Alert archive / New Mexico / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 31, NWS Albuquerque, NM

May 1, 2012Harding County, San Miguel County, Union County, New Mexico

NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this red flag warning at May 1, 2012, 2:29 PM MDT for Harding County, San Miguel County, Union County, New Mexico. It took effect at May 2, 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
May 1, 2012, 2:29 PM MDT (20:29 UTC)
In effect from
May 2, 2012, 12:00 PM MDT
Expired
May 2, 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 20:29 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, 8.5 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 2012-05-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 106 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 2012-05-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 73 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
106 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-372 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2134 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
73 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
27 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.

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
2 follow-up statements
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.

&&

$$
491 
WWUS85 KABQ 020953
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
353 AM MDT WED MAY 2 2012

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

.AFTER POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERIES THIS MORNING DUE TO WELL ABOVE
NORMAL LOW TEMPERATURES...VERY DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THIS
AFTERNOON AS HIGH TEMPERATURES ALSO SOAR UP TO 15 DEGREES ABOVE
NORMAL. THUS...SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES WILL BE COMMON. THESE DRY
CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH STRONG INSTABILITY AND WIND SPEEDS
SLIGHTLY STRONGER THAN YESTERDAY WILL LEAD TO ANOTHER AFTERNOON OF
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THESE CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY TO
BE MORE WIDESPREAD THAN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. 

NMZ103-104-107-108-030100-
/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-
353 AM MDT WED MAY 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM MDT
THIS 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. CRITICAL
  CONDITIONS WILL BE MOST WIDESPREAD BETWEEN 3 PM AND 6 PM.

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

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

34

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 1, 3:38 AM MDTFire Weather WatchABQHarding, San Miguel, Union11 hr

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.