Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 30, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

August 31, 201214 counties in Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this red flag warning at Aug 31, 2012, 9:15 AM MDT for 14 counties in Colorado. It took effect at Aug 31, 2012, 10:00 AM MDT. It was in force for 10 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
Aug 31, 2012, 9:15 AM MDT (15:15 UTC)
In effect from
Aug 31, 2012, 10:00 AM MDT
Expired
Aug 31, 2012, 7:54 PM MDT
In force
10 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Counties Adams County, CO, Arapahoe County, CO, Broomfield County, CO, Denver County, CO, Douglas County, CO, Elbert 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 nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDEN), launched 12:00Z, 3.3 hours before the alert went out and 67 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 12:00Z on 2012-08-31Temperature 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, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 2012-08-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 52 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
2779 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
52 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
5 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.

243 
WWUS85 KBOU 311515
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
915 AM MDT FRI AUG 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR THE PALMER DIVIDE AND NORTHEAST PLAINS OF
COLORADO...

.WARM AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL RETURN TO THE NORTHEASTERN PLAINS
OF COLORADO AS WELL AS THE PALMER DIVIDE TODAY. GUSTY SOUTHERLY
WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH HUMIDITIES IN THE LOW TEENS CREATING
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH EARLY EVENING.

COZ241-242-244>246-248>251-312300-
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0030.120831T1600Z-120901T0200Z/
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
NORTHEAST WELD COUNTY-MORGAN COUNTY-
CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-LOGAN COUNTY-WASHINGTON COUNTY-SEDGWICK COUNTY-
PHILLIPS COUNTY-
915 AM MDT FRI AUG 31 2012

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

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 241...242...244...245... 
  246...248...249...250 AND 251.

* TIMING...HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN LATE THIS MORNING AND
  LAST INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS.

* WINDS...SOUTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 12 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL COMBINE WITH THE DRY FUELS TO
  PRODUCE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR FIRE STARTS AND RAPID SPREAD. 

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
300 
WWUS85 KBOU 312053
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
253 PM MDT FRI AUG 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR THE PALMER DIVIDE AND
MOST OF THE NORTHEAST PLAINS OF COLORADO...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR THE FAR NORTHEASTERN PLAINS OF COLORADO
SATURDAY...

.WARM AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE OVER MOST OF THE
NORTHEASTERN PLAINS OF COLORADO AS WELL AS THE PALMER DIVIDE INTO
THIS EVENING. GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS ARE COMBINING WITH HUMIDITIES
IN THE LOW TEENS CREATING CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
SATURDAY WILL SEE WEAKER WINDS HOWEVER COULD RETURN TO CRITICAL
WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER THE FAR NORTHEASTERN PLAINS.

COZ238-240-243-010200-
/O.EXA.KBOU.FW.W.0030.000000T0000Z-120901T0200Z/
LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTHWEST WELD COUNTY-
NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/DENVER/WEST ADAMS AND
ARAPAHOE COUNTIES/EAST BROOMFIELD COUNTY-
CENTRAL AND SOUTH WELD COUNTY-
253 PM MDT FRI AUG 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE NORTHERN I25 CORRIDOR...

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 238...240 AND 243.

* TIMING...HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY
  EVENING HOURS.

* WINDS...SOUTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 12 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL COMBINE WITH THE DRY FUELS 
  TO PRODUCE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR FIRE STARTS AND RAPID 
  SPREAD. 

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.

&&

$$

COZ246-248>251-010600-
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.A.0013.120901T1700Z-120902T0100Z/
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0030.000000T0000Z-120901T0200Z/
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-LOGAN COUNTY-WASHINGTON COUNTY-SEDGWICK COUNTY-
PHILLIPS COUNTY-
253 PM MDT FRI AUG 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE FAR NORTHEASTERN 
PLAINS OF COLORADO...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH
SATURDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE FAR 
NORTHEASTERN PLAINS OF COLORADO...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER
WATCH FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 246...248...249...250 AND 
  251.

* TIMING...HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY
  EVENING HOURS. CONDITIONS MAY BE MET AGAIN SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

* WINDS...SOUTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 10 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL COMBINE WITH THE DRY FUELS 
  TO PRODUCE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR FIRE STARTS AND RAPID 
  SPREAD. 

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.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS AND FIRE
CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS FIRE WEATHER WATCH.

&&

$$

COZ241-242-244-245-010200-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0030.000000T0000Z-120901T0200Z/
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
NORTHEAST WELD COUNTY-MORGAN COUNTY-
CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES-
253 PM MDT FRI AUG 31 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
NORTHEASTERN PLAINS OF COLORADO...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 241...242...244 AND 245.

* TIMING...HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY
  EVENING HOURS.

* WINDS...SOUTH 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

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

* IMPACTS...WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL COMBINE WITH THE DRY FUELS 
  TO PRODUCE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR FIRE STARTS AND RAPID 
  SPREAD. 

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.

&&

$$
349 
WWUS85 KBOU 010154
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
754 PM MDT FRI AUG 31 2012

COZ246-248>251-011000-
/O.CAN.KBOU.FW.W.0030.000000T0000Z-120901T0200Z/
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.A.0013.120901T1700Z-120902T0100Z/
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-LOGAN COUNTY-WASHINGTON COUNTY-SEDGWICK COUNTY-
PHILLIPS COUNTY-
754 PM MDT FRI AUG 31 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING
THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
THE FAR NORTHEASTERN PLAINS OF COLORADO...

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR THE FAR NORTHEASTERN PLAINS OF COLORADO...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS CANCELLED THE RED FLAG
WARNING.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 246...248...249...250 AND 
  251.

* TIMING...HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL RETURN AGAN BY SATURDAY
  AFTERNOON.

* WINDS...SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT AND
  SATURDAY MORNING. WINDS INCREASING AGAIN TO 15 TO 25 MPH WITH
  GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH POSSIBLE SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 10 PERCENT AGAIN BY SATURDAY
  AFTERNOON.  

* IMPACTS...WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL COMBINE WITH THE
  DRY FUELS TO PRODUCE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR FIRE STARTS AND
  RAPID SPREAD.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS AND FIRE
CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS FIRE WEATHER WATCH.

&&

$$

COZ238-240>245-010300-
/O.CAN.KBOU.FW.W.0030.000000T0000Z-120901T0200Z/
LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTHWEST WELD 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-
754 PM MDT FRI AUG 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR THE NORTHERN I25 CORRIDOR...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS CANCELLED THE RED FLAG
WARNING.

THE SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO DECREASE THROUGH THE REST OF
THE EVENING WHILE HUMIDITY LEVELS SLOWLY RISE.  

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 31, 2:53 PM MDTFire Weather WatchBOUElbert, Lincoln, Logan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington13 hr

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.