Alert archive / California / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 4, NWS Reno, NV

May 13, 2012Lassen County, Modoc County, California; Washoe County, Nevada

NWS Reno, NV issued this red flag warning at May 13, 2012, 3:01 PM PDT for Lassen County, Modoc County, California; Washoe County, Nevada. It took effect at May 14, 2012, 12:00 PM PDT. It was in force for 7 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
May 13, 2012, 3:01 PM PDT (22:01 UTC)
In effect from
May 14, 2012, 12:00 PM PDT
Expired
May 14, 2012, 7:00 PM PDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Reno, NV

Counties Lassen County, CA, Modoc County, CA, Washoe County, NV

The radar

The Reno radar (KRGX), 154 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:01 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

Reno, NV (KREV), launched 12:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 239 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, Reno, NV at 12:00Z on 2012-05-13Temperature 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 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Reno, NV at 12:00Z on 2012-05-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -55 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
4263 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
3 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-55 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-3 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.

455 
WWUS85 KREV 132201
RFWREV

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
301 PM PDT SUN MAY 13 2012

...DRY THUNDERSTORMS AND GUSTY WINDS MONDAY...

.AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT AND
MONDAY BRINGING INCREASED CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO
NORTHEASTERN CA AND NORTHWEST NEVADA. LIMITED MOISTURE AND FAST
MOVING STORMS WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF DRY LIGHTNING.
WINDS WILL INCREASE MONDAY AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS 30 TO 35 MPH.

CAZ270-278-NVZ458-141500-
/O.UPG.KREV.FW.A.0002.120514T0700Z-120515T0400Z/
/O.NEW.KREV.FW.W.0004.120514T1500Z-120515T0200Z/
SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA-EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY-
NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY-
301 PM PDT SUN MAY 13 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM TO 7 PM PDT MONDAY FOR
DRY THUNDERSTORMS AND GUSTY WINDS FOR EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY...
SURPRISE VALLEY...AND NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR DRY THUNDERSTORMS AND GUSTY WINDS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM 8 AM TO 7 PM PDT MONDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER
IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE ZONE 270 SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA...
  FIRE ZONE 278 EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY AND FIRE ZONE 458 NORTHERN 
  WASHOE COUNTY.

* THUNDERSTORMS...ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS
  MONDAY. MANY THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE LIMITED RAINFALL DURING
  THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON.

* WINDS...GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH EXPECTED NEAR ANY THUNDERSTORMS. 
  GUSTS INCREASING ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY AFTERNOON TO BETWEEN 
  25 TO 35 MPH WITH RIDGE GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* IMPACTS...LIGHTNING MAY CREATE NEW FIRE STARTS AND COMBINE WITH
  GUSTY WINDS TO PRODUCE RAPID FIRE GROWTH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
WILL OCCUR.  CONTINUE TO CHECK WEATHER.GOV/RENO FOR UPDATES.  

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO
3 follow-up statements
613 
WWUS85 KREV 141115
RFWREV

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
415 AM PDT MON MAY 14 2012

...DRY THUNDERSTORMS AND GUSTY WINDS TODAY...

.A LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL CROSS THE SIERRA TODAY CREATING
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHEASTERN CA AND NORTHWEST
NEVADA. LIMITED MOISTURE AND FAST MOVING STORMS WILL RESULT IN AN
INCREASED RISK OF DRY LIGHTNING. WINDS WILL INCREASE THIS
AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS 30 TO 35 MPH.

CAZ270-278-NVZ458-142300-
/O.EXT.KREV.FW.W.0004.120514T1900Z-120515T0200Z/
SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA-EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY-
NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY-
415 AM PDT MON MAY 14 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM PDT
THIS EVENING FOR DRY THUNDERSTORMS AND GUSTY WINDS FOR EASTERN
LASSEN COUNTY...SURPRISE VALLEY...AND NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE ZONE 270 SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA...
  FIRE ZONE 278 EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY AND FIRE ZONE 458 NORTHERN 
  WASHOE COUNTY.

* THUNDERSTORMS...ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS
  AFTERNOON. MANY THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE LIMITED RAINFALL.

* WINDS...GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH EXPECTED NEAR ANY THUNDERSTORMS. 
  GUSTS INCREASING ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY AFTERNOON TO BETWEEN 
  25 TO 35 MPH WITH RIDGE GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* IMPACTS...LIGHTNING MAY CREATE NEW FIRE STARTS AND COMBINE 
  WITH GUSTY WINDS TO PRODUCE RAPID FIRE GROWTH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
WILL OCCUR.  CONTINUE TO CHECK WEATHER.GOV/RENO FOR UPDATES.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO
616 
WWUS85 KREV 142203
RFWREV

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
303 PM PDT MON MAY 14 2012

...DRY THUNDERSTORMS AND GUSTY WINDS INTO EARLY THIS EVENING...

.A LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL CROSS THE SIERRA THIS EVENING AND
OVERNIGHT CREATING SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHEASTERN CA
AND NORTHWEST NEVADA. LIMITED MOISTURE AND FAST MOVING STORMS WILL
RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF DRY LIGHTNING. EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS
WILL OCCASIONALLY GUST UP TO 35 MPH OUTSIDE OF THE THUNDERSTORMS
WHILE GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS COULD REACH 45 MPH NEAR THE THUNDERSTORMS.

CAZ270-278-NVZ458-150200-
/O.CON.KREV.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120515T0200Z/
SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA-EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY-
NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY-
303 PM PDT MON MAY 14 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PDT THIS EVENING
FOR DRY THUNDERSTORMS AND GUSTY WINDS FOR EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY...
SURPRISE VALLEY...AND NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE ZONE 270 SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA...
  FIRE ZONE 278 EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY AND FIRE ZONE 458 NORTHERN 
  WASHOE COUNTY.

* THUNDERSTORMS...ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS EARLY
  THIS EVENING. MANY THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE LIMITED RAINFALL
  BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO A MIX OF WET AND DRY STORMS LATER THIS
  EVENING.

* WINDS...GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH EXPECTED NEAR ANY THUNDERSTORMS. EAST
  TO SOUTHEAST WIND GUSTS INCREASING OUTSIDE OF THE THUNDERSTORMS
  EARLY THIS EVENING UP TO 35 MPH WITH RIDGE GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* IMPACTS...LIGHTNING MAY CREATE NEW FIRE STARTS AND COMBINE 
  WITH GUSTY WINDS TO PRODUCE RAPID FIRE GROWTH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
WILL OCCUR.  CONTINUE TO CHECK WEATHER.GOV/RENO FOR UPDATES.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO
399 
WWUS85 KREV 150140
RFWREV

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
640 PM PDT MON MAY 14 2012

CAZ270-278-NVZ458-150245-
/O.EXP.KREV.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120515T0200Z/
SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA-EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY-
NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY-
640 PM PDT MON MAY 14 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR DRY
THUNDERSTORMS AND GUSTY WINDS FOR EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY...
SURPRISE VALLEY...AND NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY...

THUNDERSTORMS HAVE REMAINED OVER THE NORTHERN SIERRA AND NORTHERN
SACRAMENTO VALLEY TODAY. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS
EVENING AND TONIGHT...HOWEVER SURFACE HUMIDITY HAS INCREASED WHICH
WILL BRING A HIGHER PROBABILITY OF RAINFALL REACHING THE GROUND.

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO

The office that day

Everything else NWS Reno, NV issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 13, 3:03 PM PDTLake Wind AdvisoryREVAlpine, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer24 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in California, 2012Red Flag Warnings in Nevada, 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.