Alert archive / Alabama / Red Flag Warnings in 2014

Red Flag Warning 18, NWS Mobile, AL

October 3, 201410 counties in Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this red flag warning at Oct 3, 2014, 2:55 PM CDT for 10 counties in Alabama. It took effect at Oct 4, 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
Oct 3, 2014, 2:55 PM CDT (19:55 UTC)
In effect from
Oct 4, 2014, 12:00 PM CDT
Expired
Oct 4, 2014, 6:00 PM CDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL

Counties Butler County, AL, Choctaw County, AL, Clarke County, AL, Conecuh County, AL, Covington County, AL, Crenshaw County, AL, Escambia County, AL, Monroe County, AL, Washington County, AL, Wilcox County, AL

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 138 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:59 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

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 182 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, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2014-10-03Temperature 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, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2014-10-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 16 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
881 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
16 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
44 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.

710 
WWUS84 KMOB 031955
RFWMOB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
255 PM CDT FRI OCT 3 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM CDT SATURDAY FOR 
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA DUE TO A COMBINATION OF HIGH
KBDI VALUES...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND BREEZY NORTHWEST
WINDS...AND FOR THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO A COMBINATION
OF BREEZY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND MARGINALLY HIGH
ERC VALUES...

.A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE AREA WILL USHER MUCH DRIER AND
COOLER AIR INTO THE REGION. AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL
DROP TO AROUND 20 PERCENT ON SATURDAY AND AROUND 25 PERCENT ON
SUNDAY. DUE TO OTHER CRITERIA SUCH AS HIGH KBDI VALUES...BREEZY WINDS
AND MARGINALLY HIGH ERC VALUES...A RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT
FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA AND THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA FOR
SATURDAY. AT THIS TIME WINDS WILL BE BELOW CRITERIA TO REQUIRE A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH FOR SUNDAY.


FLZ001>006-041200-
/O.UPG.KMOB.FW.A.0006.141004T1600Z-141004T2300Z/
/O.NEW.KMOB.FW.W.0018.141004T1700Z-141005T0000Z/
INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-
255 PM CDT FRI OCT 3 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM CDT SATURDAY FOR
THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO A COMBINATION OF BREEZY
WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND MARGINALLY HIGH ERC VALUES...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM CDT SATURDAY. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY: NEAR 20 PERCENT

* WINDS: NORTHWEST NEAR 15 MPH

* ERC: NEAR 28

* IMPACTS: ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR
  BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...AND DRY FUELS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

&&

$$

ALZ051>064-041200-
/O.NEW.KMOB.FW.W.0018.141004T1700Z-141005T0000Z/
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-
255 PM CDT FRI OCT 3 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM CDT SATURDAY FOR
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA DUE TO A COMBINATION OF HIGH
KBDI VALUES...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND BREEZY NORTHWEST
WINDS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM CDT SATURDAY. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 051...052...053...054... 
  055...056...057...058...059...060...061...062...063 AND 064. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY: NEAR 20 PERCENT.

* WINDS: NORTHWEST NEAR 15 MPH.

* KBDI: NEAR 500-600

* IMPACTS: ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...AND DRY FUELS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
991 
WWUS84 KMOB 041107
RFWMOB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
607 AM CDT SAT OCT 4 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM CDT TODAY FOR
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA DUE TO A COMBINATION OF HIGH
KBDI VALUES...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND BREEZY NORTHWEST
WINDS...AND FOR THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO A
COMBINATION OF BREEZY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND
MARGINALLY HIGH ERC VALUES...

.A COLD FRONT HAS PUSHED ACROSS THE REGION USHERING IN COOL AND VERY
DRY AIR. RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL PLUMMET INTO THE LOW TO MID 20 PERCENT
RANGE THIS AFTERNOON. THESE LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES COUPLED WITH
HIGH KBDI VALUES...BREEZY WINDS AND MARGINALLY HIGH ERC VALUES HAVE
PROMPTED THE ISSUANCE OF THE RED FLAG WARNING.

ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-042015-
/O.CON.KMOB.FW.W.0018.141004T1700Z-141005T0000Z/
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-
607 AM CDT SAT OCT 4 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA DUE TO A
COMBINATION OF HIGH KBDI VALUES...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND
BREEZY NORTHWEST WINDS...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 051...052...053...054... 
  055...056...057...058...059...060...061...062...063 AND 064. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY: NEAR 20 PERCENT.

* WINDS: NORTHWEST NEAR 15 MPH.

* KBDI: NEAR 500-600

* IMPACTS: ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND DRY FUELS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE
BEHAVIOR.

&&

$$
212 
WWUS84 KMOB 042005
RFWMOB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
305 PM CDT SAT OCT 4 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT TODAY FOR SOUTHWEST AND
SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA DUE TO A COMBINATION OF HIGH KBDI VALUES...LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND NORTHWEST WINDS AT 20 FEET GREATER THAN 10
MPH...AND FOR THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO A COMBINATION OF
BREEZY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND MARGINALLY HIGH ERC
VALUES...

.A COLD FRONT HAS PUSHED ACROSS THE REGION BRINGING COOL AND VERY DRY
AIR. RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL REMAIN IN THE MID 20 PERCENT TO 30 PERCENT
RANGE THIS AFTERNOON. THE LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY COUPLED WITH HIGH
KBDI VALUES...NORTHWEST WINDS AT 20 FEET GREATER THAN 10 MPH AND
MARGINALLY HIGH ERC VALUES HAVE PROMPTED CONTINUING THE RED FLAG
WARNING.

ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-042300-
/O.EXT.KMOB.FW.W.0018.000000T0000Z-141004T2300Z/
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-
305 PM CDT SAT OCT 4 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR SOUTHWEST AND
SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA DUE TO A COMBINATION OF HIGH KBDI VALUES...LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND NORTHWEST WINDS AT 20 FEET GREATER THAN 10
MPH...AND FOR THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO A COMBINATION OF
BREEZY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND MARGINALLY HIGH ERC
VALUES...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 051...052...053...054... 
  055...056...057...058...059...060...061...062...063 AND 064. 
  FIRE WEATHER ZONES 001...002...003...004...005 AND 006. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 25 TO 30 PERCENT.

* 20 FOOT WINDS: NORTHWEST 10 - 15 MPH.

* KBDI: NEAR 500-600

* ERC: 23-24

* IMPACTS: ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. 
  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND DRY FUELS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE
BEHAVIOR.

&&

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Mobile, AL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 2, 7:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBChoctaw57 min
Oct 3, 8:13 AM CDTSmall Craft AdvisoryMOB29 hr
Oct 3, 9:14 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningMOB91 min
Oct 3, 9:19 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBOkaloosa41 min

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Alabama, 2014Red Flag Warnings in Florida, 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.