Alert archive / Wyoming / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 5, NWS Riverton, WY

March 31, 201210 counties in Wyoming

NWS Riverton, WY issued this red flag warning at Mar 31, 2012, 2:18 AM MDT for 10 counties in Wyoming. It took effect at Mar 31, 2012, 12:00 PM 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 31, 2012, 2:18 AM MDT (08:18 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 31, 2012, 12:00 PM MDT
Expired
Mar 31, 2012, 8:11 PM MDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Riverton, WY

Counties Big Horn County, WY, Fremont County, WY, Hot Springs County, WY, Johnson County, WY, Lincoln County, WY, Natrona County, WY, Park County, WY, Sweetwater County, WY, Uinta County, WY, Washakie County, WY

The radar

The Riverton/Lander radar (KRIW), 16 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:23 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

Riverton, WY (KRIW), launched 00:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 20 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, Riverton, WY at 00:00Z on 2012-03-31Temperature 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, Riverton, WY at 00:00Z on 2012-03-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 45 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
2796 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
45 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
137 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.

173 
WWUS85 KRIW 310818
RFWRIW

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
218 AM MDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING...

.A DRY SOUTHWEST WIND WILL DEVELOP ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN WYOMING EAST OF THE DIVIDE AS WELL AS THE BIG HORN BASIN
AND SWEETWATER COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON. THE COMBINATION OF ABOVE
NORMAL TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S...RELATIVE HUMIDITY UNDER 15
PERCENT AND GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS OVER 30 MPH WITH WIND GUSTS PAST
45 MPH WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUS FIRE BEHAVIOR THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. VERY DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL LINGER ACROSS EAST
CENTRAL WYOMING OVERNIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING BEFORE A COLD FRONT
PUSHES SOUTH ACROSS THE AREA IN THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON.

WYZ277-279-312100-
/O.UPG.KRIW.FW.A.0004.120331T1800Z-120401T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KRIW.FW.W.0005.120331T1800Z-120401T0200Z/
LINCOLN AND UINTA COUNTIES/LOWER ELEVATIONS-
SWEETWATER COUNTY/ROCK SPRINGS BLM/FLAMING GORGE NRA-
218 AM MDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
277 AND 279...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RIVERTON HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH
IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 277 AND 279.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 13 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...RESIDENTS OF THE EFFECTED AREAS ARE STRONGLY
  ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGEROUS FIRE BEHAVIOR
  THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY 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.

&&

$$

WYZ275-276-282-283-312100-
/O.UPG.KRIW.FW.A.0004.120331T1800Z-120401T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KRIW.FW.W.0005.120331T1800Z-120401T0200Z/
NORTH BIG HORN BASIN/WORLAND BLM-CODY FOOTHILLS-
SOUTH BIG HORN BASIN/WORLAND BLM-
UPPER WIND RIVER BASIN/WIND RIVER BASIN-
218 AM MDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
275...276...282 AND 283...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RIVERTON HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH
IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 275...276...282 AND 283.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 13 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...RESIDENTS OF THE EFFECTED AREAS ARE STRONGLY
  ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGEROUS FIRE BEHAVIOR
  THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY 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.

&&

$$

WYZ280-281-285-300-312100-
/O.UPG.KRIW.FW.A.0004.120331T1800Z-120401T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KRIW.FW.W.0005.120331T1800Z-120401T1800Z/
NATRONA COUNTY/CASPER BLM-JOHNSON COUNTY/CASPER BLM-
SOUTH BIGHORN MOUNTAINS-CASPER MOUNTAIN-
218 AM MDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO NOON MDT SUNDAY
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 280...
281...285 AND 300...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RIVERTON HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM NOON TODAY TO NOON MDT SUNDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 280...281...285 AND 300.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 13 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...RESIDENTS OF THE EFFECTED AREAS ARE STRONGLY
  ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGEROUS FIRE BEHAVIOR
  TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. 

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.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RIVERTON
2 follow-up statements
668 
WWUS85 KRIW 311947
RFWRIW

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
147 PM MDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING...

.A DRY SOUTHWEST WIND WILL CONTINUE ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
WYOMING EAST OF THE DIVIDE AS WELL AS THE BIG HORN BASIN AND
SWEETWATER COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON. THE COMBINATION OF ABOVE NORMAL
TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S...RELATIVE HUMIDITY UNDER 15 PERCENT AND
GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS OVER 30 MPH WITH WIND GUSTS PAST 45 MPH WILL
PRODUCE DANGEROUS FIRE BEHAVIOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. VERY
DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL LINGER ACROSS EAST CENTRAL WYOMING
OVERNIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING BEFORE A COLD FRONT PUSHES SOUTH
ACROSS THE AREA IN THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON.

WYZ277-279-010200-
/O.CON.KRIW.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120401T0200Z/
LINCOLN AND UINTA COUNTIES/LOWER ELEVATIONS-
SWEETWATER COUNTY/ROCK SPRINGS BLM/FLAMING GORGE NRA-
147 PM MDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 277 AND
279...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 277 AND 279.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 13 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...RESIDENTS OF THE EFFECTED AREAS ARE STRONGLY 
  ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGEROUS FIRE 
  BEHAVIOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY 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.

&&

$$

WYZ275-276-282-283-010200-
/O.CON.KRIW.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120401T0200Z/
NORTH BIG HORN BASIN/WORLAND BLM-CODY FOOTHILLS-
SOUTH BIG HORN BASIN/WORLAND BLM-
UPPER WIND RIVER BASIN/WIND RIVER BASIN-
147 PM MDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 275...
276...282 AND 283...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 275...276...282 AND 283.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 13 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...RESIDENTS OF THE EFFECTED AREAS ARE STRONGLY 
  ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGEROUS FIRE 
  BEHAVIOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY 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.

&&

$$

WYZ280-281-285-300-010200-
/O.CON.KRIW.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120401T1800Z/
NATRONA COUNTY/CASPER BLM-JOHNSON COUNTY/CASPER BLM-
SOUTH BIGHORN MOUNTAINS-CASPER MOUNTAIN-
147 PM MDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MDT SUNDAY FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 280...281...
285 AND 300...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 280...281...285 AND 300.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 13 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...RESIDENTS OF THE EFFECTED AREAS ARE STRONGLY 
  ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGEROUS FIRE 
  BEHAVIOR TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. 

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.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RIVERTON
973 
WWUS85 KRIW 010211
RFWRIW

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
811 PM MDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING CONDITIONS NO LONGER EXPECTED TONIGHT OR SUNDAY...

.RISING RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ALONG WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES
AND DECREASING WIND WILL IMPROVE CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT. SLIGHTLY
COOLER TEMPERATURES WILL HELP TO KEEP THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY ABOVE
15 PERCENT ON SUNDAY.

WYZ280-281-285-300-010315-
/O.CAN.KRIW.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120401T1800Z/
NATRONA COUNTY/CASPER BLM-JOHNSON COUNTY/CASPER BLM-
SOUTH BIGHORN MOUNTAINS-CASPER MOUNTAIN-
811 PM MDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 280...281...285 AND 300...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RIVERTON HAS CANCELLED THE RED
FLAG WARNING.  

RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS ALREADY RECOVERING AS TEMPERATURES FALL THIS 
EVENING. WIND SPEEDS HAVE ALSO DECREASED. A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH 
THE AREA BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON...BUT RED FLAG CONDITIONS ARE NO LONGER 
EXPECTED SUNDAY MORNING AHEAD OF THIS FRONT. THEREFORE...THE RED 
FLAG WARNING FOR TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

$$

WYZ275>277-279-282-283-010315-
/O.EXP.KRIW.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120401T0200Z/
NORTH BIG HORN BASIN/WORLAND BLM-CODY FOOTHILLS-
LINCOLN AND UINTA COUNTIES/LOWER ELEVATIONS-
SWEETWATER COUNTY/ROCK SPRINGS BLM/FLAMING GORGE NRA-
SOUTH BIG HORN BASIN/WORLAND BLM-
UPPER WIND RIVER BASIN/WIND RIVER BASIN-
811 PM MDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 275...276...277...279...282 AND 283...

RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS ALREADY RECOVERING AS TEMPERATURES FALL THIS 
EVENING. WIND SPEEDS HAVE ALSO DECREASED. THEREFORE...THE RED FLAG 
WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RIVERTON

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Wyoming, 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.