Alert archive / Washington / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 7, NWS Seattle, WA

October 5, 20129 counties in Washington

NWS Seattle, WA issued this red flag warning at Oct 5, 2012, 8:32 AM PDT for 9 counties in Washington. It took effect at Oct 5, 2012, 10:00 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
Oct 5, 2012, 8:32 AM PDT (15:32 UTC)
In effect from
Oct 5, 2012, 10:00 AM PDT
Expired
Oct 5, 2012, 10:00 PM PDT
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Seattle, WA

Counties Clallam County, WA, Grays Harbor County, WA, Jefferson County, WA, King County, WA, Kitsap County, WA, Lewis County, WA, Mason County, WA, Pierce County, WA, Thurston County, WA

The radar

The Langley Hill radar (KLGX), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:30 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

Quillayute State, WA (KUIL), launched 12:00Z, 3.5 hours before the alert went out and 136 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, Quillayute State, WA at 12:00Z on 2012-10-05Temperature 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, Quillayute State, WA at 12:00Z on 2012-10-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -55 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
2821 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-55 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
78 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.

451 
WWUS86 KSEW 051532
RFWSEW

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
832 AM PDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...DRY EAST WIND EVENT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...

.A THERMAL PRESSURE TROUGH NEAR THE COAST AND COOL HIGH PRESSURE
EAST OF THE CASCADES WILL LEAD TO AN EAST WIND EVENT THAT WILL
PERSIST UNTIL SUNDAY MORNING. MANY LOCATIONS WILL ALSO EXPERIENCE
EXTREMELY POOR NIGHTTIME HUMIDITY RECOVERY. EAST WIND WILL EASE
SUBSTANTIALLY ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

WAZ649-654-655-060000-
/O.NEW.KSEW.FW.W.0007.121005T1700Z-121006T0500Z/
NORTH AND CENTRAL COASTAL STRIP-
CENTRAL AND SOUTH PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS-
BLACK HILLS AND SOUTHWEST INTERIOR LOWLANDS-
832 AM PDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR DRY
EAST WIND FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 649...654 AND 655...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR DRY EAST WIND...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT
THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...CENTRAL AND SOUTH PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS AND THE
  COASTAL STRIP.

* WINDS...EAST TO NORTHEAST 7 TO 14 MPH. WIND GUSTS NEAR 20 MPH.

* TIMING...THE MOST CRITICAL COMBINATION OF WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY
  WILL TAKE PLACE THIS AFTERNOON.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...BOTTOMING OUT IN THE 22-30 PERCENT RANGE
  THIS AFTERNOON..

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRE THAT DEVELOPS MAY EXPERIENCE DRY EAST TO
  NORTHEAST WIND. THIS COULD CAUSE RAPID RATES OF FIRE SPREAD AND
  CONTROL PROBLEMS.

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.

&&

$$

WAZ657-659-060000-
/O.CON.KSEW.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-121006T2300Z/
SOUTHEAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS GENERALLY BELOW 1500 FEET-
WEST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES GENERALLY ABOVE 1500 FEET-
832 AM PDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR
DRY EAST WIND FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 657 AND 659...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PDT SATURDAY. 

* AFFECTED AREA...WEST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES AND 
  ADJACENT FOOTHILLS...INCLUDING LOCATIONS WEST OF STEVENS... 
  SNOQUALMIE... STAMPEDE AND WHITE PASSES...AS WELL AS NORTH 
  BEND AND ENUMCLAW. 

* WINDS...EAST 10 TO 15 MPH.

* TIMING...EAST WIND INCREASING TONIGHT...PEAKING IN STRENGTH ON 
  SATURDAY MORNING. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY THIS AFTERNOON OF
  18-33 PERCENT. VERY POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERY TONIGHT...AS LOW AS
  35 PERCENT ON ELEVATED TERRAIN.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRE THAT DEVELOPS MAY EXPERIENCE DRY FOEHN-LIKE 
  EAST WIND THAT COULD CAUSE RAPID RATES OF FIRE SPREAD AND 
  CONTROL PROBLEMS. 

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.

&&

$$

WAZ650-651-060000-
/O.CON.KSEW.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-121006T2200Z/
NORTH COASTAL LOWLANDS-CENTRAL COASTAL LOWLANDS-
832 AM PDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR
DRY EAST WIND FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 650 AND 651...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PDT SATURDAY. 

* AFFECTED AREA...COASTAL LOWLANDS...PARTICULARLY HILLTOPS AND
  RIDGES EXPOSED TO EAST WIND.

* WINDS...EAST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 20 MPH. RIDGES ON THE
  NORTHWEST OLYMPIC PENINSULA WILL EXPERIENCE WINDS OF 15 TO 20
  MPH WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 35 MPH.

* TIMING...NOW THROUGH SATURDAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 18-30 PERCENT. RIDGES
  WILL EXPERIENCE VERY POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERIES TONIGHT AS LOW AS
  35 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRE THAT DEVELOPS MAY EXPERIENCE DRY FOEHN-LIKE 
  EAST WIND THAT COULD CAUSE RAPID RATES OF FIRE SPREAD AND 
  CONTROL PROBLEMS. 

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.

&&

$$

HANER

WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLE
1 follow-up statement
983 
WWUS86 KSEW 052255
RFWSEW

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
355 PM PDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...DRY EAST WIND EVENT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...

.A THERMAL PRESSURE TROUGH NEAR THE COAST AND COOL HIGH PRESSURE
EAST OF THE CASCADES WILL LEAD TO AN EAST WIND EVENT THAT WILL
PERSIST UNTIL SUNDAY MORNING. MANY LOCATIONS WILL ALSO EXPERIENCE
EXTREMELY POOR NIGHTTIME HUMIDITY RECOVERY. EAST WIND WILL EASE
SUBSTANTIALLY ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

WAZ657-659-061600-
/O.CON.KSEW.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-121006T2300Z/
SOUTHEAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS GENERALLY BELOW 1500 FEET-
WEST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES GENERALLY ABOVE 1500 FEET-
355 PM PDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR
DRY EAST WIND FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 657 AND 659...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PDT SATURDAY. 

* AFFECTED AREA...WEST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES AND 
  ADJACENT FOOTHILLS...INCLUDING LOCATIONS WEST OF STEVENS... 
  SNOQUALMIE... STAMPEDE AND WHITE PASSES...AS WELL AS NORTH 
  BEND AND ENUMCLAW. 

* WINDS...EAST 10 TO 15 MPH. LOCALIZED GUSTS NEAR 30 MPH.

* TIMING...EAST WIND INCREASING TONIGHT...PEAKING IN STRENGTH ON 
  SATURDAY MORNING. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...VERY POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERY TONIGHT...AS
  LOW AS 35 PERCENT ON ELEVATED TERRAIN.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRE THAT DEVELOPS MAY EXPERIENCE DRY FOEHN-LIKE 
  EAST WIND THAT COULD CAUSE RAPID RATES OF FIRE SPREAD AND 
  CONTROL PROBLEMS. 

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.

&&

$$

WAZ649-654-655-060500-
/O.CON.KSEW.FW.W.0007.000000T0000Z-121006T0500Z/
NORTH AND CENTRAL COASTAL STRIP-
CENTRAL AND SOUTH PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS-
BLACK HILLS AND SOUTHWEST INTERIOR LOWLANDS-
355 PM PDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT THIS
EVENING FOR DRY EAST WIND FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 649...654 AND
655...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT THIS
EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...CENTRAL AND SOUTH PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS AND THE 
  COASTAL STRIP. 

* WINDS...EAST TO NORTHEAST 7 TO 14 MPH. WIND GUSTS NEAR 20 MPH.

* TIMING...THE MOST CRITICAL COMBINATION OF WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY
  WILL TAKE PLACE DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...BOTTOMING OUT IN THE 17-24 PERCENT RANGE
  THIS AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRE THAT DEVELOPS MAY EXPERIENCE DRY EAST TO 
  NORTHEAST WIND. THIS COULD CAUSE RAPID RATES OF FIRE SPREAD 
  AND CONTROL PROBLEMS. 

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.

&&

$$

WAZ650-651-061600-
/O.CON.KSEW.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-121006T2200Z/
NORTH COASTAL LOWLANDS-CENTRAL COASTAL LOWLANDS-
355 PM PDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR
DRY EAST WIND FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 650 AND 651...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PDT SATURDAY. 

* AFFECTED AREA...COASTAL LOWLANDS...PARTICULARLY HILLTOPS AND 
  RIDGES EXPOSED TO EAST WIND. 

* WINDS...EAST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 20 MPH. RIDGES ON THE 
  NORTHWEST OLYMPIC PENINSULA WILL EXPERIENCE WINDS OF 15 TO 20 
  MPH WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 35 MPH. 

* TIMING...NOW THROUGH SATURDAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...RIDGES WILL EXPERIENCE VERY POOR HUMIDITY
  RECOVERIES TONIGHT AS LOW AS 35-45 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRE THAT DEVELOPS MAY EXPERIENCE DRY FOEHN-LIKE 
  EAST WIND THAT COULD CAUSE RAPID RATES OF FIRE SPREAD AND 
  CONTROL PROBLEMS. 

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.

&&

$$

HANER

WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLE

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Washington, 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.