Alert archive / Washington / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Spokane, WA

July 13, 2012

NWS Spokane, WA issued this red flag warning at Jul 13, 2012, 2:45 PM PDT. It took effect at Jul 13, 2012, 5:00 PM PDT. It was in force for 41 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 13, 2012, 2:45 PM PDT (21:45 UTC)
In effect from
Jul 13, 2012, 5:00 PM PDT
Expired
Jul 15, 2012, 9:31 AM PDT
In force
41 hr
Issued by
NWS Spokane, WA

The text

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

118 
WWUS86 KOTX 132145
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
245 PM PDT FRI JUL 13 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 TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. 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.

WAZ673-676-677-684-141045-
/O.NEW.KOTX.FW.W.0002.120714T0000Z-120716T0000Z/
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)-
245 PM PDT FRI JUL 13 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM PDT SUNDAY FOR
THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND THE CASCADE
VALLEYS BELOW 3500 FEET FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING AND SUFFICIENTLY
DRY FUELS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR THUNDERSTORMS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM PDT
SUNDAY.

* 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 ARE
  EXPECTED TO DEVELOP NORTH OF INTERSTATE 90 THIS EVENING AND
  SPREAD NORTH TONIGHT. MORE THUNDERSTORMS WILL THEN DEVELOP
  ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON AND THEN SPREAD NORTH AND
  WESTWARD THROUGH TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY. THE THREAT FOR
  THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE REGION ON SATURDAY AND
  SUNDAY.

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

* PRECIPITATION: MOISTURE CONTENT WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS IS
  EXPECTED TO INCREASE THROUGH THE WEEKEND...WHICH IS EXPECTED TO
  RESULT IN INCREASINGLY WET THUNDERSTORMS WITH WETTING RAINS LIKELY.

* 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.


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
002 
WWUS86 KOTX 141028
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
328 AM PDT SAT JUL 14 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 THROUGH SUNDAY. 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.

WAZ673-676-677-684-142300-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120716T0000Z/
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)-
328 AM PDT SAT JUL 14 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM PDT SUNDAY 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...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 676 EAST WASHINGTON SOUTH
  CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 677 EAST WASHINGTON
  CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 684 EAST
  WASHINGTON OKANOGAN/METHOW VALLEYS.

* THUNDERSTORMS: SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH ABUNDANT CLOUD TO
  GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
  THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON AND
  THEN SPREAD NORTH AND WESTWARD TODAY. THE THREAT FOR
  THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE REGION ON SUNDAY.

* OUTFLOW WINDS: WINDS FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE GENERALLY
  LIGHT...HOWEVER ERRATIC WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 TO 35 MPH ARE
  POSSIBLE. WINDS WILL INCREASE SUNDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS THE
  KITTITAS VALLEY.

* PRECIPITATION: MOISTURE CONTENT WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS IS 
  EXPECTED TO INCREASE THROUGH THE WEEKEND...WHICH IS EXPECTED 
  TO RESULT IN INCREASINGLY WET THUNDERSTORMS WITH WETTING RAINS 
  LIKELY. 

* 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 POTENTIAL 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.

&&

$$
576 
WWUS86 KOTX 142229
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
329 PM PDT SAT JUL 14 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 THROUGH SUNDAY. 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.

WAZ673-676-677-684-150630-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120716T0000Z/
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)-
329 PM PDT SAT JUL 14 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM PDT SUNDAY 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 THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
  THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE REGION FOR SATURDAY
  AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE THREAT FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL
  CONTINUE OVER THE REGION ON SUNDAY.

* OUTFLOW WINDS: WINDS FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE 
  GENERALLY LIGHT...HOWEVER ERRATIC WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 TO 35 
  MPH ARE POSSIBLE. WINDS WILL INCREASE SUNDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS 
  THE KITTITAS VALLEY. 

* PRECIPITATION: MOISTURE CONTENT WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS IS 
  EXPECTED TO INCREASE THROUGH THE WEEKEND...WHICH IS EXPECTED 
  TO RESULT IN INCREASINGLY WET THUNDERSTORMS WITH WETTING RAINS 
  LIKELY. 

* 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 POTENTIAL 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.

&&

$$
980 
WWUS86 KOTX 151225
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
525 AM PDT SUN JUL 15 2012

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

WAZ673-676-677-684-160000-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120716T0000Z/
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)-
525 AM PDT SUN JUL 15 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM PDT THIS
AFTERNOON 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...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 676 EAST WASHINGTON SOUTH
  CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 677 EAST WASHINGTON
  CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 684 EAST
  WASHINGTON OKANOGAN/METHOW VALLEYS.

* THUNDERSTORMS: SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH ABUNDANT CLOUD TO
  GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES IS EXPECTED THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.
 
* OUTFLOW WINDS: WINDS FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL GENERALLY
  BE LIGHT...HOWEVER ERRATIC WIND GUSTS 30 TO 35 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.
  WINDS WILL INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE KITTITAS VALLEY.

* PRECIPITATION: THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE WET...WITH A GOOD CHANCE OF
  A WETTING RAIN.

* 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 POTENTIAL 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.

&&

$$
713 
WWUS86 KOTX 151631 AAA
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
931 AM PDT SUN JUL 15 2012


WAZ673-676-677-684-151745-
/O.CAN.KOTX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120716T0000Z/
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)-
931 AM PDT SUN JUL 15 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING... 

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

THOUGH WE CAN STILL EXPECT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED LIGHTNING THE NEXT
SEVERAL DAYS...WETTING RAINS WILL BE COMMON WITH THESE STORMS.

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 12, 10:25 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementOTXGarfield50 min
Jul 13, 12:43 AM PDTSpecial Weather StatementOTXGrant47 min
Jul 13, 1:56 AM PDTSpecial Weather StatementOTXGrant49 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.