Alert archive / New Mexico / Red Flag Warnings in 2014

Red Flag Warning 19, NWS El Paso, TX

April 28, 20147 counties in New Mexico; El Paso County, Hudspeth County, Texas

NWS El Paso, TX issued this red flag warning at Apr 28, 2014, 7:03 AM MDT for 7 counties in New Mexico; El Paso County, Hudspeth County, Texas. It took effect at Apr 28, 2014, 1:00 PM MDT. 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
Apr 28, 2014, 7:03 AM MDT (13:03 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 28, 2014, 1:00 PM MDT
Expired
Apr 28, 2014, 8:00 PM MDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS El Paso, TX

Counties Doña Ana County, NM, Grant County, NM, Hidalgo County, NM, Lincoln County, NM, Luna County, NM, Otero County, NM, Sierra County, NM, El Paso County, TX, Hudspeth County, TX

The radar

The El Paso radar (KEPZ), 64 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:01 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

Santa Teresa, NM (KEPZ), launched 12:00Z, 1.1 hours before the alert went out and 64 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, Santa Teresa, NM at 12:00Z on 2014-04-28Temperature 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°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Santa Teresa, NM at 12:00Z on 2014-04-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 93 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
2923 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
64 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
93 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
116 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.

164 
WWUS84 KEPZ 281303
RFWEPZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
703 AM MDT MON APR 28 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING TODAY FOR MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS...

.AN UPPER LEL LOW THAT HAS BROUGHT WINDY CONDITIONS TO THE REGION
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS HAS STALLED OUT OVER THE CENTRAL
PLAINS. THIS SYSTEM WILL KEEP A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE
REGION WITH WEST-NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH EXPECTED. MINIMUM
RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL REMAIN BELOW 15 PERCENT CREATING CRITICAL 
FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER THE LOWLANDS. IMPROVING CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED FOR TUESDAY. 

NMZ113-281415-
/O.CAN.KEPZ.FW.A.0013.140428T1900Z-140429T0200Z/
CAPITAN AND SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-
703 AM MDT MON APR 28 2014

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA HAS
CANCELLED THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH. 

CONDITIONS WILL FALL JUST SHORT OF CRITICAL THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS
THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES REMAINING
AROUND 14 TO 20 PERCENT. WINDS WILL BE IN THE 20 TO 30 MPH RANGE. 

$$

NMZ111-112-TXZ055-056-282115-
/O.UPG.KEPZ.FW.A.0013.140428T1900Z-140429T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KEPZ.FW.W.0019.140428T1900Z-140429T0200Z/
SOUTHWEST DESERTS AND LOWLANDS-
SOUTH CENTRAL LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE VALLEY-EL PASO-
HUDSPETH-
703 AM MDT MON APR 28 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM
MDT THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA HAS
ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* TIMING: 1 PM TO 8 PM MDT TODAY.

* WIND: WEST 20 TO 30 MPH AT THE 20-FOOT LEVEL WITH GUSTS TO 40 
  MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

* HUMIDITY: MINIMUM RH 10 TO 15 PERCENT.

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 EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
26
2 follow-up statements
272 
WWUS84 KEPZ 282013
RFWEPZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
213 PM MDT MON APR 28 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING TODAY FOR MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS...

.AN UPPER LEL LOW THAT HAS BROUGHT WINDY CONDITIONS TO THE REGION
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS HAS STALLED OUT OVER THE CENTRAL
PLAINS. THIS SYSTEM WILL KEEP A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE
REGION WITH WEST-NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH EXPECTED.
MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL REMAIN BELOW 15 PERCENT CREATING
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER THE LOWLANDS. IMPROVING
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR TUESDAY.

NMZ111-112-TXZ055-056-290200-
/O.CON.KEPZ.FW.W.0019.000000T0000Z-140429T0200Z/
SOUTHWEST DESERTS AND LOWLANDS-
SOUTH CENTRAL LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE VALLEY-EL PASO-
HUDSPETH-
213 PM MDT MON APR 28 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...

* TIMING: THROUGH 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

* WIND: WEST 20 TO 30 MPH AT THE 20-FOOT LEVEL WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

* HUMIDITY: MINIMUM RH 10 TO 15 PERCENT.

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 EXTREME FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
26
298 
WWUS84 KEPZ 290203
RFWEPZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
803 PM MDT MON APR 28 2014


NMZ111-112-TXZ055-056-290315-
/O.EXP.KEPZ.FW.W.0019.000000T0000Z-140429T0200Z/
SOUTHWEST DESERTS AND LOWLANDS-
SOUTH CENTRAL LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE VALLEY-EL PASO-
HUDSPETH-
803 PM MDT MON APR 28 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 055...056...111 AND 112...

WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO DIMINISH ACROSS THE AREA THIS EVENING AS
RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES RISE. A SIDE-DOOR COLD FRONT WILL BRING
NORTHERLY WINDS TO THE AREA OVERNIGHT...AND WILL BE OCCASIONALLY
GUSTY AT TIMES THROUGH MIDDAY TUESDAY. HOWEVER...WINDS ARE
EXPECTED TO DIMINISH IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN RELATIVE HUMIDITY DROPS
BACK BELOW 15%. THEREFORE...RED FLAG CRITERIA IS NOT EXPECTED TO
BE MET.

$$

HARDIMAN

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 El Paso, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this red flag warning went out at Apr 28, 4:20 AM MDT, 2 hours 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 28, 4:20 AM MDT, 2 hours 43 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
418 AM MDT MON APR 28 201

.SYNOPSIS...
AN UPPER LOW OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS...ALONG WITH MODERATE TO STRONG
WEST NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL GENERATE ONE MORE DAY OF WINDS FOR
THE BORDERLAND TODAY. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM SOME FROM YESTERDAY BUT
REMAIN BELOW NORMAL. THE UPPER LOW MOVES FURTHER EAST ON TUESDAY AND
COMBINED WITH AN UPPER RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN U.S...WILL ALLOW
WEAKER NORTHERLY FLOW ALOFT TO DEVELOP. THIS WILL END OUR STRETCH OF
WINDY WEATHER. HOWEVER WITH THE NORTHERLY FLOW TEMPERATURES WILL
REMAIN BELOW NORMAL THROUGH THURSDAY. A WEAK DISTURBANCE IN THIS
FLOW WILL GIVE THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN AND
HIGH ELEVATION LIGHT SNOW THURSDAY MORNING...OTHERWISE NO
PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED THIS WEEK. AS THE UPPER RIDGE
FLATTENS...UPPER FLOW WILL TURN MORE WESTERLY ON FRIDAY INTO THE
WEEKEND. THIS WILL ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO WARM BACK ABOVE NORMAL. A
WEAK DISTURBANCE

&&

.DISCUSSION...
UPPER LOW NOW OUT OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS BUT ATTENDANT SURFACE LOW
STILL CLOSE ENOUGH TO CREATE A DECENT PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE CWA
TODAY. ALOFT THE VERY STRONG JET STREAM FROM THE NORTH PACIFIC
ARCING DOWN TO THE DESERT SOUTHWEST IS SLOWLY WEAKENING AS UPPER
RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE WESTERN U.S. AND SPOILS THE STREAM'S LONG
STRAIGHT FETCH. AFTER ONE MORE WINDY DAY TODAY...JUST BELOW WIND
ADVISORY CRITERIA...WINDS SHOULD NOT BE A FACTOR THE REST OF THE
WEEK. BY TUESDAY THE UPPER LOW WILL BE OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST/
WESTERN GREAT LAKES AND ALLOW SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT TO RELAX.
ALOFT THE UPPER RIDGE WILL AMPLIFY MORE AND TURN OUR FLOW ALOFT TO
THE NORTH. THIS PATTERN WILL LAST THROUGH THURSDAY WITH VERY FEW
CLOUDS AND TEMPERATURES REMAINING BELOW NORMAL...AS SEVERAL WEAK
COOL INTRUSIONS FROM THE NORTH AND EAST KEEP THE TEMPS FROM WARMING.
A WEAK DISTURBANCE ALOFT COMBINED WITH LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE FLOW COULD
PRODUCE SOME LIGHT RAIN/HIGH ELEVATION LIGHT SNOW WEDNESDAY NIGHT
AND THURSDAY FOR THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS. SNOW LEVELS COULD BRIEFLY
FALL AS LOW AS 8000 FT EARLY THURSDAY MORNING BEFORE RISING AGAIN IN
THE AFTERNOON. ECMWF DOES SHOW SIGNS OF WORKING THE DISTURBANCE
FURTHER WEST BUT FOR NOW WILL STICK WITH THE GFS.

UPPER RIDGE BEGINS FLATTENING OUT ON FRIDAY AS EASTERN PACIFIC LOW
CUTS THROUGH THE TOP. FLOW BECOMES ZONAL FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
THIS WILL GRADUALLY TURN SURFACE WINDS WEST AS LEE SIDE TROUGHING
DEVELOPS. EXPECT TEMPS NEAR NORMAL FRIDAY AND THEN ABOVE NORMAL FOR
THE WEEKEND.

&&

.AVIATION...VALID 28/12Z-29/12Z...
VFR CONDS EXPECTED THRU THE PERIOD. AFT 17Z...SURFACE WINDS
INCREASING TO WEST 15-20 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 30 KTS. WINDS DIMINISHING
AFTER 02Z.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
UPPER LOW OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS WILL DRIFT SLOWLY EAST TODAY BUT
WINDS ALOFT WILL STILL BE RELATIVELY STRONG AND SOME OF THIS WIND
WILL MIX DOWN TO THE SURFACE THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE DAYTIME
HEATING. EXPECT WINDS OF 20-30 MPH. THE UPPER LOW MOVES OVER THE
UPPER MIDWEST/GREAT LAKES ON TUESDAY AND THE FLOW ALOFT OVER THE
FIRE ZONES BECOMES NORTHERLY...FINALLY ENDING THE STRETCH OF WINDY
DAYS. NORTHERLY FLOW WILL KEEP TEMPS A BIT BELOW NORMAL THROUGH
THURSDAY. AN IMPULSE IN THIS NORTHERLY FLOW WILL DROP DOWN EASTERN
NEW MEXICO WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY...GIVING THE SACRAMENTO
MOUNTAINS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN AND HIGH ELEVATION LIGHT SNOW.
OTHERWISE NO PRECIP IS EXPECTED IN THE FORECAST PERIOD. A WARMUP
BEGINS FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH TEMPS BACK ABOVE  NORMAL.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
EL PASO                 79  53  73  49  72 /   0   0   0   0   0
SIERRA BLANCA           77  47  70  44  70 /   0   0   0   0   0
LAS CRUCES              77  47  70  43  70 /   0   0   0   0   0
ALAMOGORDO              75  44  69  44  69 /   0   0   0   0   0
CLOUDCROFT              51  30  45  25  45 /   0   0   0   0   0
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES   75  46  68  43  68 /   0   0   0   0   0
SILVER CITY             67  40  62  36  60 /   0   0   0   0   0
DEMING                  76  45  70  41  70 /   0   0   0   0   0
LORDSBURG               74  44  72  43  73 /   0   0   0   0   0
WEST EL PASO METRO      78  54  73  49  72 /   0   0   0   0   0
DELL CITY               77  45  71  40  69 /   0   0   0   0   0
FORT HANCOCK            84  53  78  49  78 /   0   0   0   0   0
LOMA LINDA              68  46  62  41  63 /   0   0   0   0   0
FABENS                  79  52  74  48  75 /   0   0   0   0   0
SANTA TERESA            78  49  71  46  71 /   0   0   0   0   0
WHITE SANDS HQ          76  52  69  48  69 /   0   0   0   0   0
JORNADA RANGE           76  39  69  39  68 /   0   0   0   0   0
HATCH                   77  42  69  40  68 /   0   0   0   0   0
COLUMBUS                76  49  72  45  72 /   0   0   0   0   0
OROGRANDE               77  45  70  44  69 /   0   0   0   0   0
MAYHILL                 60  33  53  29  53 /   0   0   0   0   0
MESCALERO               62  33  54  28  51 /   0   0   0   0   0
TIMBERON                59  32  53  29  50 /   0   0   0   0   0
WINSTON                 64  37  59  34  55 /   0   0   0   0   0
HILLSBORO               69  46  63  41  63 /   0   0   0   0   0
SPACEPORT               73  45  68  42  67 /   0   0   0   0   0
LAKE ROBERTS            65  33  61  31  57 /   0   0   0   0   0
HURLEY                  68  40  63  36  63 /   0   0   0   0   0
CLIFF                   69  33  65  31  64 /   0   0   0   0   0
MULE CREEK              67  29  62  28  64 /   0   0   0   0   0
FAYWOOD                 67  41  62  38  62 /   0   0   0   0   0
ANIMAS                  77  47  73  46  74 /   0   0   0   0   0
HACHITA                 75  43  73  41  70 /   0   0   0   0   0
ANTELOPE WELLS          77  47  74  44  73 /   0   0   0   0   0
CLOVERDALE              71  42  69  40  73 /   0   0   0   0   0

&&

.EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM 1 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS
     EVENING FOR NMZ111>113.

TX...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM 1 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS
     EVENING FOR TXZ055-056.

&&

17/99
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 28, 6:33 AM MDT, 30 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
633 AM MDT MON APR 28 2014

NMZ401>417-TXZ418>424-291330-
UPPER GILA RIVER VALLEY-SOUTHERN GILA HIGHLANDS/BLACK RANGE-
SOUTHERN GILA FOOTHILLS/MIMBRES VALLEY-
SOUTHWEST DESERT/LOWER GILA RIVER VALLEY-LOWLANDS OF THE BOOTHEEL-
UPLANDS OF THE BOOTHEEL-SOUTHWEST DESERT/MIMBRES BASIN-
EASTERN BLACK RANGE FOOTHILLS-SIERRA COUNTY LAKES-
NORTHERN DONA ANA COUNTY-SOUTHERN DONA ANA COUNTY/MESILLA VALLEY-
CENTRAL TULAROSA BASIN-SOUTHERN TULAROSA BASIN-
WEST SLOPES SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS BELOW 7500 FEET-
SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 7500 FEET-
EAST SLOPES SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS BELOW 7500 FEET-OTERO MESA-
WESTERN EL PASO COUNTY-EASTERN/CENTRAL EL PASO COUNTY-
NORTHERN HUDSPETH HIGHLANDS/HUECO MOUNTAINS-SALT BASIN-
SOUTHERN HUDSPETH HIGHLANDS-
RIO GRANDE VALLEY OF EASTERN EL PASO/WESTERN HUDSPETH COUNTIES-
RIO GRANDE VALLEY OF EASTERN HUDSPETH COUNTY-
633 AM MDT MON APR 28 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NM AND TX.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

ONE LAST WINDY AFTERNOON TODAY WITH WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN AND HIGH ELEVATION SNOW OVER THE SACRAMENTO
MOUNTAINS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. NO OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER
EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER REPORTS TO THE NWS
OFFICE VIA OUR 800 NUMBER OR VIA TWITTER @NWSELPASO OR TO LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HEFNER

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in New Mexico, 2014Red Flag Warnings in Texas, 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.