Alert archive / Massachusetts / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 10, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

April 17, 201211 counties in Massachusetts; Capitol Planning Region, Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut; 5 counties in Rhode Island

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this red flag warning at Apr 17, 2012, 4:37 AM EDT for 11 counties in Massachusetts; Capitol Planning Region, Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut; 5 counties in Rhode Island. It took effect at Apr 17, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT. 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
Apr 17, 2012, 4:37 AM EDT (08:37 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 17, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT
Expired
Apr 17, 2012, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA

Counties Capitol Planning Region, CT, Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT, Barnstable County, MA, Bristol County, MA, Essex County, MA, Franklin County, MA, Hampden County, MA, Hampshire County, MA, Middlesex County, MA, Norfolk County, MA, Plymouth County, MA, Suffolk County, MA, Worcester County, MA, Bristol County, RI, Kent County, RI, Newport County, RI, Providence County, RI, Washington County, RI

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 37 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:40 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

Chatham, MA (KCHH), launched 00:00Z, 8.6 hours before the alert went out and 138 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, Chatham, MA at 00:00Z on 2012-04-17Temperature 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°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Chatham, MA at 00:00Z on 2012-04-17The 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
1270 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-23 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
121 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.

132 
WWUS81 KBOX 170837
RFWBOX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
437 AM EDT TUE APR 17 2012

...A MILD AND GENERALLY DRY AIRMASS CONTINUES TO PROMOTE
FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR FIRE SPREAD...

.AFTER A COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE TONIGHT...HIGH PRESSURE WILL BEGIN
TO BUILD OUT OF THE GREAT LAKES REGION ON TUESDAY. THIS WILL
BRING SOMEWHAT COOLER BUT CONTINUED DRY AIRMASS INTO THE REGION.
THE COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY WINDS AROUND
25 MPH WILL LEND TO A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT TOWARD FIRE SPREAD.

MAZ023-024-170945-
/O.CAN.KBOX.FW.A.0010.120417T1600Z-120418T0000Z/
DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-
437 AM EDT TUE APR 17 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTH COASTAL
MASSACHUSETTS AND MOST OF RHODE ISLAND EXCEPT BLOCK ISLAND...

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

WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL BE AT 10 TO 15 MPH...WITH SOME GUSTS
UP TO 20 MPH THIS AFTERNOON. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL
RANGE FROM 30 TO 55 PERCENT. FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN
ELEVATED FOR TODAY...BUT BELOW RED FLAG LEVELS.

$$

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>022-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>007-171630-
/O.UPG.KBOX.FW.A.0010.120417T1600Z-120418T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KBOX.FW.W.0010.120417T1600Z-120418T0000Z/
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-
SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-
WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-
SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-
CHESHIRE NH-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-
BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-
437 AM EDT TUE APR 17 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING FOR MOST OF MASSACHUSETTS...MOST OF RHODE ISLAND...
NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...MOST OF MASSACHUSETTS EXCEPT NANTUCKET AND
  MARTHAS VINEYARD...MOST OF RHODE ISLAND EXCEPT BLOCK
  ISLAND...NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH...HIGHEST
  ACROSS INTERIOR AREAS.

* TIMING...STRONGEST WIND GUSTS AND LOWEST HUMIDITIES WILL 
  DEVELOP ON TUESDAY FROM MIDDAY INTO THE LATE AFTERNOON. 

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

* TEMPERATURES...MAX TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S ARE 
  EXPECTED ON TUESDAY. 

* IMPACTS...DRY WEATHER AND GUSTY WINDS WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL 
  FIRE WEATHER 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 AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE AN ELEVATED
FIRE SPREAD POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

VALLIER-TALBOT
4 follow-up statements
725 
WWUS81 KBOX 170925
RFWBOX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
525 AM EDT TUE APR 17 2012

...MILD AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL PROMOTE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS...

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>022-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>007-171730-
/O.CON.KBOX.FW.W.0010.120417T1600Z-120418T0000Z/
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-
SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-
WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-
SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-
CHESHIRE NH-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-
BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-
525 AM EDT TUE APR 17 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT
THIS EVENING FOR MOST OF MASSACHUSETTS...MOST OF RHODE ISLAND...
NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...

* AFFECTED AREA...MOST OF MASSACHUSETTS EXCEPT NANTUCKET AND
  MARTHAS VINEYARD...MOST OF RHODE ISLAND EXCEPT BLOCK
  ISLAND...NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH...HIGHEST
  ACROSS INTERIOR AREAS.

* TIMING...STRONGEST WIND GUSTS AND LOWEST HUMIDITIES WILL 
  DEVELOP ON TUESDAY FROM MIDDAY INTO THE LATE AFTERNOON. 

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

* TEMPERATURES...MAX TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S ARE
  EXPECTED.

* IMPACTS...DRY WEATHER AND GUSTY WINDS WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL 
  FIRE WEATHER 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 AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE AN ELEVATED
FIRE SPREAD POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

VALLIER-TALBOT
690 
WWUS81 KBOX 171542
RFWBOX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1142 AM EDT TUE APR 17 2012

...MILD AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL PROMOTE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS...

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>022-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>007-180000-
/O.CON.KBOX.FW.W.0010.120417T1600Z-120418T0000Z/
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-
SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-
WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-
SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-
CHESHIRE NH-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-
BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-
1142 AM EDT TUE APR 17 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR MOST OF MASSACHUSETTS...MOST OF RHODE ISLAND...NORTHERN
CONNECTICUT AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...

* AFFECTED AREA...MOST OF MASSACHUSETTS EXCEPT NANTUCKET AND
  MARTHAS VINEYARD...MOST OF RHODE ISLAND EXCEPT BLOCK
  ISLAND...NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

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

* TIMING...STRONGEST WIND GUSTS AND LOWEST HUMIDITIES WILL DEVELOP
  OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO AND LAST UNTIL SUNSET. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 16 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...MAX TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S ARE
  EXPECTED.

* IMPACTS...DRY WEATHER AND GUSTY WINDS WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL
  FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED
  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 AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE AN ELEVATED
FIRE SPREAD POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

DUNTEN
856 
WWUS81 KBOX 172020
RFWBOX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
420 PM EDT TUE APR 17 2012

...MILD AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL PROMOTE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS...

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>022-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>007-180000-
/O.CON.KBOX.FW.W.0010.000000T0000Z-120418T0000Z/
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-
SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-
WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-
SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-
CHESHIRE NH-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-
BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-
420 PM EDT TUE APR 17 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR MOST OF MASSACHUSETTS...MOST OF RHODE ISLAND...NORTHERN
CONNECTICUT AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...

* AFFECTED AREA...MOST OF MASSACHUSETTS EXCEPT NANTUCKET AND
  MARTHAS VINEYARD...MOST OF RHODE ISLAND EXCEPT BLOCK
  ISLAND...NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* TIMING...STRONGEST WIND GUSTS AND LOWEST HUMIDITIES WILL 
  DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO AND LAST UNTIL SUNSET. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 13 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...MAX TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S ARE
  EXPECTED.

* IMPACTS...DRY WEATHER AND GUSTY WINDS WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL 
  FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED
  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 AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE AN ELEVATED
FIRE SPREAD POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

DUNTEN
253 
WWUS81 KBOX 180014
RFWBOX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
814 PM EDT TUE APR 17 2012

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>022-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>007-180115-
/O.EXP.KBOX.FW.W.0010.000000T0000Z-120418T0000Z/
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-
SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-
WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-
SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-
CHESHIRE NH-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-
BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-
814 PM EDT TUE APR 17 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR MOST OF MASSACHUSETTS...MOST
OF RHODE ISLAND...NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND SOUTHERN NEW
HAMPSHIRE...

WEST WINDS HAVE BEEN DIMINISHING AND RELATIVE HUMIDITIES ARE
SLOWLY RISING. THE RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE FOR
THIS EVENING.

$$

EVT

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Massachusetts, 2012Red Flag Warnings in Rhode Island, 2012Red Flag Warnings in Connecticut, 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.