Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 3, NWS State College, PA

April 7, 201233 counties in Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this red flag warning at Apr 7, 2012, 8:27 PM EDT for 33 counties in Pennsylvania. It took effect at Apr 8, 2012, 1:00 PM EDT. It was in force for 7 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 7, 2012, 8:27 PM EDT (00:27 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 8, 2012, 1:00 PM EDT
Expired
Apr 8, 2012, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
All 33 counties

Adams County, PA, Bedford County, PA, Blair County, PA, Cambria County, PA, Cameron County, PA, Centre County, PA, Clearfield County, PA, Clinton County, PA, Columbia County, PA, Cumberland County, PA, Dauphin County, PA, Elk County, PA, Franklin County, PA, Fulton County, PA, Huntingdon County, PA, Juniata County, PA, Lancaster County, PA, Lebanon County, PA, Lycoming County, PA, McKean County, PA, Mifflin County, PA, Montour County, PA, Northumberland County, PA, Perry County, PA, Potter County, PA, Schuylkill County, PA, Snyder County, PA, Somerset County, PA, Sullivan County, PA, Tioga County, PA, Union County, PA, Warren County, PA, York County, PA

The radar

The State College radar (KCCX), 43 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:26 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

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 219 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 2012-04-08Temperature 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 2012-04-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 68 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
2908 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
58 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
68 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
114 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.

105 
WWUS81 KCTP 080027
RFWCTP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
827 PM EDT SAT APR 7 2012

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-
049>053-056>059-063>066-080830-
/O.EXP.KCTP.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120408T0000Z/
/O.UPG.KCTP.FW.A.0002.120408T1700Z-120409T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KCTP.FW.W.0003.120408T1700Z-120409T0000Z/
WARREN-MCKEAN-POTTER-ELK-CAMERON-NORTHERN CLINTON-CLEARFIELD-
NORTHERN CENTRE-SOUTHERN CENTRE-CAMBRIA-BLAIR-HUNTINGDON-MIFFLIN-
JUNIATA-SOMERSET-BEDFORD-FULTON-FRANKLIN-TIOGA-NORTHERN LYCOMING-
SULLIVAN-SOUTHERN CLINTON-SOUTHERN LYCOMING-UNION-SNYDER-MONTOUR-
NORTHUMBERLAND-COLUMBIA-PERRY-DAUPHIN-SCHUYLKILL-LEBANON-
CUMBERLAND-ADAMS-YORK-LANCASTER-
827 PM EDT SAT APR 7 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR ALL
OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.
...RED FLAG WARNING FOR SATURDAY HAS EXPIRED FOR ALL OF CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A RED
FLAG WARNING FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM
TO 8 PM EDT SUNDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

* WINDS...WEST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* TIMING...EARLY AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING ON SUNDAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...NEAR 60 NORTH AND TO UPPER 60S SOUTH.

* IMPACTS...THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR RAPID SPREAD IF UNCONTROLLED
  FIRES DEVELOP...OR EVEN FOR PRESCRIBED BURNS TO GET OUT OF
  CONTROL. 

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 WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
249 
WWUS81 KCTP 080740
RFWCTP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
340 AM EDT SUN APR 8 2012

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-
049>053-056>059-063>066-090000-
/O.CON.KCTP.FW.W.0003.120408T1700Z-120409T0000Z/
WARREN-MCKEAN-POTTER-ELK-CAMERON-NORTHERN CLINTON-CLEARFIELD-
NORTHERN CENTRE-SOUTHERN CENTRE-CAMBRIA-BLAIR-HUNTINGDON-MIFFLIN-
JUNIATA-SOMERSET-BEDFORD-FULTON-FRANKLIN-TIOGA-NORTHERN LYCOMING-
SULLIVAN-SOUTHERN CLINTON-SOUTHERN LYCOMING-UNION-SNYDER-MONTOUR-
NORTHUMBERLAND-COLUMBIA-PERRY-DAUPHIN-SCHUYLKILL-LEBANON-
CUMBERLAND-ADAMS-YORK-LANCASTER-
340 AM EDT SUN APR 8 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM EDT THIS EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* TIMING...EARLY AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING ON SUNDAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE 60S.

* IMPACTS...THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR RAPID SPREAD IF 
  UNCONTROLLED FIRES DEVELOP...OR EVEN FOR PRESCRIBED BURNS TO 
  GET OUT OF CONTROL. 

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 WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
815 
WWUS81 KCTP 080849
RFWCTP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
449 AM EDT SUN APR 8 2012

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-
049>053-056>059-063>066-081700-
/O.NEW.KCTP.FW.A.0003.120409T1700Z-120410T0000Z/
/O.CON.KCTP.FW.W.0003.120408T1700Z-120409T0000Z/
WARREN-MCKEAN-POTTER-ELK-CAMERON-NORTHERN CLINTON-CLEARFIELD-
NORTHERN CENTRE-SOUTHERN CENTRE-CAMBRIA-BLAIR-HUNTINGDON-MIFFLIN-
JUNIATA-SOMERSET-BEDFORD-FULTON-FRANKLIN-TIOGA-NORTHERN LYCOMING-
SULLIVAN-SOUTHERN CLINTON-SOUTHERN LYCOMING-UNION-SNYDER-MONTOUR-
NORTHUMBERLAND-COLUMBIA-PERRY-DAUPHIN-SCHUYLKILL-LEBANON-
CUMBERLAND-ADAMS-YORK-LANCASTER-
449 AM EDT SUN APR 8 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
MONDAY EVENING FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY EVENING. 

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM EDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* TIMING...EARLY AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING BOTH TODAY AND
  MONDAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 60S.

* IMPACTS...THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR RAPID SPREAD IF 
  UNCONTROLLED FIRES DEVELOP...OR EVEN FOR PRESCRIBED BURNS TO 
  GET OUT OF CONTROL. 

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 WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

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

&&

$$
344 
WWUS81 KCTP 081547
RFWCTP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1147 AM EDT SUN APR 8 2012

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-
049>053-056>059-063>066-090000-
/O.CON.KCTP.FW.W.0003.120408T1700Z-120409T0000Z/
/O.CON.KCTP.FW.A.0003.120409T1700Z-120410T0000Z/
WARREN-MCKEAN-POTTER-ELK-CAMERON-NORTHERN CLINTON-CLEARFIELD-
NORTHERN CENTRE-SOUTHERN CENTRE-CAMBRIA-BLAIR-HUNTINGDON-MIFFLIN-
JUNIATA-SOMERSET-BEDFORD-FULTON-FRANKLIN-TIOGA-NORTHERN LYCOMING-
SULLIVAN-SOUTHERN CLINTON-SOUTHERN LYCOMING-UNION-SNYDER-MONTOUR-
NORTHUMBERLAND-COLUMBIA-PERRY-DAUPHIN-SCHUYLKILL-LEBANON-
CUMBERLAND-ADAMS-YORK-LANCASTER-
1147 AM EDT SUN APR 8 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING.
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING. 

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM EDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

* TIMING...EARLY AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING BOTH TODAY AND 
  MONDAY. 

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

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 50S.

* IMPACTS...THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR RAPID SPREAD IF 
  UNCONTROLLED FIRES DEVELOP...OR EVEN FOR PRESCRIBED BURNS TO 
  GET OUT OF CONTROL. 

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 WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

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 State College, PA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 8, 4:49 AM EDTFire Weather WatchCTPAdams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre and 27 more17 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Pennsylvania, 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.