Alert archive / New Mexico / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 30, NWS Albuquerque, NM

April 30, 2012Harding County, San Miguel County, Union County, New Mexico

NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this red flag warning at Apr 30, 2012, 2:36 PM MDT for Harding County, San Miguel County, Union County, New Mexico. It took effect at May 1, 2012, 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
Apr 30, 2012, 2:36 PM MDT (20:36 UTC)
In effect from
May 1, 2012, 12:00 PM MDT
Expired
May 1, 2012, 7:00 PM MDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Albuquerque, NM

Counties Harding County, NM, San Miguel County, NM, Union County, NM

The radar

The Cannon AFB radar (KFDX), 150 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:40 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

Amarillo Airport, TX (KAMA), launched 12:00Z, 8.6 hours before the alert went out and 225 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, Amarillo Airport, TX at 12:00Z on 2012-04-30Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1602 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Amarillo Airport, TX at 12:00Z on 2012-04-30The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 65 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1602 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-113 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
894 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
65 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
163 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
4.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

147 
WWUS85 KABQ 302036
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
236 PM MDT MON APR 30 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING NOON TO 7 PM TUESDAY FOR THE EASTERN PLAINS
DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES...

.CRITICAL CONDITIONS DUE TO SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES...ABOVE TO
WELL ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND MODERATE TO LOCALLY STRONG
WINDS WILL EXIST ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS TUESDAY AFTERNOON TO
EARLY EVENING. THE MOST CRITICAL AREA WILL BE FOUND ALONG A LINE
FROM LAS VEGAS TO TUCUMCARI AND BACK EASTWARD ALONG INTERSTATE 40
TO CLINES CORNERS. 

NMZ103-104-107-108-011400-
/O.UPG.KABQ.FW.A.0027.120501T1800Z-120502T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0030.120501T1800Z-120502T0100Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 103
NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS/EASTERN CARSON AND SANTA FE NF/SNZ-TAZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 104
NORTHEAST PLAINS/EASTERN KIOWA AND RITA BLANCA GRASSLANDS/ABZ-TNZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 107
SANDIA-MANZANO AND GALLINAS MOUNTAINS/EASTERN CIBOLA NF/ABZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 108
EAST CENTRAL PLAINS/WESTERN KIOWA GRASSLANDS BLM/ABZ-SNZ-
236 PM MDT MON APR 30 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT TUESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT TUESDAY. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* AREA AND TIMING...THE EASTERN PLAINS TUESDAY AFTERNOON TO EARLY
  EVENING. MOST CRITICAL CONDITIONS EXPECTED BETWEEN 4 TO 6 PM
  BETWEEN LAS VEGAS TO TUCUMCARI BACK ALONG INTERSTATE 40 TO NEAR
  CLINES CORNERS. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...WEST/SOUTHWEST 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS BETWEEN
  35 TO 45 MPH. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM VALUES RANGING BETWEEN 5 TO 11 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$
50
3 follow-up statements
365 
WWUS85 KABQ 010938
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
338 AM MDT TUE MAY 1 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM TODAY ACROSS THE
EASTERN PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY
EVENING FOR THE EASTERN PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW
HUMIDITIES...

.SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES...ABOVE TO WELL ABOVE NORMAL
TEMPERATURES AND MODERATE TO LOCALLY STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SIMILAR CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...THOUGH WINDS MAY BE
SLIGHTLY STRONGER. THE MOST PROLONGED CRITICAL CONDITIONS TODAY
ARE EXPECTED IN THE AREA BOUNDED BY LAS VEGAS...TUCUMCARI AND
CLINES CORNERS. A LARGER AREA OF PROLONGED CRITICAL CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE ON WEDNESDAY.

NMZ103-104-107-108-012130-
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.A.0028.120502T1800Z-120503T0100Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0030.120501T1800Z-120502T0100Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 103
NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS/EASTERN CARSON AND SANTA FE NF/SNZ-TAZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 104
NORTHEAST PLAINS/EASTERN KIOWA AND RITA BLANCA GRASSLANDS/ABZ-TNZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 107
SANDIA-MANZANO AND GALLINAS MOUNTAINS/EASTERN CIBOLA NF/ABZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 108
EAST CENTRAL PLAINS/WESTERN KIOWA GRASSLANDS BLM/ABZ-SNZ-
338 AM MDT TUE MAY 1 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM MDT
THIS EVENING...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT
FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING. 

* AREA AND TIMING...THE EASTERN PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON TO EARLY
  EVENING. FOR TODAY...THE MOST WIDESPREAD CRITICAL CONDITIONS ARE
  EXPECTED FROM 3 TO 6 PM BETWEEN LAS VEGAS...TUCUMCARI AND CLINES
  CORNERS. MORE WIDESPREAD CRITICAL CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
  ACROSS THE PLAINS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...WEST-SOUTHWEST 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS BETWEEN
  35 AND 40 MPH. SLIGHTLY STRONGER WINDS ARE EXPECTED WEDNESDAY
  AFTERNOON. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM VALUES RANGING BETWEEN 5 TO 11 
  PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS FIRE WEATHER WATCH.

&&

$$

34
312 
WWUS85 KABQ 012029
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
229 PM MDT TUE MAY 1 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 7 PM MDT TODAY ACROSS
THE EASTERN PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT 12 PM TO 7 PM MDT WEDNESDAY FOR THE
EASTERN PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES...

.CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS DUE TO LOW HUMIDITY...GUSTY
WINDS AND AN UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE EASTERN
PLAINS THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING. WINDS
WILL LESSEN THIS EVENING BUT HUMIDITY RECOVERIES WILL BE POOR
TONIGHT AND COMBINE WITH WELL ABOVE NORMAL LOW TEMPERATURES. THIS
WILL SET THE STAGE FOR A MORE WIDESPREAD CRITICAL EVENT ACROSS THE
EASTERN PLAINS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON TO EARLY EVENING. TEMPERATURES
WILL ONCE AGAIN BE ABOVE NORMAL WITH AN UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE.
HUMIDITIES WILL BE BONE DRY WITH SEVERAL HOURS OF SINGLE DIGITS.
WINDS WILL OVERALL BE A LITTLE STRONGER ON WEDNESDAY. 

NMZ103-104-107-108-020430-
/O.UPG.KABQ.FW.A.0028.120502T1800Z-120503T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0031.120502T1800Z-120503T0100Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0030.000000T0000Z-120502T0100Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 103
NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS/EASTERN CARSON AND SANTA FE NF/SNZ-TAZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 104
NORTHEAST PLAINS/EASTERN KIOWA AND RITA BLANCA GRASSLANDS/ABZ-TNZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 107
SANDIA-MANZANO AND GALLINAS MOUNTAINS/EASTERN CIBOLA NF/ABZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 108
EAST CENTRAL PLAINS/WESTERN KIOWA GRASSLANDS BLM/ABZ-SNZ-
229 PM MDT TUE MAY 1 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS
EVENING...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT WEDNESDAY. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A RED FLAG WARNING
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING. 

* AREA AND TIMING...THE EASTERN PLAINS REST OF THIS AFTERNOON TO
  EARLY EVENING. MORE WIDESPREAD CRITICAL CONDITIONS WILL AFFECT THE
  PLAINS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...WEST-SOUTHWEST 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS BETWEEN
  35 AND 45 MPH. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM VALUES RANGING BETWEEN 3 TO 10 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$
50
352 
WWUS85 KABQ 020038
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
638 PM MDT TUE MAY 1 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT 12 PM TO 7 PM MDT WEDNESDAY FOR THE
EASTERN PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES...

.HUMIDITY RECOVERIES WILL BE POOR TONIGHT AND COMBINE WITH WELL
ABOVE NORMAL LOW TEMPERATURES. THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR A MORE
WIDESPREAD CRITICAL EVENT ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON TO EARLY EVENING. TEMPERATURES WILL ONCE AGAIN BE ABOVE
NORMAL WITH AN UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE. HUMIDITIES WILL BE VERY LOW
WITH SEVERAL HOURS OF SINGLE DIGITS. OVERALL WINDS WILL BE A
LITTLE STRONGER ON WEDNESDAY.

NMZ103-104-107-108-021400-
/O.EXP.KABQ.FW.W.0030.000000T0000Z-120502T0100Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0031.120502T1800Z-120503T0100Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 103
NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS/EASTERN CARSON AND SANTA FE NF/SNZ-TAZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 104
NORTHEAST PLAINS/EASTERN KIOWA AND RITA BLANCA GRASSLANDS/ABZ-TNZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 107
SANDIA-MANZANO AND GALLINAS MOUNTAINS/EASTERN CIBOLA NF/ABZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 108
EAST CENTRAL PLAINS/WESTERN KIOWA GRASSLANDS BLM/ABZ-SNZ-
638 PM MDT TUE MAY 1 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY...
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY. 

* AREA AND TIMING...THE EASTERN PLAINS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...WEST-SOUTHWEST 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS 
  BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MPH. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM BETWEEN 3 AND 10 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Albuquerque, NM issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 29, 6:22 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQHarding23 min
Apr 29, 6:43 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQHarding32 min
Apr 29, 7:18 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQHarding27 min
Apr 29, 7:47 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQUnion28 min
Apr 29, 8:16 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQUnion29 min
Apr 29, 8:30 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQUnion30 min

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in New Mexico, 2012Every red flag warning in 2012

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.