Alert archive / Virginia / Red Flag Warnings in 2012
Red Flag Warning 3, NWS Blacksburg, VA
NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this red flag warning at Apr 9, 2012, 8:51 PM EDT for 33 counties in Virginia; 9 counties in North Carolina; Mercer County, Monroe County, Summers County, West Virginia. It took effect at Apr 10, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT. It was in force for 8 hr. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 9, 2012, 8:51 PM EDT (00:51 UTC)
- In effect from
- Apr 10, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT
- Expired
- Apr 10, 2012, 8:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 8 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Blacksburg, VA
All 45 counties
Alleghany County, NC, Ashe County, NC, Caswell County, NC, Rockingham County, NC, Stokes County, NC, Surry County, NC, Watauga County, NC, Wilkes County, NC, Yadkin County, NC, Alleghany County, VA, Amherst County, VA, Appomattox County, VA, Bath County, VA, Bedford County, VA, Bland County, VA, Botetourt County, VA, Buckingham County, VA, Campbell County, VA, Carroll County, VA, Charlotte County, VA, City of Danville, VA, City of Lynchburg, VA, City of Martinsville, VA, City of Radford, VA, City of Roanoke, VA, City of Salem, VA, Craig County, VA, Floyd County, VA, Franklin County, VA, Giles County, VA, Grayson County, VA, Halifax County, VA, Henry County, VA, Montgomery County, VA, Patrick County, VA, Pittsylvania County, VA, Pulaski County, VA, Roanoke County, VA, Rockbridge County, VA, Smyth County, VA, Tazewell County, VA, Wythe County, VA, Mercer County, WV, Monroe County, WV, Summers County, WV
The radar
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 7 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:57 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10, 4:00 PM EDT | NON-TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ese Riverhill, VA | ONE 16 DIAMETER PINE TREE SNAPPED. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
The nearest sounding before it
Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 00:00Z, 0.9 hours before the alert went out and 64 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2685 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 60 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 89 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 197 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
317 WWUS81 KRNK 100051 RFWRNK URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 851 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012 VAZ012>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-100900- /O.UPG.KRNK.FW.A.0003.120410T1600Z-120411T0000Z/ /O.NEW.KRNK.FW.W.0003.120410T1600Z-120411T0000Z/ WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-GRAYSON-CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA- BATH-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD- AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX- CHARLOTTE- 851 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR MUCH OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR MUCH OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM EDT TUESDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. * WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH. * TIMING...NOON THROUGH 8 PM EDT. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 22 PERCENT. * TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 50S. * IMPACTS...LIMITED RECENT RAINFALL HAS RESULTED IN DRY FUELS ACROSS THE REGION. RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND WIND SPEEDS WILL BE NEAR OR ABOVE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER THRESHOLDS FOR A RED FLAG WARNING ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON...CREATING DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. GUSTY WINDS CAN RESULT IN ERRATIC FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR. 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. && $$ NCZ001>006-018>020-100900- /O.CON.KRNK.FW.A.0003.120410T1600Z-120411T0000Z/ ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WATAUGA-WILKES- YADKIN- 851 PM EDT MON APR 9 2012 ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA... * WINDS...WEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH. * TIMING...NOON THROUGH 8 PM EDT. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 21 PERCENT. * TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 60S. * IMPACTS...LIMITED RECENT RAINFALL HAS RESULTED IN DRY FUELS ACROSS THE REGION. RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND WIND SPEEDS WILL BE NEAR OR ABOVE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER THRESHOLDS FOR A RED FLAG WARNING POTENTIALLY AGAIN ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON...CREATING DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. GUSTY WINDS CAN RESULT IN ERRATIC FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS. && $$ FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT... HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/ER/RNK/EMER/EMER_FIRE.PHP (ALL LOWER CASE)
4 follow-up statements
901 WWUS81 KRNK 100713 RFWRNK URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 313 AM EDT TUE APR 10 2012 NCZ001>006-018>020-110000- /O.UPG.KRNK.FW.A.0003.120410T1600Z-120411T0000Z/ /O.EXA.KRNK.FW.W.0003.120410T1600Z-120411T0000Z/ ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WATAUGA-WILKES- YADKIN- 313 AM EDT TUE APR 10 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FOR THE COMBINATION OF STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND DRY FINE FUELS... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS UPGRADED THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH TO A RED FLAG WARNING FOR THE COMBINATION OF STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND DRY FINE FUELS. THE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING. * AFFECTED AREA...IN NORTH CAROLINA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 001 ASHE...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 002 ALLEGHANY NC...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 003 SURRY...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 004 STOKES...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 005 ROCKINGHAM...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 006 CASWELL...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 018 WATAUGA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 019 WILKES AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 020 YADKIN. * WINDS...WEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH. * TIMING...NOON THROUGH 8 PM EDT. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 21 PERCENT. * TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 60S. * IMPACTS...LIMITED RECENT RAINFALL HAS RESULTED IN DRY FUELS ACROSS THE REGION. RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND WIND SPEEDS WILL BE NEAR OR ABOVE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER THRESHOLDS FOR A RED FLAG WARNING THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING...CREATING DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. GUSTY WINDS CAN RESULT IN ERRATIC FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR. 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. && $$ VAZ012>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-110000- /O.CON.KRNK.FW.W.0003.120410T1600Z-120411T0000Z/ WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-GRAYSON-CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA- BATH-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD- AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX- CHARLOTTE- 313 AM EDT TUE APR 10 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR MUCH OF SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA FOR THE COMBINATION OF STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES... AND DRY FINE FUELS... * WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH. * TIMING...NOON THROUGH 8 PM EDT. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 22 PERCENT. * TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 50S. * IMPACTS...LIMITED RECENT RAINFALL HAS RESULTED IN DRY FUELS ACROSS THE REGION. RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND WIND SPEEDS WILL BE NEAR OR ABOVE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER THRESHOLDS FOR A RED FLAG WARNING THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING...CREATING DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. GUSTY WINDS CAN RESULT IN ERRATIC FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. && $$ FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT... HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/ER/RNK/EMER/EMER_FIRE.PHP (ALL LOWER CASE)
258 WWUS81 KRNK 101619 RFWRNK URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 1219 PM EDT TUE APR 10 2012 VAZ007-009>011-WVZ042>045-110000- /O.EXA.KRNK.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120411T0000Z/ TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-GILES-MERCER-SUMMERS-MONROE-GREENBRIER- 1219 PM EDT TUE APR 10 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING. * AFFECTED AREA...IN VIRGINIA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 007 TAZEWELL... FIRE WEATHER ZONE 009 SMYTH...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 010 BLAND AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 011 GILES. IN WEST VIRGINIA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 042 MERCER...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 043 SUMMERS...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 044 MONROE AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 045 GREENBRIER. * WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH. * TIMING...NOON THROUGH 8 PM EDT. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 15 PERCENT. * TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 50S. * IMPACTS...LIMITED RECENT RAINFALL HAS RESULTED IN DRY FUELS ACROSS THE REGION. RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND WIND SPEEDS WILL BE EXCEED CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER THRESHOLDS FOR A RED FLAG WARNING INTO EARLY THIS EVENING...CREATING DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. GUSTY WINDS CAN RESULT IN ERRATIC FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR. 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. && $$ NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ012>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059- 110000- /O.CON.KRNK.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120411T0000Z/ ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WATAUGA-WILKES- YADKIN-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-GRAYSON-CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG- ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-PATRICK-FRANKLIN- BEDFORD-AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM- HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE- 1219 PM EDT TUE APR 10 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR MUCH OF SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA FOR THE COMBINATION OF STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND DRY FINE FUELS... * WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH. * TIMING...NOON THROUGH 8 PM EDT. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 17 PERCENT. * TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 50S HIGHER ELEVATIONS TO MID 70S PIEDMONT. * IMPACTS...LIMITED RECENT RAINFALL HAS RESULTED IN DRY FUELS ACROSS THE REGION. RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND WIND SPEEDS WILL BE NEAR OR ABOVE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER THRESHOLDS FOR A RED FLAG WARNING THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING...CREATING DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. GUSTY WINDS CAN RESULT IN ERRATIC FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. && $$ FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT... HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/ER/RNK/EMER/EMER_FIRE.PHP (ALL LOWER CASE)
370 WWUS81 KRNK 101957 RFWRNK URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 357 PM EDT TUE APR 10 2012 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059- WVZ042>045-110000- /O.CON.KRNK.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120411T0000Z/ ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WATAUGA-WILKES- YADKIN-TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY- GRAYSON-CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT- ROCKBRIDGE-PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD-AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA- CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE-MERCER-SUMMERS- MONROE-GREENBRIER- 357 PM EDT TUE APR 10 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA FOR THE COMBINATION OF STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND DRY FINE FUELS... * WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH. * TIMING...THROUGH 8 PM EDT. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 15 PERCENT. * TEMPERATURES...IN THE 50S HIGHEST ELEVATIONS TO MID 70S PIEDMONT. * IMPACTS...LIMITED RECENT RAINFALL HAS RESULTED IN DRY FUELS ACROSS THE REGION. RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND WIND SPEEDS WILL BE NEAR OR ABOVE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER THRESHOLDS FOR A RED FLAG WARNING THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING...CREATING DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. GUSTY WINDS CAN RESULT IN ERRATIC FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR. 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. && $$ FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT... HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/ER/RNK/EMER/EMER_FIRE.PHP (ALL LOWER CASE)
176 WWUS81 KRNK 110008 RFWRNK URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 807 PM EDT TUE APR 10 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED... NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059- WVZ042>045-110115- /O.EXP.KRNK.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120411T0000Z/ ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WATAUGA-WILKES- YADKIN-TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY- GRAYSON-CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT- ROCKBRIDGE-PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD-AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA- CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE-MERCER-SUMMERS- MONROE-GREENBRIER- 807 PM EDT TUE APR 10 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA... THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. NORTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL AGAIN GUST TO NEAR 25 MPH ON WEDNESDAY...BUT RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN MOSTLY AT OR ABOVE 30 PERCENT. $$ FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT... HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/ER/RNK/EMER/EMER_FIRE.PHP (ALL LOWER CASE)
The office that day
Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10, 3:03 AM EDT | Freeze Warning | RNK | Alleghany, Bath, Bland, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig and 17 more | 30 hr |
| Apr 10, 3:52 PM EDT | Freeze Watch | RNK | Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Bath, Bedford, Bland and 31 more | 23 hr |
Nearby
Red Flag Warnings in Virginia, 2012Red Flag Warnings in North Carolina, 2012Red Flag Warnings in West 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.