Alert archive / Arizona / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 13, NWS Las Vegas, NV

May 22, 2012Mohave County, Arizona

NWS Las Vegas, NV issued this red flag warning at May 22, 2012, 4:57 AM MST for Mohave County, Arizona. It took effect at May 22, 2012, 12:00 PM MST. It was in force for 8 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 22, 2012, 4:57 AM MST (11:57 UTC)
In effect from
May 22, 2012, 12:00 PM MST
Expired
May 22, 2012, 8:00 PM MST
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Las Vegas, NV

County Mohave County, AZ

The radar

The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 102 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:59 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

Las Vegas, NV (KVEF), launched 00:00Z, 12.0 hours before the alert went out and 177 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, Las Vegas, NV at 00:00Z on 2012-05-22Temperature 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°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Las Vegas, NV at 00:00Z on 2012-05-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 0 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
6072 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
0 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
0 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
0 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.

990 
WWUS85 KVEF 221157
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
457 AM PDT TUE MAY 22 2012

AZZ102-222300-
/O.NEW.KVEF.FW.W.0013.120522T1900Z-120523T0300Z/
/O.CON.KVEF.FW.A.0008.120523T1800Z-120524T0300Z/
NORTHWEST DESERTS/NORTHWEST PLATEAU-
457 AM MST TUE MAY 22 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONE 102...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 102...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAS VEGAS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MST THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN ARIZONA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 102 NORTHWEST 
  DESERTS/NORTHWEST PLATEAU.

* TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE BY LATE THIS MORNING WITH THE
  STRONGEST WINDS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING BEFORE
  DECREASING BY LATE EVENING. WINDS WILL LIKELY INCREASE AGAIN BY
  WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. 

* WIND...SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO BETWEEN 35 
  AND 40 MPH POSSIBLE. 

* HUMIDITY...4 TO 8 PERCENT MUCH OF THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
  EVENING...6 TO 12 PERCENT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE 
  HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS MAY CREATE CONDITIONS THAT ARE 
  FAVORABLE FOR EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG
WARNINGS.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR ARE IMMINENT. A COMBINATION OF STRONG
WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE
EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS
2 follow-up statements
958 
WWUS85 KVEF 222155
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
255 PM PDT TUE MAY 22 2012

AZZ102-230300-
/O.CAN.KVEF.FW.A.0008.120523T1800Z-120524T0300Z/
/O.CON.KVEF.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-120523T0300Z/
NORTHWEST DESERTS/NORTHWEST PLATEAU-
255 PM MST TUE MAY 22 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE
102..

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAS VEGAS HAS CANCELLED THE FIRE
WEATHER WATCH FOR WEDNESDAY.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN ARIZONA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 102 NORTHWEST 
  DESERTS/NORTHWEST PLATEAU.

* TIMING...ISOLATED STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO EARLY EVENING
  BEFORE DECREASING BY LATE EVENING.

* WIND...SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO BETWEEN 35 AND
  40 MPH AT SITES THAT FAVOR A SOUTHWEST WIND.

* HUMIDITY...4 TO 8 PERCENT INTO EARLY EVENING.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE 
  HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS MAY CREATE CONDITIONS THAT ARE 
  FAVORABLE FOR EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR ARE IMMINENT. A COMBINATION OF STRONG
WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE
EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

NVZ460>465-231400-
/O.NEW.KVEF.FW.A.0009.120524T1900Z-120525T0300Z/
ESMERALDA AND NYE COUNTY DESERTS/CNC DISPATCH-
LINCOLN COUNTY/ELY DISPATCH-NYE COUNTY DESERTS/LAS VEGAS DISPATCH-
SHEEP RANGE-SPRING MOUNTAINS-
CLARK AND SW LINCOLN COUNTY DESERTS/LAS VEGAS DISPATCH-
255 PM PDT TUE MAY 22 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 460...461...462...463...464 AND 465...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAS VEGAS HAS ISSUED A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH
IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN NEVADA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 460 ESMERALDA 
  AND NYE COUNTY DESERTS/CNC DISPATCH...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 461 
  LINCOLN COUNTY/ELY DISPATCH...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 462 NYE COUNTY 
  DESERTS/LAS VEGAS DISPATCH...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 463 SHEEP 
  RANGE... FIRE WEATHER ZONE 464 SPRING MOUNTAINS AND FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 465 CLARK AND SW LINCOLN COUNTY DESERTS/LAS VEGAS 
  DISPATCH.

* TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
  THURSDAY AFTERNOON AHEAD OF AN UNSEASONABLY STRONG AREA OF LOW
  PRESSURE. WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY EVENING BEFORE
  DIMINISHING DURING THE LATE EVENING HOURS. 

* WIND...SOUTHWEST TO WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS NEAR 40 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...MINIMUM VALUES 6 TO 11 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY
  FUELS WILL CREATE CONDITIONS THAT ARE FAVORABLE FOR EXTREME FIRE
  BEHAVIOR.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG
WARNINGS.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS
986 
WWUS85 KVEF 230245
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
745 PM PDT TUE MAY 22 2012

AZZ102-230345-
/O.EXP.KVEF.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-120523T0300Z/
NORTHWEST DESERTS/NORTHWEST PLATEAU-
745 PM MST TUE MAY 22 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE
102...

WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH HAVE BEEN OCCURRING AT MOST
AUTOMATED SITES ACROSS NORTHWEST ARIZONA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
EARLY THIS EVENING. WINDS SPEEDS WILL DECREASE AFTER SUNSET BUT
GUSTS OF 20 TO 25 MPH WILL BE COMMON OVERNIGHT AND RELATIVE
HUMIDITY VALUES WILL ONLY RECOVER TO BETWEEN 15 AND 25 PERCENT.

$$

NVZ460>465-231400-
/O.CON.KVEF.FW.A.0009.120524T1900Z-120525T0300Z/
ESMERALDA AND NYE COUNTY DESERTS/CNC DISPATCH-
LINCOLN COUNTY/ELY DISPATCH-NYE COUNTY DESERTS/LAS VEGAS DISPATCH-
SHEEP RANGE-SPRING MOUNTAINS-
CLARK AND SW LINCOLN COUNTY DESERTS/LAS VEGAS DISPATCH-
745 PM PDT TUE MAY 22 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 460...461...462...463...464 AND
465...

* AFFECTED AREA...IN NEVADA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 460 ESMERALDA 
  AND NYE COUNTY DESERTS/CNC DISPATCH...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 461 
  LINCOLN COUNTY/ELY DISPATCH...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 462 NYE COUNTY 
  DESERTS/LAS VEGAS DISPATCH...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 463 SHEEP 
  RANGE... FIRE WEATHER ZONE 464 SPRING MOUNTAINS AND FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 465 CLARK AND SW LINCOLN COUNTY DESERTS/LAS VEGAS 
  DISPATCH.

* TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHERN NEVADA 
  THURSDAY AFTERNOON AHEAD OF AN UNSEASONABLY STRONG AREA OF LOW 
  PRESSURE. WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY EVENING BEFORE 
  DIMINISHING DURING THE LATE EVENING HOURS. 

* WIND...SOUTHWEST TO WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS NEAR 40 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...MINIMUM VALUES 6 TO 11 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE 
  HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS WILL CREATE CONDITIONS THAT ARE 
  FAVORABLE FOR EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG
WARNINGS.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Arizona, 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.