Alert archive / Kansas / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 3, NWS Topeka, KS

January 28, 201211 counties in Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this red flag warning at Jan 28, 2012, 4:51 AM CST for 11 counties in Kansas. It took effect at Jan 28, 2012, 12:00 PM CST. It was in force for 5 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
Jan 28, 2012, 4:51 AM CST (10:51 UTC)
In effect from
Jan 28, 2012, 12:00 PM CST
Expired
Jan 28, 2012, 5:00 PM CST
In force
5 hr
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS

Counties Clay County, KS, Cloud County, KS, Dickinson County, KS, Geary County, KS, Lyon County, KS, Morris County, KS, Ottawa County, KS, Pottawatomie County, KS, Republic County, KS, Riley County, KS, Wabaunsee County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 61 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:52 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 00:00Z, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 111 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, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 2012-01-28Temperature 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, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 2012-01-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -74 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
1140 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
61 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-74 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-90 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.

325 
WWUS83 KTOP 281051
RFWTOP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
451 AM CST SAT JAN 28 2012

...EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR POSSIBLE TODAY...

.A VERY DRY AIRMASS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA TODAY WITH
STRENGTHENING WESTERLY WINDS. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE
EXPECTED TO BE IN THE UPPER TEENS TO LOWER 20 PERCENT RANGE WITH
WIND GUSTS OF 25 TO 35 MPH POSSIBLE DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.
THIS WILL COMBINE WITH DRY CURED FUELS TO RESULT IN DANGEROUS FIRE
WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON.

KSZ020>022-034>037-282300-
/O.UPG.KTOP.FW.A.0001.120128T1800Z-120129T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KTOP.FW.W.0003.120128T1800Z-120128T2300Z/
CLOUD-CLAY-RILEY-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-GEARY-MORRIS-
451 AM CST SAT JAN 28 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR FOR DRY FUELS...GUSTY WINDS...AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON. 

* AFFECTED AREA...LOCATIONS NEAR AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM
  CONCORDIA TO WESTMORELAND...AND WEST OF A LINE FROM WESTMORELAND
  TO EMPORIA.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...FORECAST TO BE IN THE 18 TO 22 PERCENT
  RANGE...WITH POTENTIAL TO FALL AS LOW AS 15 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 40S.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF DRY FUELS...LOW RELATIVE
  HUMIDITY...AND GUSTY WINDS WILL LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL FOR
  EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR TODAY.

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.

&&

$$

KSZ023-038-054-282300-
/O.NEW.KTOP.FW.W.0003.120128T1800Z-120128T2300Z/
POTTAWATOMIE-WABAUNSEE-LYON-
451 AM CST SAT JAN 28 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR FOR DRY FUELS...GUSTY WINDS...AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON. 

* AFFECTED AREA...LOCATIONS NEAR AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM
  CONCORDIA TO WESTMORELAND...AND WEST OF A LINE FROM WESTMORELAND
  TO EMPORIA.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...FORECAST TO BE IN THE 18 TO 22 PERCENT
  RANGE...WITH POTENTIAL TO FALL AS LOW AS 15 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 40S.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF DRY FUELS...LOW RELATIVE
  HUMIDITY...AND GUSTY WINDS WILL LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL FOR
  EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR TODAY.

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.

&&

$$

KSZ010>012-024-026-039-040-055-056-058-059-282300-
/O.EXB.KTOP.FW.A.0001.120128T1800Z-120128T2300Z/
MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-SHAWNEE-DOUGLAS-OSAGE-
FRANKLIN-COFFEY-ANDERSON-
451 AM CST SAT JAN 28 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON CST TODAY THROUGH THIS
AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER
WATCH FOR DRY FUELS...GUSTY WINDS...AND THE POTENTIAL FOR VERY
LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON CST TODAY
THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

* AFFECTED AREA...PARTS OF KANSAS GENERALLY NORTH OF A CONCORDIA TO
  WESTMORELAND LINE...AND EAST OF A WESTMORELAND TO EMPORIA LINE.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...FORECAST TO BE IN THE 22 TO 27 PERCENT
  RANGE...WITH SOME POTENTIAL FOR HUMIDITY TO FALL INTO THE 18 TO
  22 PERCENT RANGE.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 40S.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF DRY FUELS...AND GUSTY WINDS...ALONG
  WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MAY LEAD TO
  THE POTENTIAL FOR EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR TODAY.

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.

&&

$$

KSZ008-009-282300-
/O.EXT.KTOP.FW.A.0001.120128T1800Z-120128T2300Z/
REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-
451 AM CST SAT JAN 28 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM NOON CST TODAY THROUGH
THIS AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER
WATCH FOR DRY FUELS...GUSTY WINDS...AND THE POTENTIAL FOR VERY
LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON CST TODAY
THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

* AFFECTED AREA...PARTS OF KANSAS GENERALLY NORTH OF A CONCORDIA TO
  WESTMORELAND LINE...AND EAST OF A WESTMORELAND TO EMPORIA LINE.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...FORECAST TO BE IN THE 22 TO 27 PERCENT
  RANGE...WITH SOME POTENTIAL FOR HUMIDITY TO FALL INTO THE 18 TO
  22 PERCENT RANGE.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 40S.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF DRY FUELS...AND GUSTY WINDS...ALONG
  WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MAY LEAD TO
  THE POTENTIAL FOR EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR TODAY.

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.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
089 
WWUS83 KTOP 281816
RFWTOP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1216 PM CST SAT JAN 28 2012

...EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR POSSIBLE TODAY...

.A VERY DRY AIRMASS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON WITH
STRENGTHENING WESTERLY WINDS. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE
EXPECTED TO BE IN THE UPPER TEEN TO LOWER 20 PERCENT RANGE WITH
WIND GUSTS OF 25 TO 35 MPH. THIS WILL COMBINE WITH DRY CURED
FUELS TO RESULT IN DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS
AFTERNOON.

KSZ008-282300-
/O.UPG.KTOP.FW.A.0001.000000T0000Z-120128T2300Z/
/O.EXA.KTOP.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120128T2300Z/
REPUBLIC-
1216 PM CST SAT JAN 28 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR DRY FUELS...GUSTY WINDS...AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON.
THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...REPUBLIC COUNTY

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE MID 40S.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF DRY FUELS...LOW RELATIVE 
  HUMIDITY...AND GUSTY WINDS WILL LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL FOR 
  EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR TODAY. 


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.

&&

$$

KSZ020>023-034>038-054-282300-
/O.CON.KTOP.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120128T2300Z/
CLOUD-CLAY-RILEY-POTTAWATOMIE-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-GEARY-MORRIS-
WABAUNSEE-LYON-
1216 PM CST SAT JAN 28 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON. 

* AFFECTED AREA...LOCATIONS NEAR AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 
  CONCORDIA TO WESTMORELAND...AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 
  WESTMORELAND TO EMPORIA. 

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 19 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE MID 40S.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF DRY FUELS...LOW RELATIVE 
  HUMIDITY...AND GUSTY WINDS WILL LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL FOR 
  EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR TODAY. 

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.

&&

$$

KSZ009>012-024-026-039-040-055-056-058-059-282300-
/O.CON.KTOP.FW.A.0001.000000T0000Z-120128T2300Z/
WASHINGTON-MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-SHAWNEE-
DOUGLAS-OSAGE-FRANKLIN-COFFEY-ANDERSON-
1216 PM CST SAT JAN 28 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON. 

* AFFECTED AREA...PARTS OF KANSAS GENERALLY NORTH OF A CONCORDIA 
  TO WESTMORELAND LINE...AND EAST OF A WESTMORELAND TO EMPORIA 
  LINE. 

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 22 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER AND MIDDLE 40S.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF DRY FUELS...AND GUSTY WINDS... 
  ALONG WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MAY 
  LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL FOR EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR TODAY. 

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.

&&

$$
230 
WWUS83 KTOP 282303
RFWTOP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
503 PM CST SAT JAN 28 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 5 PM...

KSZ008-020>023-034>038-054-290015-
/O.EXP.KTOP.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120128T2300Z/
REPUBLIC-CLOUD-CLAY-RILEY-POTTAWATOMIE-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-GEARY-
MORRIS-WABAUNSEE-LYON-
503 PM CST SAT JAN 28 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON...

THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON. 

WITH TEMPERATURES GRADUALLY COOLING RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL
STEADILY CLIMB THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING AND INTO
THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. WESTERLY WINDS WILL ALSO GRADUALLY TAPER OFF
TO BETWEEN 5 AND 10 MPH ONCE THE SUN SETS.

$$

KSZ009>012-024-026-039-040-055-056-058-059-290015-
/O.EXP.KTOP.FW.A.0001.000000T0000Z-120128T2300Z/
WASHINGTON-MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-SHAWNEE-
DOUGLAS-OSAGE-FRANKLIN-COFFEY-ANDERSON-
503 PM CST SAT JAN 28 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH WILL EXPIRE AT 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON...

THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH WILL EXPIRE AT 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON. 

WITH TEMPERATURES GRADUALLY COOLING RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL
STEADILY CLIMB THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING AND INTO
THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. WESTERLY WINDS WILL ALSO GRADUALLY TAPER OFF
TO BETWEEN 5 AND 10 MPH ONCE THE SUN SETS.

$$

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.