Alert archive / Massachusetts / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 5, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

April 5, 20126 counties in Massachusetts

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this red flag warning at Apr 5, 2012, 4:05 AM EDT for 6 counties in Massachusetts. It took effect at Apr 5, 2012, 11:00 AM 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 5, 2012, 4:05 AM EDT (08:05 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 5, 2012, 11:00 AM EDT
Expired
Apr 5, 2012, 7:00 PM EDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA

Counties Essex County, MA, Franklin County, MA, Hampden County, MA, Hampshire County, MA, Middlesex County, MA, Worcester County, MA

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 89 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:09 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

Albany, NY (KALY), launched 00:00Z, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 152 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, Albany, NY at 00:00Z on 2012-04-05Temperature 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, Albany, NY at 00:00Z on 2012-04-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 19 square meters per square second.1939587897117136156Sfc1 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
1063 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
108 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
19 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
80 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.

835 
WWUS81 KBOX 050805
RFWBOX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
405 AM EDT THU APR 5 2012

...DRY WEATHER CONTINUES FOR ANOTHER DAY...

.SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WILL HAVE ANOTHER DAY OF DRY AIR BUT WITH
SOMEWHAT LESS GUSTY WINDS.

MAZ002>006-008>012-026-NHZ011-012-015-051615-
/O.NEW.KBOX.FW.W.0005.120405T1500Z-120405T2300Z/
WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-
CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-CHESHIRE NH-
EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
405 AM EDT THU APR 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EDT
THIS EVENING FOR WESTERN-CENTRAL-NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS AND 
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR PARTS OF MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW
HAMPSHIRE...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM
EDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...HAMPDEN-HAMPSHIRE-FRANKLIN COUNTIES IN WESTERN
  MASSACHUSETTS...WORCESTER COUNTY IN CENTRAL
  MASSACHUSETTS...PARTS OF MIDDLESEX AND ESSEX COUNTIES IN
  NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS...CHESHIRE AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES IN
  SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 22 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOW TO MID 50S.

* 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.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
673 
WWUS81 KBOX 051603
RFWBOX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1203 PM EDT THU APR 5 2012

...DRY WEATHER CONTINUES FOR ANOTHER DAY...

.SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WILL HAVE ANOTHER DAY OF DRY AIR BUT WITH
SOMEWHAT LESS GUSTY WINDS.

MAZ002>006-008>012-026-NHZ011-012-015-052300-
/O.CON.KBOX.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120405T2300Z/
WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-
CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-CHESHIRE NH-
EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
1203 PM EDT THU APR 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR WESTERN-CENTRAL-NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW
HAMPSHIRE...

* AFFECTED AREA...HAMPDEN-HAMPSHIRE-FRANKLIN COUNTIES IN WESTERN
  MASSACHUSETTS...WORCESTER COUNTY IN CENTRAL
  MASSACHUSETTS...PARTS OF MIDDLESEX AND ESSEX COUNTIES IN
  NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS...CHESHIRE AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES IN
  SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* TIMING...THROUGH THIS EVENING.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 22 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOW TO MID 50S.

* 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.

&&

$$
867 
WWUS81 KBOX 051919
RFWBOX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
319 PM EDT THU APR 5 2012

...DRY WEATHER CONTINUES INTO FRIDAY...

MAZ002>006-008>012-026-NHZ011-012-015-060330-
/O.NEW.KBOX.FW.A.0005.120406T1500Z-120406T2300Z/
/O.CON.KBOX.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120405T2300Z/
WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-
CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-CHESHIRE NH-
EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
319 PM EDT THU APR 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR WESTERN-CENTRAL-NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW
HAMPSHIRE...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING FOR WESTERN-CENTRAL-NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW
HAMPSHIRE...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING. THE RED FLAG WARNING CONTINUES THROUGH THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN MASSACHUSETTS...FRANKLIN...HAMPSHRE...HAMPDEN
  AND WORCESTER COUNTIES...AS WELL AS PORTIONS OF MIDDLESEX AND
  ESSEX COUNTIES. CHESHIRE AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES IN NEW
  HAMPSHIRE.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 5 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH THROUGH
  THIS EVENING AND TOMORROW.

* TIMING...THE RED FLAG WARNING CONTINUES THROUGH THIS EVENING.
  THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS FOR LATE MORNING INTO THE EVENING
  FRIDAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 19 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 40S.

* 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.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE
RED FLAG WARNINGS.

&&

$$

DOODY
983 
WWUS81 KBOX 052247
RFWBOX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
647 PM EDT THU APR 5 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY...

MAZ002>006-008>012-026-NHZ011-012-015-060700-
/O.EXP.KBOX.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120405T2300Z/
/O.CON.KBOX.FW.A.0005.120406T1500Z-120406T2300Z/
WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-
CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-CHESHIRE NH-
EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
647 PM EDT THU APR 5 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR WESTERN-CENTRAL-NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS 
AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING 
FOR WESTERN-CENTRAL-NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW
HAMPSHIRE...

* AFFECTED AREA...IN MASSACHUSETTS...FRANKLIN...HAMPSHIRE...HAMPDEN
  AND WORCESTER COUNTIES...AS WELL AS PORTIONS OF MIDDLESEX AND
  ESSEX COUNTIES. IN SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...CHESHIRE AND
  HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES ARE INCLUDED.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 5 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH LATE
  FRIDAY MORNING INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS.

* TIMING...THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS FOR LATE FRIDAY MORNING INTO
  EARLY IN THE EVENING.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 18 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...CONTINUED DRY WEATHER ALONG WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL
  RESULT IN ANOTHER DAY OF CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE
RED FLAG WARNINGS.

&&

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 5, 3:19 PM EDTFire Weather WatchBOX12 hr
Apr 4, 8:02 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBOX88 min

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Massachusetts, 2012Red Flag Warnings in New Hampshire, 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.