Alert archive / Kansas / Red Flag Warnings in 2012
Red Flag Warning 13, NWS Topeka, KS
NWS Topeka, KS issued this red flag warning at Oct 16, 2012, 2:38 PM CDT for 6 counties in Kansas. It took effect at Oct 17, 2012, 12:00 PM CDT. 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
- Oct 16, 2012, 2:38 PM CDT (19:38 UTC)
- In effect from
- Oct 17, 2012, 12:00 PM CDT
- Expired
- Oct 17, 2012, 7:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 7 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Topeka, KS
Counties Clay County, KS, Cloud County, KS, Dickinson County, KS, Ottawa County, KS, Republic County, KS, Washington County, KS
The radar
The Topeka radar (KTWX), 110 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:36 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
Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 158 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
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2004 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 35 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 440 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 346 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
584 WWUS83 KTOP 161938 RFWTOP URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 238 PM CDT TUE OCT 16 2012 ...STRONG COLD FRONT SURGES INTO THE AREA WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY... .A STRONG UPPER SYSTEM WILL DRIVE A FRONT THROUGH THE AREA THROUGH THURSDAY. WINDS WILL BE STRONG ON WEDNESDAY AND STRONGER ON THURSDAY. WITH DRY VEGETATION CAPABLE OF CARRYING LARGE FIRES IN NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED. KSZ008-009-020-021-034-035-170900- /O.NEW.KTOP.FW.W.0013.121017T1700Z-121018T0100Z/ /O.NEW.KTOP.FW.A.0005.121018T1700Z-121019T0100Z/ REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-CLOUD-CLAY-OTTAWA-DICKINSON- 238 PM CDT TUE OCT 16 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR AREAS WEST OF JUNCTION CITY... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR STRONG WINDS...DRY CONDITIONS AND DRY VEGETATION...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM CDT WEDNESDAY. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED. THIS FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR AREAS WEST OF JUNCTION CITY IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. * AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 008 REPUBLIC...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 009 WASHINGTON...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 020 CLOUD...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 021 CLAY...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 034 OTTAWA AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 035 DICKINSON. * WINDS...WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH...WITH STRONGER WINDS ON THURSDAY. * TIMING...STRONG WINDS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA WEDNESDAY MORNING. WINDS INCREASE IN STRENGTH AND CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY AFTERNOON. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT. * TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 50S. * IMPACTS...FIRES WILL START EASILY AND SPREAD QUICKLY IN THE WARNING AREA...MAKING THEM VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF DRY FUELS...STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS. && $$
3 follow-up statements
897 WWUS83 KTOP 170844 RFWTOP URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 344 AM CDT WED OCT 17 2012 ...STRONG COLD FRONT SURGES INTO THE AREA WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY... .A STRONG UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM WILL PUSH A FRONT THROUGH THE AREA THIS MORNING. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL BE STRONG THIS AFTERNOON AND STRONGER ON THURSDAY. WITH DRY VEGETATION CAPABLE OF CARRYING LARGE FIRES IN NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED. KSZ008-009-020-021-034-035-171645- /O.EXT.KTOP.FW.W.0013.121017T1700Z-121018T0000Z/ /O.CON.KTOP.FW.A.0005.121018T1700Z-121019T0100Z/ REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-CLOUD-CLAY-OTTAWA-DICKINSON- 344 AM CDT WED OCT 17 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR AREAS WEST OF JUNCTION CITY......FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR AREAS WEST OF JUNCTION CITY......FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... * AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 008 REPUBLIC...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 009 WASHINGTON...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 020 CLOUD...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 021 CLAY...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 034 OTTAWA AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 035 DICKINSON. * WINDS...WEST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH...WITH STRONGER WINDS ON THURSDAY. * TIMING...STRONG WINDS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA WEDNESDAY MORNING. WINDS INCREASE IN STRENGTH AND CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY AFTERNOON. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT. * TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 60S. * IMPACTS...FIRES WILL START EASILY AND SPREAD QUICKLY IN THE WARNING AREA...MAKING THEM VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF DRY FUELS...STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS. && $$
653 WWUS83 KTOP 171631 RFWTOP URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 1131 AM CDT WED OCT 17 2012 .DRY AIR WILL MOVE INTO NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS BEHIND THE COLD FRONT DROPPING RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS. ADDITIONALLY AN INCREASINGLY STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL CAUSE WINDS TO INCREASE BECOMING GUSTY THIS AFTERNOON. WITH DRY VEGETATION CAPABLE OF CARRYING LARGE FIRES...THE EXPECTED WEATHER CONDITIONS SHOULD MAKE FOR EXTREME FIRE DANGER. KSZ008-009-020-021-034-035-180045- /O.CON.KTOP.FW.W.0013.121017T1700Z-121018T0000Z/ /O.CON.KTOP.FW.A.0005.121018T1700Z-121019T0100Z/ REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-CLOUD-CLAY-OTTAWA-DICKINSON- 1131 AM CDT WED OCT 17 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR AREAS WEST OF JUNCTION CITY......FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR AREAS WEST OF JUNCTION CITY......FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... * AFFECTED AREA...REPUBLIC...WASHINGTON...CLOUD...CLAY...OTTAWA AND DICKINSON COUNTIES. * WINDS...NORTHWEST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. * TIMING...THE CONDITIONS FOR EXTREME FIRE DANGER ARE LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON AND POSSIBLE AGAIN FOR THURSDAY AFTERNOON. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT. * TEMPERATURES...AROUND 60. * IMPACTS...FIRES WILL START EASILY AND SPREAD QUICKLY IN THE WARNING AREA...MAKING THEM VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF DRY FUELS...STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS. && $$
179 WWUS83 KTOP 180009 RFWTOP URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 709 PM CDT WED OCT 17 2012 .THURSDAY WILL ONCE AGAIN BE DRY AND VERY WINDY WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES IN THE 20 TO 26 PERCENT RANGE AND WIND GUSTS EXPECTED TO BE OCCASIONALLY GREATER THAN 45 MPH. WIND GUSTS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE RAPIDLY AFTER 9 AM...BUT RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL NOT FALL SIGNIFICANTLY UNTIL THE AFTERNOON HOURS. THE COMBINATION OF DRY WINDY CONDITIONS AND DRY FUEL CONDITIONS MAY BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR RAPID WILDFIRE GROWTH. KSZ008-009-020-021-034-035-181100- /O.EXP.KTOP.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-121018T0000Z/ /O.EXT.KTOP.FW.A.0005.121018T1500Z-121019T0000Z/ REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-CLOUD-CLAY-OTTAWA-DICKINSON- 709 PM CDT WED OCT 17 2012 ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR AREAS WEST OF JUNCTION CITY......FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... ...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR AREAS WEST OF JUNCTION CITY......FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... * AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 008 REPUBLIC...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 009 WASHINGTON...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 020 CLOUD...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 021 CLAY...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 034 OTTAWA AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 035 DICKINSON. * WINDS...WEST TO NORTHWEST AT 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. * TIMING...THE CONDITIONS FOR EXTREME FIRE DANGER ARE POSSIBLE ONCE AGAIN ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 22 PERCENT. * TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 60S. * IMPACTS...FIRES WILL START EASILY AND SPREAD QUICKLY IN THE WARNING AREA...MAKING THEM VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS. && $$
The office that day
Everything else NWS Topeka, KS issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 2:38 PM CDT | Fire Weather Watch | TOP | Clay, Cloud, Dickinson, Ottawa, Republic, Washington | 37 hr |
Nearby
Red Flag Warnings in Kansas, 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.