Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 39, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

December 2, 20127 counties in Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this red flag warning at Dec 2, 2012, 7:59 AM MST for 7 counties in Colorado. It took effect at Dec 2, 2012, 12:00 PM MST. It was in force for 18 hr. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Dec 2, 2012, 7:59 AM MST (14:59 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 2, 2012, 12:00 PM MST
Expired
Dec 3, 2012, 5:31 AM MST
In force
18 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Counties Boulder County, CO, Clear Creek County, CO, Douglas County, CO, Gilpin County, CO, Jefferson County, CO, Larimer County, CO, Park County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 74 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:04 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Dec 2, 8:05 PM MSTNON-TSTM WND GST 74Lyons, CO
Dec 3, 12:47 AM MSTNON-TSTM WND GST 67Lyons, CO

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 12:00Z, 3.0 hours before the alert went out and 187 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 2012-12-02Temperature 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 12:00Z on 2012-12-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 9 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
3135 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
9 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
141 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.

930 
WWUS85 KBOU 021459
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
759 AM MST SUN DEC 2 2012

...HIGH FIRE DANGER THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT...

.WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS COUPLED WITH INCREASING WIND WILL RAISE
THE FIRE DANGER AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON. THE STRONG WINDS WILL
CONTINUE OVER THE MOUNTAINS...FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS AND SOUTH PARK
TONIGHT...EVEN THOUGH HUMIDITIES WILL BE RISING. 

A WEATHER SYSTEM WILL BE MOVING INTO WESTERN AND CENTRAL COLORADO
TONIGHT WHICH WILL BRING SNOW AND HIGHER HUMIDITIES TO THE
COLORADO MOUNTAINS ALONG WITH INCREASING WIND.

COZ214>216-022300-
/O.UPG.KBOU.FW.A.0017.121202T1900Z-121203T0700Z/
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0039.121202T1900Z-121203T1300Z/
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PARK COUNTY-
LARIMER AND BOULDER COUNTIES BETWEEN 6000 AND 9000 FEET-
JEFFERSON AND WEST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET/GILPIN/CLEAR
CREEK/NORTHEAST PARK COUNTIES BELOW 9000 FEET-
759 AM MST SUN DEC 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 AM MST MONDAY
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS
AND SOUTH PARK...

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 6 AM MST MONDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 214...215 AND 216.

* TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE THROUGH TODAY ESPECIALLY IN THE 
  AFTERNOON. LOW HUMIDITIES WILL ALSO DEVELOP AS TEMPERATURES 
  CLIMB INTO THE UPPER 40S AND 50S. WINDS WILL BECOME EVEN 
  STRONGER TONIGHT...THOUGH IT WILL BE TURNING COLDER WITH 
  HIGHER HUMIDITIES. 

* WINDS...WEST 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH.

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

* IMPACTS...FIRES WILL BE EASIER TO START AND WILL SPREAD MORE 
  QUICKLY UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. 

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 UNSEASONABLE WARM
TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE RAPID FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
912 
WWUS85 KBOU 022235
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
335 PM MST SUN DEC 2 2012

...HIGH FIRE DANGER THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT...

.WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS COUPLED WITH INCREASING WIND WILL RAISE
THE FIRE DANGER AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON. THE STRONG WINDS WILL
INCREASE TONIGHT OVER THE MOUNTAINS...FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS AND
SOUTH PARK...EVEN THOUGH HUMIDITIES WILL BE RISING.

A WEATHER SYSTEM WILL BE MOVING INTO WESTERN AND CENTRAL COLORADO
TONIGHT WHICH WILL BRING SNOW AND HIGHER HUMIDITIES TO THE
COLORADO MOUNTAINS ALONG WITH INCREASING WIND.

COZ214>216-030645-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0039.000000T0000Z-121203T1300Z/
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PARK COUNTY-
LARIMER AND BOULDER COUNTIES BETWEEN 6000 AND 9000 FEET-
JEFFERSON AND WEST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET/GILPIN/CLEAR
CREEK/NORTHEAST PARK COUNTIES BELOW 9000 FEET-
335 PM MST SUN DEC 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM MST MONDAY FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS AND
SOUTH PARK...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 214...215 AND 216.

* TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE EVEN FURTHER TONIGHT...WITH THE
  STRONGEST WINDS EXPECTED BETWEEN 1900 AND 0300 TONIGHT.
  HUMIDITIES WILL REMAIN LOW WITH ONLY A SLIGHT RECOVERY TONIGHT
  IN THE WINDY AREAS. 

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH UNTIL
  1900...THEN INCREASING TO 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...5 TO 15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...FIRES WILL BE EASIER TO START AND WILL SPREAD MORE 
  QUICKLY UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. 

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 UNSEASONABLE WARM
TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE RAPID FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
944 
WWUS85 KBOU 030445
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
945 PM MST SUN DEC 2 2012

...HIGH FIRE DANGER THROUGH TONIGHT...

.A WEATHER SYSTEM WILL BE MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN COLORADO TONIGHT
WITH STRONG WINDS AND SNOW TO HIGHER ELEVATIONS WITH SOME LIGHT
ACCUMULATIONS.

COZ214>216-031300-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0039.000000T0000Z-121203T1300Z/
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PARK COUNTY-
LARIMER AND BOULDER COUNTIES BETWEEN 6000 AND 9000 FEET-
JEFFERSON AND WEST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET/GILPIN/CLEAR
CREEK/NORTHEAST PARK COUNTIES BELOW 9000 FEET-
945 PM MST SUN DEC 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM MST MONDAY FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS AND
SOUTH PARK...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 214...215 AND 216.

* TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE EVEN FURTHER TONIGHT...WITH THE
  STRONGEST WINDS EXPECTED THROUGH 0300 TONIGHT. HUMIDITIES WILL
  REMAIN LOW WITH ONLY A SLIGHT RECOVERY TONIGHT IN THE WINDY
  AREAS.

* WINDS...WEST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...15 TO 25 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...FIRES WILL BE EASIER TO START AND WILL SPREAD MORE 
  QUICKLY UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. 

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 UNSEASONABLE WARM
TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE RAPID FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
276 
WWUS85 KBOU 031231
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
531 AM MST MON DEC 3 2012

...DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS DECREASING...

.A WEATHER SYSTEM MOVED OVER NORTHERN COLORADO OVERNIGHT BRINGING
WINDY CONDITIONS TO THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS AND AREAS OF SNOW
TO THE MOUNTAINS WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. AS WINDY
CONDITIONS PERSISTED OVERNIGHT...HAZARDOUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ALSO CONTINUED. HOWEVER...AS HUMIDITY LEVELS GRADUALLY INCREASED
OVERNIGHT...THE STAGE WAS SET FOR FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TO EASE
AS WIND SPEEDS BEGAN DECREASING. GUSTY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
DIMINISH OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS AS PRESSURE GRADIENTS ACROSS THE
STATE BEGIN TO RELAX. WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES...HIGHER HUMIDITIES
AND LESS WIND EXPECTED THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON...THE THREAT OF
DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL BE ENDING.

COZ214>216-031345-
/O.CAN.KBOU.FW.W.0039.000000T0000Z-121203T1300Z/
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PARK COUNTY-
LARIMER AND BOULDER COUNTIES BETWEEN 6000 AND 9000 FEET-
JEFFERSON AND WEST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET/GILPIN/CLEAR
CREEK/NORTHEAST PARK COUNTIES BELOW 9000 FEET-
531 AM MST MON DEC 3 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR THE FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS AND PARK COUNTY...

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

AS GUSTY WINDS DECREASE THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS...HIGHER
HUMIDITIES AND COOLER TEMPERATURES WILL EASE THE DANGEROUS FIRE
WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE OVER THE WEEKEND. FIRE
BEHAVIOR IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE AS EXTREME TODAY AS IT HAS BEEN
OVER THE PAST COUPLE DAYS.

$$

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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.