Alert archive / New Mexico / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 32, NWS Albuquerque, NM

May 17, 20127 counties in New Mexico

NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this red flag warning at May 17, 2012, 7:24 AM MDT for 7 counties in New Mexico. It took effect at May 18, 2012, 11:00 AM MDT. It was in force for 9 hr. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 17, 2012, 7:24 AM MDT (13:24 UTC)
In effect from
May 18, 2012, 11:00 AM MDT
Expired
May 18, 2012, 8:00 PM MDT
In force
9 hr
Issued by
NWS Albuquerque, NM

Counties Catron County, NM, Cibola County, NM, McKinley County, NM, Rio Arriba County, NM, San Juan County, NM, Sandoval County, NM, Socorro County, NM

The radar

The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 76 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:22 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 18, 4:49 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 583 Wnw Gallup, NMKGUP ASOS.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM (KABQ), launched 12:00Z, 1.4 hours before the alert went out and 99 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, Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM at 12:00Z on 2012-05-17Temperature 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 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM at 12:00Z on 2012-05-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 135 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
3452 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
135 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
152 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.

438 
WWUS85 KABQ 171324
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
724 AM MDT THU MAY 17 2012

...A RED FLAD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING FOR THE NORTHWEST PLATEAU AND NORTHWEST AND WEST
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES...

.AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL MOVE TOWARD THE FOUR CORNERS REGION
FRIDAY AFTERNOON...SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF GUSTY SOUTHWEST
WINDS ACROSS WESTERN NEW MEXICO. OVERNIGHT RELATIVE HUMIDITY
RECOVERIES ARE EXPECTED TO BE POOR TO FAIR AND RELATIVE HUMIDITIES
WILL STEADILY DROP DURING THE DAY TO SINGLE DIGIT VALUES BY
AFTERNOON. THE COMBINATION OF THE GUSTY WINDS...LOW RH VALUES...
ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER WILL
RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM THE NORTHWEST
PLATEAU TO THE NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. CRITICAL
CONDITIONS WILL BE MOST WIDESPREAD ALONG AND WEST OF THE
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BETWEEN NOON AND 6 PM. THEREAFTER...WIND SPEEDS
WILL DECREASE AND HUMIDITIES WILL SLOWLY RISE.

NMZ101-105-172130-
/O.UPG.KABQ.FW.A.0029.120518T1700Z-120519T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0032.120518T1700Z-120519T0200Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101
NORTHWEST PLATEAU/FARMINGTON BLM/ABZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 105
NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS/WESTERN CIBOLA NF/ABZ-
724 AM MDT THU MAY 17 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* AREA AND TIMING...NORTHWEST PLATEAU AND NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS 
  FROM THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WEST TO THE ARIZONA BORDER. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST WINDS INCREASING TO 20 TO 30 MPH BY
  LATE MORNING AND REMAINING GUSTY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS AS
  HIGH AS 40 TO 45 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RH OF 7 TO 11 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

NMZ109-172130-
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0032.120518T1700Z-120519T0200Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 109
WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS/SOUTHWEST CIBOLA NF AND SOCORRO BLM/ABQ-
GLZ-
724 AM MDT THU MAY 17 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY. 

* AREA AND TIMING...THE WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS FROM THE
  CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TO THE ARIZONA BORDER.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST WINDS INCREASING TO 20 TO 30 MPH BY
  LATE MORNING AND REMAINING GUSTY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS AS
  HIGH AS 35 TO 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RH OF 9 TO 12 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$
4 follow-up statements
011 
WWUS85 KABQ 171325 CCA
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
725 AM MDT THU MAY 17 2012

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY MORNING
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR THE NORTHWEST PLATEAU AND NORTHWEST AND
WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES...

.AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL MOVE TOWARD THE FOUR CORNERS REGION
FRIDAY AFTERNOON...SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF GUSTY SOUTHWEST
WINDS ACROSS WESTERN NEW MEXICO. OVERNIGHT RELATIVE HUMIDITY
RECOVERIES ARE EXPECTED TO BE POOR TO FAIR AND RELATIVE HUMIDITIES
WILL STEADILY DROP DURING THE DAY TO SINGLE DIGIT VALUES BY
AFTERNOON. THE COMBINATION OF THE GUSTY WINDS...LOW RH VALUES...
ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER WILL
RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM THE NORTHWEST
PLATEAU TO THE NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. CRITICAL
CONDITIONS WILL BE MOST WIDESPREAD ALONG AND WEST OF THE
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BETWEEN NOON AND 6 PM. THEREAFTER...WIND SPEEDS
WILL DECREASE AND HUMIDITIES WILL SLOWLY RISE.

NMZ101-105-172145-
/O.UPG.KABQ.FW.A.0029.120518T1700Z-120519T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0032.120518T1700Z-120519T0200Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101
NORTHWEST PLATEAU/FARMINGTON BLM/ABZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 105
NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS/WESTERN CIBOLA NF/ABZ-
725 AM MDT THU MAY 17 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* AREA AND TIMING...NORTHWEST PLATEAU AND NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS 
  FROM THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WEST TO THE ARIZONA BORDER. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST WINDS INCREASING TO 20 TO 30 MPH BY
  LATE MORNING AND REMAINING GUSTY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS AS
  HIGH AS 40 TO 45 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RH OF 7 TO 11 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

NMZ109-172145-
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0032.120518T1700Z-120519T0200Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 109
WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS/SOUTHWEST CIBOLA NF AND SOCORRO BLM/ABQ-
GLZ-
725 AM MDT THU MAY 17 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY. 

* AREA AND TIMING...THE WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS FROM THE
  CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TO THE ARIZONA BORDER.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST WINDS INCREASING TO 20 TO 30 MPH BY
  LATE MORNING AND REMAINING GUSTY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS AS
  HIGH AS 35 TO 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RH OF 9 TO 12 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$
006 
WWUS85 KABQ 172146
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
346 PM MDT THU MAY 17 2012

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY MORNING
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR THE NORTHWEST PLATEAU AND NORTHWEST
AND WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW
HUMIDITIES...

.AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL MOVE TOWARD THE FOUR CORNERS REGION
FRIDAY AFTERNOON...SUPPORTING GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS ACROSS
WESTERN NEW MEXICO. OVERNIGHT RELATIVE HUMIDITY RECOVERIES ARE
EXPECTED TO BE POOR TO FAIR AND HUMIDITIES WILL STEADILY DROP
INTO SINGLE DIGIT VALUES BY AFTERNOON. THE COMBINATION OF THE
GUSTY WINDS...LOW RH VALUES...ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND HIGH
TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS FROM THE NORTHWEST PLATEAU TO THE NORTHWEST AND WEST
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. CRITICAL CONDITIONS WILL BE MOST WIDESPREAD
ALONG AND WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BETWEEN NOON AND 6 PM.
THEREAFTER...WIND SPEEDS WILL DECREASE AND HUMIDITIES WILL SLOWLY
RISE.

NMZ101-105-109-181400-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0032.120518T1700Z-120519T0200Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101
NORTHWEST PLATEAU/FARMINGTON BLM/ABZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 105
NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS/WESTERN CIBOLA NF/ABZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 109
WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS/SOUTHWEST CIBOLA NF AND SOCORRO BLM/ABQ-
GLZ-
346 PM MDT THU MAY 17 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT
FRIDAY...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT
FRIDAY. 

* AREA AND TIMING...NORTHWEST PLATEAU AND NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS 
  FROM THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WEST TO THE ARIZONA BORDER. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST WINDS INCREASING TO 20 TO 30 MPH BY 
  LATE MORNING AND REMAINING GUSTY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS 
  AS HIGH AS 40 TO 45 MPH. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RH OF 6 TO 11 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

43
910 
WWUS85 KABQ 181330
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
730 AM MDT FRI MAY 18 2012

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY MORNING
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR THE NORTHWEST PLATEAU AND NORTHWEST
AND WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW
HUMIDITIES...

.AS AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVES TOWARD THE FOUR CORNERS TODAY...
GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL STRENGTHEN OVER WESTERN NEW MEXICO.
EARLY MORNING RELATIVE HUMIDITY RECOVERIES ARE GENERALLY POOR AND
HUMIDITIES WILL STEADILY DROP DURING THE DAY REACHING SINGLE DIGIT
VALUES IN SOME LOCATIONS. THE COMBINATION OF THE GUSTY WINDS...LOW
RH VALUES...ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER
WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM THE NORTHWEST
PLATEAU TO THE NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. CRITICAL
CONDITIONS WILL BE MOST WIDESPREAD ALONG AND WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL
DIVIDE BETWEEN NOON AND 6 PM. THEREAFTER... WIND SPEEDS WILL
DECREASE AND HUMIDITIES WILL SLOWLY RISE.

NMZ101-105-109-182130-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0032.120518T1700Z-120519T0200Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101
NORTHWEST PLATEAU/FARMINGTON BLM/ABZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 105
NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS/WESTERN CIBOLA NF/ABZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 109
WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS/SOUTHWEST CIBOLA NF AND SOCORRO BLM/ABQ-
GLZ-
730 AM MDT FRI MAY 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
8 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
8 PM MDT THIS EVENING. 

* AREA AND TIMING...NORTHWEST PLATEAU AND NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS WITH
  THE MOST WIDESPREAD COVERAGE FROM THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TO
  THE ARIZONA BORDER.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST WINDS INCREASING TO 20 TO 30 MPH BY
  LATE MORNING AND REMAINING GUSTY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS AS
  HIGH AS 45 TO 50 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RH OF 6 TO 11 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$
387 
WWUS85 KABQ 182115
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
315 PM MDT FRI MAY 18 2012

...A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR
THE NORTHWEST PLATEAU AND NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DUE
TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES...

.GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE OVER WESTERN NEW MEXICO INTO THIS
EVENING. THE COMBINATION OF THE GUSTY WINDS...LOW HUMIDITY VALUES...
ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER WILL RESULT IN
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM THE NORTHWEST PLATEAU TO THE
NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. CRITICAL CONDITIONS WILL BE
MOST WIDESPREAD ALONG AND WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE THROUGH 6
PM. WIND SPEEDS WILL GRADUALLY BEGIN TO DECREASE AROUND SUNSET
WITH HUMIDITIES ALSO SLOWLY BEGINNING TO RISE.

NMZ101-105-109-190200-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0032.000000T0000Z-120519T0200Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101
NORTHWEST PLATEAU/FARMINGTON BLM/ABZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 105
NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS/WESTERN CIBOLA NF/ABZ-
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 109
WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS/SOUTHWEST CIBOLA NF AND SOCORRO BLM/ABQ-
GLZ-
315 PM MDT FRI MAY 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

* AREA AND TIMING...NORTHWEST PLATEAU AND NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS 
  WITH THE MOST WIDESPREAD COVERAGE FROM THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE 
  TO THE ARIZONA BORDER. THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING.  

* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH REMAINING GUSTY
  INTO THE EVENING. GUSTS AS HIGH AS 45 TO 50 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM HUMIDITY OF 6 TO 11 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.