Alert archive / Iowa / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Des Moines, IA

August 29, 201222 counties in Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this red flag warning at Aug 29, 2012, 3:54 PM CDT for 22 counties in Iowa. It took effect at Aug 30, 2012, 12:00 PM CDT. 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
Aug 29, 2012, 3:54 PM CDT (20:54 UTC)
In effect from
Aug 30, 2012, 12:00 PM CDT
Expired
Aug 30, 2012, 7:03 PM CDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
All 22 counties

Boone County, IA, Butler County, IA, Calhoun County, IA, Carroll County, IA, Cerro Gordo County, IA, Crawford County, IA, Emmet County, IA, Franklin County, IA, Greene County, IA, Hamilton County, IA, Hancock County, IA, Hardin County, IA, Humboldt County, IA, Kossuth County, IA, Palo Alto County, IA, Pocahontas County, IA, Sac County, IA, Story County, IA, Webster County, IA, Winnebago County, IA, Worth County, IA, Wright County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:56 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

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 242 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, Omaha, NE at 12:00Z on 2012-08-29Temperature 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, Omaha, NE at 12:00Z on 2012-08-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 107 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
2554 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
107 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
211 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.

618 
WWUS83 KDMX 292054
RFWDMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
354 PM CDT WED AUG 29 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED ON THURSDAY IN FAR
NORTHERN IOWA...

.LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...DRY CONDITIONS AND STRONG SOUTHWEST
WINDS ARE EXPECTED ON THURSDAY MAKING FOR EXTREME FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS. 

IAZ004>007-015>017-300500-
/O.UPG.KDMX.FW.A.0002.120830T1700Z-120831T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KDMX.FW.W.0002.120830T1700Z-120831T0100Z/
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
354 PM CDT WED AUG 29 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM CDT THURSDAY FOR
EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM
NOON TO 8 PM CDT THURSDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.

* TIMING...THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING.

* WIND...SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 35 
  MPH. 

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

* FUEL...DRYING OF GRASSES AS WELL AS FIELD CROPS IS UNDERWAY 
  AND AHEAD OF SCHEDULE GIVEN THE HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS THIS 
  SUMMER. 

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE
  LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...DRY FUELS AND STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS.


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.

&&

$$

IAZ023>026-033>036-044-045-300500-
/O.NEW.KDMX.FW.W.0002.120830T1700Z-120831T0100Z/
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-
CRAWFORD-CARROLL-
354 PM CDT WED AUG 29 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM CDT THURSDAY FOR
EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM
NOON TO 8 PM CDT THURSDAY.

* TIMING OR SHORT TERM TRENDS...THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING.

* WIND...SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 35 
  MPH. 

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

* FUEL...DRYING OF GRASSES AS WELL AS FIELD CROPS IS UNDERWAY 
  AND AHEAD OF SCHEDULE GIVEN THE HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS THIS 
  SUMMER. 

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE
  LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...DRY FUELS AND STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS.

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.

&&

$$

KD
5 follow-up statements
147 
WWUS83 KDMX 300209
RFWDMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
909 PM CDT WED AUG 29 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED ON THURSDAY IN FAR
NORTHERN IOWA...

.LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...DRY CONDITIONS AND STRONG SOUTHWEST
WINDS ARE EXPECTED ON THURSDAY MAKING FOR EXTREME FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS.

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>026-033>036-044-045-301015-
/O.CON.KDMX.FW.W.0002.120830T1700Z-120831T0100Z/
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-
CRAWFORD-CARROLL-
909 PM CDT WED AUG 29 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM CDT
THURSDAY FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

* TIMING OR SHORT TERM TRENDS...THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO THE 
  EARLY EVENING.

* WIND...SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 35 
  MPH. 

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

* FUEL...DRYING OF GRASSES AS WELL AS FIELD CROPS IS UNDERWAY 
  AND AHEAD OF SCHEDULE GIVEN THE HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS THIS 
  SUMMER. 

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE 
  LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...DRY FUELS AND STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS. 

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.

&&

$$
331 
WWUS83 KDMX 300919
RFWDMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
419 AM CDT THU AUG 30 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY ACROSS NORTHERN IOWA...

.THE COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...ABNORMALLY DRY
CONDITIONS AND STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS TODAY WILL RESULT IN 
EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>026-033>036-044-045-301730-
/O.CON.KDMX.FW.W.0002.120830T1700Z-120831T0100Z/
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-
CRAWFORD-CARROLL-
419 AM CDT THU AUG 30 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT
THIS EVENING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

* TIMING OR SHORT TERM TRENDS...THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
  EVENING.

* WIND...SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 35
  MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...15 TO 25 PERCENT.

* FUEL...FIELD CROPS ARE NEARLY CURED AND ARE HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE
  WHICH WILL LEAD TO RAPID FIRE GROWTH TODAY. IN ADDITION...THE
  DRYING OF GRASSES IS WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE DUE TO THE HOT AND
  DRY CONDITIONS THIS SUMMER.

* IMPACTS...FIRES WILL EXPERIENCE RAPIDLY FIRE GROWTH AND WILL BE
  VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTAIN TODAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH
POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
314 
WWUS83 KDMX 301502
RFWDMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1002 AM CDT THU AUG 30 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY ACROSS NORTHERN IOWA...

.THE COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...ABNORMALLY DRY
CONDITIONS AND STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS TODAY WILL RESULT IN
EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

IAZ027-037-046>048-302315-
/O.EXA.KDMX.FW.W.0002.120830T1700Z-120831T0100Z/
BUTLER-HARDIN-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-
1002 AM CDT THU AUG 30 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL
8 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

* TIMING OR SHORT TERM TRENDS...THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY 
  EVENING. 

* WIND...SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 35 
  MPH. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...15 TO 25 PERCENT.

* FUEL...FIELD CROPS ARE NEARLY CURED AND ARE HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE 
  WHICH WILL LEAD TO RAPID FIRE GROWTH TODAY. IN ADDITION...THE 
  DRYING OF GRASSES IS WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE DUE TO THE HOT AND 
  DRY CONDITIONS THIS SUMMER. 

* IMPACTS...FIRES WILL EXPERIENCE RAPIDLY FIRE GROWTH AND WILL 
  BE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTAIN TODAY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE
GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>026-033>036-044-045-302315-
/O.CON.KDMX.FW.W.0002.120830T1700Z-120831T0100Z/
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-
CRAWFORD-CARROLL-
1002 AM CDT THU AUG 30 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

* TIMING OR SHORT TERM TRENDS...THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY 
  EVENING. 

* WIND...SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 35 
  MPH. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...15 TO 25 PERCENT.

* FUEL...FIELD CROPS ARE NEARLY CURED AND ARE HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE 
  WHICH WILL LEAD TO RAPID FIRE GROWTH TODAY. IN ADDITION...THE 
  DRYING OF GRASSES IS WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE DUE TO THE HOT AND 
  DRY CONDITIONS THIS SUMMER. 

* IMPACTS...FIRES WILL EXPERIENCE RAPIDLY FIRE GROWTH AND WILL 
  BE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTAIN TODAY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE
GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
157 
WWUS83 KDMX 302038
RFWDMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
338 PM CDT THU AUG 30 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY
EVENING ACROSS NORTHERN IOWA...

.THE COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...ABNORMALLY DRY
CONDITIONS AND STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL RESULT IN EXTREME FIRE
WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING.

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>027-033>037-044>048-310100-
/O.CON.KDMX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120831T0100Z/
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-
HAMILTON-HARDIN-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-
338 PM CDT THU AUG 30 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

* TIMING OR SHORT TERM TRENDS...THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY 
  EVENING. 

* WIND...SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 35 
  MPH. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...15 TO 25 PERCENT.

* FUEL...FIELD CROPS ARE NEARLY CURED AND ARE HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE 
  WHICH WILL LEAD TO RAPID FIRE GROWTH TODAY. IN ADDITION...THE 
  DRYING OF GRASSES IS WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE DUE TO THE HOT AND 
  DRY CONDITIONS THIS SUMMER. 

* IMPACTS...FIRES WILL EXPERIENCE RAPIDLY FIRE GROWTH AND WILL 
  BE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTAIN TODAY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE
GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
355 
WWUS83 KDMX 310003
RFWDMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
703 PM CDT THU AUG 30 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING CANCELLED...

.A COLD FRONT ENTERING NORTHWEST IOWA WILL PUSH SOUTHEAST AND
STALL EAST TO WEST ACROSS NORTHERN IOWA TONIGHT. WINDS WILL REMAIN
LIGHT THROUGH THE REST OF TONIGHT...

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>027-033>037-044>048-310115-
/O.CAN.KDMX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120831T0100Z/
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-
HAMILTON-HARDIN-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-
703 PM CDT THU AUG 30 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS CANCELLED THE RED
FLAG WARNING.

WINDS HAVE DIMINISHED TO 8 TO 15 MPH ACROSS THE AREA. IN ADDITION
RELATIVE HUMIDITY HAS INCREASED TO 25 TO 35 PERCENT.


$$

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Iowa, 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.