Alert archive / California / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 8, NWS Reno, NV

May 23, 20124 counties in California

NWS Reno, NV issued this red flag warning at May 23, 2012, 12:37 PM PDT for 4 counties in California. It took effect at May 24, 2012, 11:00 AM PDT. It was in force for 12 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 23, 2012, 12:37 PM PDT (19:37 UTC)
In effect from
May 24, 2012, 11:00 AM PDT
Expired
May 24, 2012, 11:00 PM PDT
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Reno, NV

Counties El Dorado County, CA, Nevada County, CA, Placer County, CA, Sierra County, CA

The radar

The Beale AFB radar (KBBX), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:40 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

Oakland, CA (KOAK), launched 12:00Z, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 211 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, Oakland, CA at 12:00Z on 2012-05-23Temperature 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, Oakland, CA at 12:00Z on 2012-05-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 87 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
941 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
61 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
87 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
156 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.

751 
WWUS85 KREV 231937
RFWREV

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
1237 PM PDT WED MAY 23 2012

...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY THURSDAY...

.LOW PRESSURE OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL DROP SOUTH INTO
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NORTHWEST NEVADA BY FRIDAY MORNING. AHEAD
OF THE SYSTEM...WINDS WILL INCREASE THURSDAY AND WILL COMBINE WITH
LOW AFTERNOON HUMIDITY TO CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
IN THE TAHOE BASIN...WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE...WESTERN
NEVADA SIERRA FRONT...MINERAL...SOUTHERN LYON AND MONO COUNTIES.

CAZ273-NVZ459-241400-
/O.UPG.KREV.FW.A.0005.120524T2100Z-120525T0400Z/
/O.NEW.KREV.FW.W.0008.120524T1800Z-120525T0600Z/
MONO-EASTERN ALPINE COUNTIES-MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES-
1237 PM PDT WED MAY 23 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 11 PM PDT THURSDAY
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR EASTERN
ALPINE...MONO...MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM 11 AM TO 11 PM PDT THURSDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE ZONE 273 MONO-EASTERN ALPINE COUNTIES AND 
  FIRE ZONE 459 MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES.

* WINDS...WEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH. GUSTS TO
  50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE IN WIND PRONE AREAS. STRONGEST WINDS
  EXPECTED AFTER 1300.

* HUMIDITY...LOWERING TO 10 TO 15 PERCENT THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL 
  CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

CAZ272-NVZ450-453-241400-
/O.NEW.KREV.FW.W.0008.120524T1800Z-120525T0600Z/
GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-WESTERN NEVADA SIERRA FRONT-
WEST CENTRAL NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE-
1237 PM PDT WED MAY 23 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 11 PM PDT THURSDAY
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR LAKE TAHOE BASIN...WESTERN
NEVADA SIERRA FRONT...AND WEST CENTRAL NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM 11 AM TO 11 PM PDT THURSDAY.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE ZONE 272 GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA...FIRE 
  ZONE 450 WESTERN NEVADA SIERRA FRONT AND FIRE ZONE 453 WEST 
  CENTRAL NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE.

* WINDS...WEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH THURSDAY
  AFTERNOON. GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE IN WIND PRONE AREAS.
  STRONGEST WINDS EXPECTED AFTER 1300.

* HUMIDITY...FOR WESTERN NEVADA...LOWERING TO 10 TO 15 PERCENT BY
  THURSDAY AFTERNOON. FOR THE TAHOE BASIN...LOWERING TO 15 TO 20
  PERCENT BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL 
  CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

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
393 
WWUS85 KREV 240917
RFWREV

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
217 AM PDT THU MAY 24 2012

...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY TODAY...

.LOW PRESSURE OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND THE JET STREAM OVER
THE SIERRA WILL PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITY. CRITICAL
FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL IMPACT THE SIERRA AND WESTERN NEVADA
ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80. THIS INCLUDES THE LAKE TAHOE
BASIN AND THE TRE FIRE.

CAZ272-NVZ450-453-242300-
/O.CON.KREV.FW.W.0008.120524T1800Z-120525T0600Z/
GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-WESTERN NEVADA SIERRA FRONT-
WEST CENTRAL NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE-
217 AM PDT THU MAY 24 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
11 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR LAKE
TAHOE BASIN...WESTERN NEVADA SIERRA FRONT...AND WEST CENTRAL
NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE ZONE 272 GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA...FIRE 
  ZONE 450 WESTERN NEVADA SIERRA FRONT AND FIRE ZONE 453 WEST 
  CENTRAL NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE.

* WINDS...WEST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH. 

* GUSTS OF 50 MPH OR MORE WILL OCCUR IN WIND PRONE AREAS AND OVER
  RIDGES ABOVE 7000 FEET.

* HUMIDITY...8 TO 15 PERCENT...WITH VALUES BELOW 20 PERCENT IN
  THE TAHOE BASIN.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL 
  CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

CAZ273-NVZ459-242300-
/O.CON.KREV.FW.W.0008.120524T1800Z-120525T0600Z/
MONO-EASTERN ALPINE COUNTIES-MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES-
217 AM PDT THU MAY 24 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
11 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR
EASTERN ALPINE...MONO...MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE ZONE 273 MONO-EASTERN ALPINE COUNTIES AND 
  FIRE ZONE 459 MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES.

* WINDS...WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH. 

* GUSTS OF 50 MPH OR MORE WILL OCCUR IN WIND PRONE AREAS ALONG
  HIGHWAYS 95...395 AND OVER RIDGES.

* HUMIDITY...5 TO 15 PERCENT.

* WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND HUMIDITY BELOW 25 PERCENT MAY CONTINUE
  INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL 
  CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

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
628 
WWUS85 KREV 242216
RFWREV

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
316 PM PDT THU MAY 24 2012

...GUSTY WINDS WITH LOW HUMIDITY THROUGH THIS EVENING...

.LOW PRESSURE OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND THE JET STREAM OVER
THE SIERRA WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS AND VERY LOW
HUMIDITY. CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL IMPACT THE SIERRA
AND WESTERN NEVADA ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80 THROUGH THIS
EVENING. THIS INCLUDES THE LAKE TAHOE BASIN AND THE TRE FIRE.

CAZ272-NVZ450-453-250600-
/O.CON.KREV.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120525T0600Z/
GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-WESTERN NEVADA SIERRA FRONT-
WEST CENTRAL NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE-
316 PM PDT THU MAY 24 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR LAKE TAHOE BASIN...
WESTERN NEVADA SIERRA FRONT...AND WEST CENTRAL NEVADA BASIN AND
RANGE...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE ZONE 272 GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA...FIRE 
  ZONE 450 WESTERN NEVADA SIERRA FRONT AND FIRE ZONE 453 WEST 
  CENTRAL NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE.

* WINDS...WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH.

* GUSTS OF 50 MPH OR MORE WILL OCCUR IN WIND PRONE AREAS AND 
  OVER RIDGES ABOVE 7000 FEET.

* HUMIDITY...8 TO 15 PERCENT...WITH VALUES BELOW 20 PERCENT IN 
  THE TAHOE BASIN.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL 
  CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

CAZ273-NVZ459-250600-
/O.CON.KREV.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120525T0600Z/
MONO-EASTERN ALPINE COUNTIES-MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES-
316 PM PDT THU MAY 24 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR EASTERN ALPINE...
MONO...MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE ZONE 273 MONO-EASTERN ALPINE COUNTIES AND 
  FIRE ZONE 459 MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES.

* WINDS...WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH.

* GUSTS OF 50 MPH OR MORE WILL OCCUR IN WIND PRONE AREAS ALONG 
  HIGHWAYS 95...395 AND OVER RIDGES.

* HUMIDITY...5 TO 15 PERCENT.

* WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND HUMIDITY BELOW 25 PERCENT MAY CONTINUE
  INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL 
  CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

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
849 
WWUS85 KREV 250535
RFWREV

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
1035 PM PDT THU MAY 24 2012



CAZ272-NVZ450-453-250645-
/O.EXP.KREV.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120525T0600Z/
GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-WESTERN NEVADA SIERRA FRONT-
WEST CENTRAL NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE-
1035 PM PDT THU MAY 24 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING...

WINDS ARE DECREASING WITH ONLY LOCAL GUSTS TO 30 MPH. IN
ADDITION...HUMIDITY HAS INCREASED ABOVE 30 PERCENT SO THE RED FLAG
WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 11 PM.

$$

CAZ273-NVZ459-250645-
/O.EXP.KREV.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120525T0600Z/
MONO-EASTERN ALPINE COUNTIES-MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES-
1035 PM PDT THU MAY 24 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING...

WINDS ARE DECREASING WITH ONLY LOCAL GUSTS TO 30 MPH. IN
ADDITION...HUMIDITY HAS INCREASED ABOVE 20 PERCENT SO THE RED FLAG
WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 11 PM.

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 23, 3:30 PM PDTLake Wind AdvisoryREVChurchill, Douglas, Lyon, Pershing, Washoe32 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.