Alert archive / Iowa / Red Flag Warnings in 2015

Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Des Moines, IA

March 15, 201535 counties in Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this red flag warning at Mar 15, 2015, 3:41 AM CDT for 35 counties in Iowa. It took effect at Mar 15, 2015, 12:00 PM CDT. 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
Mar 15, 2015, 3:41 AM CDT (08:41 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 15, 2015, 12:00 PM CDT
Expired
Mar 15, 2015, 7:00 PM CDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
All 35 counties

Adair County, IA, Adams County, IA, Audubon County, IA, Boone County, IA, Calhoun County, IA, Carroll County, IA, Cass County, IA, Cerro Gordo County, IA, Clarke County, IA, Crawford County, IA, Dallas County, IA, Decatur County, IA, Emmet County, IA, Franklin County, IA, Greene County, IA, Guthrie County, IA, Hamilton County, IA, Hancock County, IA, Hardin County, IA, Humboldt County, IA, Kossuth County, IA, Madison County, IA, Palo Alto County, IA, Pocahontas County, IA, Polk County, IA, Ringgold County, IA, Sac County, IA, Story County, IA, Taylor County, IA, Union County, IA, Warren County, IA, Webster County, IA, Winnebago County, IA, Worth County, IA, Wright County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 54 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:45 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

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 202 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2015-03-15Temperature 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2015-03-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 10 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
2945 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
10 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
75 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.

031 
WWUS83 KDMX 150841
RFWDMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
341 AM CDT SUN MAR 15 2015

...EXTREME FIRE DANGER OVER CENTRAL IOWA THIS AFTERNOON...

.LOW HUMIDITY AND STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS COMBINED WITH DRY FUELS
WILL LEAD TO A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER SITUATION
THIS AFTERNOON OVER MUCH OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN IOWA.

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>026-033>037-044>048-057>060-070>073-
081>083-092>094-151645-
/O.UPG.KDMX.FW.A.0002.150315T1700Z-150316T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KDMX.FW.W.0002.150315T1700Z-150316T0000Z/
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-
HARDIN-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-
POLK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-
DECATUR-
341 AM CDT SUN MAR 15 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM
NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT.

* WIND...SOUTHWEST WINDS SUSTAINED 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 
  40 MPH. 

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

* FUEL...90 TO 100 PERCENT CURED.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
  SPREAD RAPIDLY. ANY OUTDOOR BURNING IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED AND
  SHOULD BE AVOIDED TODAY.

* TIMING...SHORTLY AFTER NOON CONDITIONS WILL BECOME FAVORABLE FOR
  RAPID FIRE GROWTH. THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR MUCH OF THE AFTERNOON
  ENDING IN THE EARLY EVENING. 

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 EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

REV
3 follow-up statements
030 
WWUS83 KDMX 151544
RFWDMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1044 AM CDT SUN MAR 15 2015

...EXTREME FIRE DANGER OVER CENTRAL IOWA THIS AFTERNOON...

.LOW HUMIDITY AND STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS COMBINED WITH DRY FUELS
WILL LEAD TO A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER SITUATION THIS
AFTERNOON OVER MUCH OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN IOWA.

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>026-033>037-044>048-057>060-070>073-
081>083-092>094-152345-
/O.CON.KDMX.FW.W.0002.150315T1700Z-150316T0000Z/
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-
HARDIN-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-
POLK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-
DECATUR-
1044 AM CDT SUN MAR 15 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

* WIND...SOUTHWEST WINDS SUSTAINED 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO
  40 TO 45 MPH.

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

* FUEL...90 TO 100 PERCENT CURED.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO 
  SPREAD RAPIDLY. ANY OUTDOOR BURNING IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED AND 
  SHOULD BE AVOIDED TODAY. 

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 EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

MJB
299 
WWUS83 KDMX 152029
RFWDMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
329 PM CDT SUN MAR 15 2015

...EXTREME FIRE DANGER OVER CENTRAL IOWA INTO EARLY EVENING...

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>026-033>037-044>048-057>060-070>073-
081>083-092>094-160000-
/O.CON.KDMX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-150316T0000Z/
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-
HARDIN-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-
POLK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-
DECATUR-
329 PM CDT SUN MAR 15 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

* WIND...SOUTHWEST WINDS SUSTAINED 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40
  MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 17 PERCENT.

* FUEL...90 TO 100 PERCENT CURED.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO 
  SPREAD RAPIDLY. ANY OUTDOOR BURNING IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED AND 
  SHOULD BE AVOIDED TODAY. 

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 EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

MJB
361 
WWUS83 KDMX 160003
RFWDMX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
703 PM CDT SUN MAR 15 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED...

.WINDS ARE DIMINISHING WITH SUNSET...ALLEVIATING FIRE CONDITIONS
SOMEWHAT. THE RED FLAG WARNING HAS THUS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.
HOWEVER...MONDAY WILL SEE ELEVATED FIRE CONDITIONS ONCE AGAIN AND
ADDITIONAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS MAY BECOME NECESSARY.

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>026-033>037-044>048-057>060-070>073-
081>083-092>094-160115-
/O.EXP.KDMX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-150316T0000Z/
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-
HARDIN-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-
POLK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-
DECATUR-
703 PM CDT SUN MAR 15 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS WERE EXPERIENCED ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN
IOWA TODAY...BUT ARE SLOWLY IMPROVING AS WINDS DIMINISH WITH
SUNSET. ELEVATED OR POTENTIALLY EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS ARE
ANTICIPATED AGAIN ON MONDAY. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR ADDITIONAL
UPDATES.

$$

LEE

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Iowa, 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.