Alert archive / New Mexico / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 9, NWS El Paso, TX

March 5, 20128 counties in New Mexico

NWS El Paso, TX issued this red flag warning at Mar 5, 2012, 2:07 PM MST for 8 counties in New Mexico. It took effect at Mar 6, 2012, 12:00 PM MST. 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
Mar 5, 2012, 2:07 PM MST (21:07 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 6, 2012, 12:00 PM MST
Expired
Mar 6, 2012, 7:00 PM MST
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 21:04 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, 9.1 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 2012-03-05Temperature 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, Santa Teresa, NM at 12:00Z on 2012-03-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 36 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
4060 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
36 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
170 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.

216 
WWUS84 KEPZ 052107
RFWEPZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
207 PM MST MON MAR 5 2012

...CRITICAL CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO RETURN TUESDAY AND 
WEDNESDAY...

.A SLOW MOVING PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL BE DRIFTING INTO THE
GREAT BASIN STARTING TUESDAY WITH WINDS ON THE INCREASE ACROSS
SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AS A LEE TROUGH DEVELOPS IN THE AFTERNOON.
THESE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 20 TO 30 MPH RANGE WITH
HIGHER GUSTS AND COMBINED WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES BELOW
10 PERCENT IN MOST LOCATIONS TO CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS. EVEN STRONGER WINDS ARE EXPECTED FOR WEDNESDAY COMBINING
WITH THESE VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDIITES TO CREATE MORE CRITICAL
FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. 

NMZ110>113-061400-
/O.UPG.KEPZ.FW.A.0007.120306T1900Z-120307T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KEPZ.FW.W.0009.120306T1900Z-120307T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KEPZ.FW.A.0008.120307T1800Z-120308T0300Z/
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST DESERTS AND LOWLANDS-
SOUTH CENTRAL LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
CAPITAN AND SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-
207 PM MST MON MAR 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MST TUESDAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA HAS
ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM
MST TUESDAY. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED. THIS FIRE
WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

* EVENT: FIRE WEATHER...ZONE 110 SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS. FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 111 SOUTHWEST DESERTS AND LOWLANDS. FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 112 SOUTH CENTRAL LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE 
  VALLEY. FIRE WEATHER ZONE 113 CAPITAN AND SACRAMENTO 
  MOUNTAINS. 

* TIMING: THE RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM
  TUESDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO
  8 PM WEDNESDAY. 

* WIND: SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH ON TUESDAY. 
  WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 50 MPH
  ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY. 

* HUMIDITY: 5 TO 10 PERCENT LOWLANDS AND 10 TO 15 PERCENT
  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.

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

&&

$$

TXZ055-056-061400-
/O.NEW.KEPZ.FW.A.0008.120307T1800Z-120308T0300Z/
EL PASO-HUDSPETH-
207 PM MST MON MAR 5 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA HAS
ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY
MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

* EVENT: FIRE WEATHER ...ZONE 055 EL PASO...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  056 HUDSPETH. 

* TIMING: 11 AM TO 8 PM WEDNESDAY.

* WIND: SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH

* HUMIDITY: 5 TO 10 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  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.

&&

$$
26
2 follow-up statements
764 
WWUS84 KEPZ 061341
RFWEPZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
641 AM MST TUE MAR 6 2012

...CRITICAL CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO RETURN TODAY AND WEDNESDAY...

.A SLOW MOVING PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL BE DRIFTING INTO THE
GREAT BASIN STARTING TODAY WITH WINDS ON THE INCREASE ACROSS
SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AS A LEE TROUGH DEVELOPS IN THE AFTERNOON.
THESE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 20 TO 30 MPH RANGE WITH
HIGHER GUSTS AND COMBINED WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES BELOW
10 PERCENT IN MOST LOCATIONS TO CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS. EVEN STRONGER WINDS ARE EXPECTED FOR WEDNESDAY
COMBINING WITH THESE VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES TO CREATE MORE
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

NMZ110>113-062200-
/O.CON.KEPZ.FW.W.0009.120306T1900Z-120307T0200Z/
/O.CON.KEPZ.FW.A.0008.120307T1800Z-120308T0300Z/
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST DESERTS AND LOWLANDS-
SOUTH CENTRAL LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
CAPITAN AND SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-
641 AM MST TUE MAR 6 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM MST
THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 110...111...112 AND 113...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 110...111...112 AND 113...

* EVENT: FIRE WEATHER...ZONE 110 SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS. FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 111 SOUTHWEST DESERTS AND LOWLANDS. FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 112 SOUTH CENTRAL LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE 
  VALLEY. FIRE WEATHER ZONE 113 CAPITAN AND SACRAMENTO 
  MOUNTAINS. 

* TIMING: THE RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM TODAY.
  THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM
  WEDNESDAY.

* WIND: SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH TODAY. 
  WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 50 
  MPH ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY.

* HUMIDITY: 5 TO 10 PERCENT LOWLANDS AND 7 TO 15 PERCENT
  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.

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

&&

$$

TXZ055-056-062200-
/O.CON.KEPZ.FW.A.0008.120307T1800Z-120308T0300Z/
EL PASO-HUDSPETH-
641 AM MST TUE MAR 6 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 055 AND 056...

* EVENT: FIRE WEATHER ZONE 055 ...EL PASO...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  056 HUDSPETH. 

* TIMING: 11 AM TO 8 PM WEDNESDAY.

* WIND: SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH

* HUMIDITY: 5 TO 10 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  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.

&&

$$
26
600 
WWUS84 KEPZ 062056
RFWEPZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
156 PM MST TUE MAR 6 2012

...CRITICAL CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND WEDNESDAY...

.A SLOW MOVING PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL BE DRIFTING INTO THE
GREAT BASIN THIS AFTERNOON WITH WINDS ON THE INCREASE ACROSS
SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AS A LEE TROUGH DEVELOPS. THESE WINDS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 20 TO 30 MPH RANGE WITH HIGHER GUSTS AND
COMBINED WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES BELOW 10 PERCENT IN MOST
LOCATIONS TO CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. EVEN
STRONGER WINDS ARE EXPECTED FOR WEDNESDAY COMBINING WITH THESE
VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES TO CREATE MORE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS.

NMZ110>113-071400-
/O.UPG.KEPZ.FW.A.0008.120307T1800Z-120308T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KEPZ.FW.W.0010.120307T1800Z-120308T0300Z/
/O.CON.KEPZ.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120307T0200Z/
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST DESERTS AND LOWLANDS-
SOUTH CENTRAL LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
CAPITAN AND SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-
156 PM MST TUE MAR 6 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 110...
111...112 AND 113...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MST WEDNESDAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 110...
111...112 AND 113...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA HAS
ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM
MST WEDNESDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* TIMING: A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 7 PM TODAY.
  ANOTHER RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM
  WEDNESDAY.

* WIND: SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH TODAY. WEST 
  TO SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 50 MPH ARE 
  POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY.

* HUMIDITY: 5 TO 10 PERCENT LOWLANDS AND 7 TO 15 PERCENT 
  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.

&&

$$

TXZ055-056-071400-
/O.UPG.KEPZ.FW.A.0008.120307T1800Z-120308T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KEPZ.FW.W.0010.120307T1800Z-120308T0300Z/
EL PASO-HUDSPETH-
156 PM MST TUE MAR 6 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MST WEDNESDAY
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA HAS
ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM
MST WEDNESDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* TIMING: 11 AM TO 8 PM WEDNESDAY.

* WIND: SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH.

* HUMIDITY: 5 TO 10 PERCENT.

* 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.

&&

$$
26

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 5, 6:59 AM MSTFire Weather WatchEPZCatron, Doña Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Lincoln, Luna and 2 more7 hr
Mar 5, 1:44 PM MSTHigh Wind WatchEPZDoña Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Otero, Sierra23 hr
Mar 5, 2:07 PM MSTFire Weather WatchEPZCatron, Doña Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Lincoln, Luna and 2 more24 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.