Alert archive / Texas / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 20, NWS Midland/Odessa, TX

March 20, 2012Pecos County, Terrell County, Texas

NWS Midland/Odessa, TX issued this red flag warning at Mar 20, 2012, 5:17 AM CDT for Pecos County, Terrell County, Texas. It took effect at Mar 20, 2012, 12:00 PM CDT. 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 20, 2012, 5:17 AM CDT (10:17 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 20, 2012, 12:00 PM CDT
Expired
Mar 20, 2012, 7:00 PM CDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Midland/Odessa, TX

Counties Pecos County, TX, Terrell County, TX

The radar

The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 161 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:22 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

Midland Regional, TX (KMAF), launched 00:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 162 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, Midland Regional, TX at 00:00Z on 2012-03-20Temperature 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, Midland Regional, TX at 00:00Z on 2012-03-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -56 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1826 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-56 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
139 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.

780 
WWUS84 KMAF 201017
RFWMAF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
517 AM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON UNTIL 7 PM CDT FOR THE
PRESIDIO VALLEY...MARFA PLATEAU...BIG BEND AREA...LOWER TRANS PECOS
AND STOCKTON PLATEAU FOR 20 FOOT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR GREATER...MINIMUM
RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF NEAR 10 TO 15 PERCENT AND HIGH FIRE DANGER...

.AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING INCREASING 20 FOOT WESTERLY
WINDS TO MUCH OF THE LOWER TRANS PECOS REGION TODAY. IN ADDITION...
VERY DRY CONDITIONS WILL DROP MINIMUM AFTERNOON HUMIDITIES INTO
THE NEAR 10 TO 15 PERCENT RANGE. THIS ALONG WITH HIGH TO VERY HIGH
FIRE DANGER WILL LIKELY LEAD TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

TXZ075-079>082-202230-
/O.NEW.KMAF.FW.W.0020.120320T1700Z-120321T0000Z/
PECOS-PRESIDIO VALLEY-MARFA PLATEAU-BIG BEND AREA-TERRELL-
517 AM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE PRESIDIO VALLEY...
MARFA PLATEAU...BIG BEND AREA...LOWER TRANS PECOS AND STOCKTON
PLATEAU...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIDLAND/ODESSA HAS ISSUED A RED
FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING. 

* WIND...WEST 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS NEAR 40 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...NEAR 10 TO 15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AVOID THE USE OF OPEN FLAMES OR ANY ACTIVITIES THAT MAY GENERATE
SPARKS. ACCIDENTAL IGNITIONS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GROW
QUICKLY INTO DANGEROUS WIND- DRIVEN WILDFIRES.

&&

$$

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/MAF (ALL LOWER CASE)
2 follow-up statements
912 
WWUS84 KMAF 201915
RFWMAF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
215 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT FOR THE
PRESIDIO VALLEY...MARFA PLATEAU...BIG BEND AREA...LOWER TRANS
PECOS AND STOCKTON PLATEAU FOR 20 FOOT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR
GREATER...MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF NEAR 10 TO 15 PERCENT AND
HIGH FIRE DANGER...

...A RED FLAG A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WEDNESDAY
MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS FOR
20 FOOT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR GREATER...MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF
NEAR 10 TO 15 PERCENT AND HIGH FIRE DANGER...

.AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM HAS BROUGHT INCREASING 20 FOOT
WESTERLY WINDS TO MUCH OF THE LOWER TRANS PECOS REGION TODAY. IN
ADDITION... VERY DRY CONDITIONS WILL DROP MINIMUM AFTERNOON
HUMIDITIES INTO THE NEAR 10 TO 15 PERCENT RANGE. THIS ALONG WITH
HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER WILL LIKELY LEAD TO CRITICAL FIRE
WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM IS VERY SLOW
MOVING AND WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE AREA WEDNESDAY. THE BREEZY
WINDS WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW...ESPECIALLY
ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. WITH WARMER CONDITIONS TOMORROW RH/S
WILL DROP INTO THE LOWER TEENS.

NMZ114-TXZ258-210715-
/O.NEW.KMAF.FW.W.0021.120321T1800Z-120322T0200Z/
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NP/LINCOLN NF/LNZ-GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS-
115 PM MDT TUE MAR 20 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT WEDNESDAY FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIDLAND/ODESSA HAS ISSUED A RED
FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY. 

* WIND...NORTHWEST 20 TO 25 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...10 TO 15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AVOID THE USE OF OPEN FLAMES OR ANY ACTIVITIES THAT MAY GENERATE
SPARKS. ACCIDENTAL IGNITIONS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GROW
QUICKLY INTO DANGEROUS WIND- DRIVEN WILDFIRES.

&&

$$

TXZ075-079>082-210000-
/O.CON.KMAF.FW.W.0020.000000T0000Z-120321T0000Z/
PECOS-PRESIDIO VALLEY-MARFA PLATEAU-BIG BEND AREA-TERRELL-
215 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE PRESIDIO VALLEY...
MARFA PLATEAU...BIG BEND AREA...LOWER TRANS PECOS AND STOCKTON
PLATEAU...

* WIND...WEST 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS NEAR 40 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...NEAR 10 TO 15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AVOID THE USE OF OPEN FLAMES OR ANY ACTIVITIES THAT MAY GENERATE
SPARKS. ACCIDENTAL IGNITIONS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GROW
QUICKLY INTO DANGEROUS WIND- DRIVEN WILDFIRES.

&&

$$


FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/MAF (ALL LOWER CASE)
242 
WWUS84 KMAF 202357
RFWMAF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
657 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012

...THE RED FLAG WARNING FOR THE PRESIDIO VALLEY...MARFA PLATEAU...
BIG BEND AREA...LOWER TRANS PECOS AND STOCKTON PLATEAU EXPIRES AT
7 PM CDT...

...A RED FLAG A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WEDNESDAY
MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS FOR
20 FOOT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR GREATER...MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF
NEAR 10 TO 15 PERCENT AND HIGH FIRE DANGER...

RELATIVE HUMIDITIES IN THE PREVIOUSLY WARNED AREA ARE RISING ABOVE
15 PERCENT AS THE ATMOSPHERE BEGINS TO COOL. SUSTAINED WINDS
ACROSS PARTS OF THE PREVIOUSLY WARNED AREA HAVE ALSO BEGUN TO
DECREASE.

WITH WARMER CONDITIONS TOMORROW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL DROP
BELOW 15 PERCENT IN THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS WITH WINDS EXCEEDING
20 MPH.

TXZ075-079>082-210100-
/O.EXP.KMAF.FW.W.0020.000000T0000Z-120321T0000Z/
PECOS-PRESIDIO VALLEY-MARFA PLATEAU-BIG BEND AREA-TERRELL-
657 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE PRESIDIO VALLEY...MARFA
PLATEAU...BIG BEND AREA...LOWER TRANS PECOS AND STOCKTON PLATEAU...

RELATIVE HUMIDITIES HAVE BEGUN TO INCREASE ABOVE 15 PERCENT.
SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE ALSO DECREASED BELOW 20 MPH OVER MUCH OF THE
WARNED AREA...THOUGH OCCASIONAL GUSTINESS CAN BE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT.

$$

NMZ114-TXZ258-211200-
/O.CON.KMAF.FW.W.0021.120321T1800Z-120322T0200Z/
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NP/LINCOLN NF/LNZ-GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS-
557 PM MDT TUE MAR 20 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE GUADALUPE
 MOUNTAINS...

* WIND...NORTHWEST 20 TO 25 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...10 TO 15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AVOID THE USE OF OPEN FLAMES OR ANY ACTIVITIES THAT MAY GENERATE
SPARKS. ACCIDENTAL IGNITIONS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GROW
QUICKLY INTO DANGEROUS WIND- DRIVEN WILDFIRES.

&&

$$

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
VISIT... HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/MAF (ALL LOWER CASE)

05

The office that day

Everything else NWS Midland/Odessa, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 20, 4:40 AM CDTWind AdvisoryMAFLoving, Pecos, Terrell, Ward14 hr
Mar 20, 2:15 PM CDTRed Flag WarningMAF31 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Texas, 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.