Alert archive / Kansas / Red Flag Warnings in 2014

Red Flag Warning 9, NWS Topeka, KS

March 31, 201423 counties in Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this red flag warning at Mar 31, 2014, 3:48 AM CDT for 23 counties in Kansas. It took effect at Mar 31, 2014, 7:00 AM CDT. It was in force for 12 hr. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Mar 31, 2014, 3:48 AM CDT (08:48 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 31, 2014, 7:00 AM CDT
Expired
Mar 31, 2014, 7:00 PM CDT
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
All 23 counties

Anderson County, KS, Brown County, KS, Clay County, KS, Cloud County, KS, Coffey County, KS, Dickinson County, KS, Douglas County, KS, Franklin County, KS, Geary County, KS, Jackson County, KS, Jefferson County, KS, Lyon County, KS, Marshall County, KS, Morris County, KS, Nemaha County, KS, Osage County, KS, Ottawa County, KS, Pottawatomie County, KS, Republic County, KS, Riley County, KS, Shawnee County, KS, Wabaunsee County, KS, Washington County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 16 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:48 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 31, 4:14 PM CDTNON-TSTM WND GST 434 Nne Lawrence, KSLAWRENCE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KFOE), launched 00:00Z, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 61 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, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 2014-03-31Temperature 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, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 2014-03-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 212 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
2730 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
53 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
212 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
322 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.

951 
WWUS83 KTOP 310848
RFWTOP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
348 AM CDT MON MAR 31 2014

...WINDY AND DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED AGAIN ON MONDAY...

.AS A STORM SYSTEM MOVES OUT ACROSS THE PLAINS ON MONDAY STRONG
WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL DEVELOP. THROUGH THE DAY...
WINDS ARE FORECAST TO SHIFT FROM SOUTHWEST TO WEST TO NORTHWEST.
AREA VEGETATION IS STILL DRY AND CURED. THESE CONDITIONS...AND
THE STRONG INCREASE IN WIND SPEED AND SHIFT IN DIRECTION OF THE
WINDS...HAS PROMPTED THE ISSUANCE OF A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR
PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL...EAST CENTRAL AND A PART OF NORTHEAST
KANSAS MONDAY.

KSZ021-034-035-311700-
/O.UPG.KTOP.FW.A.0002.140331T1700Z-140401T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KTOP.FW.W.0009.140331T1200Z-140401T0000Z/
CLAY-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-
348 AM CDT MON MAR 31 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING FOR FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND DRY 
CURED FUELS...FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 021...034 AND 035...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* WINDS...WINDS WILL SHIFT FROM THE SOUTHWEST EARLY IN THE DAY...
  TO THE WEST BY NOON...TO THE NORTHWEST BY EARLY EVENING. 
  SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS THROUGH THE DAY WILL RANGE FROM 20 TO 30 
  MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. 

* TIMING...RH WILL DECREASE SHARPLY AS THE WINDS SHIFT OUT OF THE WEST
  DURING THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS... AND WILL
  REACH A MINIMUM IN THE 1 PM TO 6 PM TIME FRAME.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 19 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 70S.

* IMPACTS...FIRES CAN START QUICKLY...SPREAD FURIOUSLY AND BURN
  INTENSELY. ALL FIRES ARE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS...AND HOLD VERY
  SERIOUS RISKS FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN FIRE SUPPRESSION. ALL
  OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

KSZ022-023-036>038-054-311700-
/O.UPG.KTOP.FW.A.0002.140331T1700Z-140401T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KTOP.FW.W.0009.140331T1500Z-140401T0000Z/
RILEY-POTTAWATOMIE-GEARY-MORRIS-WABAUNSEE-LYON-
348 AM CDT MON MAR 31 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING FOR FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND DRY 
CURED FUELS...FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 022...023...036...037...038 AND
054...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* WINDS...WINDS WILL SHIFT FROM THE SOUTHWEST EARLY IN THE DAY...
  TO THE WEST BY NOON...TO THE NORTHWEST BY EARLY EVENING. 
  SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS THROUGH THE DAY WILL RANGE FROM 20 TO 30 
  MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. 

* TIMING...RH WILL DECREASE SHARPLY AS THE WINDS SHIFT OUT OF
  THE WEST DURING THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS... AND
  WILL REACH A MINIMUM IN THE 1 PM TO 6 PM TIME FRAME.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 19 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S.

* IMPACTS...FIRES CAN START QUICKLY...SPREAD FURIOUSLY AND BURN 
  INTENSELY. ALL FIRES ARE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS...AND HOLD VERY 
  SERIOUS RISKS FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN FIRE SUPPRESSION. ALL 
  OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

KSZ008-009-020-311700-
/O.NEW.KTOP.FW.W.0009.140331T1200Z-140401T0000Z/
REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-CLOUD-
348 AM CDT MON MAR 31 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND DRY 
CURED FUELS...FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 008...009 AND 020...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 008...009 AND 020. 

* WINDS...WINDS WILL SHIFT FROM THE SOUTHWEST EARLY IN THE DAY...
  TO THE WEST BY NOON...TO THE NORTHWEST BY EARLY EVENING. 
  SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS THROUGH THE DAY WILL RANGE FROM 20 TO 30 
  MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. 

* TIMING...RH WILL DECREASE SHARPLY AS THE WINDS SHIFT OUT OF
  THE WEST DURING THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS... AND
  WILL REACH A MINIMUM IN THE 1 PM TO 6 PM TIME FRAME.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 19 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S.

* IMPACTS...FIRES CAN START QUICKLY...SPREAD FURIOUSLY AND BURN 
  INTENSELY. ALL FIRES ARE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS...AND HOLD VERY 
  SERIOUS RISKS FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN FIRE SUPPRESSION. ALL 
  OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

KSZ010>012-024-026-039-040-055-056-058-059-311700-
/O.NEW.KTOP.FW.W.0009.140331T1500Z-140401T0000Z/
MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-SHAWNEE-DOUGLAS-OSAGE-
FRANKLIN-COFFEY-ANDERSON-
348 AM CDT MON MAR 31 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING FOR FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND DRY 
CURED FUELS...FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 010...011...012...024...026...
039...040...055...056...058 AND 059...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 010...011...012...024... 
  026...039...040...055...056...058 AND 059. 

* WINDS...WINDS WILL SHIFT FROM THE SOUTHWEST EARLY IN THE
  DAY...TO THE WEST BY NOON...TO THE NORTHWEST BY EARLY EVENING.
  SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS THROUGH THE DAY WILL RANGE FROM 20 TO 30
  MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* TIMING...RH WILL DECREASE SHARPLY AS THE WINDS SHIFT OUT OF
  THE WEST DURING THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS... AND
  WILL REACH A MINIMUM IN THE 1 PM TO 6 PM TIME FRAME.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 19 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S.

* IMPACTS...FIRES CAN START QUICKLY...SPREAD FURIOUSLY AND BURN 
  INTENSELY. ALL FIRES ARE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS...AND HOLD VERY 
  SERIOUS RISKS FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN FIRE SUPPRESSION. ALL 
  OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
317 
WWUS83 KTOP 312042
RFWTOP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
342 PM CDT MON MAR 31 2014

...WINDY AND DRY CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY EVENING...


KSZ008-009-020-021-034-035-010000-
/O.CON.KTOP.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-140401T0000Z/
REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-CLOUD-CLAY-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-
342 PM CDT MON MAR 31 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND DRY CURED FUELS...
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 008...009 AND 020...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 008 REPUBLIC...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 009 WASHINGTON...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 020 CLOUD...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 021 CLAY...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 034 OTTAWA AND FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 035 DICKINSON.

* WINDS...WEST 25 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

* TIMING...LOW RH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 6 PM. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 60S.

* IMPACTS...FIRES CAN START QUICKLY...SPREAD FURIOUSLY AND BURN 
  INTENSELY. ALL FIRES ARE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS...AND HOLD VERY 
  SERIOUS RISKS FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN FIRE SUPPRESSION. ALL 
  OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD BE AVOIDED. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

KSZ010>012-022>024-026-036>040-054>056-058-059-010000-
/O.CON.KTOP.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-140401T0000Z/
MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-RILEY-POTTAWATOMIE-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-GEARY-
MORRIS-WABAUNSEE-SHAWNEE-DOUGLAS-LYON-OSAGE-FRANKLIN-COFFEY-
ANDERSON-
342 PM CDT MON MAR 31 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND DRY CURED
FUELS...FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 010...011...012...024...026...
039...040...055...056...058 AND 059...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 010 MARSHALL...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 011 NEMAHA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 012 BROWN...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 022 RILEY...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 023 POTTAWATOMIE...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 024 JACKSON...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 026 JEFFERSON...
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 036 GEARY...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 037 MORRIS...
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 038 WABAUNSEE...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 039 
  SHAWNEE...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 040 DOUGLAS...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  054 LYON...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 055 OSAGE...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 056 
  FRANKLIN...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 058 COFFEY AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  059 ANDERSON.

* WINDS...WEST 25 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

* TIMING...LOW RH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 6 PM.

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

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE 70S.

* IMPACTS...FIRES CAN START QUICKLY...SPREAD FURIOUSLY AND BURN 
  INTENSELY. ALL FIRES ARE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS...AND HOLD VERY 
  SERIOUS RISKS FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN FIRE SUPPRESSION. ALL 
  OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD BE AVOIDED. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$
903 
WWUS83 KTOP 010003
RFWTOP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
703 PM CDT MON MAR 31 2014

KSZ008-009-020-021-034-035-010115-
/O.EXP.KTOP.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-140401T0000Z/
REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-CLOUD-CLAY-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-
703 PM CDT MON MAR 31 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR 
NORTHEAST NORTH CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL KANSAS...

WHILE WINDS WILL REMAIN QUITE STRONG FROM THE WEST TO
NORTHWEST...RH WILL STEADILY INCREASE TO AROUND 30 PERCENT BY 8
PM...40 PERCENT BY MIDNIGHT...AND 60 PERCENT BY SUNRISE. THROUGH
10 PM...WINDS WILL BE SUSTAINED AT 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 35
TO 45 MPH FROM BETWEEN 260 AND 300 DEGREES. WIND SPEEDS WILL
GRADUALLY DECREASE AND VEER OUT OF THE NORTHWEST AFTER 10
PM...LIKELY LOSING GUSTS BY AROUND 3 AM. WINDS WILL BE GENERALLY
LIGHT ON TUESDAY...SWITCHING FROM THE NORTH EARLY TO THE SOUTHEAST
BY LATE AFTERNOON...AND INCREASING TO 10 TO 15 MPH BY AFTERNOON.

$$

KSZ010>012-022>024-026-036>040-054>056-058-059-010115-
/O.EXP.KTOP.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-140401T0000Z/
MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-RILEY-POTTAWATOMIE-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-GEARY-
MORRIS-WABAUNSEE-SHAWNEE-DOUGLAS-LYON-OSAGE-FRANKLIN-COFFEY-
ANDERSON-
703 PM CDT MON MAR 31 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR 
NORTHEAST NORTH CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL KANSAS...

WHILE WINDS WILL REMAIN QUITE STRONG FROM THE WEST TO
NORTHWEST...RH WILL STEADILY INCREASE TO AROUND 30 PERCENT BY 8
PM...40 PERCENT BY MIDNIGHT...AND 60 PERCENT BY SUNRISE. THROUGH
10 PM...WINDS WILL BE SUSTAINED AT 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 35
TO 45 MPH FROM BETWEEN 260 AND 300 DEGREES. WIND SPEEDS WILL
GRADUALLY DECREASE AND VEER OUT OF THE NORTHWEST AFTER 10
PM...LIKELY LOSING GUSTS BY AROUND 3 AM. WINDS WILL BE GENERALLY
LIGHT ON TUESDAY...SWITCHING FROM THE NORTH EARLY TO THE SOUTHEAST
BY LATE AFTERNOON...AND INCREASING TO 10 TO 15 MPH BY AFTERNOON.

$$

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Kansas, 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.