Alert archive / New Mexico / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 41, NWS Albuquerque, NM

October 23, 2012Harding County, San Miguel County, Union County, New Mexico

NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this red flag warning at Oct 23, 2012, 3:25 PM MDT for Harding County, San Miguel County, Union County, New Mexico. It took effect at Oct 24, 2012, 11:00 AM MDT. 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
Oct 23, 2012, 3:25 PM MDT (21:25 UTC)
In effect from
Oct 24, 2012, 11:00 AM MDT
Expired
Oct 24, 2012, 7:00 PM MDT
In force
8 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 21:35 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, 9.4 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 2012-10-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 157 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 2012-10-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 163 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
157 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-449 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2046 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
163 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
113 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.

677 
WWUS85 KABQ 232125
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
325 PM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING FROM LATE WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH EARLY
EVENING FOR ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS INCLUDING THE
EASTERN PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...

.LOCALIZED CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ONGOING BUT WILL
SUBSIDE SOME AROUND SUNDOWN. A MORE EXPANSIVE AREA OF CRITICAL
FIRE WEATHER GROWTH CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ALONG AND TO THE EAST
OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS ON WEDNESDAY. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO A
STRONG PACIFIC TROUGH PASSAGE. TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE WARNED AREA
WILL RANGE BETWEEN 10 TO 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. HUMIDITY
RECOVERIES LEADING INTO THE EVENT PERIOD WILL BE POOR TO MODERATE
AND MINIMUM READINGS WILL FALL INTO THE UPPER SINGLE DIGITS TO THE
LEE OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CRITICAL AREA
WILL BE FOUND ALONG AND TO THE EAST OF INTERSTATE 25 BETWEEN LAS
VEGAS TO RATON AND OVER TO ROY. EXPECT WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 40 TO 50
MPH AT TIMES.

NMZ103-104-107-108-241400-
/O.UPG.KABQ.FW.A.0038.121024T1700Z-121025T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0041.121024T1700Z-121025T0100Z/
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-
325 PM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MDT WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MDT WEDNESDAY.
THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* AREA AND TIMING...ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS
  INCLUDING THE EAST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTOS/MANZANOS AND
  SANDIA MOUNTAINS LATE MORNING WEDNESDAY TO THE EARLY EVENING
  HOURS. MOST CRITICAL AREA WILL BE FOUND ALONG AND TO THE EAST OF
  INTERSTATE 25 BETWEEN LAS VEGAS TO RATON AND OVER TO ROY. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...INCREASING LATE TONIGHT ACROSS THE HIGHEST
  TERRAIN AND OVERSPREADING THE EASTERN PLAINS BY LATE MORNING.
  EXPECT WEST/SOUTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 35 MPH SUSTAINED AND GUSTS
  BETWEEN 35 TO 50 MPH. HIGHEST PEAKS AND AREAS NEAR INTERSTATE 25
  WILL BE FAVORED FOR THE STRONGEST WINDS. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM/S RANGING BETWEEN 10 TO 15 PCT WITH
  THE EXCEPTION OF THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS...NORTHEAST PLAINS AND
  PORTIONS OF INTERSTATE 40 WHERE UPPER SINGLE DIGITS ARE EXPECTED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$
50
3 follow-up statements
050 
WWUS85 KABQ 241255
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
655 AM MDT WED OCT 24 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
7 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS
INCLUDING THE EASTERN PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW
HUMIDITY...

.A PACIFIC TROUGH MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN NEW MEXICO WILL PRODUCE
WIDESPREAD CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER GROWTH CONDITIONS TODAY ALONG AND
TO THE EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...WITH STRONG
WINDS...TEMPERATURES UP TO 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL...AND
HUMIDITIES FALLING TO SINGLE DIGITS AND LOW TEENS PCT. FIRE DANGER
WILL BE MOST SEVERE ALONG AND TO THE EAST OF INTERSTATE 25 BETWEEN
LAS VEGAS TO RATON AND EAST TO ROY. EXPECT WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 40
TO 50 MPH AT TIMES.

NMZ103-104-107-108-242130-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0041.121024T1700Z-121025T0100Z/
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-
655 AM MDT WED OCT 24 2012

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

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

* AREA AND TIMING...ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS
  INCLUDING THE EAST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTOS/MANZANOS AND
  SANDIA MOUNTAINS BEGINNING BY LATE MORNING AND ENDING AFTER
  SUNSET IN THE EARLY EVENING. CONDITIONS WILL BE MOST SEVERE ALONG
  AND TO THE EAST OF INTERSTATE 25 BETWEEN LAS VEGAS TO RATON AND
  EAST TO ROY.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...INCREASING THROUGH LATE MORNING WITH SPEEDS
  PEAKING IN THE LATE AFTERNOON. EXPECT WEST/SOUTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 35 MPH
  SUSTAINED AND GUSTS BETWEEN 35 TO 50 MPH. HIGHEST PEAKS AND
  AREAS NEAR INTERSTATE 25 WILL BE FAVORED FOR THE STRONGEST
  WINDS.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM HUMIDITIES FROM 10 TO 15 PCT...WITH
  UPPER SINGLE DIGIT MINIMUM HUMIDITY OVER THE NORTHEAST
  HIGHLANDS...NORTHEAST PLAINS AND PORTIONS OF INTERSTATE 40.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

SHY
186 
WWUS85 KABQ 242115
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
315 PM MDT WED OCT 24 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 THROUGH 7 PM MDT
THIS EVENING FOR THE AREA ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS
INCLUDING THE NORTHEAST PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW
HUMIDITY...

.A BROAD UPPER LEVEL TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED JET APPROACHING NEW MEXICO
WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WIDESPREAD CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS. STRONG WINDS...TEMPERATURES UP TO 20 DEGREES ABOVE
NORMAL...AND HUMIDITIES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS WILL PERSIST. FIRE
DANGER WILL BE MOST EXTREME FROM THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AND NORTH
TO THE INTERSTATE 25 CORRIDOR.

NMZ103-104-107-108-250100-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0041.000000T0000Z-121025T0100Z/
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-
315 PM MDT WED OCT 24 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS
EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

* AREA AND TIMING...ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS
  INCLUDING THE EAST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTOS/MANZANOS AND
  SANDIA MOUNTAINS AS WELL AS THE NORTHEAST PLAINS ENDING JUST AFTER
  SUNSET.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 35 MPH SUSTAINED AND GUSTS
  BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MPH. AREAS NEAR CLINES CORNERS THEN NORTH TO
  THE INTERSTATE 25 WILL BE FAVORED FOR THE STRONGEST WINDS.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM HUMIDITIES FROM 9 TO 14 PCT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$
571 
WWUS85 KABQ 242119 CCA
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
318 PM MDT WED OCT 24 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 7 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR THE AREA ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS
INCLUDING THE NORTHEAST PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW
HUMIDITY...

.A BROAD UPPER LEVEL TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED JET APPROACHING NEW MEXICO
WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WIDESPREAD CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS. STRONG WINDS...TEMPERATURES UP TO 20 DEGREES ABOVE
NORMAL...AND HUMIDITIES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS WILL PERSIST. FIRE
DANGER WILL BE MOST EXTREME FROM THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AND NORTH
TO THE INTERSTATE 25 CORRIDOR.

NMZ103-104-107-108-250100-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0041.000000T0000Z-121025T0100Z/
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-
318 PM MDT WED OCT 24 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS
EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

* AREA AND TIMING...ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS
  INCLUDING THE EAST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTOS/MANZANOS AND
  SANDIA MOUNTAINS AS WELL AS THE NORTHEAST PLAINS ENDING JUST AFTER
  SUNSET.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 35 MPH SUSTAINED AND GUSTS
  BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MPH. AREAS NEAR CLINES CORNERS THEN NORTH TO
  THE INTERSTATE 25 WILL BE FAVORED FOR THE STRONGEST WINDS.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM HUMIDITIES FROM 9 TO 14 PCT.

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
Oct 23, 3:29 AM MDTFire Weather WatchABQHarding, San Miguel, Union12 hr
Oct 23, 3:48 PM MDTWind AdvisoryABQ38 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.