Alert archive / North Carolina / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 3, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

April 9, 20128 counties in North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this red flag warning at Apr 9, 2012, 11:10 AM EDT for 8 counties in North Carolina. It took effect at Apr 9, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT. It was in force for 8 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 9, 2012, 11:10 AM EDT (15:10 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 9, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT
Expired
Apr 9, 2012, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

Counties Alexander County, NC, Burke County, NC, Caldwell County, NC, Catawba County, NC, Davie County, NC, Iredell County, NC, McDowell County, NC, Rowan County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 137 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:10 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

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 3.2 hours before the alert went out and 122 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2012-04-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -202 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
2628 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-202 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-18 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.

937 
WWUS82 KGSP 091510
RFWGSP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1110 AM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN NORTH
CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON AND TOMORROW...

.DEEP WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW WILL RESULT IN PERSISTENCE OF A DRY
AND RELATIVELY WARM AIR MASS TODAY. WEST WINDS WILL STRENGTHEN AND
BECOME GUSTY THIS AFTERNOON IN ADVANCE OF A DRY COLD FRONT. THE
COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE AREA TONIGHT...BRINGING COOLER BUT ALSO
DRIER AIR TO THE REGION...ALONG WITH STRONGER NORTHWEST WINDS.
THESE FACTORS WILL RESULT IN HIGH FIRE DANGER ACROSS WESTERN NORTH
CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON AND AGAIN TUESDAY AFTERNOON.  

NCZ035>037-056-057-502-504-506-100000-
/O.NEW.KGSP.FW.W.0003.120409T1600Z-120410T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KGSP.FW.A.0003.120410T1600Z-120411T0000Z/
ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-GREATER CALDWELL-
GREATER BURKE-EASTERN MCDOWELL-
1110 AM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE NORTHERN FOOTHILLS AND
NORTHWEST PIEDMONT... 
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
TUESDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WESTERN
NORTH CAROLINA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED
A RED FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS
IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS
ALSO BEEN ISSUED. THIS FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR WIND AND LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
TUESDAY EVENING.

* LOCATIONS...NORTHERN FOOTHILLS AND NORTHWEST PIEDMONT. 

* TIMING...THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AND AGAIN TUESDAY
  AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. 

* WINDS...WEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 19 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE
  WITH DRY FUELS TO PRODUCE AN ENHANCED DANGER OF THE SPREAD OF
  WILDFIRE.

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.

&&

$$

NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-068>072-082-303-501-503-505-
507>510-100000-
/O.NEW.KGSP.FW.A.0003.120410T1600Z-120411T0000Z/
AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM-
NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-
CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-
NORTH CAROLINA PORTION OF GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK-
CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-GREATER RUTHERFORD-POLK MOUNTAINS-
EASTERN POLK-
1110 AM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
TUESDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WESTERN
NORTH CAROLINA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH
IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING.

* LOCATIONS...THE MOUNTAINS...SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS...AND SOUTHWEST
  PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

* TIMING...TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. 

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE
  WITH DRY FUELS TO PRODUCE AN ENHANCED DANGER OF THE SPREAD OF
  WILDFIRE.

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.

&&

$$
LANE
1 follow-up statement
630 
WWUS82 KGSP 091850
RFWGSP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
250 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE WESTERN
CAROLINAS THIS AFTERNOON AND TOMORROW...

.DEEP WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW WILL RESULT IN PERSISTENCE OF A DRY
AND RELATIVELY WARM AIR MASS THROUGH TOMORROW. WEST WINDS WILL
REMAIN GUSTY THIS AFTERNOON IN ADVANCE OF A DRY COLD FRONT. THE
COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE AREA TONIGHT...BRINGING SLIGHTLY COOLER
BUT ALSO DRIER AIR TO THE REGION...ALONG WITH STRONGER NORTHWEST
WINDS. THESE FACTORS WILL RESULT IN HIGH FIRE DANGER ACROSS
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING AND AGAIN
TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

NCZ035>037-056-057-502-504-506-100000-
/O.CON.KGSP.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120410T0000Z/
/O.CON.KGSP.FW.A.0003.120410T1600Z-120411T0000Z/
ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-GREATER CALDWELL-
GREATER BURKE-EASTERN MCDOWELL-
250 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE NORTHERN FOOTHILLS AND
NORTHWEST PIEDMONT...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...

* LOCATIONS...NORTHERN FOOTHILLS AND NORTHWEST PIEDMONT.

* TIMING...THROUGH EARLY EVENING AND AGAIN TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND
  EARLY EVENING.

* WINDS...WEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...AROUND 20 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON. 20 TO 25 PERCENT
  TUESDAY AFTERNOON. 

* IMPACTS...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE 
  WITH DRY FUELS TO PRODUCE AN ENHANCED DANGER OF THE SPREAD OF 
  WILDFIRE. 

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.

&&

$$

SCZ001>007-010-100000-
/O.EXA.KGSP.FW.A.0003.120410T1600Z-120411T0000Z/
OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-
GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-
ANDERSON-
250 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
TUESDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WESTERN
PORTIONS OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH
IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING.

* LOCATIONS...THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF SOUTH CAROLINA.  

* TIMING...TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

* WINDS...WEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 19 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE
  WITH DRY FUELS TO PRODUCE AN ENHANCED DANGER OF THE SPREAD OF
  WILDFIRE.

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.

&&

$$

NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-068>072-082-303-501-503-505-
507>510-100000-
/O.CON.KGSP.FW.A.0003.120410T1600Z-120411T0000Z/
AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM-
NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-
CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-
NORTH CAROLINA PORTION OF GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK-
CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-GREATER RUTHERFORD-POLK MOUNTAINS-
EASTERN POLK-
250 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...

* LOCATIONS...THE MOUNTAINS...SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS...AND SOUTHWEST 
  PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

* TIMING...TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 22 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE 
  WITH DRY FUELS TO PRODUCE AN ENHANCED DANGER OF THE SPREAD OF 
  WILDFIRE. 

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.

&&

$$
LANE

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 9, 11:10 AM EDTFire Weather WatchGSPAlexander, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell and 22 more16 hr
Apr 9, 2:34 PM EDTFreeze WatchGSPAvery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Graham, Haywood and 11 more13 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in North Carolina, 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.