Alert archive / Iowa / Red Flag Warnings in 2014

Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Des Moines, IA

April 16, 201431 counties in Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this red flag warning at Apr 16, 2014, 4:13 AM CDT for 31 counties in Iowa. It took effect at Apr 16, 2014, 12:00 PM CDT. It was in force for 6 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
Apr 16, 2014, 4:13 AM CDT (09:13 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 16, 2014, 12:00 PM CDT
Expired
Apr 16, 2014, 6:00 PM CDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
All 31 counties

Adair County, IA, Adams County, IA, Appanoose County, IA, Audubon County, IA, Boone County, IA, Carroll County, IA, Cass County, IA, Clarke County, IA, Crawford County, IA, Dallas County, IA, Davis County, IA, Decatur County, IA, Greene County, IA, Guthrie County, IA, Jasper County, IA, Lucas County, IA, Madison County, IA, Mahaska County, IA, Marion County, IA, Marshall County, IA, Monroe County, IA, Polk County, IA, Poweshiek County, IA, Ringgold County, IA, Story County, IA, Tama County, IA, Taylor County, IA, Union County, IA, Wapello County, IA, Warren County, IA, Wayne County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 38 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:12 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

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 221 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2014-04-16Temperature 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2014-04-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 144 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
2239 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
144 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
705 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.

009 
WWUS83 KDMX 160913
RFWDMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
413 AM CDT WED APR 16 2014

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN IOWA FROM
LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...

.A STRONG SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WIND AND DRIER AIR MOVING IN WILL
LOWER THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY LATE THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON TO
BETWEEN 25 AND 30 PERCENT ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHERN IOWA. THIS WILL
LEAD TO RED FLAG CONDITIONS.

IAZ035>038-046>050-161015-
/O.CAN.KDMX.FW.A.0001.140416T1500Z-140417T0000Z/
WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-
413 AM CDT WED APR 16 2014

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS CANCELLED THE FIRE
WEATHER WATCH.

A STRONG SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WIND WILL OCCUR TODAY ACROSS THE AREA
BUT WIND SPEEDS WILL BE JUST BELOW CRITERIA FOR A RED FLAG
WARNING. THE COMBINATION OF WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL
STILL LEAD TO AN ELEVATED FIRE DANGER TODAY...ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF
HIGHWAY 30.

$$

IAZ058>062-070>075-081>086-092>097-161715-
/O.UPG.KDMX.FW.A.0001.140416T1500Z-140417T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KDMX.FW.W.0002.140416T1700Z-140416T2300Z/
GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-
MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-
RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS-
413 AM CDT WED APR 16 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM
NOON TODAY TO 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT.

* TIMING...THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR FROM MID MORNING TO MID
  AFTERNOON. RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL FALL THROUGHOUT THE MORNING
  AND BOTTOM OUT DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

* WIND...A SOUTH SOUTHWEST AT 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 45MPH
  AT TIMES.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 27 PERCENT.

* FUEL...FUELS SHOULD DRY QUICKLY TODAY WITH INCREASING WIND AND
  DRIER AIR MOVING IN. 

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START MAY SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE
  VERY STRONG WINDS.

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.

&&

$$

IAZ057-161715-
/O.NEW.KDMX.FW.W.0002.140416T1700Z-140416T2300Z/
AUDUBON-
413 AM CDT WED APR 16 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM
NOON TODAY TO 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

TIMING...THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR FROM MID MORNING TO MID
  AFTERNOON. RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL FALL THROUGHOUT THE MORNING
  AND BOTTOM OUT DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

* WIND...A SOUTH SOUTHWEST AT 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 45MPH
  AT TIMES.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 27 PERCENT.

* FUEL...FUELS SHOULD DRY QUICKLY TODAY WITH INCREASING WIND AND
  DRIER AIR MOVING IN. 

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START MAY SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE
  VERY STRONG WINDS.

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.

&&

$$

FAB
3 follow-up statements
109 
WWUS83 KDMX 161444
RFWDMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
944 AM CDT WED APR 16 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN IOWA...

.STRONG SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL
LEAD TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS BY THIS AFTERNOON.

IAZ044>050-162245-
/O.EXA.KDMX.FW.W.0002.140416T1700Z-140416T2300Z/
CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-
944 AM CDT WED APR 16 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL
6 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

* TIMING...THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR FROM MID MORNING TO 
  MID AFTERNOON. RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL FALL THROUGHOUT THE 
  MORNING AND BOTTOM OUT DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. 

* WIND...SOUTH TURNING TOWARD SOUTHWEST AT 25 TO 30 MPH WITH
  GUSTS TO NEAR 45 MPH AT TIMES.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...FALLING TO AROUND 25 PERCENT.

* FUEL...FUELS SHOULD DRY QUICKLY AND WILL BURN EASILY.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START MAY SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE
  VERY STRONG WINDS.

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.

&&

$$

IAZ057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097-162245-
/O.CON.KDMX.FW.W.0002.140416T1700Z-140416T2300Z/
AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-
WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-
TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS-
944 AM CDT WED APR 16 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

* TIMING...THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR FROM MID MORNING TO 
  MID AFTERNOON. RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL FALL THROUGHOUT THE 
  MORNING AND BOTTOM OUT DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. 

* WIND...SOUTH TURNING TOWARD SOUTHWEST AT 25 TO 30 MPH WITH
  GUSTS TO NEAR 45 MPH AT TIMES.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...FALLING TO AROUND 25 PERCENT.

* FUEL...FUELS SHOULD DRY QUICKLY AND WILL BURN EASILY.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START MAY SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE
  VERY STRONG WINDS.

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.

&&

$$

LEE
038 
WWUS83 KDMX 162106
RFWDMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
406 PM CDT WED APR 16 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN IOWA...

.STRONG SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY ARE
PRODUCING CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS LATE THIS AFTERNOON.

IAZ044>050-057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097-162300-
/O.CON.KDMX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-140416T2300Z/
CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-
DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-
MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-
DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS-
406 PM CDT WED APR 16 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

* SHORT TERM TRENDS...STRONG WINDS LATE THIS AFTERNOON WILL
  DIMINISH GRADUALLY THIS EVENING. RELATIVE HUMIDITY REMAIN
  STEADY UNTIL SUNSET THEN INCREASE AFTER DARK.

* WIND...SOUTH SOUTHWEST AT AROUND 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 45
  MPH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...THEN DECREASING TO AROUND 20 MPH AND
  GUSTY BY 8 PM.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AROUND 30 PERCENT LATE THIS AFTERNOON.

* FUEL...FUELS ARE DRY AND WILL BURN EASILY.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START MAY SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE 
  VERY STRONG WINDS. 

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.

&&

$$

LEE
180 
WWUS83 KDMX 162315
RFWDMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
615 PM CDT WED APR 16 2014


IAZ044>050-057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097-170015-
/O.EXP.KDMX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-140416T2300Z/
CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-
DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-
MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-
DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS-
615 PM CDT WED APR 16 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

GUSTY WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO DIMINISH SOME THIS EVENING...WITH
TEMPERATURES FALLING AND RH VALUES CLIMBING. THEREFORE THE RED
FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. 

$$

MJB

The office that day

Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 16, 4:21 AM CDTWind AdvisoryDMXAdair, Adams, Appanoose, Audubon, Black Hawk, Boone and 29 more14 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Iowa, 2014Every red flag warning in 2014

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.