Alert archive / Massachusetts / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 4, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

April 4, 201210 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 4, 2012, 2:56 AM EDT for 10 counties in Massachusetts; Capitol Planning Region, Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut; 5 counties in Rhode Island. It took effect at Apr 4, 2012, 11:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 9 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 4, 2012, 2:56 AM EDT (06:56 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 4, 2012, 11:00 AM EDT
Expired
Apr 4, 2012, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
9 hr
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA

Counties Capitol Planning Region, CT, Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT, 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), 43 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:53 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, 6.9 hours before the alert went out and 145 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 2012-04-04Temperature 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, Chatham, MA at 00:00Z on 2012-04-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 161 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
2092 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
62 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
161 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
166 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.

331 
WWUS81 KBOX 040656
RFWBOX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
256 AM EDT WED APR 4 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT TODAY FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW
ENGLAND...

VERY DRY AIR...GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS...AND MINIMAL RECENT
RAINFALL WILL RESULT IN RED FLAG CONDITIONS TODAY.

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>021-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>007-041500-
/O.UPG.KBOX.FW.A.0004.120404T1500Z-120404T2300Z/
/O.NEW.KBOX.FW.W.0004.120404T1500Z-120405T0000Z/
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-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-
256 AM EDT WED APR 4 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT
THIS EVENING FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER
WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...ALL OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND EXCEPT FOR CAPE COD
  AND THE ISLANDS.  

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

* TIMING...FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH EVENING.

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

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 50S TO MID 60S.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  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 AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE AN ELEVATED
FIRE SPREAD POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
831 
WWUS81 KBOX 041447
RFWBOX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1047 AM EDT WED APR 4 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT TODAY FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW
ENGLAND...

VERY DRY AIR...GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS...AND MINIMAL RECENT
RAINFALL WILL RESULT IN RED FLAG CONDITIONS TODAY.

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>021-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>007-042300-
/O.CON.KBOX.FW.W.0004.120404T1500Z-120405T0000Z/
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-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-
1047 AM EDT WED APR 4 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND...

* AFFECTED AREA...ALL OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND EXCEPT FOR CAPE COD
  AND THE ISLANDS.

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

* TIMING...FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING.

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

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 50S TO MID 60S.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  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 AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE AN ELEVATED
FIRE SPREAD POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
376 
WWUS81 KBOX 042354
RFWBOX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
754 PM EDT WED APR 4 2012


CTZ002>004-MAZ002>021-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>007-050100-
/O.EXP.KBOX.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120405T0000Z/
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-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-
754 PM EDT WED APR 4 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR MUCH
OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND...

RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WERE INCREASING ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND
THIS EVENING...SO THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE
ON TIME AT 8 PM. HOWEVER...SCATTERED SHOWERS WILL RESULT IN GUSTY
NORTHWEST WINDS UP TO 45 MPH. IN ADDITION...ANY RAINFALL AMOUNTS
WILL BE QUITE LIGHT GENERALLY A TRACE TO A FEW HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH.

$$

FRANK

The office that day

Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 4, 4:00 AM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryBOX27 hr

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.