Alert archive / New Mexico / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 22, NWS El Paso, TX

May 4, 20128 counties in New Mexico

NWS El Paso, TX issued this red flag warning at May 4, 2012, 2:12 PM MDT for 8 counties in New Mexico. It took effect at May 5, 2012, 1:00 PM MDT. 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
May 4, 2012, 2:12 PM MDT (20:12 UTC)
In effect from
May 5, 2012, 1:00 PM MDT
Expired
May 5, 2012, 8:00 PM MDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS El Paso, TX

Counties Catron County, NM, Doña Ana County, NM, Grant County, NM, Hidalgo County, NM, Lincoln County, NM, Luna County, NM, Otero County, NM, Sierra County, NM

The radar

The Holloman AFB radar (KHDX), 115 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:13 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

Santa Teresa, NM (KEPZ), launched 12:00Z, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 121 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, Santa Teresa, NM at 12:00Z on 2012-05-04Temperature 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, Santa Teresa, NM at 12:00Z on 2012-05-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -97 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
6061 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-97 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
79 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.

542 
WWUS84 KEPZ 042012
RFWEPZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
212 PM MDT FRI MAY 4 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-
CENTRAL NEW MEXICO ON SATURDAY...

.A STRONG UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE NORTHERN
ROCKIES ON SATURDAY WHILE A WEAKER DISTURBANCE MOVES INTO WEST
TEXAS FROM MEXICO. THIS WILL HELP DEEPEN A LEE CYCLONE OVER
EASTERN COLORADO. AS A RESULT...THE PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER NEW
MEXICO WILL TIGHTEN...LEADING TO INCREASING WEST TO SOUTHWEST
WINDS ACROSS OUR AREA ON SATURDAY. EXPECT 20 FOOT WINDS OF 20 TO
25 MPH WEST OF THE RIO GRANDE AND UP IN THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS.
MEANWHILE...VERY DRY CONDITIONS AND HIGH FIRE DANGER RATINGS WILL
REMAIN IN PLACE.

TXZ055-056-042115-
/O.CAN.KEPZ.FW.A.0021.120505T1900Z-120506T0200Z/
EL PASO-HUDSPETH-
212 PM MDT FRI MAY 4 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR FAR WEST TEXAS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA HAS
CANCELLED THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH. 

WHILE IT WILL BE DRY AND BREEZY ON SATURDAY OVER FAR WEST TEXAS...
20 FOOT WINDS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO REACH 20 MPH FOR THREE HOURS OR
MORE...FALLING JUST SHORT OF RED FLAG CRITERIA. HOWEVER...CAUTION
IS STILL URGED GIVEN BREEZY AND VERY DRY CONDITIONS.

$$

NMZ110>113-050400-
/O.UPG.KEPZ.FW.A.0021.120505T1900Z-120506T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KEPZ.FW.W.0022.120505T1900Z-120506T0200Z/
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST DESERTS AND LOWLANDS-
SOUTH CENTRAL LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
CAPITAN AND SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-
212 PM MDT FRI MAY 4 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM MDT SATURDAY DUE
TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA HAS
ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM
MDT SATURDAY. THIS REPLACES THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH THAT WAS
PREVIOUSLY ISSUED.

* AFFECTED AREA: SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO INCLUDING
  NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONES 110...111...112...AND 113.

* TIMING: SATURDAY FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM MDT.

* WIND: SOUTHWEST 20 TO 25 MPH AT THE 20-FOOT LEVEL WITH GUSTS 
  AROUND 35 MPH.

* HUMIDITY: 5 TO 8 PERCENT IN THE LOWLANDS...8 TO 12 PERCENT IN 
  THE MOUNTAINS.

* 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...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

HARDIMAN
4 follow-up statements
943 
WWUS84 KEPZ 050337
RFWEPZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
937 PM MDT FRI MAY 4 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-
CENTRAL NEW MEXICO ON SATURDAY...

.A STRONG UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE NORTHERN
ROCKIES ON SATURDAY WHILE A WEAKER DISTURBANCE MOVES INTO WEST
TEXAS FROM MEXICO. THIS WILL HELP DEEPEN A LEE CYCLONE OVER
EASTERN COLORADO. AS A RESULT...THE PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER NEW
MEXICO WILL TIGHTEN...LEADING TO INCREASING WEST TO SOUTHWEST
WINDS ACROSS OUR AREA ON SATURDAY. EXPECT 20 FOOT WINDS OF 20 TO
25 MPH WEST OF THE RIO GRANDE AND UP IN THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS.
MEANWHILE...VERY DRY CONDITIONS AND HIGH FIRE DANGER RATINGS WILL
REMAIN IN PLACE.

NMZ110>113-051500-
/O.CON.KEPZ.FW.W.0022.120505T1900Z-120506T0200Z/
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST DESERTS AND LOWLANDS-
SOUTH CENTRAL LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
CAPITAN AND SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-
937 PM MDT FRI MAY 4 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM MDT
SATURDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
110...111...112 AND 113...

* AFFECTED AREA: SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO 
  INCLUDING NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONES 110...111...112...AND 
  113. 

* TIMING: SATURDAY FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM MDT.

* WIND: SOUTHWEST 20 TO 25 MPH AT THE 20-FOOT LEVEL WITH GUSTS 
  AROUND 35 MPH.

* HUMIDITY: 5 TO 8 PERCENT IN THE LOWLANDS...8 TO 12 PERCENT IN 
  THE MOUNTAINS.

* 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...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
319 
WWUS84 KEPZ 051232
RFWEPZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
632 AM MDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-
CENTRAL NEW MEXICO TODAY...

.A STRONG UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE NORTHERN
ROCKIES TODAY...WHILE A WEAKER DISTURBANCE MOVES INTO WEST TEXAS
FROM MEXICO.  BOTH WILL HELP DEEPEN A LEE CYCLONE OVER EASTERN
COLORADO. THIS WILL PRODUCE TO A STRENGTHENING PRESSURE GRADIENT
OVER NEW MEXICO...WITH INCREASING WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS ACROSS
OUR AREA ON SATURDAY.  AS A RESULT...LOOK FOR 20 FOOT WINDS OF 20
TO 30 MPH ACROSS SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO...INCLUDING
THE GILA WILDERNESS...SACRAMENTO AND CAPITAN MOUNTAINS.  VERY DRY
CONDITIONS AND HIGH OR GREATER FIRE DANGER RATINGS WILL REMAIN IN
PLACE.

NMZ110>113-060200-
/O.CON.KEPZ.FW.W.0022.120505T1900Z-120506T0200Z/
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST DESERTS AND LOWLANDS-
SOUTH CENTRAL LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
CAPITAN AND SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-
632 AM MDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 110...111...112 AND 113...SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL
NEW MEXICO...

* AFFECTED AREA: SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. 

* TIMING: SATURDAY FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM MDT.

* WIND: SOUTHWEST 20 TO 25 MPH AT THE 20-FOOT LEVEL WITH GUSTS 
  AROUND 35 MPH.

* HUMIDITY: 5 TO 8 PERCENT IN THE LOWLANDS...8 TO 12 PERCENT IN 
  THE MOUNTAINS.

* 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...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
032 
WWUS84 KEPZ 051448
RFWEPZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
848 AM MDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-
CENTRAL NEW MEXICO TODAY...

.A STRONG UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE NORTHERN
ROCKIES TODAY...WHILE A WEAKER DISTURBANCE MOVES INTO WEST TEXAS
FROM MEXICO.  BOTH WILL HELP DEEPEN A LEE CYCLONE OVER EASTERN
COLORADO. THIS WILL PRODUCE TO A STRENGTHENING PRESSURE GRADIENT
OVER NEW MEXICO...WITH INCREASING WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS ACROSS
OUR AREA ON SATURDAY.  AS A RESULT...LOOK FOR 20 FOOT WINDS OF 20
TO 30 MPH ACROSS SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO...INCLUDING
THE GILA WILDERNESS...SACRAMENTO AND CAPITAN MOUNTAINS.  VERY DRY
CONDITIONS AND HIGH OR GREATER FIRE DANGER RATINGS WILL REMAIN IN
PLACE.

NMZ110>113-060200-
/O.CON.KEPZ.FW.W.0022.120505T1900Z-120506T0200Z/
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST DESERTS AND LOWLANDS-
SOUTH CENTRAL LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
CAPITAN AND SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-
848 AM MDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 110...111...112 AND 113...

* AFFECTED AREA: SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO.

* TIMING: SATURDAY FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM MDT.

* WIND: SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH AT THE 20-FOOT LEVEL WITH GUSTS TO 35
  MPH OR HIGHER.

* HUMIDITY: 5 TO 8 PERCENT IN THE LOWLANDS...8 TO 12 PERCENT IN 
  THE MOUNTAINS.

* 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...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
401 
WWUS84 KEPZ 060205
RFWEPZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
805 PM MDT SAT MAY 5 2012


NMZ110>113-060315-
/O.EXP.KEPZ.FW.W.0022.000000T0000Z-120506T0200Z/
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST DESERTS AND LOWLANDS-
SOUTH CENTRAL LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
CAPITAN AND SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-
805 PM MDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 110...111...112 AND 113...

A FEW AREAS MAY STILL SEE WINDS OF 20 TO 25 MPH WITH SOME HIGHER
GUSTS...ESPECIALLY ON EASTERN MOUNTAIN SLOPES BUT OTHERWISE RED
FLAG CONDITIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING. 

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS El Paso, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 3, 10:24 PM MDTFire Weather WatchEPZCatron, Doña Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Lincoln, Luna and 2 more16 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in New Mexico, 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.