Alert archive / Arizona / Red Flag Warnings in 2011

Red Flag Warning 17, NWS Las Vegas, NV

August 30, 2011Mohave County, Arizona; Lincoln County, Nevada

NWS Las Vegas, NV issued this red flag warning at Aug 30, 2011, 3:46 AM MST for Mohave County, Arizona; Lincoln County, Nevada. It took effect at Aug 31, 2011, 12:00 PM MST. 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
Aug 30, 2011, 3:46 AM MST (10:46 UTC)
In effect from
Aug 31, 2011, 12:00 PM MST
Expired
Aug 31, 2011, 8:00 PM MST
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Las Vegas, NV

Counties Mohave County, AZ, Lincoln County, NV

The radar

The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 120 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:46 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 00:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 114 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 00:00Z on 2011-08-30Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 15 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Las Vegas, NV at 00:00Z on 2011-08-30The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -11 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
15 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-42 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3983 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-11 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-75 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.

717 
WWUS85 KVEF 301046
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
346 AM PDT TUE AUG 30 2011

AZZ102-NVZ461-302345-
/O.UPG.KVEF.FW.A.0017.110831T1900Z-110901T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KVEF.FW.W.0017.110831T1900Z-110901T0300Z/
NORTHWEST DESERTS/NORTHWEST PLATEAU-LINCOLN COUNTY/ELY DISPATCH-
346 AM PDT TUE AUG 30 2011 /346 AM MST TUE AUG 30 2011/

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON PDT /NOON MST/ TO 8 PM
PDT /8 PM MST/ WEDNESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 102 AND 461...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAS VEGAS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM WEDNESDAY. THIS REPLACES THE FIRE
WEATHER WATCH PREVIOUSLY IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN ARIZONA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 102 NORTHWEST 
  DESERTS/NORTHWEST PLATEAU. IN NEVADA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 461 
  LINCOLN COUNTY/ELY DISPATCH.

* TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS SOUTHEAST NEVADA AND
  NORTHWEST ARIZONA AND PEAK WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE GRADUALLY
  DECREASING WEDNESDAY EVENING.

* WIND...SUSTAINED SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH FREQUENT
  GUSTS OVER 35 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES BETWEEN 10 AND 15 
  PERCENT CAN BE EXPECTED...ESPECIALLY OVER LINCOLN AND 
  NORTHWEST MOHAVE COUNTIES. 

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
  AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE FIRE WEATHER OFFICIALS IN THE FIELD
OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING. 

&&

$$

JA

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS
4 follow-up statements
759 
WWUS85 KVEF 302109
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
209 PM PDT TUE AUG 30 2011

AZZ102-NVZ461-311400-
/O.CON.KVEF.FW.W.0017.110831T1900Z-110901T0300Z/
NORTHWEST DESERTS/NORTHWEST PLATEAU-LINCOLN COUNTY/ELY DISPATCH-
209 PM PDT TUE AUG 30 2011 /209 PM MST TUE AUG 30 2011/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON PDT /NOON MST/ TO
8 PM PDT /8 PM MST/ WEDNESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 102 AND 461...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON PDT /NOON MST/ TO
8 PM PDT /8 PM MST/ WEDNESDAY. 

* AFFECTED AREA...IN ARIZONA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 102 NORTHWEST 
  DESERTS/NORTHWEST PLATEAU. IN NEVADA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 461 
  LINCOLN COUNTY/ELY DISPATCH. 

* TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS SOUTHEAST NEVADA AND 
  NORTHWEST ARIZONA AND PEAK WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE 
  GRADUALLY DECREASING WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

* WIND...SUSTAINED SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH FREQUENT 
  GUSTS OVER 35 MPH. 

* HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES BETWEEN 10 AND 15 
  PERCENT CAN BE EXPECTED...ESPECIALLY OVER LINCOLN AND 
  NORTHWEST MOHAVE COUNTIES. 

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE 
  HUMIDITY AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXTREME FIRE GROWTH 
  POTENTIAL. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE FIRE WEATHER OFFICIALS IN THE FIELD
OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS
700 
WWUS85 KVEF 311135
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
435 AM PDT WED AUG 31 2011

AZZ102-NVZ461-010300-
/O.CON.KVEF.FW.W.0017.110831T1900Z-110901T0300Z/
NORTHWEST DESERTS/NORTHWEST PLATEAU-LINCOLN COUNTY/ELY DISPATCH-
435 AM PDT WED AUG 31 2011 /435 AM MST WED AUG 31 2011/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON PDT /NOON MST/
TODAY TO 8 PM PDT /8 PM MST/ THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND
LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 102 AND 461...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM
THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN ARIZONA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 102 NORTHWEST 
  DESERTS/NORTHWEST PLATEAU. IN NEVADA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 461 
  LINCOLN COUNTY/ELY DISPATCH. 

* TIMING...INCREASING SOUTHWEST WINDS ACROSS SOUTHEAST NEVADA AND
  NORTHWEST ARIZONA WILL PEAK DURING THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON
  HOURS THEN GRADUALLY DECREASE DURING THE EVENING.

* WIND...SUSTAINED SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH FREQUENT 
  GUSTS OVER 35 MPH. 

* HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES BETWEEN 5 AND 10
  PERCENT CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS LINCOLN COUNTY NEVADA AND BETWEEN
  10 AND 15 PERCENT OVER MUCH OF MOHAVE COUNTY ARIZONA.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE 
  HUMIDITY AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXTREME FIRE GROWTH 
  POTENTIAL. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE FIRE WEATHER OFFICIALS IN THE FIELD
OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

JA

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS
558 
WWUS85 KVEF 311907
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
1207 PM PDT WED AUG 31 2011

AZZ102-NVZ461-010300-
/O.CON.KVEF.FW.W.0017.000000T0000Z-110901T0300Z/
NORTHWEST DESERTS/NORTHWEST PLATEAU-LINCOLN COUNTY/ELY DISPATCH-
1207 PM PDT WED AUG 31 2011 /1207 PM MST WED AUG 31 2011/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT /8 PM MST/
THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 102 AND 461...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT /8 PM MST/
THIS EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...IN ARIZONA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 102 NORTHWEST 
  DESERTS/NORTHWEST PLATEAU. IN NEVADA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 461 
  LINCOLN COUNTY/ELY DISPATCH. 

* TIMING...STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS WILL OCCUR THROUGHOUT THE
  AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING BEFORE DECREASING SHORTLY AFTER
  SUNSET. WINDS WERE ALREADY GUSTING BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH AT NOON
  AT SEVERAL RAWS SITES IN LINCOLN AND MOHAVE COUNTIES.

* WIND...SUSTAINED SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH FREQUENT 
  GUSTS OVER 35 MPH. 

* HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL MAINLY BE
  BETWEEN 5 AND 10 PERCENT EXCEPT BETWEEN 10 AND 15 PERCENT OVER
  SOME HIGHER ELEVATIONS IN MOHAVE COUNTY ARIZONA.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE 
  HUMIDITY AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXTREME FIRE GROWTH 
  POTENTIAL. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE FIRE WEATHER OFFICIALS IN THE FIELD
OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS
933 
WWUS85 KVEF 010234
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
734 PM PDT WED AUG 31 2011

AZZ102-NVZ461-010345-
/O.EXP.KVEF.FW.W.0017.000000T0000Z-110901T0300Z/
NORTHWEST DESERTS/NORTHWEST PLATEAU-LINCOLN COUNTY/ELY DISPATCH-
734 PM PDT WED AUG 31 2011 /734 PM MST WED AUG 31 2011/

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM PDT /8 PM MST/ THIS
EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 102 AND 461...

THE RED FLAG WARNING FOR MUCH OF LINCOLN AND MOHAVE COUNTIES WILL
EXPIRE AT 8 PM THIS EVENING.

WINDS HAD SUBSIDED OVER MOST OF THE WARNED AREA EARLY THIS
EVENING...SO THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.
RELATIVE HUMIDITIES REMAINED VERY LOW IN MANY AREAS...ESPECIALLY
IN LINCOLN COUNTY...AND POOR RECOVERY IS EXPECTED OVERNIGHT.

$$

MORGAN

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS

Nearby

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