Alert archive / Utah / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Salt Lake City, UT

May 5, 20125 counties in Utah

NWS Salt Lake City, UT issued this red flag warning at May 5, 2012, 3:22 AM MDT for 5 counties in Utah. It took effect at May 5, 2012, 12:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 9 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 5, 2012, 3:22 AM MDT (09:22 UTC)
In effect from
May 5, 2012, 12:00 PM MDT
Expired
May 5, 2012, 9:00 PM MDT
In force
9 hr
Issued by
NWS Salt Lake City, UT

Counties Garfield County, UT, Kane County, UT, San Juan County, UT, Washington County, UT, Wayne County, UT

The radar

The Cedar City radar (KICX), 120 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:28 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

Flgstf/Belemont, AZ (KFGZ), launched 00:00Z, 9.4 hours before the alert went out and 273 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, Flgstf/Belemont, AZ at 00:00Z on 2012-05-05Temperature 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 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Flgstf/Belemont, AZ at 00:00Z on 2012-05-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 22 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
3257 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
22 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
33 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.

588 
WWUS85 KSLC 050922
RFWSLC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
322 AM MDT SAT MAY 5 2012

UTZ497-498-052000-
/O.NEW.KSLC.FW.W.0002.120505T1800Z-120506T0300Z/
MOJAVE DESERT-GRAND STAIRCASE-
322 AM MDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
497 AND 498 BELOW 4000 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SALT LAKE CITY HAS ISSUED A RED
FLAG WARNING BELOW 4000 FEET FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...
WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 497 MOJAVE DESERT BELOW 4000 
  FEET AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 498 GRAND STAIRCASE BELOW 4000 FEET.

* WINDS...WEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 9 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF DRY FUELS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
  VALUES...AND GUSTY WESTERLY WINDS WILL RESULT IN HAZARDOUS FIRE
  WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS 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.

&&

$$

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SALTLAKECITY (ALL LOWER CASE)
3 follow-up statements
662 
WWUS85 KSLC 051449
RFWSLC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
849 AM MDT SAT MAY 5 2012

UTZ497-498-060300-
/O.CON.KSLC.FW.W.0002.120505T1800Z-120506T0300Z/
MOJAVE DESERT-GRAND STAIRCASE-
849 AM MDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT
THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 497 AND 498 BELOW 4000 FEET...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 497 MOJAVE DESERT BELOW 4000 
  FEET AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 498 GRAND STAIRCASE BELOW 4000 FEET.

* WINDS...NORTH WINDS AT 15-20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH IN ZONE
  497 AND WEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 32 MPH IN ZONE 498.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 12 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF DRY FUELS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY 
  VALUES...AND GUSTY WESTERLY WINDS WILL RESULT IN HAZARDOUS 
  FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS 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 CRITICALLY DRY FUELS WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SALTLAKECITY (ALL LOWER CASE)
837 
WWUS85 KSLC 052022
RFWSLC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
222 PM MDT SAT MAY 5 2012

UTZ498-052130-
/O.CAN.KSLC.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120506T0300Z/
GRAND STAIRCASE-
222 PM MDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 498...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SALT LAKE CITY HAS CANCELLED THE
RED FLAG WARNING.

WINDS HAVE STEADILY DECREASED ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND
ARE NO LONGER EXPECTED TO REACH CRITERIA.

$$

UTZ497-060300-
/O.CON.KSLC.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120506T0300Z/
MOJAVE DESERT-
222 PM MDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE
497 BELOW 4000 FEET...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 497 MOJAVE DESERT BELOW 4000
  FEET...ESPECIALLY IN AND AT THE MOUTHS OF NORTH-SOUTH ORIENTED
  CANYONS. 

* WINDS...NORTHEAST 12 TO 18 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 30 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...13-15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF DRY FUELS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
  VALUES...AND GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS WILL RESULT IN HAZARDOUS
  FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS 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 CRITICALLY DRY FUELS
WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SALTLAKECITY (ALL LOWER CASE)
701 
WWUS85 KSLC 060305
RFWSLC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
905 PM MDT SAT MAY 5 2012

UTZ497-060415-
/O.EXP.KSLC.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120506T0300Z/
MOJAVE DESERT-
905 PM MDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 497...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SALT LAKE CITY HAS ALLOWED THE RED
FLAG WARNING TO EXPIRE.

WINDS HAVE DECREASED OVER MUCH OF THE AREA AND ARE EXPECTED TO 
GENERALLY REMAIN BELOW CRITICAL THRESHOLDS OVERNIGHT.

$$

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SALTLAKECITY (ALL LOWER CASE)

The office that day

Everything else NWS Salt Lake City, UT issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 4, 10:27 PM MDTHigh Wind WarningSLC4 hr
May 5, 2:45 PM MDTHard Freeze WarningSLC18 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Utah, 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.