Alert archive / West Virginia / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 1, NWS Charleston, WV

April 9, 2012Clay County, McDowell County, Wyoming County, West Virginia; Buchanan County, Dickenson County, Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this red flag warning at Apr 9, 2012, 3:28 AM EDT for Clay County, McDowell County, Wyoming County, West Virginia; Buchanan County, Dickenson County, Virginia. It took effect at Apr 9, 2012, 1:00 PM EDT. 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
Apr 9, 2012, 3:28 AM EDT (07:28 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 9, 2012, 1:00 PM EDT
Expired
Apr 9, 2012, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV

Counties Buchanan County, VA, Dickenson County, VA, Clay County, WV, McDowell County, WV, Wyoming County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 83 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:26 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

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 00:00Z, 7.5 hours before the alert went out and 201 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, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2012-04-09Temperature 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, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2012-04-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 63 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
2360 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
63 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
131 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.

198 
WWUS81 KRLX 090728
RFWRLX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
328 AM EDT MON APR 9 2012

VAZ003-004-WVZ033>036-091530-
/O.UPG.KRLX.FW.A.0001.120409T1700Z-120410T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KRLX.FW.W.0001.120409T1700Z-120410T0000Z/
DICKENSON-BUCHANAN-MCDOWELL-WYOMING-RALEIGH-FAYETTE-
328 AM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM
EDT THIS EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...STRONG WINDS...AND 
DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 003 AND 004 IN SOUTHWEST 
VIRGINIA...AND 033...034...035...AND 036 IN WEST VIRGINIA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS IN WEST VIRGINIA AND SOUTHWEST
VIRGINIA...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM
EDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 003
  AND 004. IN WEST VIRGINIA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 033...034...035
  AND 036.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...20 TO 25 PERCENT.

* WIND...SUSTAINED WESTERLY WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30
  MPH.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED. 

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.

&&

$$

26
4 follow-up statements
896 
WWUS81 KRLX 091358
RFWRLX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
958 AM EDT MON APR 9 2012

WVZ027-037-046-092200-
/O.EXA.KRLX.FW.W.0001.120409T1700Z-120410T0000Z/
CLAY-NICHOLAS-POCAHONTAS-
958 AM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM
EDT THIS EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...STRONG WINDS...AND DRY
FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 027...037...AND 046...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...STRONG WINDS...AND DRY FUELS
FOR CLAY...NICHOLAS...AND POCAHONTAS COUNTIES...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN WEST VIRGINIA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 027...
  037...AND 046.

* WINDS...SUSTAINED WEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30
  MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM VALUES OF 20 TO 25 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED. 

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.

&&

$$

VAZ003-004-WVZ033>036-092200-
/O.CON.KRLX.FW.W.0001.120409T1700Z-120410T0000Z/
DICKENSON-BUCHANAN-MCDOWELL-WYOMING-RALEIGH-FAYETTE-
958 AM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...STRONG WINDS...
AND DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 003 AND 004 IN SOUTHWEST
VIRGINIA...AND 033...034...035...AND 036 IN WEST VIRGINIA...

* AFFECTED AREA...IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 003 
  AND 004. IN WEST VIRGINIA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 033...034...035 
  AND 036. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM 20 TO 25 PERCENT.

* WIND...SUSTAINED WESTERLY WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 
  MPH. 

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED. 

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.

&&

$$
999 
WWUS81 KRLX 092010
RFWRLX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
410 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012

VAZ003-004-WVZ027-033>037-046-092215-
/O.CON.KRLX.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120410T0000Z/
DICKENSON-BUCHANAN-CLAY-MCDOWELL-WYOMING-RALEIGH-FAYETTE-NICHOLAS-
POCAHONTAS-
410 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...STRONG WINDS...AND DRY FUELS FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 003...004 IN VIRGINIA AND FIRE WEATHER ZONES 027...
033...034...035...036...037...AND 046 IN WEST VIRGINIA...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 003 DICKENSON...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 004 BUCHANAN...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 027 CLAY...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 033 MCDOWELL...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 034 WYOMING...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 035 RALEIGH...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 036 FAYETTE...
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 037 NICHOLAS AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 046 
  POCAHONTAS.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM VALUES OF 20 TO 25 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED. 

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.

&&

$$
893 
WWUS81 KRLX 092014
RFWRLX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
414 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012

VAZ003-004-WVZ027-033>037-046-100000-
/O.CON.KRLX.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120410T0000Z/
DICKENSON-BUCHANAN-CLAY-MCDOWELL-WYOMING-RALEIGH-FAYETTE-NICHOLAS-
POCAHONTAS-
414 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...STRONG WINDS...AND DRY FUELS FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 003...004 IN VIRGINIA AND FIRE WEATHER ZONES 027...
033...034...035...036...037...AND 046 IN WEST VIRGINIA...

* AFFECTED AREA...IN VIRGINIA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 003 DICKENSON
  AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 004 BUCHANAN. IN WEST VIRGINIA..FIRE
  WEATHER ZONE 027 CLAY...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 033 MCDOWELL...FIRE
  WEATHER ZONE 034 WYOMING...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 035 RALEIGH...FIRE
  WEATHER ZONE 036 FAYETTE... FIRE WEATHER ZONE 037 NICHOLAS AND
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 046 POCAHONTAS.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 21 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED. 

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.

&&

$$
088 
WWUS81 KRLX 092357
RFWRLX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
757 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012


VAZ003-004-WVZ027-033>037-046-100100-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120410T0000Z/
DICKENSON-BUCHANAN-CLAY-MCDOWELL-WYOMING-RALEIGH-FAYETTE-NICHOLAS-
POCAHONTAS-
757 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY...STRONG WINDS...AND DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 003...004 IN VIRGINIA AND FIRE WEATHER ZONES 027...033...
034...035...036...037...AND 046 IN WEST VIRGINIA...

WINDS ARE SUBSIDING THIS EVENING AND RELATIVE HUMIDITIES HAVE
RECOVERED ABOVE CRITICAL THRESHOLDS.

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 9, 3:11 PM EDTFreeze WatchRLXBarbour, Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay and 22 more13 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in West Virginia, 2012Red Flag Warnings in Virginia, 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.