Alert archive / Arizona / Red Flag Warnings in 2014

Red Flag Warning 4, NWS Las Vegas, NV

March 17, 2014Mohave County, Arizona; San Bernardino County, California; Clark County, Nevada

NWS Las Vegas, NV issued this red flag warning at Mar 17, 2014, 2:49 PM MST for Mohave County, Arizona; San Bernardino County, California; Clark County, Nevada. It took effect at Mar 18, 2014, 2:59 AM MST. It was in force for 16 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
Mar 17, 2014, 2:49 PM MST (21:49 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 18, 2014, 2:59 AM MST
Expired
Mar 18, 2014, 7:00 PM MST
In force
16 hr
Issued by
NWS Las Vegas, NV

Counties Mohave County, AZ, San Bernardino County, CA, Clark County, NV

The radar

The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 15 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:53 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

Las Vegas, NV (KVEF), launched 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 101 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, Las Vegas, NV at 12:00Z on 2014-03-17Temperature 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, Las Vegas, NV at 12:00Z on 2014-03-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 85 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
4036 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
53 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
85 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
212 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.

071 
WWUS85 KVEF 172149
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
249 PM PDT MON MAR 17 2014

.CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT THROUGH
TUESDAY AFTERNOON IN THE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY AS NORTH WINDS
DEVELOP BEHIND A COLD FRONT. DRIER ARE WILL ALSO MOVE INTO THE
REGION BEHIND THE FRONT.

AZZ101-CAZ229-NVZ466-181000-
/O.NEW.KVEF.FW.W.0004.140318T1500Z-140318T2200Z/
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE-
249 PM PDT MON MAR 17 2014 /249 PM MST MON MAR 17 2014/

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM PDT /8 AM MST/ TO 3 PM
PDT /3 PM MST/ TUESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 101...229 AND 466...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAS VEGAS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 8 AM PDT /8 AM MST/ TO 3 PM PDT /3 PM MST/ TUESDAY.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN ARIZONA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101 LAKE MEAD 
  NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE. IN CALIFORNIA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  229 LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY. IN NEVADA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  466 LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE.

* TIMING...NORTH WINDS WILL BEGIN TO DEVELOP LATER THIS EVENING AND
  CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OVERNIGHT. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AT THERE
  STRONGEST DURING THE MORNING HOURS...BETWEEN 8 AM AND NOON. WINDS
  WILL THEN GRADUALLY DIMINISH DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

* WIND...NORTH WINDS AT 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...15 PERCENT OR LESS. RELATIVE HUMIDITY ARE EXPECTED TO
  FALL BELOW 15 PERCENT BY 8 AM...AND THEN FALL INTO THE SINGLE
  DIGITS BY LATE MORNING AND REMAIN IN THE SINGLE DIGITS THROUGHOUT
  THE AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
  AND DRY FUELS CAN CREATE CONDITIONS THAT ARE FAVORABLE FOR ERRATIC
  FIRE BEHAVIOR. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EITHER OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE FIRE
WEATHER OFFICIALS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS
4 follow-up statements
986 
WWUS85 KVEF 180959
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
259 AM PDT TUE MAR 18 2014

AZZ101-CAZ229-NVZ466-181800-
/O.EXT.KVEF.FW.W.0004.140318T0959Z-140318T2200Z/
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE-
259 AM PDT TUE MAR 18 2014 /259 AM MST TUE MAR 18 2014/

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PDT /3 PM MST/ THIS
AFTERNOON FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 101...229 AND 466...

* AFFECTED AREA...IN ARIZONA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101 LAKE MEAD 
  NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE. IN CALIFORNIA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  229 LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY. IN NEVADA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  466 LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE.

* TIMING...NORTH WINDS WILL PERSIST AND ARE EXPECTED TO BE AT THERE
  STRONGEST UNTIL NOON TODAY. WINDS WILL THEN GRADUALLY DIMINISH DURING
  THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

* WIND...NORTH WINDS AT 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES DROPPED TO LESS THAN 15
  PERCENT OVERNIGHT AND WILL FALL INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS BY LATE
  MORNING AND REMAIN IN THE SINGLE DIGITS THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE 
  HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS CAN CREATE CONDITIONS THAT ARE 
  FAVORABLE FOR ERRATIC FIRE BEHAVIOR. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EITHER OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE FIRE
WEATHER OFFICIALS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS
036 
WWUS85 KVEF 181735
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
1035 AM PDT TUE MAR 18 2014

AZZ101-CAZ229-NVZ466-182200-
/O.CON.KVEF.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-140318T2200Z/
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE-
1035 AM PDT TUE MAR 18 2014 /1035 AM MST TUE MAR 18 2014/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PDT /3 PM MST/
THIS AFTERNOON FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 101...229 AND 466...

* AFFECTED AREA...IN ARIZONA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101 LAKE MEAD 
  NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE. IN CALIFORNIA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  229 LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY. IN NEVADA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  466 LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE.

* TIMING...NORTH WINDS WILL PERSIST INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS THEN
  GRADUALLY DIMINISH.

* WIND...NORTH WINDS AT 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...SINGLE DIGITS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
  AND DRY FUELS CAN CREATE CONDITIONS THAT ARE FAVORABLE FOR ERRATIC
  FIRE BEHAVIOR AND RAPID FIRE GROWTH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EITHER OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE FIRE
WEATHER OFFICIALS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS
442 
WWUS85 KVEF 182150
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
250 PM PDT TUE MAR 18 2014

AZZ101-CAZ229-NVZ466-190200-
/O.EXT.KVEF.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-140319T0200Z/
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE-
250 PM PDT TUE MAR 18 2014 /250 PM MST TUE MAR 18 2014/

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PDT /7 PM MST/ THIS
EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 101...229 AND 466...

* AFFECTED AREA...IN ARIZONA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101 LAKE MEAD 
  NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE. IN CALIFORNIA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  229 LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY. IN NEVADA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  466 LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE.

* TIMING...NORTH WINDS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS
  THEN DIMINISH THIS EVENING.

* WIND...NORTH WINDS AT 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 35 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...SINGLE DIGITS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE 
  HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS CAN CREATE CONDITIONS THAT ARE 
  FAVORABLE FOR ERRATIC FIRE BEHAVIOR AND RAPID FIRE GROWTH. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EITHER OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE FIRE
WEATHER OFFICIALS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS
971 
WWUS85 KVEF 190139
RFWVEF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
639 PM PDT TUE MAR 18 2014

AZZ101-CAZ229-NVZ466-190245-
/O.EXP.KVEF.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-140319T0200Z/
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-
LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE-
639 PM PDT TUE MAR 18 2014 /639 PM MST TUE MAR 18 2014/

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM PDT /7 PM MST/ THIS
EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 101...229 AND 466...

ALTHOUGH RELATIVE HUMIDITY RECOVERY WILL BE POOR BETWEEN 15 AND 20
PERCENT TONIGHT...NORTH WINDS WILL DIMINISH AND GENERALLY BE 5 TO 15
MPH AROUND LAKE MEAD. NORTH WINDS WILL BE 10 TO 20 MPH SOUTH OF
HOOVER DAM. THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 7 PM
PDT /7 PM MST/.

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Las Vegas, NV issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 17, 2:36 PM MSTWind AdvisoryVEFMohave24 hr
Mar 17, 8:40 AM MSTHigh Wind WarningVEFInyo4 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Arizona, 2014Red Flag Warnings in California, 2014Red Flag Warnings in Nevada, 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.