Alert archive / Nebraska / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 48, NWS North Platte, NE

October 2, 201226 counties in Nebraska

NWS North Platte, NE issued this red flag warning at Oct 2, 2012, 2:28 PM MDT for 26 counties in Nebraska. It took effect at Oct 3, 2012, 11:00 AM MDT. It was in force for 9 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
Oct 2, 2012, 2:28 PM MDT (20:28 UTC)
In effect from
Oct 3, 2012, 11:00 AM MDT
Expired
Oct 3, 2012, 8:08 PM MDT
In force
9 hr
Issued by
NWS North Platte, NE
All 26 counties

Arthur County, NE, Blaine County, NE, Boyd County, NE, Brown County, NE, Chase County, NE, Cherry County, NE, Custer County, NE, Deuel County, NE, Frontier County, NE, Garden County, NE, Garfield County, NE, Grant County, NE, Hayes County, NE, Holt County, NE, Hooker County, NE, Keith County, NE, Keya Paha County, NE, Lincoln County, NE, Logan County, NE, Loup County, NE, McPherson County, NE, Perkins County, NE, Rock County, NE, Sheridan County, NE, Thomas County, NE, Wheeler County, NE

The radar

The North Platte radar (KLNX), 25 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:34 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

N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 67 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, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 12:00Z on 2012-10-02Temperature 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, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 12:00Z on 2012-10-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 139 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
1913 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
139 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
168 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.

191 
WWUS83 KLBF 022028
RFWLBF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
328 PM CDT TUE OCT 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA
WEDNESDAY FOR STRONG WIND...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND A FRONTAL 
PASSAGE...

.CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER PATTERN IN STORE FOR WEDNESDAY...EXPLOSIVE 
RUNS AND ERRATIC BEHAVIOR WILL BE ANTICIPATED WITH ANY FIRE START.
A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL WESTERN AND NORTH
CENTRAL NEBRASKA FIRE ZONES. THE MODELS HAVE COME INTO GOOD AGREEMENT
REGARDING THE PROGRESSION OF A UPPER TROUGH WHICH WILL BREAK DOWN
THE RIDGE PATTERN OVER THE CENTRAL/NORTHERN PLAINS. THIS TROUGH
WILL HELP FORCE A STRONG COLD FRONT THROUGH THE REGION...WITH
GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS AND SIGNIFICANTLY COOLER TEMPERATURES TO
FOLLOW. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...TEMPERATURES WILL SOAR WELL INTO THE
80S AS AN ANTECEDENT DRY AIRMASS REMAINS PARKED OVER THE AREA AND
SOUTHERLY GUSTS INCREASE TO 20 MPH. MEANWHILE ABNORMALLY DRY AIR
WILL REMAIN AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND WHEN COMBINED WITH FUELS THAT
HAVE BEEN DECIMATED BY RECORD DROUGHT...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FIRE
CONDITIONS WILL BE EXPECTED. THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE
ACROSS FAR NORTHWEST NEBRASKA SHORTLY BEFORE 18Z...THEN CONTINUE
SOUTH AND EAST CLEARING ALL WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL FIRE ZONES
BY 00Z THURSDAY. NOTE THAT STRONG COLD AIR ADVECTION BEHIND THE
FRONT WILL ALLOW FOR A FAIRLY RAPID INCREASE IN RH...BUT GIVEN
ANTICIPATED WIND GUSTS OF GREATER THAN 30 MPH BEHIND THE
FRONT...FIRES WILL REMAIN DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE GREATEST
THREAT OF EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR WILL BE SOUTH AND EAST OF AN
ANTIOCH TO HYANNIS TO MERRIMAN LINE..

NEZ204-206-208>210-219-030430-
/O.NEW.KLBF.FW.W.0048.121003T1700Z-121004T0300Z/
EASTERN PANHANDLE/CRESCENT LAKE NWR-
SANDHILLS/VALENTINE NWR/NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST/
SAMUEL R MCKELVIE NATIONAL FOREST-
NIOBRARA VALLEY/FORT NIOBRARA NWR-LOUP RIVERS BASIN-
FRENCHMAN BASIN-LOESS PLAINS-
328 PM CDT TUE OCT 2 2012 /228 PM MDT TUE OCT 2 2012/

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON CDT /11 AM MDT/ TO 10 PM
CDT /9 PM MDT/ WEDNESDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
ALL FIRE ZONES ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTH PLATTE HAS ISSUED A RED
FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM NOON CDT /11 AM MDT/ TO 10 PM CDT /9 PM MDT/
WEDNESDAY.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN NEBRASKA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 204 EASTERN 
  PANHANDLE/CRESCENT LAKE NWR...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 206 
  SANDHILLS/VALENTINE NWR/NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST/ SAMUEL R 
  MCKELVIE NATIONAL FOREST...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 208 NIOBRARA 
  VALLEY/FORT NIOBRARA NWR...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 209 LOUP RIVERS 
  BASIN...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 210 FRENCHMAN BASIN AND FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 219 LOESS PLAINS.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...EXPLOSIVE RUNS AND ERRATIC BEHAVIOR WILL BE
  ANTICIPATED WITH ANY FIRE START.

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.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LBF

JACOBS
2 follow-up statements
740 
WWUS83 KLBF 030927
RFWLBF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
427 AM CDT WED OCT 3 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA
THIS AFTERNOON FOR STRONG WIND...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND A FRONTAL
PASSAGE...

.CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON.
EXPLOSIVE RUNS AND ERRATIC BEHAVIOR ARE LIKELY WITH ANY FIRE
START. A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL WESTERN AND
NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA FIRE ZONES. A STRONG COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED
TO PUSH THROUGH THE REGION...WITH GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS AND
SIGNIFICANTLY COOLER TEMPERATURES TO FOLLOW. AHEAD OF THE
FRONT...TEMPERATURES WILL SOAR WELL INTO THE 80S RESULTING IN VERY
DRY AIR AND SOUTHERLY GUSTS INCREASING TO 20 MPH. COMBINING  VERY
DRY FUELS WITH THE DRY AIR...DANGEROUS FIRE CONDITIONS WILL
DEVELOP. THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN NORTHWEST NEBRASKA
LATE MORNING TO EARLY AFTERNOON...THEN CONTINUE SOUTH AND EAST
CLEARING ALL WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL FIRE ZONES BY 00Z THURSDAY.
NOTE THAT STRONG COLD AIR ADVECTION BEHIND THE FRONT WILL ALLOW
FOR A FAIRLY RAPID INCREASE IN RELATIVE HUMIDITY...BUT GIVEN
ANTICIPATED WIND GUSTS OF GREATER THAN 30 MPH BEHIND THE
FRONT...FIRES WILL BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE GREATEST
THREAT OF EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR WILL BE SOUTH AND EAST OF A LINE
FROM ANTIOCH THROUGH HYANNIS TO MERRIMAN.

NEZ204-206-208>210-219-032200-
/O.CON.KLBF.FW.W.0048.121003T1700Z-121004T0300Z/
EASTERN PANHANDLE/CRESCENT LAKE NWR-
SANDHILLS/VALENTINE NWR/NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST/
SAMUEL R MCKELVIE NATIONAL FOREST-
NIOBRARA VALLEY/FORT NIOBRARA NWR-LOUP RIVERS BASIN-
FRENCHMAN BASIN-LOESS PLAINS-
427 AM CDT WED OCT 3 2012 /327 AM MDT WED OCT 3 2012/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON CDT /11 AM MDT/
TODAY TO 10 PM CDT /9 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR ALL FIRE ZONES ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTH
CENTRAL NEBRASKA...

* AFFECTED AREA...IN NEBRASKA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 204 EASTERN 
  PANHANDLE/CRESCENT LAKE NWR...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 206 
  SANDHILLS/VALENTINE NWR/NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST/ SAMUEL R 
  MCKELVIE NATIONAL FOREST...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 208 NIOBRARA 
  VALLEY/FORT NIOBRARA NWR...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 209 LOUP RIVERS 
  BASIN...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 210 FRENCHMAN BASIN AND FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 219 LOESS PLAINS.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 12 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...EXPLOSIVE RUNS AND ERRATIC BEHAVIOR ARE LIKELY WITH
  ANY FIRE START.

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.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LBF
401 
WWUS83 KLBF 040208
RFWLBF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
908 PM CDT WED OCT 3 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED BUT GUSTY WINDS WILL CONTINUE...

.A STRONG COLD FRONT HAS PUSHED THROUGH THE AREA AND WITH THE COLDER
AIR MOVING IN...RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY
THIS EVENING. HOWEVER...STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH
WITH A FEW HIGHER GUSTS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE NIGHT.

NEZ204-206-208>210-219-040315-
/O.CAN.KLBF.FW.W.0048.000000T0000Z-121004T0300Z/
EASTERN PANHANDLE/CRESCENT LAKE NWR-
SANDHILLS/VALENTINE NWR/NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST/
SAMUEL R MCKELVIE NATIONAL FOREST-
NIOBRARA VALLEY/FORT NIOBRARA NWR-LOUP RIVERS BASIN-
FRENCHMAN BASIN-LOESS PLAINS-
908 PM CDT WED OCT 3 2012 /808 PM MDT WED OCT 3 2012/

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES
FOR ALL FIRE ZONES IN WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTH PLATTE HAS CANCELLED THE
RED FLAG WARNING.

RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES HAVE INCREASED ACROSS THE AREA THIS
EVENING...BUT STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE.

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LBF

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Nebraska, 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.