San Bernardino County, CA, Clark County, NV

The radar

The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 15 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:59 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

Las Vegas, NV (KVEF), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 101 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, Las Vegas, NV at 12:00Z on 2011-04-29Temperature 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, Las Vegas, NV at 12:00Z on 2011-04-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -53 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
3438 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
58 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-53 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
120 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.

564 
WWUS85 KVEF 292153
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
253 PM PDT FRI APR 29 2011

.A STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST THROUGH THE
GREAT BASIN TODAY AND SATURDAY. STRONG NORTH WINDS BEHIND THE
COLD FRONT WILL OCCUR WITHIN THE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY SATURDAY.

AZZ101-CAZ229-NVZ466-300600-
/O.UPG.KVEF.FW.A.0002.110430T1700Z-110501T0400Z/
/O.NEW.KVEF.FW.W.0001.110430T1500Z-110501T0400Z/
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE-
253 PM PDT FRI APR 29 2011 /253 PM MST FRI APR 29 2011/

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM PDT /8 AM MST/ TO 9 PM
PDT /9 PM MST/ SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAS VEGAS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FIRE WEATHER 
ZONES 101 - 229 AND 466...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM PDT /8 AM
MST/ TO 9 PM PDT /9 PM MST/ SATURDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT.

NORTH WINDS WILL INCREASE DOWN THE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY
FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT FRIDAY NIGHT. SUSTAINED
NORTH WINDS OF 25 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 45 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.
EVEN THOUGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLDER ON SATURDAY VERY DRY AIR
BEHIND THE COLD FRONT WILL LEAD TO RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES AS LOW
AS 5 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR ARE IMMINENT. A COMBINATION OF STRONG
WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE
EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
5 follow-up statements
091 
WWUS85 KVEF 300528
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
1028 PM PDT FRI APR 29 2011

AZZ101-CAZ229-NVZ466-301700-
/O.CON.KVEF.FW.W.0001.110430T1500Z-110501T0400Z/
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE-
1028 PM PDT FRI APR 29 2011 /1028 PM MST FRI APR 29 2011/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM PDT /8 AM MST/ TO
9 PM PDT /9 PM MST/ SATURDAY...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM PDT /8 AM MST/ TO
9 PM PDT /9 PM MST/ SATURDAY FOR THE LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION
AREA AND COLORADO RIVER VALLEY.

NORTH WINDS WILL INCREASE DOWN THE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY SATURDAY BEHIND
A COLD FRONT. SUSTAINED NORTH WINDS OF 25 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER
45 MPH ARE LIKELY. EVEN THOUGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOLER ON SATURDAY
VERY DRY AIR BEHIND THE COLD FRONT WILL LEAD TO RELATIVE HUMIDITY
VALUES AS LOW AS 5 PERCENT. WINDS WILL DECREASE SATURDAY EVENING. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR ARE IMMINENT. A COMBINATION OF STRONG
WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE
EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
723 
WWUS85 KVEF 300857
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
157 AM PDT SAT APR 30 2011

AZZ101-CAZ229-NVZ466-301700-
/O.EXT.KVEF.FW.W.0001.110430T0900Z-110501T0400Z/
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE-
157 AM PDT SAT APR 30 2011 /157 AM MST SAT APR 30 2011/

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT /9 PM MST/ THIS
EVENING DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 101 - 229 AND 466...

THE RED FLAG WARNING FOR THE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY IS NOW IN
EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM THIS EVENING.

SUSTAINED NORTH WINDS OF 25 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 45 MPH WILL
COMBINE WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AS LOW AS 5 PERCENT TO PRODUCE
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR ARE IMMINENT. A COMBINATION OF STRONG
WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE
EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

MORGAN
265 
WWUS85 KVEF 301654
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
954 AM PDT SAT APR 30 2011

AZZ101-CAZ229-NVZ466-010100-
/O.CON.KVEF.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110501T0400Z/
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE-
954 AM PDT SAT APR 30 2011 /954 AM MST SAT APR 30 2011/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT /9 PM MST/
THIS EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT /9 PM MST/
THIS EVENING FOR THE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY.

SUSTAINED NORTH WINDS OF 25 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 45 MPH WILL
COMBINE WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AS LOW AS 5 PERCENT TO PRODUCE
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY.

AS OF 930 THIS MORNING...RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES HAD GENERALLY
LOWERED TO 15 PERCENT OR LESS WITH SOME REMOTE SENSORS ALREADY
REPORTING LESS THAN 10 PERCENT. MEANWHILE WIND GUSTS TO OVER 40
MPH HAD ALSO BEEN REPORTED IN THE NEEDLES AND BULLHEAD CITY AREAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR ARE IMMINENT. A COMBINATION OF STRONG
WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE
EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
282 
WWUS85 KVEF 302234
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
334 PM PDT SAT APR 30 2011

AZZ101-CAZ229-NVZ466-010400-
/O.CON.KVEF.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110501T0400Z/
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE-
334 PM PDT SAT APR 30 2011 /334 PM MST SAT APR 30 2011/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT /9 PM MST/
THIS EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT /9 PM MST/
THIS EVENING FOR THE LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER AZ SIDE...LOWER
COLORADO RIVER VALLEY...LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER NV SIDE.

SUSTAINED NORTH WINDS OF 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO OVER 35 MPH
ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON
BEFORE DECREASING THIS EVENING. THESE WINDS ALONG WITH MINIMUM
RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES OF BETWEEN 5 AND 10 PERCENT WILL CONTINUE
TO CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. 

ALTHOUGH POOR RELATIVE HUMIDITY RECOVERIES ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT...
THE DECREASING WINDS WILL DECREASE THE CURRENT CRITICAL
CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT.

GUSTY WINDS ARE ONCE AGAIN EXPECTED ON SUNDAY...BUT WIND SPEEDS
ARE EXPECTED TO BE BELOW THE 35 MPH THRESHOLD NEEDED FOR A RED
FLAG WARNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR ARE IMMINENT. A COMBINATION OF STRONG
WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE
EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
986 
WWUS85 KVEF 010334
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
834 PM PDT SAT APR 30 2011

AZZ101-CAZ229-NVZ466-010445-
/O.EXP.KVEF.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110501T0400Z/
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE-
834 PM PDT SAT APR 30 2011 /834 PM MST SAT APR 30 2011/

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM PDT /9 PM MST/ THIS
EVENING...

THE RED FLAG WARNING FOR THE LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
AND COLORADO RIVER VALLEY WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM PDT /9 PM MST/ THIS
EVENING.

WINDS HAVE BEEN DECREASING THIS EVENING AND WILL REMAIN BELOW RED
FLAG CRITERIA OVERNIGHT. OVERNIGHT HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED TO BE POOR
HOWEVER. 

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Las Vegas, NV issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 29, 2:49 AM PDTWind AdvisoryVEF37 hr
Apr 28, 9:25 PM PDTHigh Wind WarningVEFInyo10 hr
Apr 29, 9:56 AM PDTDust Storm WarningVEF2 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Nevada, 2011Red Flag Warnings in California, 2011Red Flag Warnings in Arizona, 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.