Alert archive / Alabama / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 1, NWS Mobile, AL

January 2, 201210 counties in Alabama; 5 counties in Mississippi

NWS Mobile, AL issued this red flag warning at Jan 2, 2012, 6:30 AM CST for 10 counties in Alabama; 5 counties in Mississippi. It took effect at Jan 2, 2012, 10:00 AM CST. 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
Jan 2, 2012, 6:30 AM CST (12:30 UTC)
In effect from
Jan 2, 2012, 10:00 AM CST
Expired
Jan 2, 2012, 6:00 PM CST
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL

Counties Butler County, AL, Choctaw County, AL, Clarke County, AL, Conecuh County, AL, Covington County, AL, Crenshaw County, AL, Escambia County, AL, Monroe County, AL, Washington County, AL, Wilcox County, AL, George County, MS, Greene County, MS, Perry County, MS, Stone County, MS, Wayne County, MS

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 96 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 12:35 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

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 215 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, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2012-01-02Temperature 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, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2012-01-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -279 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
1936 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
74 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-279 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-179 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.

817 
WWUS84 KMOB 021230
RFWMOB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
630 AM CST MON JAN 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA DUE TO A
MARGINALLY LONG DURATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND FOR
SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI DUE TO A COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY AND BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM CST
THIS EVENING FOR THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO A
COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH
TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA DUE TO
A MARGINALLY LONG DURATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH
TUESDAY EVENING FOR THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO A
COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND MARGINALLY BREEZY
NORTHERLY WINDS...

.COLD AND VERY DRY HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE REGION THROUGH
TUESDAY. BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS TODAY WILL SUBSIDE TONIGHT THEN BE
MOSTLY AROUND 10 MPH ON TUESDAY EXCEPT SOMEWHAT STRONGER OVER THE
COASTAL COUNTIES. AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL DROP INTO THE
LOWER TWENTIES ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA TODAY AND TUESDAY. A RED FLAG
WARNING IS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHWEST AND
SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA AND THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE. A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL
ALABAMA AND THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE ON TUESDAY. HIGH PRESSURE
MOVES INTO THE NORTHEASTERN GULF ON WEDNESDAY AND ALLOW GULF MOISTURE
TO BEGIN TO RETURN TO THE AREA.

FLZ001>006-030430-
/O.UPG.KMOB.FW.A.0053.120102T1700Z-120102T2300Z/
/O.NEW.KMOB.FW.W.0001.120102T1600Z-120103T0000Z/
/O.CON.KMOB.FW.A.0001.120103T1500Z-120104T0100Z/
INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-
630 AM CST MON JAN 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM CST
THIS EVENING FOR THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE FOR A COMBINATION OF
LONG DURATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING
THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE FOR A
COMBINATION OF LONG DURATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND MARGINALLY
BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM CST
THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY
EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 001...002...003...004... 
  005 AND 006. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...NORTHWEST TO NORTH WINDS NEAR 15 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...20 TO 25 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 LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND DRY FUELS WILL CREATE RAPID 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.

&&

$$

ALZ051>064-030430-
/O.NEW.KMOB.FW.W.0001.120102T1800Z-120102T2300Z/
/O.CON.KMOB.FW.A.0001.120103T1700Z-120103T2300Z/
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-
630 AM CST MON JAN 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA FOR A MARGINALLY
LONG DURATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING
THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA
FOR A MARGINALLY LONG DURATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 051...052...053...054... 
  055...056...057...058...059...060...061...062...063 AND 064. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...NORTHERLY WINDS NEAR 15 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...NEAR 20 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  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.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND DRY FUELS WILL CREATE RAPID FIRE GROWTH
POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

MSZ067-075-076-078-079-022300-
/O.NEW.KMOB.FW.W.0001.120102T1800Z-120102T2300Z/
WAYNE-PERRY-GREENE-STONE-GEORGE-
630 AM CST MON JAN 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI FOR A COMBINATION OF BREEZY
NORTHWESTERLY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 067...075...076...078 AND 
  079. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...NORTHWEST WINDS NEAR 15 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...NEAR 20 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 LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND DRY FUELS WILL CREATE RAPID FIRE GROWTH
POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
1 follow-up statement
167 
WWUS84 KMOB 021934
RFWMOB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
134 PM CST MON JAN 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA DUE TO A MARGINALLY LONG DURATION
OF VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND FOR SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI DUE TO
A COMBINATION OF VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND BREEZY NORTHERLY
WINDS...

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR THE
NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO A COMBINATION OF VERY LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY AND BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS...

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 4 PM CST TUESDAY FOR
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA DUE TO A LONG DURATION OF VERY
LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM CST TUESDAY
FOR THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO A COMBINATION OF VERY LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND MARGINALLY BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS...

.COLD AND VERY DRY HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE REGION THROUGH
TUESDAY. BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS TODAY WILL SUBSIDE TONIGHT THEN BE
MOSTLY AROUND 10 MPH ON TUESDAY EXCEPT SOMEWHAT STRONGER OVER THE
COASTAL COUNTIES. VERY LOW AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITY THE NEXT
COUPLE DAYS. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE MOVES INTO THE NORTHEASTERN GULF
ON WEDNESDAY AND ALLOWS GULF MOISTURE TO BEGIN TO RETURN TO THE AREA.

ALZ051>064-031130-
/O.UPG.KMOB.FW.A.0001.120103T1700Z-120103T2300Z/
/O.NEW.KMOB.FW.W.0002.120103T1800Z-120103T2200Z/
/O.CON.KMOB.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120102T2300Z/
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-
134 PM CST MON JAN 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA DUE TO A MARGINALLY
LONG DURATION OF VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 4 PM CST TUESDAY FOR
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA DUE TO A LONG DURATION OF VERY
LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 4 PM CST TUESDAY. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR TUESDAY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 051...052...053...054... 
  055...056...057...058...059...060...061...062...063 AND 064. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...NORTHERLY WINDS NEAR 15 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...17 TO 22 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 LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY...DRY FUELS AND BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL CREATE
RAPID FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

FLZ001>006-031130-
/O.UPG.KMOB.FW.A.0001.120103T1500Z-120104T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KMOB.FW.W.0002.120103T1600Z-120104T0000Z/
/O.CON.KMOB.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120103T0000Z/
INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-
134 PM CST MON JAN 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO A COMBINATION OF VERY LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY AND BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS...

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM CST TUESDAY FOR
THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO A COMBINATION OF VERY LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND MARGINALLY BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM CST TUESDAY. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR TUESDAY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 6 PM CST THIS EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 001...002...003...004... 
  005 AND 006. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...NORTHWEST TO NORTH WINDS NEAR 15 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...17 TO 22 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 LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY...DRY FUELS AND BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL CREATE
RAPID FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

MSZ067-075-076-078-079-022300-
/O.CON.KMOB.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120102T2300Z/
WAYNE-PERRY-GREENE-STONE-GEORGE-
134 PM CST MON JAN 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI DUE TO A COMBINATION OF VERY
LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 067...075...076...078 AND 
  079. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...NORTHWEST WINDS NEAR 15 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...17 TO 22 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 LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY...DRY FUELS AND BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL CREATE
RAPID FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Mobile, AL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 2, 4:21 AM CSTHard Freeze WatchMOBButler, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Escambia and 2 more23 hr
Jan 2, 1:34 PM CSTRed Flag WarningMOBButler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw and 4 more27 hr
Jan 2, 3:05 PM CSTGale WarningMOB15 hr
Jan 2, 3:05 PM CSTSmall Craft AdvisoryMOB21 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Alabama, 2012Red Flag Warnings in Mississippi, 2012Red Flag Warnings in Florida, 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.