Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 9, NWS Pueblo, CO

March 18, 2012Baca County, Las Animas County, Prowers County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this red flag warning at Mar 18, 2012, 2:44 PM MDT for Baca County, Las Animas County, Prowers County, Colorado. It took effect at Mar 19, 2012, 11:00 AM MDT. 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
Mar 18, 2012, 2:44 PM MDT (20:44 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 19, 2012, 11:00 AM MDT
Expired
Mar 19, 2012, 7:00 PM MDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO

Counties Baca County, CO, Las Animas County, CO, Prowers County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 146 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:48 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

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 12:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 261 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, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 2012-03-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 2012-03-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 54 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 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
3327 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
54 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
109 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.

116 
WWUS85 KPUB 182044
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
244 PM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOW
HUMIDITIES...UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING...FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 222
AND 226 THROUGH 237...WHICH INCLUDES ALL OF THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS
AND FREMONT COUNTY BELOW 7000 FEET...

...RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MDT MONDAY
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
233...236 AND 237...WHICH INCLUDES BACA...PROWERS AND EASTERN LAS
ANIMAS COUNTIES...

COZ233-236-237-191245-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FW.W.0009.120319T1700Z-120320T0100Z/
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120319T0200Z/
EASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY-PROWERS COUNTY-BACA COUNTY-
244 PM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
233...236 AND 237... 
...RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MDT
MONDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 233...236 AND 237...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS. A NEW RED FLAG WARNING FOR STRONG WINDS
AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 233...236 AND
237... HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
PUEBLO...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MDT MONDAY.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 233...236 AND 237.

* WINDS...THIS EVENING...SOUTHWEST 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO
  60 MPH. ON MONDAY...SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 10 PERCENT THIS
  AFTERNOON...RECOVERING TO AROUND 45 PERCENT OVERNIGHT...THEN
  FALLING BACK TO 10 TO 15 PERCENT MONDAY AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL CONDITIONS FOR FIRE BEHAVIOR CAN BE EXPECTED
  INTO THIS EVENING AND AGAIN MONDAY AFTERNOON. VERY STRONG WINDS
  WILL RESULT IN RAPID RATES OF FIRE GROWTH AND SPREAD...IF A FIRE
  SHOULD START. EXTREME CAUTION SHOULD BE TAKEN NOT TO START ANY
  WILD FIRES TODAY AS THEY WILL QUICKLY SPREAD OUT OF CONTROL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
WILL OCCUR. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE
GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

COZ222-226>232-234-235-190200-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120319T0200Z/
FREMONT COUNTY-NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY-SOUTHERN EL PASO COUNTY-
PUEBLO COUNTY-HUERFANO COUNTY-WESTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY-
CROWLEY COUNTY-OTERO COUNTY-KIOWA COUNTY-BENT COUNTY-
244 PM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
222...226...227...228...229...230...231...232...234...AND 235...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 222...226...227...228...
  229...230...231...232...234...AND 235

* WINDS...SOUTH 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 9 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...EXTREMELY CRITICAL CONDITIONS FOR FIRE BEHAVIOR CAN
  BE EXPECTED INTO THIS EVENING. VERY STRONG WINDS WILL RESULT IN
  RAPID RATES OF FIRE GROWTH AND SPREAD...IF A FIRE SHOULD START.
  EXTREME CAUTION SHOULD BE TAKEN NOT TO START ANY WILD FIRES
  TODAY AS THEY WILL QUICKLY SPREAD OUT OF CONTROL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
WILL OCCUR. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE
GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
4 follow-up statements
996 
WWUS85 KPUB 190134
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
734 PM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM THIS EVENING...FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 222 AND 226 THROUGH 237...WHICH INCLUDES ALL OF THE
SOUTHEAST PLAINS AND FREMONT COUNTY BELOW 7000 FEET...

...RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MDT
MONDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 233...236 AND 237...WHICH INCLUDES BACA...PROWERS
AND EASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTIES...

COZ233-236-237-191745-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120319T0200Z/
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0009.120319T1700Z-120320T0100Z/
EASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY-PROWERS COUNTY-BACA COUNTY-
734 PM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MDT
MONDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY VALUES FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 233...
236 AND 237...

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 233...236 AND 237...

THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING. A RED
FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MDT MONDAY. 

* AFFECTED AREA. FOR MONDAY..FIRE WEATHER ZONES 233...236 AND 237.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 10 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL CONDITIONS FOR FIRE BEHAVIOR CAN BE 
  EXPECTED INTO THIS EVENING AND AGAIN MONDAY AFTERNOON. VERY 
  STRONG WINDS WILL RESULT IN RAPID RATES OF FIRE GROWTH AND 
  SPREAD...IF A FIRE SHOULD START. EXTREME CAUTION SHOULD BE 
  TAKEN NOT TO START ANY WILD FIRES TODAY AS THEY WILL QUICKLY 
  SPREAD OUT OF CONTROL. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
WILL OCCUR. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE
GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

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.

&&

$$

COZ222-226>232-234-235-190245-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120319T0200Z/
FREMONT COUNTY-NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY-SOUTHERN EL PASO COUNTY-
PUEBLO COUNTY-HUERFANO COUNTY-WESTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY-
CROWLEY COUNTY-OTERO COUNTY-KIOWA COUNTY-BENT COUNTY-
734 PM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR 
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 222...226...227...228...229...230...
231...232...234 AND 235...

THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING. 

$$
887 
WWUS85 KPUB 190959
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
359 AM MDT MON MAR 19 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MDT
MONDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 233...236 AND 237...WHICH INCLUDES BACA...PROWERS AND
EASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTIES...

COZ233-236-237-200100-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0009.120319T1700Z-120320T0100Z/
EASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY-PROWERS COUNTY-BACA COUNTY-
359 AM MDT MON MAR 19 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
7 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 233...236 AND 237...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
7 PM MDT THIS EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 233...236 AND 237.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 TO 15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL CONDITIONS FOR FIRE BEHAVIOR CAN BE EXPECTED
  THROUGH THIS EVENING. VERY STRONG WINDS WILL RESULT IN RAPID
  RATES OF FIRE GROWTH AND SPREAD...IF A FIRE SHOULD START.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
WILL OCCUR. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE
GROWTH POTENTIAL.

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.

&&

$$
013 
WWUS85 KPUB 192040
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
240 PM MDT MON MAR 19 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 233...236 AND 237...WHICH INCLUDES BACA...PROWERS
AND EASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTIES...

COZ233-236-237-200100-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120320T0100Z/
EASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY-PROWERS COUNTY-BACA COUNTY-
240 PM MDT MON MAR 19 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
233...236 AND 237...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 233...236 AND 237.

* WINDS...BECOMING SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10-15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL CONDITIONS FOR FIRE BEHAVIOR CAN BE 
  EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING. VERY STRONG WINDS WILL RESULT 
  IN RAPID RATES OF FIRE GROWTH AND SPREAD...IF A FIRE SHOULD 
  START. 

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.

&&

$$
322 
WWUS85 KPUB 200056
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
656 PM MDT MON MAR 19 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM...

COZ233-236-237-200200-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120320T0100Z/
EASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY-PROWERS COUNTY-BACA COUNTY-
656 PM MDT MON MAR 19 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR 
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
233...236 AND 237...

THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING. 

GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO DIMINISH WITH HUMIDITY
LEVELS SLOWLY INCREASING THROUGH THE REST OF THE EVENING. THIS
WILL ALLOW FOR THE RED FLAG WARNING TO EXPIRE AT 7 PM MDT. 

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Pueblo, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 18, 4:02 AM MDTHigh Wind WarningPUBAlamosa, Baca, Bent, Conejos, Costilla, Crowley and 6 more15 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Colorado, 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.