Alert archive / Alaska / Red Flag Warnings in 2013

Red Flag Warning 1, NWS Anchorage, AK

May 25, 2013

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this red flag warning at May 25, 2013, 6:46 AM AKDT. It took effect at May 25, 2013, 1:00 PM AKDT. 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 25, 2013, 6:46 AM AKDT (14:46 UTC)
In effect from
May 25, 2013, 1:00 PM AKDT
Expired
May 25, 2013, 10:00 PM AKDT
In force
9 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

179 
WWAK61 PAFC 251446
RFWAER

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
646 AM AKDT SAT MAY 25 2013

AKZ141-260300-
/X.NEW.PAFC.FW.W.0001.130525T2100Z-130526T0600Z/
COPPER RIVER BASIN-
646 AM AKDT SAT MAY 25 2013

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 10 PM
AKDT THIS EVENING FOR LOW HUMIDITY ACROSS THE COPPER RIVER BASIN...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 10 PM
AKDT THIS EVENING. 

* LOCATION...THE COPPER RIVER BASIN.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...15 TO 20 PERCENT.

* 20 FT WINDS...VARIABLE 5 TO 15 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES...UPPER 60S TO MID 70S.

* TIMING...RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE AT A MINIMUM FROM MID
  AFTERNOON THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS BEFORE RECOVERING TO
  30 PERCENT OR GREATER BY MID TO LATE EVENING.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE IMMINENT OR OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. IT IS DIRECTED
TOWARD FIRE AGENCIES...AND THROUGH THEM TO THE PUBLIC.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
362 
WWAK61 PAFC 252353
RFWAER

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
353 PM AKDT SAT MAY 25 2013

AKZ141-260600-
/X.CON.PAFC.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-130526T0600Z/
COPPER RIVER BASIN-
353 PM AKDT SAT MAY 25 2013

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM AKDT THIS
EVENING FOR LOW HUMIDITY ACROSS THE COPPER RIVER BASIN...

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

* LOCATION...THE COPPER RIVER BASIN.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 15 PERCENT.

* 20 FT WINDS...SOUTHEAST UP TO 5 TO 15 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOW 70S.

* TIMING...RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE AT A MINIMUM FROM MID 
  AFTERNOON THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS BEFORE RECOVERING TO 
  30 PERCENT OR GREATER BY MID TO LATE EVENING. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE IMMINENT OR OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. IT IS DIRECTED
TOWARD FIRE AGENCIES...AND THROUGH THEM TO THE PUBLIC.

&&

$$
101 
WWAK61 PAFC 260433
RFWAER

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
833 PM AKDT SAT MAY 25 2013

...RED FLAG CONDITIONS OCCURRING NOW AND EXPECTED TO RESUME LATE
SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING OUT OF THE KNIK RIVER
VALLEY IN THE MATANUSKA VALLEY...

.STRONG WINDS AND VERY DRY CONDITIONS HAVE ALLOWED FOR DANGEROUS
FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP THIS EVENING...AND WILL PERSIST
UNTIL THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY WIND ABATES LATER THIS EVENING. 

AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS THE REGION FROM THE EAST WILL
ALLOW FOR RELATIVE HUMIDITIES TO RECOVER MODESTLY FROM SATURDAY'S
LOW READINGS. HOWEVER...AS AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PASSES BY THE AREA
THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE ONCE AGAIN BY
LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND PERSIST THROUGH LATE SUNDAY EVENING.
THOUGH THERE IS DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY WITH THE FORECASTED CLOUD
COVER...IT IS LIKELY THAT FREQUENT GUSTS TO 25 MPH AND RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES IN THE UPPER 20S WILL OCCUR ALONG THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY.

AKZ141-260545-
/X.CAN.PAFC.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-130526T0600Z/
COPPER RIVER BASIN-
833 PM AKDT SAT MAY 25 2013

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELED FOR STRONG WIND ACROSS THE COPPER
RIVER BASIN...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS CANCELED THE
RED FLAG WARNING.

RELATIVE HUMIDITIES HAVE RECOVERED ABOVE 15 TO 20 PERCENT. 

$$

AKZ111-262045-
/X.NEW.PAFC.FW.W.0002.130526T0433Z-130526T0700Z/
/X.NEW.PAFC.FW.W.0003.130526T2300Z-130527T0700Z/
MATANUSKA VALLEY-
833 PM AKDT SAT MAY 25 2013

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM AKDT THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WIND OUT OF THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY... 
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM TO 11 PM AKDT SUNDAY FOR
STRONG WIND OUT OF THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM AKDT THIS EVENING. A RED
FLAG WARNING HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED FROM 3 PM TO 11 PM AKDT SUNDAY.

* LOCATION...OUT OF THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY.

* 20 FT WINDS...SOUTHEAST WIND 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 25 MPH. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...25 TO 35 PERCENT.

* TIMING...THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING UNTIL THE KNIK VALLEY WIND
  SUBSIDES. A DISTURBANCE MOVING ACROSS THE REGION MID TO LATE
  AFTERNOON WILL ALLOW FOR SOUTHEAST WINDS TO INCREASE OUT OF THE
  KNIK RIVER VALLEY AND THEN SUBSIDE TOWARD LATE SUNDAY EVENING. 


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE IMMINENT OR OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. IT IS DIRECTED
TOWARD FIRE AGENCIES...AND THROUGH THEM TO THE PUBLIC.

&&

$$
872 
WWAK61 PAFC 260438 CCA
RFWAER

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
837 PM AKDT SAT MAY 25 2013

...RED FLAG CONDITIONS OCCURRING NOW AND EXPECTED TO RESUME LATE
SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING OUT OF THE KNIK RIVER
VALLEY IN THE MATANUSKA VALLEY...

.STRONG WINDS AND VERY DRY CONDITIONS HAVE ALLOWED FOR DANGEROUS
FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP THIS EVENING...AND WILL PERSIST
UNTIL THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY WIND ABATES LATER THIS EVENING. 

AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS THE REGION FROM THE EAST WILL
ALLOW FOR RELATIVE HUMIDITIES TO RECOVER MODESTLY FROM SATURDAY'S
LOW READINGS. HOWEVER...AS AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PASSES BY THE AREA
THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE ONCE AGAIN BY
LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND PERSIST THROUGH LATE SUNDAY EVENING.
THOUGH THERE IS DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY WITH THE FORECASTED CLOUD
COVER...IT IS LIKELY THAT FREQUENT GUSTS TO 25 MPH AND RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES IN THE UPPER 20S WILL OCCUR ALONG THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY.

AKZ141-260545-
/X.COR.PAFC.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-130526T0600Z/
COPPER RIVER BASIN-
837 PM AKDT SAT MAY 25 2013

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELED FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY ACROSS THE
COPPER RIVER BASIN...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS CANCELED THE
RED FLAG WARNING.

RELATIVE HUMIDITIES HAVE RECOVERED ABOVE 15 TO 20 PERCENT. 

$$

AKZ111-262100-
/X.NEW.PAFC.FW.W.0002.130526T0437Z-130526T0700Z/
/X.NEW.PAFC.FW.W.0003.130526T2300Z-130527T0700Z/
MATANUSKA VALLEY-
837 PM AKDT SAT MAY 25 2013

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM AKDT THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WIND OUT OF THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY... 
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM TO 11 PM AKDT SUNDAY FOR
STRONG WIND OUT OF THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM AKDT THIS EVENING. A RED
FLAG WARNING HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED FROM 3 PM TO 11 PM AKDT SUNDAY.

* LOCATION...OUT OF THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY.

* 20 FT WINDS...SOUTHEAST WIND 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 25 MPH. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...25 TO 35 PERCENT.

* TIMING...THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING UNTIL THE KNIK VALLEY WIND
  SUBSIDES. A DISTURBANCE MOVING ACROSS THE REGION MID TO LATE
  AFTERNOON WILL ALLOW FOR SOUTHEAST WINDS TO INCREASE OUT OF THE
  KNIK RIVER VALLEY AND THEN SUBSIDE TOWARD LATE SUNDAY EVENING. 


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE IMMINENT OR OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. IT IS DIRECTED
TOWARD FIRE AGENCIES...AND THROUGH THEM TO THE PUBLIC.

&&

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this red flag warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this red flag warning went out at May 25, 5:00 AM AKDT, 1 hour 46 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 25, 5:00 AM AKDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
500 AM AKDT SAT MAY 25 2013

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

BROAD UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE BERING THIS MORNING WITH AN
EMBEDDED LOW OVER THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS. ANOTHER CLOSED OFF LOW IS
OVER THE SOUTHERN GULF OF AK. SHARP UPPER RIDGES ARE CENTERED OVER
KAMCHATKA AND THE ALCAN. THE JET IS FOLLOWING A NEAR ZONAL GREAT
CIRCLE ROUTE WELL SOUTH OF ALASKA. AT THE SURFACE...A LARGE LOW
PRESSURE CENTER IS JUST SOUTH OF THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS. SURFACE HIGH
PRESSURE IS OVER THE EXTREME WESTERN BERING....AND MOST OF MAINLAND
AK.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...

MODELS ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT THE LOW SOUTH OF THE ALEUTIANS WILL MOVE
OVER DUTCH HARBOR AND THEN RETROGRADE PAST THE PRIBILOFS WHERE IT
WILL LINGER INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. BUT BEFORE THIS
HAPPENS...WHEN THE LOW IS NEAR DUTCH HARBOR...IT WILL SPIN OFF AN
INITIAL TRIPLE POINT LOW THIS EVENING THAT REMAINS SOUTH OF THE AKPEN
AND MOVES DIRECTLY EAST. THIS WILL THEN CONSOLIDATE INTO THE MAIN
TRIPLE POINT LOW SOUTH OF KODIAK ISLAND ON SUNDAY. AN EASTERLY WAVE
WILL MOVE ALONG THE NORTHEASTERN FLANK OF THE TRIPLE POINT AND BRING
PRECIPITATION ON SUNDAY TO THE NORTH GULF COAST...AND AREAS JUST
ACROSS THE CHUGACH RANGE. THE THERMAL TROUGH WILL REMAIN IN THE
VICINITY OF THE ALASKA RANGE DURING THIS PERIOD...SO SOME CONVECTION
MAY DEVELOP THERE ON SUNDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD OVER THE
NORTHERN GULF MON INTO TUE. THE FORECAST UTILIZES THE GFS AND GEM IN
THE SHORT TERM AND TRANSITIONS TO WPC GUIDANCE IN THE EXTENDED.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...

IN THE WEST...SMALL CRAFT AND GALE FORCE WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THE LOW
OVER THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS. AS THE PARENT LOW RETROGRADES PAST THE
PRIBILOFS...RAIN OR SHOWERS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF THE
WEEK.

FOR SOUTHWEST AK...AS THE LOW MOVES INTO THE BERING RAIN WILL AFFECT
COASTAL AREAS THROUGH SUN. THE REMNANTS OF THE EASTERLY WAVE WILL
THEN BRING MORE SHOWERS ACROSS THE AK AND ALEUTIAN RANGES INTO EARLY
NEXT WEEK.

SOUTHEAST OF THE AK RANGE WILL BE DRY EXCEPT FOR SUN INTO MON WHEN
THE EASTERLY WAVE BRINGS RAIN TO THE COAST. SOME SHOWERS WILL ALSO
CROSS THE CHUGACH AND KENAI RANGES INTO SUN NIGHT. WARM AND DRY
CONDITIONS THEN RETURN FOR THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...

THE WEST WILL BE DRY..BUT SW AK WILL HAVE SHOWERS BY MID WEEK AS THE
THERMAL TROUGH DROPS SOUTH INTO THE AREA. THESE WILL ALSO AFFECT
SOUTHCENTRAL.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...NONE
MARINE...GALES 150 155
FIRE WEATHER...RED FLAG 141 WILL BE ISSUED LATER THIS MORNING

DS MAY 13

The office that day

Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 24, 4:00 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC36 hr
May 24, 4:00 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC60 hr
May 24, 4:00 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC36 hr
May 24, 4:00 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC48 hr
May 25, 10:00 AM AKDTFlood WatchAFC49 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Alaska, 2013Every red flag warning in 2013

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.