Alert archive / Mississippi / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 1, NWS Memphis, TN

January 14, 201222 counties in Mississippi; 20 counties in Tennessee; 12 counties in Arkansas

NWS Memphis, TN issued this red flag warning at Jan 14, 2012, 2:03 PM CST for 22 counties in Mississippi; 20 counties in Tennessee; 12 counties in Arkansas. It was in force for 2 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
Jan 14, 2012, 2:03 PM CST (20:03 UTC)
Expired
Jan 14, 2012, 4:20 PM CST
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
All 54 counties

Clay County, AR, Craighead County, AR, Crittenden County, AR, Cross County, AR, Greene County, AR, Lawrence County, AR, Lee County, AR, Mississippi County, AR, Phillips County, AR, Poinsett County, AR, Randolph County, AR, St. Francis County, AR, Alcorn County, MS, Benton County, MS, Calhoun County, MS, Chickasaw County, MS, Coahoma County, MS, DeSoto County, MS, Itawamba County, MS, Lafayette County, MS, Lee County, MS, Marshall County, MS, Monroe County, MS, Panola County, MS, Pontotoc County, MS, Prentiss County, MS, Quitman County, MS, Tallahatchie County, MS, Tate County, MS, Tippah County, MS, Tishomingo County, MS, Tunica County, MS, Union County, MS, Yalobusha County, MS, Benton County, TN, Carroll County, TN, Chester County, TN, Crockett County, TN, Decatur County, TN, Dyer County, TN, Fayette County, TN, Gibson County, TN, Hardeman County, TN, Haywood County, TN, Henderson County, TN, Henry County, TN, Lake County, TN, Lauderdale County, TN, Madison County, TN, McNairy County, TN, Obion County, TN, Shelby County, TN, Tipton County, TN, Weakley County, TN

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 40 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:02 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

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 56 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2012-01-14Temperature 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2012-01-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 284 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
2339 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
77 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
284 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
292 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.

659 
WWUS84 KMEG 142003
RFWMEG

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
203 PM CST SAT JAN 14 2012

...DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH THIS AFTERNOON...

.A DRY LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVING SOUTHEASTWARD THROUGH WESTERN
KENTUCKY THIS AFTERNOON. STRONG AND GUSTY WESTERLY WINDS WILL OCCUR
WITH THIS SYSTEM WHILE SKIES WILL BE MOSTLY SUNNY AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY
LOW. IN ADDITION...WITH LITTLE RAIN THE PAST FEW DAYS...10 HOUR FUEL
MOISTURE HAS DECREASED TO NEAR OR A LITTLE BELOW 10 PERCENT. THESE
CONDITIONS WILL LEAD TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON.

WINDS WILL RAPIDLY DECREASE AROUND SUNSET WITH IMPROVING CONDITIONS.

ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MSZ001>017-020>024-
TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>091-150000-
/O.NEW.KMEG.FW.W.0001.120114T2003Z-120115T0000Z/
RANDOLPH-CLAY-LAWRENCE-GREENE-CRAIGHEAD-POINSETT-MISSISSIPPI-
CROSS-CRITTENDEN-ST. FRANCIS-LEE AR-PHILLIPS-DESOTO-MARSHALL-
BENTON MS-TIPPAH-ALCORN-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA-TATE-PRENTISS-COAHOMA-
QUITMAN-PANOLA-LAFAYETTE-UNION-PONTOTOC-LEE MS-ITAWAMBA-
TALLAHATCHIE-YALOBUSHA-CALHOUN-CHICKASAW-MONROE-LAKE-OBION-
WEAKLEY-HENRY-DYER-GIBSON-CARROLL-BENTON TN-LAUDERDALE-TIPTON-
HAYWOOD-CROCKETT-MADISON-CHESTER-HENDERSON-DECATUR-SHELBY-FAYETTE-
HARDEMAN-MCNAIRY-
203 PM CST SAT JAN 14 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...LOW HUMIDITY...AND LOW FUEL MOISTURE FOR
NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL ARKANSAS...WEST TENNESSEE...AND NORTH
MISSISSIPPI...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING. 

* WIND...20 FOOT WINDS WILL BE FROM THE WEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH
  GUSTS NEAR 30 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...LOWEST HUMIDITY AROUND 25 PERCENT...PERHAPS NEAR 20
  PERCENT IN SOME SPOTS.

* 10 HOUR FUEL MOISTURE...AROUND 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 EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

JCL
2 follow-up statements
007 
WWUS84 KMEG 142034
RFWMEG

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
234 PM CST SAT JAN 14 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH THIS AFTERNOON...

.A DRY LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVING SOUTHEASTWARD THROUGH
WESTERN KENTUCKY THIS AFTERNOON. STRONG AND GUSTY WESTERLY WINDS
WILL OCCUR WITH THIS SYSTEM WHILE SKIES WILL BE MOSTLY SUNNY AND
RELATIVE HUMIDITY LOW. IN ADDITION...WITH LITTLE RAIN THE PAST
FEW DAYS...10 HOUR FUEL MOISTURE HAS DECREASED TO NEAR OR A
LITTLE BELOW 10 PERCENT. THESE WEATHER FACTORS WILL LEAD TO RED
FLAG WARNING CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON FOR FIRE WEATHER INTERESTS.

WINDS WILL RAPIDLY DECREASE AROUND SUNSET WITH FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
IMPROVING.

ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MSZ001>017-020>024-
TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>091-150000-
/O.CON.KMEG.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120115T0000Z/
RANDOLPH-CLAY-LAWRENCE-GREENE-CRAIGHEAD-POINSETT-MISSISSIPPI-
CROSS-CRITTENDEN-ST. FRANCIS-LEE AR-PHILLIPS-DESOTO-MARSHALL-
BENTON MS-TIPPAH-ALCORN-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA-TATE-PRENTISS-COAHOMA-
QUITMAN-PANOLA-LAFAYETTE-UNION-PONTOTOC-LEE MS-ITAWAMBA-
TALLAHATCHIE-YALOBUSHA-CALHOUN-CHICKASAW-MONROE-LAKE-OBION-
WEAKLEY-HENRY-DYER-GIBSON-CARROLL-BENTON TN-LAUDERDALE-TIPTON-
HAYWOOD-CROCKETT-MADISON-CHESTER-HENDERSON-DECATUR-SHELBY-FAYETTE-
HARDEMAN-MCNAIRY-
234 PM CST SAT JAN 14 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...LOW HUMIDITY...AND LOW FUEL MOISTURE
FOR NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL ARKANSAS...WEST TENNESSEE...AND NORTH
MISSISSIPPI...

* WIND...20 FOOT WINDS WILL BE FROM THE WEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH 
  GUSTS NEAR 30 MPH. 

* HUMIDITY...LOWEST HUMIDITY AROUND 25 PERCENT...PERHAPS NEAR 
  20 PERCENT IN SOME SPOTS. 

* 10 HOUR FUEL MOISTURE...AROUND 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 EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

JCL
868 
WWUS84 KMEG 142220
RFWMEG

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
420 PM CST SAT JAN 14 2012

...THE RED FLAG WARNING FOR THE MIDSOUTH HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

.A WEAK COLD FRONT HAS PUSHED EAST OF THE MIDSOUTH ALLOWING HIGHER
HUMIDITIES TO MOVE INTO THE AREA FROM THE WEST. STRONG WINDS OVER
THE AREA HAVE ALSO BEGUN TO DIMINISH. THUS...THE RED FLAG WARNING
CONDITIONS ARE NO LONGER ANTICIPATED.

ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MSZ001>017-020>024-
TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>091-142330-
/O.CAN.KMEG.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120115T0000Z/
RANDOLPH-CLAY-LAWRENCE-GREENE-CRAIGHEAD-POINSETT-MISSISSIPPI-
CROSS-CRITTENDEN-ST. FRANCIS-LEE AR-PHILLIPS-DESOTO-MARSHALL-
BENTON MS-TIPPAH-ALCORN-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA-TATE-PRENTISS-COAHOMA-
QUITMAN-PANOLA-LAFAYETTE-UNION-PONTOTOC-LEE MS-ITAWAMBA-
TALLAHATCHIE-YALOBUSHA-CALHOUN-CHICKASAW-MONROE-LAKE-OBION-
WEAKLEY-HENRY-DYER-GIBSON-CARROLL-BENTON TN-LAUDERDALE-TIPTON-
HAYWOOD-CROCKETT-MADISON-CHESTER-HENDERSON-DECATUR-SHELBY-FAYETTE-
HARDEMAN-MCNAIRY-
420 PM CST SAT JAN 14 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...LOW
HUMIDITY...AND LOW FUEL MOISTURE FOR NORTHEAST ARKANSAS...WEST
TENNESSEE...AND NORTH MISSISSIPPI...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS CANCELLED THE RED
FLAG WARNING. 

$$

JAB

The office that day

Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 14, 3:07 AM CSTWind AdvisoryMEGAlcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Coahoma, DeSoto and 16 more9 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Mississippi, 2012Red Flag Warnings in Tennessee, 2012Red Flag Warnings in Arkansas, 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.