Alert archive / Iowa / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 6, NWS La Crosse, WI

October 8, 20128 counties in Iowa; 7 counties in Minnesota

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this red flag warning at Oct 8, 2012, 3:48 AM CDT for 8 counties in Iowa; 7 counties in Minnesota. It took effect at Oct 8, 2012, 12:00 PM CDT. 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
Oct 8, 2012, 3:48 AM CDT (08:48 UTC)
In effect from
Oct 8, 2012, 12:00 PM CDT
Expired
Oct 8, 2012, 7:00 PM CDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI

Counties Allamakee County, IA, Chickasaw County, IA, Clayton County, IA, Fayette County, IA, Floyd County, IA, Howard County, IA, Mitchell County, IA, Winneshiek County, IA, Dodge County, MN, Fillmore County, MN, Houston County, MN, Mower County, MN, Olmsted County, MN, Wabasha County, MN, Winona County, MN

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 85 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:53 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

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 190 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2012-10-08Temperature 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 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2012-10-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 62 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2864 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
62 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
149 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.

754 
WWUS83 KARX 080848
RFWARX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
348 AM CDT MON OCT 8 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY...

.WINDY AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL LEAD TO FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR
WILDFIRES THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER IN NORTHEAST IOWA AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA. SOUTH TO
SOUTHWEST SUSTAINED WIND OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH
WILL ACCOMPANY RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES IN THE LOW 20S THIS
AFTERNOON. THESE FACTORS COMBINED WITH THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS
REGION WIDE OVER THE PAST YEAR WILL CREATE THE HAZARDOUS FIRE
WEATHER CONCERNS FOR TODAY.

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-081700-
/O.UPG.KARX.FW.A.0004.121008T1700Z-121009T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KARX.FW.W.0006.121008T1700Z-121009T0000Z/
MITCHELL-HOWARD-WINNESHIEK-ALLAMAKEE-FLOYD-CHICKASAW-FAYETTE-
CLAYTON-WABASHA-DODGE-OLMSTED-WINONA-MOWER-FILLMORE-HOUSTON-
348 AM CDT MON OCT 8 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA 
AND NORTHEAST IOWA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LA CROSSE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH
IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA THIS
  AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

* WINDS...SUSTAINED SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH
  GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...22 TO 27 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...63 TO 68.

* IMPACTS...FIRES COULD START EASILY AND SPREAD QUICKLY

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

HALBACH
3 follow-up statements
646 
WWUS83 KARX 081457
RFWARX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
957 AM CDT MON OCT 8 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY...

.WINDY AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL LEAD TO FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR
WILDFIRES THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING WEST OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN NORTHEAST IOWA AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA.
SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST SUSTAINED WIND OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP
TO 35 MPH WILL ACCOMPANY RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES IN THE LOW 20S
THIS AFTERNOON. 

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-082300-
/O.CON.KARX.FW.W.0006.121008T1700Z-121009T0000Z/
MITCHELL-HOWARD-WINNESHIEK-ALLAMAKEE-FLOYD-CHICKASAW-FAYETTE-
CLAYTON-WABASHA-DODGE-OLMSTED-WINONA-MOWER-FILLMORE-HOUSTON-
957 AM CDT MON OCT 8 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND
NORTHEAST IOWA...

* AFFECTED AREA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA THIS 
  AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. 

* WINDS...SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...22 TO 27 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...60 TO 67

* IMPACTS...FIRES COULD START EASILY AND SPREAD QUICKLY

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

WETENKAMP
657 
WWUS83 KARX 082029
RFWARX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
329 PM CDT MON OCT 8 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH EARLY EVENING...

.WINDY AND DRY CONDITIONS ARE PRODUCING FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR
WILDFIRES AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING
WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN NORTHEAST IOWA AND SOUTHEAST
MINNESOTA. SOUTHWEST SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS
AROUND 35 MPH WILL ACCOMPANY RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES IN THE LOW
20S. WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 37 MPH ARE OCCURRING ACROSS SOUTHEAST
MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES HAVE FALLEN
INTO THE 25 TO 30 PERCENT RANGE...WITH A FEW LOCATIONS REPORTING
VALUES IN THE LOWER 20S.

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-090000-
/O.CON.KARX.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-121009T0000Z/
MITCHELL-HOWARD-WINNESHIEK-ALLAMAKEE-FLOYD-CHICKASAW-FAYETTE-
CLAYTON-WABASHA-DODGE-OLMSTED-WINONA-MOWER-FILLMORE-HOUSTON-
329 PM CDT MON OCT 8 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND
NORTHEAST IOWA...

* AFFECTED AREA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA THIS 
  AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. 

* WINDS...SOUTH 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...21 TO 27 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...62 TO 67 THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...FIRES COULD START EASILY AND SPREAD QUICKLY

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING NOW. A COMBINATION
OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES
WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL THROUGH EARLY THIS
EVENING.

&&

$$

WETENKAMP
853 
WWUS83 KARX 082358
RFWARX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
658 PM CDT MON OCT 8 2012

...CONDITIONS IMPROVING THIS EVENING...

.THE CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THROUGH THE
EVENING HOURS. WINDS WILL DIMINISH AND THE RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL
CONTINUE TO INCREASE. THUS THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO
EXPIRE AT 7 PM.

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-090100-
/O.EXP.KARX.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-121009T0000Z/
MITCHELL-HOWARD-WINNESHIEK-ALLAMAKEE-FLOYD-CHICKASAW-FAYETTE-
CLAYTON-WABASHA-DODGE-OLMSTED-WINONA-MOWER-FILLMORE-HOUSTON-
658 PM CDT MON OCT 8 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS
AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...

THE SOUTH WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO DECREASE THIS EVENING AND THE RELATIVE
HUMIDITY WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE. THIS HAS EASED THE THREAT FOR
RAPIDLY SPREADING FIRES AND THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED
TO EXPIRE AT 7 PM.

$$

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Iowa, 2012Red Flag Warnings in Minnesota, 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.