Alert archive / Alabama / Red Flag Warnings in 2012
Red Flag Warning 1, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this red flag warning at Jan 2, 2012, 4:51 AM CST for 39 counties in Alabama. It took effect at Jan 2, 2012, 11:00 AM CST. It was in force for 6 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
- Jan 2, 2012, 4:51 AM CST (10:51 UTC)
- In effect from
- Jan 2, 2012, 11:00 AM CST
- Expired
- Jan 2, 2012, 5:00 PM CST
- In force
- 6 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
All 39 counties
Autauga County, AL, Barbour County, AL, Bibb County, AL, Blount County, AL, Bullock County, AL, Calhoun County, AL, Chambers County, AL, Cherokee County, AL, Chilton County, AL, Clay County, AL, Cleburne County, AL, Coosa County, AL, Dallas County, AL, Elmore County, AL, Etowah County, AL, Fayette County, AL, Greene County, AL, Hale County, AL, Jefferson County, AL, Lamar County, AL, Lee County, AL, Lowndes County, AL, Macon County, AL, Marengo County, AL, Marion County, AL, Montgomery County, AL, Perry County, AL, Pickens County, AL, Pike County, AL, Randolph County, AL, Russell County, AL, Shelby County, AL, St. Clair County, AL, Sumter County, AL, Talladega County, AL, Tallapoosa County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL, Walker County, AL, Winston County, AL
The radar
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 22 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:53 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
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 23 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2139 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 43 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -66 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -29 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
556 WWUS84 KBMX 021051 RFWBMX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 451 AM CST MON JAN 2 2012 ...VERY DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED ON TUESDAY... .VERY DRY CONDITIONS HAVE BEGUN TO SET UP ACROSS ALL OF THE CWA FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT. DEWPOINTS WILL DROP INTO THE TEENS THIS AFTERNOON...AND WITH GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED...ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA WILL BE NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CRITERIA. THEREFORE...A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED. DRY AIR WILL CONTINUE FILTERING SOUTHWARD TUESDAY WITH AFTERNOON DEWPOINTS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS TO NEAR ZERO. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL FALL WELL BELOW CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CRITERIA. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON...AND WILL NEED TO BE UPGRADED TO A RED FLAG WARNING. ALZ011>015-017>050-022300- /O.UPG.KBMX.FW.A.0002.120102T1700Z-120102T2300Z/ /O.NEW.KBMX.FW.W.0001.120102T1700Z-120102T2300Z/ /O.CON.KBMX.FW.A.0001.120103T1700Z-120103T2300Z/ MARION-LAMAR-FAYETTE-WINSTON-WALKER-BLOUNT-ETOWAH-CALHOUN- CHEROKEE-CLEBURNE-PICKENS-TUSCALOOSA-JEFFERSON-SHELBY-ST. CLAIR- TALLADEGA-CLAY-RANDOLPH-SUMTER-GREENE-HALE-PERRY-BIBB-CHILTON- COOSA-TALLAPOOSA-CHAMBERS-MARENGO-DALLAS-AUTAUGA-LOWNDES-ELMORE- MONTGOMERY-MACON-BULLOCK-LEE-RUSSELL-PIKE-BARBOUR- 451 AM CST MON JAN 2 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. * WINDS...NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 18 PERCENT. * IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF A DRY AIR MASS AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS. 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. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE FIRE CONDITIONS...PLEASE CONTACT THE ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION AT WWW.FORESTRY.ALABAMA.GOV. && $$
4 follow-up statements
275 WWUS84 KBMX 021127 CCA RFWBMX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 526 AM CST MON JAN 2 2012 ...VERY DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS AFTEROON AND TUESDAY... .VERY DRY CONDITIONS HAVE BEGUN TO SET UP ACROSS ALL OF THE CWA FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT. DEWPOINTS WILL DROP INTO THE TEENS THIS AFTERNOON...AND WITH GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED...ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA WILL BE NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CRITERIA. THEREFORE...A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED. DRY AIR WILL CONTINUE FILTERING SOUTHWARD TUESDAY WITH AFTERNOON DEWPOINTS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS TO NEAR ZERO. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL FALL WELL BELOW CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CRITERIA. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON...AND WILL NEED TO BE UPGRADED TO A RED FLAG WARNING. ALZ011>015-017>050-022345- /O.UPG.KBMX.FW.A.0002.120102T1700Z-120102T2300Z/ /O.NEW.KBMX.FW.W.0001.120102T1700Z-120102T2300Z/ /O.CON.KBMX.FW.A.0001.120103T1700Z-120103T2300Z/ MARION-LAMAR-FAYETTE-WINSTON-WALKER-BLOUNT-ETOWAH-CALHOUN- CHEROKEE-CLEBURNE-PICKENS-TUSCALOOSA-JEFFERSON-SHELBY-ST. CLAIR- TALLADEGA-CLAY-RANDOLPH-SUMTER-GREENE-HALE-PERRY-BIBB-CHILTON- COOSA-TALLAPOOSA-CHAMBERS-MARENGO-DALLAS-AUTAUGA-LOWNDES-ELMORE- MONTGOMERY-MACON-BULLOCK-LEE-RUSSELL-PIKE-BARBOUR- 526 AM CST MON JAN 2 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. * WINDS...NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 18 PERCENT. * IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF A DRY AIR MASS AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS. 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. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE FIRE CONDITIONS...PLEASE CONTACT THE ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION AT WWW.FORESTRY.ALABAMA.GOV. && $$
548 WWUS84 KBMX 021129 CCA RFWBMX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 528 AM CST MON JAN 2 2012 ...VERY DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND TUESDAY... .VERY DRY CONDITIONS HAVE BEGUN TO SET UP ACROSS ALL OF THE CWA FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT. DEWPOINTS WILL DROP INTO THE TEENS THIS AFTERNOON...AND WITH GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED...ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA WILL BE NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CRITERIA. THEREFORE...A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED. DRY AIR WILL CONTINUE FILTERING SOUTHWARD TUESDAY WITH AFTERNOON DEWPOINTS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS TO NEAR ZERO. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL FALL WELL BELOW CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CRITERIA. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON...AND WILL NEED TO BE UPGRADED TO A RED FLAG WARNING. ALZ011>015-017>050-030000- /O.UPG.KBMX.FW.A.0002.120102T1700Z-120102T2300Z/ /O.NEW.KBMX.FW.W.0001.120102T1700Z-120102T2300Z/ /O.CON.KBMX.FW.A.0001.120103T1700Z-120103T2300Z/ MARION-LAMAR-FAYETTE-WINSTON-WALKER-BLOUNT-ETOWAH-CALHOUN- CHEROKEE-CLEBURNE-PICKENS-TUSCALOOSA-JEFFERSON-SHELBY-ST. CLAIR- TALLADEGA-CLAY-RANDOLPH-SUMTER-GREENE-HALE-PERRY-BIBB-CHILTON- COOSA-TALLAPOOSA-CHAMBERS-MARENGO-DALLAS-AUTAUGA-LOWNDES-ELMORE- MONTGOMERY-MACON-BULLOCK-LEE-RUSSELL-PIKE-BARBOUR- 528 AM CST MON JAN 2 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. * WINDS...NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 18 PERCENT. * IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF A DRY AIR MASS AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS. 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. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE FIRE CONDITIONS...PLEASE CONTACT THE ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION AT WWW.FORESTRY.ALABAMA.GOV. && $$
702 WWUS84 KBMX 022035 RFWBMX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 235 PM CST MON JAN 2 2012 ...EXTREMELY DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TUESDAY... .WITH GUSTY WINDS AND DEW POINTS IN THE TEENS AND SINGLE DIGITS... ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA WILL MEET CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CRITERIA FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS AFTERNOON. THESE DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST ON TUESDAY...THEREFORE...A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON. ALZ011>015-017>050-030415- /O.UPG.KBMX.FW.A.0001.120103T1700Z-120103T2300Z/ /O.NEW.KBMX.FW.W.0002.120103T1800Z-120103T2300Z/ /O.CON.KBMX.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120102T2300Z/ MARION-LAMAR-FAYETTE-WINSTON-WALKER-BLOUNT-ETOWAH-CALHOUN- CHEROKEE-CLEBURNE-PICKENS-TUSCALOOSA-JEFFERSON-SHELBY-ST. CLAIR- TALLADEGA-CLAY-RANDOLPH-SUMTER-GREENE-HALE-PERRY-BIBB-CHILTON- COOSA-TALLAPOOSA-CHAMBERS-MARENGO-DALLAS-AUTAUGA-LOWNDES-ELMORE- MONTGOMERY-MACON-BULLOCK-LEE-RUSSELL-PIKE-BARBOUR- 235 PM CST MON JAN 2 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 5 PM CST TUESDAY FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 5 PM CST TUESDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON. * WINDS...NORTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 17 PERCENT. * IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF A DRY AIR MASS AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS. 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. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE FIRE CONDITIONS...PLEASE CONTACT THE ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION AT WWW.FORESTRY.ALABAMA.GOV. && $$
254 WWUS84 KBMX 022321 RFWBMX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 521 PM CST MON JAN 2 2012 ...EXTREMELY DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED INTO TUESDAY... .WITH GUSTY WINDS AND DEW POINTS IN THE TEENS AND SINGLE DIGITS... ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA WILL MEET CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CRITERIA FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS AFTERNOON. THESE DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST ON TUESDAY...THEREFORE...A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON. ALZ011>015-017>050-031200- /O.EXP.KBMX.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120102T2300Z/ /O.CON.KBMX.FW.W.0002.120103T1800Z-120103T2300Z/ MARION-LAMAR-FAYETTE-WINSTON-WALKER-BLOUNT-ETOWAH-CALHOUN- CHEROKEE-CLEBURNE-PICKENS-TUSCALOOSA-JEFFERSON-SHELBY-ST. CLAIR- TALLADEGA-CLAY-RANDOLPH-SUMTER-GREENE-HALE-PERRY-BIBB-CHILTON- COOSA-TALLAPOOSA-CHAMBERS-MARENGO-DALLAS-AUTAUGA-LOWNDES-ELMORE- MONTGOMERY-MACON-BULLOCK-LEE-RUSSELL-PIKE-BARBOUR- 521 PM CST MON JAN 2 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 5 PM CST TUESDAY FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA... ...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA TODAY... THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT TODAY. A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 5 PM CST TUESDAY. * WINDS...NORTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 17 PERCENT. * IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF A DRY AIR MASS AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED. 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. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE FIRE CONDITIONS...PLEASE CONTACT THE ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION AT WWW.FORESTRY.ALABAMA.GOV. && $$
The office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2, 3:39 AM CST | Wind Advisory | BMX | Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah and 5 more | 14 hr |
| Jan 2, 2:35 PM CST | Red Flag Warning | BMX | Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more | 26 hr |
Nearby
Red Flag Warnings in Alabama, 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.