Alert archive / Kansas / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 4, NWS Wichita, KS

February 29, 201226 counties in Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this red flag warning at Feb 29, 2012, 3:21 AM CST for 26 counties in Kansas. It took effect at Feb 29, 2012, 11:00 AM CST. It was in force for 6 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
Feb 29, 2012, 3:21 AM CST (09:21 UTC)
In effect from
Feb 29, 2012, 11:00 AM CST
Expired
Feb 29, 2012, 4:58 PM CST
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Wichita, KS
All 26 counties

Allen County, KS, Barton County, KS, Butler County, KS, Chase County, KS, Chautauqua County, KS, Cowley County, KS, Elk County, KS, Ellsworth County, KS, Greenwood County, KS, Harper County, KS, Harvey County, KS, Kingman County, KS, Labette County, KS, Lincoln County, KS, Marion County, KS, McPherson County, KS, Montgomery County, KS, Neosho County, KS, Reno County, KS, Rice County, KS, Russell County, KS, Saline County, KS, Sedgwick County, KS, Sumner County, KS, Wilson County, KS, Woodson County, KS

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 45 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:23 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

Lamont, OK (KLMN), launched 00:00Z, 9.4 hours before the alert went out and 149 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, Lamont, OK at 00:00Z on 2012-02-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 386 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Lamont, OK at 00:00Z on 2012-02-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 369 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
386 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-76 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
660 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
77 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
369 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
461 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.8
Supercell composite
2.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

097 
WWUS83 KICT 290921
RFWICT

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
321 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012


KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-292300-
/O.NEW.KICT.FW.W.0004.120229T1700Z-120229T2300Z/
RUSSELL-LINCOLN-BARTON-ELLSWORTH-SALINE-RICE-MCPHERSON-MARION-
CHASE-RENO-HARVEY-BUTLER-GREENWOOD-WOODSON-ALLEN-KINGMAN-SEDGWICK-
HARPER-SUMNER-COWLEY-ELK-WILSON-NEOSHO-CHAUTAUQUA-MONTGOMERY-
LABETTE-
321 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM CST
THIS AFTERNOON FOR EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 032...033...047...048...049...050...051...052...053...067...
068...069...070...071...072...082...083...091...092...093...094...
095...096...098...099 AND 100...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON. 

* TIMING...GUSTY WEST WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH DRY AIR TO CREATE
  CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS
  TODAY. 

* EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER...IS FORECAST.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 21 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY 
  AND BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO 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.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS FIRE WEATHER PRODUCT.

&&

$$

JAKUB
2 follow-up statements
441 
WWUS83 KICT 292147
RFWICT

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
347 PM CST WED FEB 29 2012

KSZ098-011300-
/O.CAN.KICT.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120229T2300Z/
/O.NEW.KICT.FW.A.0001.120301T1800Z-120302T0000Z/
CHAUTAUQUA-
347 PM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR EXTREME
GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 098...
...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE
DANGER FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 098...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER
WATCH FOR EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THE RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. 

* TIMING...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE AGAIN
  ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

* EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER...IS FORECAST.

* WINDS...WILL BE OUT OF THE SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST AT 25 TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...VALUES WILL BE AROUND 30 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY AND
  BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO 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.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS FIRE WEATHER PRODUCT.

&&

$$

KSZ082-091>093-292300-
/O.CAN.KICT.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120229T2300Z/
KINGMAN-HARPER-SUMNER-COWLEY-
347 PM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE
DANGER FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 082...091...092 AND 093...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS CANCELLED THE RED
FLAG WARNING DUE TO DIMINISHING WIND SPEEDS.

$$

KSZ070>072-094>096-099-100-011300-
/O.NEW.KICT.FW.A.0001.120301T1800Z-120302T0000Z/
/O.CON.KICT.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120229T2300Z/
GREENWOOD-WOODSON-ALLEN-ELK-WILSON-NEOSHO-MONTGOMERY-LABETTE-
347 PM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 070...071...072...094...095...096...099 AND 100...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR EXTREME
GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 070...071...072...
094...095...096...099 AND 100...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER
WATCH FOR EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
THURSDAY AFTERNOON. A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON. 

* TIMING...GUSTY WEST WINDS AND DRY AIR WILL CONTINUE TO
  CONTRIBUTE TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH THE EARLY
  EVENING HOURS TODAY. ADDITIONALLY...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
  CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE AGAIN THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

* EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER...IS FORECAST.

* WINDS...THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE OUT OF THE WEST TO NORTHWEST
  AROUND 20 TO 30 MPH...WITH SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST OF 25 TO 35 MPH ON
  THURSDAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...VALUES WILL BE 20 TO 25 PERCENT THIS
  AFTERNOON...WITH VALUES AROUND 30 PERCENT THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY 
  AND BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO 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.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS FIRE WEATHER PRODUCT.

&&

$$

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>069-083-292300-
/O.CON.KICT.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120229T2300Z/
RUSSELL-LINCOLN-BARTON-ELLSWORTH-SALINE-RICE-MCPHERSON-MARION-
CHASE-RENO-HARVEY-BUTLER-SEDGWICK-
347 PM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 032...033...047...048...049...050...051...052...053...067...
068...069 AND 083...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON. 

* TIMING...GUSTY WEST WINDS AND DRY AIR WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE
  TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING
  HOURS TODAY.

* EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER...IS FORECAST.

* WINDS...WILL BE OUT OF THE WEST TO NORTHWEST AT 20 TO 25 MPH
  WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...VALUES WILL BE AROUND 15 TO 20 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY 
  AND BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO 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.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS FIRE WEATHER PRODUCT.

&&

$$

ADK
052 
WWUS83 KICT 292258
RFWICT

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
458 PM CST WED FEB 29 2012

KSZ070>072-094>096-099-100-011400-
/O.CAN.KICT.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120229T2300Z/
/O.CON.KICT.FW.A.0001.120301T1800Z-120302T0000Z/
GREENWOOD-WOODSON-ALLEN-ELK-WILSON-NEOSHO-MONTGOMERY-LABETTE-
458 PM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR
EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 070...071...
072...094...095...096...099 AND 100...
...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE
DANGER FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 070...071...072...094...095...096...
099 AND 100...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS CANCELLED THE RED
FLAG WARNING. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THURSDAY
AFTERNOON. 

* TIMING...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE
  AGAIN ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

* EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER...IS FORECAST.

* WINDS...WILL BE OUT OF THE SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST AT 25 TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WILL BE AROUND 30 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY 
  AND BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO 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.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS FIRE WEATHER PRODUCT.

&&

$$

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>069-083-010000-
/O.CAN.KICT.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120229T2300Z/
RUSSELL-LINCOLN-BARTON-ELLSWORTH-SALINE-RICE-MCPHERSON-MARION-
CHASE-RENO-HARVEY-BUTLER-SEDGWICK-
458 PM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE
DANGER FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 032...033...047...048...049...050...
051...052...053...067...068...069 AND 083...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS CANCELLED THE RED
FLAG WARNING DUE TO DIMINISHING WIND SPEEDS.

$$

KSZ098-011400-
/O.CON.KICT.FW.A.0001.120301T1800Z-120302T0000Z/
CHAUTAUQUA-
458 PM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR
EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 098...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THURSDAY AFTERNOON. 

* TIMING...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE 
  AGAIN ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON. 

* EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER...IS FORECAST.

* WINDS...WILL BE OUT OF THE SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST AT 25 TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WILL BE AROUND 30 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY 
  AND BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO 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.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THIS FIRE WEATHER PRODUCT.

&&

$$

ADK

The office that day

Everything else NWS Wichita, KS issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 28, 6:18 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTKingman, Reno42 min
Feb 28, 6:30 PM CSTTornado WarningICTReno30 min
Feb 28, 6:58 PM CSTTornado WarningICTHarvey, McPherson, Reno32 min
Feb 28, 7:25 PM CSTTornado WarningICTMcPherson, Marion50 min
Feb 28, 7:52 PM CSTTornado WarningICTChase, Marion38 min
Feb 28, 8:07 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTCowley, Sumner53 min
Feb 28, 8:52 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementICTButler, Chase28 min
Feb 28, 8:52 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTChautauqua, Cowley53 min
Feb 28, 9:01 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTButler, Chase, Elk, Greenwood59 min
Feb 28, 9:31 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTChautauqua, Elk, Montgomery, Wilson59 min
Feb 28, 10:08 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTLabette, Montgomery22 min
Feb 28, 10:26 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTLabette9 min
Feb 29, 12:12 PM CSTWind AdvisoryICTEllsworth, Lincoln, Russell, Saline3 hr
Feb 29, 3:47 PM CSTFire Weather WatchICTAllen, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Labette, Montgomery and 3 more12 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Kansas, 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.