Alert archive / Alabama / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 6, NWS Birmingham, AL

January 28, 201239 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this red flag warning at Jan 28, 2012, 2:55 PM CST for 39 counties in Alabama. It took effect at Jan 29, 2012, 11:00 AM CST. 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
Jan 28, 2012, 2:55 PM CST (20:55 UTC)
In effect from
Jan 29, 2012, 11:00 AM CST
Expired
Jan 29, 2012, 6:00 PM CST
In force
7 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 20:54 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 12:00Z, 8.9 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2012-01-28Temperature 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, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2012-01-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -36 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
1303 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
71 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-36 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
134 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.

189 
WWUS84 KBMX 282055
RFWBMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
255 PM CST SAT JAN 28 2012

...VERY DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED SUNDAY AFTERNOON...

.DRY AIR BEHIND TODAY'S FRONTAL PASSAGE WILL RESULT IN AN
EXTENDED PERIOD OF VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ON SUNDAY
AFTERNOON ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA.

ALZ011>015-017>050-291200-
/O.UPG.KBMX.FW.A.0005.120129T1700Z-120130T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KBMX.FW.W.0006.120129T1700Z-120130T0000Z/
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-
255 PM CST SAT JAN 28 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM CST SUNDAY FOR
ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM CST SUNDAY. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 5 TO 10 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 18 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...A DRY AIRMASS WILL RESULT IN SEVERAL HOURS OF LOW
  RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES AND THUS 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.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
867 
WWUS84 KBMX 291158
RFWBMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
558 AM CST SUN JAN 29 2012

...VERY DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED SUNDAY AFTERNOON...

.DRY AIR BEHIND YESTERDAY'S FRONTAL PASSAGE WILL RESULT IN AN
EXTENDED PERIOD OF VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ON SUNDAY
AFTERNOON ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. DRIER CONDITIONS COULD
CONTINUE FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL ALABAMA ONCE AGAIN ON MONDAY.

ALZ019-021>050-292230-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FW.A.0006.120130T1800Z-120130T2300Z/
/O.CON.KBMX.FW.W.0006.120129T1700Z-120130T0000Z/
CALHOUN-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-
558 AM CST SUN JAN 29 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT MONDAY AFTERNOON FROM NOON TO 5 
PM CST FOR COUNTIES ALONG AND SOUTH OF AN ETHELSVILLE...TO
WARRIOR...TO PIEDMONT LINE...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT MONDAY AFTERNOON FROM NOON TO
5 PM CST FOR COUNTIES ALONG AND SOUTH OF AN ETHELSVILLE...TO
WARRIOR...TO PIEDMONT LINE. A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT
FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM CST THIS EVENING.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 5 TO 10 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 17 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...A DRY AIR MASS WILL RESULT IN SEVERAL HOURS OF LOW 
  RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES AND THUS 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 OR 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.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE
RED FLAG WARNINGS.

&&

$$

ALZ011>015-017-018-020-292230-
/O.CON.KBMX.FW.W.0006.120129T1700Z-120130T0000Z/
MARION-LAMAR-FAYETTE-WINSTON-WALKER-BLOUNT-ETOWAH-CHEROKEE-
558 AM CST SUN JAN 29 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...

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

* WINDS...WEST 5 TO 10 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 19 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...A DRY AIR MASS WILL RESULT IN SEVERAL HOURS OF LOW 
  RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES AND THUS 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 OR 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.

&&

$$

08/MNK
183 
WWUS84 KBMX 292131
RFWBMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
331 PM CST SUN JAN 29 2012

...VERY DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE MONDAY AFTERNOON...

.DRY AIR BEHIND YESTERDAY'S FRONTAL PASSAGE WILL RESULT IN AN
EXTENDED PERIOD OF VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES THROUGH
MONDAY AFTERNOON. 

ALZ019-021>050-301200-
/O.CON.KBMX.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120130T0000Z/
/O.CON.KBMX.FW.A.0006.120130T1800Z-120130T2300Z/
CALHOUN-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-
331 PM CST SUN JAN 29 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR ALL 
OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING.
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT MONDAY AFTERNOON. 

* WINDS...EAST 5 TO 10 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 8 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...A DRY AIR MASS WILL RESULT IN SEVERAL HOURS OF LOW 
  RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES AND THUS 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 OR 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.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE
RED FLAG WARNINGS.

&&

$$

ALZ011>015-017-018-020-301200-
/O.EXA.KBMX.FW.A.0006.120130T1800Z-120130T2300Z/
/O.CON.KBMX.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120130T0000Z/
MARION-LAMAR-FAYETTE-WINSTON-WALKER-BLOUNT-ETOWAH-CHEROKEE-
331 PM CST SUN JAN 29 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR ALL OF CENTRAL 
ALABAMA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT MONDAY AFTERNOON. A RED FLAG
WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING. 

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 5 TO 10 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...A DRY AIR MASS WILL RESULT IN SEVERAL HOURS OF LOW 
  RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES AND THUS 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 OR 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.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE
RED FLAG WARNINGS.

&&

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 28, 5:45 AM CSTFire Weather WatchBMXAutauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more9 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.