Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2015

Red Flag Warning 13, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

September 14, 20156 counties in Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this red flag warning at Sep 14, 2015, 3:47 PM MDT for 6 counties in Colorado. It took effect at Sep 15, 2015, 11:00 AM MDT. It was in force for 9 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
Sep 14, 2015, 3:47 PM MDT (21:47 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 15, 2015, 11:00 AM MDT
Expired
Sep 15, 2015, 8:00 PM MDT
In force
9 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Counties Arapahoe County, CO, Douglas County, CO, Elbert County, CO, Lincoln County, CO, Park County, CO, Washington County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 49 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:45 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

Denver, CO (KDEN), launched 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 106 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, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 2015-09-14Temperature 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 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 2015-09-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 26 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
3807 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
26 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
31 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.

023 
WWUS85 KBOU 142147
RFWBOU

.WARM TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED AGAIN ON TUESDAY ALONG WITH LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITIES IN THE AFTERNOON. SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS ARE
EXPECTED TO INCREASE DURING THE AFTERNOON ACROSS PARK COUNTY AND
OVER THE PALMER DIVIDE. THIS COMBINATION OF WEATHER CONDITIONS AND
DRY FUELS FROM THE LACK OF RECENT RAINFALL WILL MAKE EXTREME FIRE
BEHAVIOR POSSIBLE TUESDAY AFTERNOON. 

COZ214-241-246-247-150600-
/O.UPG.KBOU.FW.A.0006.150915T1700Z-150916T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0013.150915T1700Z-150916T0200Z/
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PARK COUNTY-
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
347 PM MDT MON SEP 14 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT TUESDAY FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE PALMER DIVIDE AREA AND PARK
COUNTY...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 214...241...246 AND 247...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH WILL BE IN
EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT TUESDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS
NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 214...241...246 AND 247.

* TIMING...LATE TUESDAY MORNING INTO TUESDAY EVENING...

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 12 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE RECENT DRY CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY 
  AND GUSTY WINDS MAY ALLOW NEW FIRE STARTS TO GROW RAPIDLY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW OR WILL OCCUR SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND DRY FUELS CAN
CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.  IF A FIRE IS STARTED OR
ONGOING...THE POTENTIAL FOR IT TO RAPIDLY SPREAD IS HIGH.

&&

$$
4 follow-up statements
056 
WWUS85 KBOU 151030
RFWBOU


COZ249-151830-
/O.EXA.KBOU.FW.W.0013.150915T1700Z-150916T0200Z/
WASHINGTON COUNTY-
430 AM MDT TUE SEP 15 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM MDT
THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR PARK
COUNTY AND THE PALMER DIVIDE REGION IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR GUSTY WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 249.

* TIMING...LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING...

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 13 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE RECENT DRY CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY
  AND GUSTY WINDS MAY ALLOW NEW FIRE STARTS TO GROW AND SPREAD RAPIDLY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW OR WILL OCCUR SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND DRY FUELS
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. IF A FIRE IS STARTED OR
ONGOING...THE POTENTIAL FOR IT TO RAPIDLY SPREAD IS HIGH.

&&

$$

COZ214-241-246-247-151830-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0013.150915T1700Z-150916T0200Z/
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PARK COUNTY-
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
430 AM MDT TUE SEP 15 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
FOR PARK COUNTY AND THE PALMER DIVIDE AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES
214...241...246 AND 247...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 214...241...246 AND 247.

* TIMING...LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING...

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 12 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE RECENT DRY CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY
  AND GUSTY WINDS MAY ALLOW NEW FIRE STARTS TO GROW AND SPREAD RAPIDLY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW OR WILL OCCUR SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND DRY FUELS
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. IF A FIRE IS STARTED OR
ONGOING...THE POTENTIAL FOR IT TO RAPIDLY SPREAD IS HIGH.

&&

$$
BAKER
539 
WWUS85 KBOU 151706
RFWBOU


COZ214-241-246-247-249-160115-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-150916T0200Z/
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PARK COUNTY-
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
WASHINGTON COUNTY-
1106 AM MDT TUE SEP 15 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR PARK COUNTY AND THE
PALMER DIVIDE AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 214...241...246 AND 247...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 214...241...246...247 AND 
  249.

* TIMING...LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING...

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 12 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE RECENT DRY CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY 
  AND GUSTY WINDS MAY ALLOW NEW FIRE STARTS TO GROW AND SPREAD 
  RAPIDLY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW OR WILL OCCUR SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND DRY FUELS
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. IF A FIRE IS STARTED OR
ONGOING...THE POTENTIAL FOR IT TO RAPIDLY SPREAD IS HIGH.

&&

$$
332 
WWUS85 KBOU 152206
RFWBOU

.WARM TEMPERATURES AND LOW HUMIDITIES HAVE DEVELOPED THIS
AFTERNOON ALONG WITH GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS UP TO 25 TO 30 MPH.
GRASS FIRES WERE REPORTED EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON NEAR PARKER IN
DOUGLAS COUNTY AND NEAR AGATE IN ELBERT COUNTY...INDICATING HOW
DRY THE VEGETATION IS ALONG THE PALMER DIVIDE. DANGEROUS FIRE
BEHAVIOR CAN BE EXPECTED THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING. PEOPLE
SHOULD CONTINUE USING CAUTION THROUGH TONIGHT.

COZ214-241-246-247-249-160200-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-150916T0200Z/
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PARK COUNTY-
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
WASHINGTON COUNTY-
406 PM MDT TUE SEP 15 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR PARK COUNTY AND THE
PALMER DIVIDE AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 214...241...246 AND 247...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 214...241...246...247 AND 
  249.

* TIMING...THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING...

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 12 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE RECENT DRY CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY 
  AND GUSTY WINDS MAY ALLOW NEW FIRE STARTS TO GROW AND SPREAD 
  RAPIDLY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW OR WILL OCCUR SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND DRY FUELS
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. IF A FIRE IS STARTED OR
ONGOING...THE POTENTIAL FOR IT TO RAPIDLY SPREAD IS HIGH.

&&

$$
163 
WWUS85 KBOU 160148
RFWBOU


COZ214-241-246-247-249-160300-
/O.EXP.KBOU.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-150916T0200Z/
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PARK COUNTY-
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
WASHINGTON COUNTY-
748 PM MDT TUE SEP 15 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND
AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
214...241...246...247 AND 249...

CONDITIONS ARE IMPROVING AS RELATIVE HUMIDITY INCREASES AND WIND
HAS SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED IN SPEED.

$$

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Colorado, 2015Every red flag warning in 2015

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.