Alert archive / Washington / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 1, NWS Spokane, WA

July 8, 2012

NWS Spokane, WA issued this red flag warning at Jul 8, 2012, 6:34 AM PDT. It took effect at Jul 8, 2012, 5:00 PM PDT. It was in force for 30 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
Jul 8, 2012, 6:34 AM PDT (13:34 UTC)
In effect from
Jul 8, 2012, 5:00 PM PDT
Expired
Jul 9, 2012, 10:36 PM PDT
In force
30 hr
Issued by
NWS Spokane, WA

The text

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

994 
WWUS86 KOTX 081334
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
634 AM PDT SUN JUL 8 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND THE CASCADE VALLEYS
FROM LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR ABUNDANT
LIGHTNING...

A VERY UNSTABLE AIR MASS COMBINED WITH A WEAK UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCE WILL LIKELY TRIGGER AN EPISODE OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER
MUCH OF THE INLAND NORTHWEST BETWEEN SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND MONDAY 
NIGHT. FINER FUELS ACROSS THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND IN THE CASCADE
VALLEYS BELOW 3500 FEET IN ELEVATION ARE SUFFICIENTLY DRY TO CARRY
ANY POTENTIAL FIRE STARTS.

WAZ673-676-677-082145-
/O.UPG.KOTX.FW.A.0001.120709T0000Z-120710T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KOTX.FW.W.0001.120709T0000Z-120710T0600Z/
EAST WASHINGTON NORTHERN COLUMBIA BASIN (ZONE 673)-
EAST WASHINGTON SOUTH CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 676)-
EAST WASHINGTON CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 677)-
634 AM PDT SUN JUL 8 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 11 PM
PDT MONDAY FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND THE 
CASCADE VALLEYS BELOW 3500 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR THUNDERSTORMS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 11 PM PDT MONDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA: FIRE WEATHER ZONE 673 EAST WASHINGTON NORTHERN
  COLUMBIA BASIN (ZONE 673)...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 676 EAST
  WASHINGTON SOUTH CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 676 BELOW 3500 FEET)
  AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 677 EAST WASHINGTON CENTRAL CASCADE
  VALLEYS (ZONE 677 BELOW 3500 FEET).

* THUNDERSTORMS: SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH ABUNDANT CLOUD TO 
  GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES ARE EXPECTED. 

* OUTFLOW WINDS: WINDS FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE 
  GENERALLY LIGHT...HOWEVER ERRATIC WINDS GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE. 

* IMPACTS: LIGHTNING STRIKES COULD RESULT IN NEW FIRE STARTS 
  ACROSS THESE AREAS. 

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. 

&&

$$
4 follow-up statements
218 
WWUS86 KOTX 082055
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
155 PM PDT SUN JUL 8 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR THE COLUMBIA BASIN...OKANOGAN VALLEY...
AND THE CASCADE VALLEYS FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING AND SUFFICIENTLY DRY FUELS...

A VERY UNSTABLE AIR MASS COMBINED WITH A PAIR OF WEAK UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCES WILL LIKELY TRIGGER AN EPISODE OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER
MUCH OF THE INLAND NORTHWEST BETWEEN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND MONDAY
NIGHT. FINER FUELS ACROSS THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND IN THE CASCADE
VALLEYS BELOW 3500 FEET AND IN THE METHOW AND OKANOGAN VALLEYS
BELOW 2500 FEET ARE SUFFICIENTLY DRY TO SUSTAIN ANY POTENTIAL FIRE
STARTS.

WAZ684-091500-
/O.EXA.KOTX.FW.W.0001.120709T0000Z-120710T0600Z/
EAST WASHINGTON OKANOGAN/METHOW VALLEYS (ZONE 684)-
155 PM PDT SUN JUL 8 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 11 PM
PDT MONDAY FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE OKANOGAN AND METHOW VALLEYS
BELOW 2500 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR THUNDERSTORMS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 11 PM PDT MONDAY.

* AFFECTED AREA: FIRE WEATHER ZONE 684 EAST WASHINGTON 
  OKANOGAN/METHOW VALLEYS (ZONE 684).

* THUNDERSTORMS: SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH ABUNDANT CLOUD TO
  GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES ARE EXPECTED. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE
  OF LIGHTNING THIS EVENING...BUT MUCH BETTER CHANCES WILL ARRIVE
  OVERNIGHT AND INTO EARLY MONDAY AFTERNOON. 

* OUTFLOW WINDS: WINDS FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE GENERALLY
  LIGHT...HOWEVER ERRATIC WINDS GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE WITH SPEEDS
  NEARING 30-35 MPH. 

* PRECIPITATION: SOME OF THE STORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING AND COULD
  PRODUCE WETTING RAINS BENEATH THE CORE OF THE STORM. 

* IMPACTS: LIGHTNING STRIKES COULD RESULT IN NEW FIRE STARTS
  ACROSS THESE LOCATIONS DUE TO DRY FINE FUELS. ANY FIRES WHICH
  DEVELOP COULD SEE RAPID GROWTH DUE TO THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW
  WINDS.

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.

&&

$$

WAZ673-676-677-091500-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0001.120709T0000Z-120710T0600Z/
EAST WASHINGTON NORTHERN COLUMBIA BASIN (ZONE 673)-
EAST WASHINGTON SOUTH CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 676)-
EAST WASHINGTON CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 677)-
155 PM PDT SUN JUL 8 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
11 PM PDT MONDAY FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND THE
CASCADE VALLEYS BELOW 3500 FEET...

* AFFECTED AREA: FIRE WEATHER ZONE 673 EAST WASHINGTON NORTHERN 
  COLUMBIA BASIN (ZONE 673)...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 676 EAST 
  WASHINGTON SOUTH CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 676) AND FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 677 EAST WASHINGTON CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 
  677).

* THUNDERSTORMS: SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH ABUNDANT CLOUD TO
  GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES ARE EXPECTED. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
  DEVELOP IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL CASCADES LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR
  EARLY THIS EVENING AND GRADUALLY SPREAD NORTH AND EAST OVERNIGHT
  AND INTO MONDAY. THE THUNDERSTORM THREAT WILL BEGIN TO DECREASE
  BY LATE AFTERNOON NEAR THE CASCADES.

* OUTFLOW WINDS: WINDS FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE GENERALLY
  LIGHT...HOWEVER ERRATIC WINDS GUSTS UP TO 30 TO 35 MPH ARE
  POSSIBLE. BY LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON...WINDS WILL BEGIN TO
  STRENGTHEN THROUGH THE KITTITAS VALLEY WITH SUSTAINED SPEEDS
  RANGING FROM 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS POSSIBLE. 

* PRECIPITATION: SOME OF THE STORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING AND COULD
  PRODUCE WETTING RAINS BENEATH THE CORE OF THE STORM. 

* IMPACTS: LIGHTNING STRIKES COULD RESULT IN NEW FIRE STARTS
  ACROSS THESE AREAS DUE TO DRY FINE FUELS. ANY FIRES WHICH
  DEVELOP COULD SEE RAPID GROWTH DUE TO THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW
  WINDS...AND STRENGTHENING FLOW DOWN THE KITTITAS VALLEY LATE
  MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

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.

&&

$$
744 
WWUS86 KOTX 091348
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
648 AM PDT MON JUL 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR THE COLUMBIA BASIN...OKANOGAN VALLEY...
AND THE CASCADE VALLEYS FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING AND SUFFICIENTLY DRY FUELS...

A VERY HOT AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS COMBINED WITH PASSING UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCES WILL TRIGGER THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF THE INLAND
NORTHWEST TODAY AND TONIGHT. FINER FUELS ACROSS THE COLUMBIA
BASIN AND IN THE CASCADE VALLEYS BELOW 3500 FEET AND IN THE METHOW
AND OKANOGAN VALLEYS BELOW 2500 FEET ARE SUFFICIENTLY DRY TO
SUSTAIN ANY POTENTIAL FIRE STARTS.

WAZ673-676-677-684-092200-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120710T0600Z/
EAST WASHINGTON NORTHERN COLUMBIA BASIN (ZONE 673)-
EAST WASHINGTON SOUTH CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 676)-
EAST WASHINGTON CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 677)-
EAST WASHINGTON OKANOGAN/METHOW VALLEYS (ZONE 684)-
648 AM PDT MON JUL 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS
EVENING FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND THE CASCADE
VALLEYS BELOW 3500 FEET FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING AND SUFFICIENTLY 
DRY FUELS...

* AFFECTED AREA: FIRE WEATHER ZONE 673 EAST WASHINGTON NORTHERN 
  COLUMBIA BASIN (ZONE 673)...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 676 EAST 
  WASHINGTON SOUTH CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 676)...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 677 EAST WASHINGTON CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 
  677) AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 684 EAST WASHINGTON OKANOGAN/METHOW 
  VALLEYS (ZONE 684).

* THUNDERSTORMS: SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH ABUNDANT CLOUD TO
  GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES ARE EXPECTED. THUNDERSTORMS WILL
  DEVELOP AND SPREAD NORTH AND EAST TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE
  THUNDERSTORM THREAT WILL BEGIN TO DECREASE BY LATE AFTERNOON
  NEAR THE CASCADES.

* OUTFLOW WINDS: WINDS FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE GENERALLY
  LIGHT...HOWEVER ERRATIC WINDS GUSTS UP TO 30 TO 35 MPH ARE
  POSSIBLE. BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON...WINDS WILL BEGIN TO
  STRENGTHEN THROUGH THE KITTITAS VALLEY WITH SUSTAINED SPEEDS
  RANGING FROM 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS POSSIBLE.

* PRECIPITATION: SOME OF THE STORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING AND 
  COULD PRODUCE WETTING RAINS BENEATH THE CORE OF THE STORM. 

* IMPACTS: LIGHTNING STRIKES COULD RESULT IN NEW FIRE STARTS 
  ACROSS THESE AREAS DUE TO DRY FINE FUELS. ANY FIRES WHICH 
  DEVELOP COULD SEE RAPID GROWTH DUE TO THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW 
  WINDS...AND STRENGTHENING FLOW DOWN THE KITTITAS VALLEY LATE 
  MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. 

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.

&&

$$
116 
WWUS86 KOTX 092123
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
223 PM PDT MON JUL 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR THE COLUMBIA BASIN...OKANOGAN VALLEY...
AND THE CASCADE VALLEYS FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING
FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING AND SUFFICIENTLY DRY FUELS...

A VERY HOT AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS COMBINED WITH PASSING UPPER
LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL TRIGGER THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF THE
INLAND NORTHWEST TODAY AND TONIGHT. FINER FUELS ACROSS THE
COLUMBIA BASIN AND IN THE CASCADE VALLEYS BELOW 3500 FEET AND IN
THE METHOW AND OKANOGAN VALLEYS BELOW 2500 FEET ARE SUFFICIENTLY
DRY TO SUSTAIN ANY POTENTIAL FIRE STARTS.

WAZ673-676-677-684-100530-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120710T0600Z/
EAST WASHINGTON NORTHERN COLUMBIA BASIN (ZONE 673)-
EAST WASHINGTON SOUTH CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 676)-
EAST WASHINGTON CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 677)-
EAST WASHINGTON OKANOGAN/METHOW VALLEYS (ZONE 684)-
223 PM PDT MON JUL 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS
EVENING FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND THE CASCADE
VALLEYS BELOW 3500 FEET FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING AND SUFFICIENTLY
DRY FUELS...

* AFFECTED AREA: FIRE WEATHER ZONE 673 EAST WASHINGTON NORTHERN 
  COLUMBIA BASIN (ZONE 673)...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 676 EAST 
  WASHINGTON SOUTH CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 676)...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 677 EAST WASHINGTON CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 
  677) AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 684 EAST WASHINGTON OKANOGAN/METHOW 
  VALLEYS (ZONE 684).

* THUNDERSTORMS: SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH ABUNDANT CLOUD TO
  GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES ARE EXPECTED. THUNDERSTORMS WILL
  DEVELOP AND SPREAD NORTH AND EAST TONIGHT. THE THUNDERSTORM
  THREAT WILL BEGIN TO DECREASE THIS EVENING SOUTH OF LAKE CHELAN.

* OUTFLOW WINDS: WINDS FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE GENERALLY
  LIGHT...HOWEVER ERRATIC WINDS GUSTS UP TO 30 TO 35 MPH ARE
  POSSIBLE. WINDS WILL BEGIN TO STRENGTHEN THROUGH THE KITTITAS
  VALLEY WITH SUSTAINED SPEEDS RANGING FROM 15 TO 25 MPH WITH
  HIGHER GUSTS POSSIBLE.

* PRECIPITATION: SOME OF THE STORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING AND 
  COULD PRODUCE WETTING RAINS BENEATH THE CORE OF THE STORM. 

* IMPACTS: LIGHTNING STRIKES COULD RESULT IN NEW FIRE STARTS 
  ACROSS THESE AREAS DUE TO DRY FINE FUELS. ANY FIRES WHICH 
  DEVELOP COULD SEE RAPID GROWTH DUE TO THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW 
  WINDS...AND STRENGTHENING FLOW DOWN THE KITTITAS VALLEY LATE 
  MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. 

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.

&&

$$
607 
WWUS86 KOTX 100536
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1036 PM PDT MON JUL 9 2012

WAZ673-676-677-684-100645-
/O.CAN.KOTX.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120710T0600Z/
EAST WASHINGTON NORTHERN COLUMBIA BASIN (ZONE 673)-
EAST WASHINGTON SOUTH CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 676)-
EAST WASHINGTON CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 677)-
EAST WASHINGTON OKANOGAN/METHOW VALLEYS (ZONE 684)-
1035 PM PDT MON JUL 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR THE COLUMBIA BASIN...
OKANOGAN VALLEY...AND THE CASCADE VALLEYS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS CANCELLED THE RED
FLAG WARNING. THE THREAT FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING HAS DECREASED. 
 
$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Spokane, WA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 7, 6:04 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementOTXAsotin26 min
Jul 7, 6:52 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOTXGarfield38 min
Jul 7, 7:27 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOTXWhitman33 min
Jul 7, 7:59 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOTXWhitman21 min

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Washington, 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.