Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 14, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

May 18, 201216 counties in Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this red flag warning at May 18, 2012, 4:05 AM MDT for 16 counties in Colorado. It took effect at May 18, 2012, 12:00 PM 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
May 18, 2012, 4:05 AM MDT (10:05 UTC)
In effect from
May 18, 2012, 12:00 PM MDT
Expired
May 18, 2012, 8:00 PM MDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Counties Adams County, CO, Arapahoe County, CO, Boulder County, CO, Broomfield County, CO, Denver County, CO, Douglas County, CO, Elbert County, CO, Jefferson County, CO, Larimer County, CO, Lincoln County, CO, Logan County, CO, Morgan County, CO, Phillips County, CO, Sedgwick County, CO, Washington County, CO, Weld County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 42 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:11 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

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 00:00Z, 10.1 hours before the alert went out and 80 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, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 2012-05-18Temperature 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, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 2012-05-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -23 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
3918 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-23 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
35 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.

131 
WWUS85 KBOU 181005
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
405 AM MDT FRI MAY 18 2012

COZ215-238>240-242-243-181115-
/O.CAN.KBOU.FW.A.0006.120518T1800Z-120519T0200Z/
LARIMER AND BOULDER COUNTIES BETWEEN 6000 AND 9000 FEET-
LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTHWEST WELD COUNTY-
BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET/WEST BROOMFIELD
COUNTY-
NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/DENVER/WEST ADAMS AND
ARAPAHOE COUNTIES/EAST BROOMFIELD COUNTY-NORTHEAST WELD COUNTY-
CENTRAL AND SOUTH WELD COUNTY-
405 AM MDT FRI MAY 18 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR THE PLAINS OF NORTHEAST COLORADO AND NORTHERN FRONT
RANGE FOOTHILLS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS CANCELLED THE FIRE
WEATHER WATCH.

AT WILL BE DRY AND BREEZY AT TIMES TODAY...HOWEVER FREQUENT WIND
GUSTS GREATER THAN 25 MPH COMBINED WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITIES BELOW
15 PERCENT ARE NOT EXPECT TO LAST LONGER THAN 3 HOURS. THEREFORE
THE FIRE WEATHER HAS BEEN CANCEL. 

ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON.
THEY WILL PRODUCE GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS UP TO 50 MPH. WHERE IT DOES
RAIN...RAINFALL WILL LIGHT.

$$

COZ241-244>251-182100-
/O.UPG.KBOU.FW.A.0006.120518T1800Z-120519T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0014.120518T1800Z-120519T0200Z/
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
MORGAN COUNTY-CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
LOGAN COUNTY-WASHINGTON COUNTY-SEDGWICK COUNTY-PHILLIPS COUNTY-
405 AM MDT FRI MAY 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE PALMER DIVIDE 
AND THE PLAINS OF NORTHEAST COLORADO...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH
IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 241...244...245...246... 
  247...248...249...250 AND 251.

* TIMING...THE HUMIDITIES WILL DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY DURING THE 
  AFTERNOON. SOUTH-SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL PICK UP AFTER 12 
  NOON MDT. 

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WILL RANGE FROM 7 TO 14 PERCENT.

* THUNDERSTORMS...ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL FORM
  THIS AFTERNOON. MOST OF THEM WILL BE DRY AND PRODUCE WIND GUSTS
  UP TO 50 MPH.  

* IMPACTS...THE STRONG WINDS...LOW HUMIDITIES...AND ISOLATED DRY 
  THUNDERSTORMS COULD CAUSE RAPID SPREAD OF WILDFIRES. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE
OFFICIALS AND FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
424 
WWUS85 KBOU 182023
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
223 PM MDT FRI MAY 18 2012

COZ215-238>240-242-243-190200-
/O.EXA.KBOU.FW.W.0014.000000T0000Z-120519T0200Z/
LARIMER AND BOULDER COUNTIES BETWEEN 6000 AND 9000 FEET-
LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTHWEST WELD COUNTY-
BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET/WEST BROOMFIELD
COUNTY-
NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/DENVER/WEST ADAMS AND
ARAPAHOE COUNTIES/EAST BROOMFIELD COUNTY-NORTHEAST WELD COUNTY-
CENTRAL AND SOUTH WELD COUNTY-
223 PM MDT FRI MAY 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO COVER ALL OF
THE PLAINS OF NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL COLORADO AND THE
NORTHERN FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 215...238...239...240... 
  242 AND 243.

* TIMING...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED
  THROUGH EARLY EVENING. WINDS WILL DECREASE A BIT BY 8 PM WITH
  SLIGHTLY HIGHER HUMIDITY LEVELS.  WINDS WILL THEN SHIFT
  NORTHERLY WITH MUCH HIGHER HUMIDITIES LATE IN THE EVENING.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 30 MPH. SOME 
  GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE NEAR SHOWERS AND
  STORMS.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 11 PERCENT.

* THUNDERSTORMS...ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL FORM 
  THIS AFTERNOON. MOST OF THEM WILL BE DRY AND PRODUCE ERRATIC
  WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. 

* IMPACTS...THE STRONG WINDS...LOW HUMIDITIES...AND ISOLATED DRY 
  THUNDERSTORMS COULD CAUSE RAPID SPREAD OF WILDFIRES. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE
OFFICIALS AND FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

COZ241-244>251-190200-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0014.000000T0000Z-120519T0200Z/
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
MORGAN COUNTY-CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
LOGAN COUNTY-WASHINGTON COUNTY-SEDGWICK COUNTY-PHILLIPS COUNTY-
223 PM MDT FRI MAY 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE PALMER DIVIDE AND THE
PLAINS OF NORTHEAST COLORADO...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 241...244...245...246... 
  247...248...249...250 AND 251.

* TIMING...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED
  THROUGH EARLY EVENING. WINDS WILL DECREASE A BIT BY 8 PM WITH
  SLIGHTLY HIGHER HUMIDITY LEVELS.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 9 PERCENT.

* THUNDERSTORMS...ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL FORM 
  THIS AFTERNOON. MOST OF THEM WILL BE DRY AND PRODUCE ERRATIC WIND 
  GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. 

* IMPACTS...THE STRONG WINDS...LOW HUMIDITIES...AND ISOLATED DRY 
  THUNDERSTORMS COULD CAUSE RAPID SPREAD OF WILDFIRES. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE
OFFICIALS AND FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$
742 
WWUS85 KBOU 190204
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
804 PM MDT FRI MAY 18 2012

COZ215-238>251-190315-
/O.EXP.KBOU.FW.W.0014.000000T0000Z-120519T0200Z/
LARIMER AND BOULDER COUNTIES BETWEEN 6000 AND 9000 FEET-
LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTHWEST WELD COUNTY-
BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET/WEST BROOMFIELD
COUNTY-
NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/DENVER/WEST ADAMS AND
ARAPAHOE COUNTIES/EAST BROOMFIELD COUNTY-
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
NORTHEAST WELD COUNTY-CENTRAL AND SOUTH WELD COUNTY-MORGAN COUNTY-
CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
LOGAN COUNTY-WASHINGTON COUNTY-SEDGWICK COUNTY-PHILLIPS COUNTY-
804 PM MDT FRI MAY 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR THE NORTHEAST PLAINS AND NORTHERN FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS...

WINDS WERE DECREASING AND HUMIDITIES WERE INCREASING ACROSS MOST
OF THE REGION THIS EVENING. WINDS WILL SHIFT MORE NORTHERLY LATE
THIS EVENING ALLOWING COOLER TEMPERATURES AND ADDITIONAL MOISTURE
TO RETURN TO NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO.

$$

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Colorado, 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.