Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 4, NWS State College, PA

April 8, 201233 counties in Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this red flag warning at Apr 8, 2012, 9:49 PM EDT for 33 counties in Pennsylvania. It took effect at Apr 9, 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 8, 2012, 9:49 PM EDT (01:49 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 9, 2012, 1:00 PM EDT
Expired
Apr 9, 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 01:47 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

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 1.8 hours before the alert went out and 201 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 00:00Z on 2012-04-09Temperature 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 00:00Z on 2012-04-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -21 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
0 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
52 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-21 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
176 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.

639 
WWUS81 KCTP 090149
RFWCTP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
949 PM EDT SUN APR 8 2012

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-
049>053-056>059-063>066-091815-
/O.UPG.KCTP.FW.A.0003.120409T1700Z-120410T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KCTP.FW.W.0004.120409T1700Z-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-
949 PM EDT SUN APR 8 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM EDT MONDAY FOR
ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA..

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A RED
FLAG WARNING FOR ELEVATED WILD FIRE DANGER...WHICH IS IN EFFECT 
FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM EDT MONDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER
IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

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

* TIMING...EARLY AFTERNOON THROUGH MID EVENING.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 27 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 50S.

* IMPACTS...THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR RAPID SPREAD IF UNCONTROLLED
  FIRES DEVELOP...OR 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.

&&

$$

DEVOIR/GARTNER
4 follow-up statements
042 
WWUS81 KCTP 091235
RFWCTP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
835 AM EDT MON APR 9 2012

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-
049>053-056>059-063>066-100000-
/O.CON.KCTP.FW.W.0004.120409T1700Z-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-
835 AM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA..  THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR ELEVATED WILD FIRE DANGER...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM
1 PM TO 8 PM EDT MONDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.  * AFFECTED AREA...ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA  * WINDS...
WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.  * TIMING...EARLY
AFTERNOON THROUGH MID EVENING.  * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS
27 PERCENT.  * TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 50S.  * IMPACTS...THE
POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR RAPID SPREAD IF UNCONTROLLED   FIRES
DEVELOP...OR FOR PRESCRIBED BURNS TO GET OUT OF CONTROL. 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 THROUGH MID EVENING.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 27 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON.

* TEMPERATURES...AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE 50S ACROSS THE NORTHERN
  AND WESTERN MOUNTAINS OF PENNSYLVANIA...AND BETWEEN 60 AND 65
  DEGREES THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VALLEYS.

* IMPACTS...THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR RAPID SPREAD IF 
  UNCONTROLLED FIRES DEVELOP...OR 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.

&&

$$

LAMBERT
666 
WWUS81 KCTP 091535
RFWCTP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1135 AM EDT MON APR 9 2012

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-
049>053-056>059-063>066-100000-
/O.CON.KCTP.FW.W.0004.120409T1700Z-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-
1135 AM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING FOR ELEVATED WILD FIRE DANGER FOR ALL OF CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH.

* TIMING...EARLY THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH MID EVENING.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 27 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON.

* TEMPERATURES...AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE 50S ACROSS THE NORTHERN 
  AND WESTERN MOUNTAINS OF PENNSYLVANIA...AND BETWEEN 60 AND 65 
  DEGREES THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VALLEYS. 

* IMPACTS...THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR RAPID SPREAD IF 
  UNCONTROLLED FIRES DEVELOP...OR 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.

&&

$$

LAMBERT
306 
WWUS81 KCTP 091951
RFWCTP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
351 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012

PAZ025>028-034>036-056>059-063>066-100400-
/O.NEW.KCTP.FW.A.0004.120410T1700Z-120411T0000Z/
/O.CON.KCTP.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120410T0000Z/
BLAIR-HUNTINGDON-MIFFLIN-JUNIATA-BEDFORD-FULTON-FRANKLIN-PERRY-
DAUPHIN-SCHUYLKILL-LEBANON-CUMBERLAND-ADAMS-YORK-LANCASTER-
351 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR ELEVATED WILD FIRE DANGER FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTH-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH FOR SOUTH-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...DUE
TO THE POTENTIAL FOR ELEVATED WILD FIRE DANGER. THE FIRE WEATHER
WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING.

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 40 AND 45
  MPH...DECREASING TONIGHT. FOR TUESDAY...WEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH
  GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AROUND 20 PERCENT THROUGH THE EVENING BEFORE
  RECOVERING TONIGHT. FOR TUESDAY...THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL DROP
  TO NEAR 30 PERCENT DURING THE AFTERNOON.

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

&&

$$

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024-033-037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
100000-
/O.CON.KCTP.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120410T0000Z/
WARREN-MCKEAN-POTTER-ELK-CAMERON-NORTHERN CLINTON-CLEARFIELD-
NORTHERN CENTRE-SOUTHERN CENTRE-CAMBRIA-SOMERSET-TIOGA-
NORTHERN LYCOMING-SULLIVAN-SOUTHERN CLINTON-SOUTHERN LYCOMING-
UNION-SNYDER-MONTOUR-NORTHUMBERLAND-COLUMBIA-
351 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR ELEVATED WILD FIRE DANGER FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 40 AND 45
  MPH...DECREASING TONIGHT.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AROUND 20 PERCENT THROUGH THE EVENING BEFORE
  RECOVERING TONIGHT. 

* IMPACTS...THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR RAPID SPREAD IF UNCONTROLLED
  FIRES DEVELOP...OR FOR PRESCRIBED BURNS TO GET OUT OF CONTROL.
  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...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
MS/BL
359 
WWUS81 KCTP 100016
RFWCTP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
816 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012

PAZ025>028-034>036-056>059-063>066-101300-
/O.EXP.KCTP.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120410T0000Z/
/O.CON.KCTP.FW.A.0004.120410T1700Z-120411T0000Z/
BLAIR-HUNTINGDON-MIFFLIN-JUNIATA-BEDFORD-FULTON-FRANKLIN-PERRY-
DAUPHIN-SCHUYLKILL-LEBANON-CUMBERLAND-ADAMS-YORK-LANCASTER-
816 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR ELEVATED WILD FIRE DANGER FOR THE
SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND LOWER SUSQUEHANNA RIVER VALLEY...

...THE RED FLAG WARNING FOR THE SAME AREA HAS EXPIRED...

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH
REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR ELEVATED WILD FIRE DANGER. THE FIRE
WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY
EVENING.

* WINDS...WEST 14 TO 19 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO 25 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...BETWEEN 30 AND 35 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR RAPID SPREAD IF UNCONTROLLED
  FIRES DEVELOP...OR FOR PRESCRIBED BURNS TO GET OUT OF CONTROL.
  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED. 

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.

&&

$$

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024-033-037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
100130-
/O.EXP.KCTP.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120410T0000Z/
WARREN-MCKEAN-POTTER-ELK-CAMERON-NORTHERN CLINTON-CLEARFIELD-
NORTHERN CENTRE-SOUTHERN CENTRE-CAMBRIA-SOMERSET-TIOGA-
NORTHERN LYCOMING-SULLIVAN-SOUTHERN CLINTON-SOUTHERN LYCOMING-
UNION-SNYDER-MONTOUR-NORTHUMBERLAND-COLUMBIA-
816 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR ELEVATED WILD FIRE DANGER FOR
ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

THE RED FLAG WARNING FROM THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING IS NO LONGER
IN EFFECT.

$$

DEVOIR

The office that day

Everything else NWS State College, PA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 9, 3:51 PM EDTFire Weather WatchCTPAdams, Bedford, Blair, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin and 9 more12 hr
Apr 9, 7:13 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPBlair, Cambria, Huntingdon62 min

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.