Alert archive / Iowa / Red Flag Warnings in 2015

Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Quad Cities, IA

October 18, 201521 counties in Iowa; 13 counties in Illinois; Clark County, Scotland County, Missouri

NWS Quad Cities, IA issued this red flag warning at Oct 18, 2015, 2:15 PM CDT for 21 counties in Iowa; 13 counties in Illinois; Clark County, Scotland County, Missouri. It took effect at Oct 19, 2015, 10:00 AM CDT. 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
Oct 18, 2015, 2:15 PM CDT (19:15 UTC)
In effect from
Oct 19, 2015, 10:00 AM CDT
Expired
Oct 19, 2015, 7:00 PM CDT
In force
9 hr
Issued by
NWS Quad Cities, IA
All 36 counties

Benton County, IA, Buchanan County, IA, Cedar County, IA, Clinton County, IA, Delaware County, IA, Des Moines County, IA, Dubuque County, IA, Henry County, IA, Iowa County, IA, Jackson County, IA, Jefferson County, IA, Johnson County, IA, Jones County, IA, Keokuk County, IA, Lee County, IA, Linn County, IA, Louisa County, IA, Muscatine County, IA, Scott County, IA, Van Buren County, IA, Washington County, IA, Bureau County, IL, Carroll County, IL, Hancock County, IL, Henderson County, IL, Henry County, IL, Jo Daviess County, IL, McDonough County, IL, Mercer County, IL, Putnam County, IL, Rock Island County, IL, Stephenson County, IL, Warren County, IL, Whiteside County, IL, Clark County, MO, Scotland County, MO

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 41 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:15 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

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 12:00Z, 7.3 hours before the alert went out and 47 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, Davenport, at 12:00Z on 2015-10-18Temperature 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, Davenport, at 12:00Z on 2015-10-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 11 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
2061 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
11 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
142 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.

038 
WWUS83 KDVN 181915
RFWDVN

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
215 PM CDT SUN OCT 18 2015

...DANGEROUS FIRE CONDITIONS EXPECTED ON MONDAY...

.STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS COMBINED WITH WARM TEMPERATURES...LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS WILL LEAD TO DANGEROUS FIRE
CONDITIONS ON MONDAY. THE STRONGEST WINDS...WITH GUSTS TO AT LEAST
40 MPH...WILL OCCUR DURING THE LATE MORNING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON
HOURS. THE WINDS WILL RAPIDLY DIMINISH BY SUNSET.

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-190315-
/O.NEW.KDVN.FW.W.0002.151019T1500Z-151020T0000Z/
BUCHANAN-DELAWARE-DUBUQUE-BENTON-LINN-JONES-JACKSON-IOWA-JOHNSON-
CEDAR-CLINTON-MUSCATINE-SCOTT-KEOKUK-WASHINGTON-LOUISA-JEFFERSON-
HENRY IA-DES MOINES-VAN BUREN-LEE-JO DAVIESS-STEPHENSON-CARROLL-
WHITESIDE-ROCK ISLAND-HENRY IL-BUREAU-PUTNAM-MERCER-HENDERSON-
WARREN-HANCOCK-MCDONOUGH-SCOTLAND-CLARK-
215 PM CDT SUN OCT 18 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM CDT MONDAY FOR
EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN QUAD CITIES HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10
AM TO 7 PM CDT MONDAY.

* TIMING...10 AM TO 7 PM MONDAY.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AT LEAST 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 23 PERCENT.

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

* FUEL...CROPS AND AGRICULTURAL FUELS ARE OVER 90 PERCENT CURED.
  THE MAJORITY OF WILD GRASSES ARE 60 TO 70 PERCENT CURED AND
  COMBUSTIBLE. HARVESTING OF CROPS WILL PRODUCE THE LARGER THREAT
  BUT GRASSY AREAS NEAR FARMLAND CAN EASILY START FROM EMBERS
  CARRIED BY THE WIND.

* GFDI...HIGH TO VERY HIGH.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY AND BE VERY DIFFICULT 
  TO CONTROL IN THESE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. OUTDOOR BURNING IS 
  HIGHLY DISCOURAGED AND 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 OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES MAY
LEAD TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

&&

$$

HAASE/KUHL
5 follow-up statements
495 
WWUS83 KDVN 190158
RFWDVN

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
858 PM CDT SUN OCT 18 2015

...DANGEROUS FIRE CONDITIONS EXPECTED ON MONDAY...

.STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS COMBINED WITH WARM TEMPERATURES...LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS WILL LEAD TO DANGEROUS FIRE
CONDITIONS ON MONDAY. THE STRONGEST WINDS...WITH GUSTS TO AT
LEAST 40 MPH...WILL OCCUR DURING THE LATE MORNING THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON HOURS. THE WINDS WILL RAPIDLY DIMINISH BY SUNSET.

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-191000-
/O.CON.KDVN.FW.W.0002.151019T1500Z-151020T0000Z/
BUCHANAN-DELAWARE-DUBUQUE-BENTON-LINN-JONES-JACKSON-IOWA-JOHNSON-
CEDAR-CLINTON-MUSCATINE-SCOTT-KEOKUK-WASHINGTON-LOUISA-JEFFERSON-
HENRY IA-DES MOINES-VAN BUREN-LEE-JO DAVIESS-STEPHENSON-CARROLL-
WHITESIDE-ROCK ISLAND-HENRY IL-BUREAU-PUTNAM-MERCER-HENDERSON-
WARREN-HANCOCK-MCDONOUGH-SCOTLAND-CLARK-
858 PM CDT SUN OCT 18 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM CDT
MONDAY FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS...

* TIMING...10 AM TO 7 PM MONDAY.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AT LEAST 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 23 PERCENT.

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

* FUEL...CROPS AND AGRICULTURAL FUELS ARE OVER 90 PERCENT CURED. 
  THE MAJORITY OF WILD GRASSES ARE 60 TO 70 PERCENT CURED AND 
  COMBUSTIBLE. HARVESTING OF CROPS WILL PRODUCE THE LARGER 
  THREAT BUT GRASSY AREAS NEAR FARMLAND CAN EASILY START FROM 
  EMBERS CARRIED BY THE WIND.

* GFDI...HIGH TO VERY HIGH.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY AND BE VERY DIFFICULT 
  TO CONTROL IN THESE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. OUTDOOR BURNING IS 
  HIGHLY DISCOURAGED AND 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 OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES MAY
LEAD TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

&&

$$
087 
WWUS83 KDVN 190848
RFWDVN

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
348 AM CDT MON OCT 19 2015

...DANGEROUS FIRE CONDITIONS EXPECTED TODAY...

.STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS COMBINED WITH SEASONABLY WARM 
TEMPERATURES...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS WILL LEAD
TO DANGEROUS FIRE CONDITIONS TODAY. THE STRONGEST WINDS...WITH
GUSTS TO AT LEAST 40 MPH...WILL OCCUR DURING MIDDAY AND THROUGH
THE AFTERNOON HOURS. THE WINDS WILL DIMINISH BY SUNSET.

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-191700-
/O.CON.KDVN.FW.W.0002.151019T1500Z-151020T0000Z/
BUCHANAN-DELAWARE-DUBUQUE-BENTON-LINN-JONES-JACKSON-IOWA-JOHNSON-
CEDAR-CLINTON-MUSCATINE-SCOTT-KEOKUK-WASHINGTON-LOUISA-JEFFERSON-
HENRY IA-DES MOINES-VAN BUREN-LEE-JO DAVIESS-STEPHENSON-CARROLL-
WHITESIDE-ROCK ISLAND-HENRY IL-BUREAU-PUTNAM-MERCER-HENDERSON-
WARREN-HANCOCK-MCDONOUGH-SCOTLAND-CLARK-
348 AM CDT MON OCT 19 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO
7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS...

* TIMING...10 AM TO 7 PM TODAY.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AT LEAST 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 23 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 70S.

* FUEL...CROPS AND AGRICULTURAL FUELS ARE OVER 90 PERCENT CURED. 
  THE MAJORITY OF WILD GRASSES ARE 60 TO 70 PERCENT CURED AND 
  COMBUSTIBLE. HARVESTING OF CROPS WILL PRODUCE THE LARGER 
  THREAT BUT GRASSY AREAS NEAR FARMLAND CAN EASILY START FROM 
  EMBERS CARRIED BY THE WIND.

* GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX/GFDI/...HIGH. CROPLAND FIRE DANGER
  INDEX...VERY HIGH TO EXTREME.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY AND BE VERY DIFFICULT 
  TO CONTROL IN THESE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. OUTDOOR BURNING IS 
  HIGHLY DISCOURAGED AND 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 OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...DRY FUELS AND WARM
TEMPERATURES MAY LEAD TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

&&

$$

12
171 
WWUS83 KDVN 191654
RFWDVN

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
1154 AM CDT MON OCT 19 2015

...DANGEROUS FIRE CONDITIONS EXPECTED TODAY...

.STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS COMBINED WITH SEASONABLY WARM 
TEMPERATURES...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS WILL LEAD
TO DANGEROUS FIRE CONDITIONS TODAY. THE STRONGEST WINDS...WITH
GUSTS TO AT LEAST 40 MPH...WILL OCCUR DURING MIDDAY AND THROUGH
THE AFTERNOON HOURS. THE WINDS WILL DIMINISH BY SUNSET.

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-200000-
/O.CON.KDVN.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-151020T0000Z/
BUCHANAN-DELAWARE-DUBUQUE-BENTON-LINN-JONES-JACKSON-IOWA-JOHNSON-
CEDAR-CLINTON-MUSCATINE-SCOTT-KEOKUK-WASHINGTON-LOUISA-JEFFERSON-
HENRY IA-DES MOINES-VAN BUREN-LEE-JO DAVIESS-STEPHENSON-CARROLL-
WHITESIDE-ROCK ISLAND-HENRY IL-BUREAU-PUTNAM-MERCER-HENDERSON-
WARREN-HANCOCK-MCDONOUGH-SCOTLAND-CLARK-
1154 AM CDT MON OCT 19 2015

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

* TIMING...10 AM TO 7 PM TODAY.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AT LEAST 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 23 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 70S.

* FUEL...CROPS AND AGRICULTURAL FUELS ARE OVER 90 PERCENT CURED. 
  THE MAJORITY OF WILD GRASSES ARE 60 TO 70 PERCENT CURED AND 
  COMBUSTIBLE. HARVESTING OF CROPS WILL PRODUCE THE LARGER 
  THREAT BUT GRASSY AREAS NEAR FARMLAND CAN EASILY START FROM 
  EMBERS CARRIED BY THE WIND.

* GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX/GFDI/...HIGH. CROPLAND FIRE DANGER 
  INDEX...VERY HIGH TO EXTREME.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY AND BE VERY DIFFICULT 
  TO CONTROL IN THESE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. OUTDOOR BURNING IS 
  HIGHLY DISCOURAGED AND 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 OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...DRY FUELS AND WARM
TEMPERATURES MAY LEAD TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

&&

$$
579 
WWUS83 KDVN 192007
RFWDVN

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
307 PM CDT MON OCT 19 2015

...DANGEROUS FIRE CONDITIONS THROUGH SUNSET...

.SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH SUNSET. THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW
HUMIDITY LEVELS AND DRY FUELS WILL CREATE DANGEROUS FIRE
CONDITIONS. THE WINDS WILL DIMINISH RAPIDLY WITH SUNSET.

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-200000-
/O.CON.KDVN.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-151020T0000Z/
BUCHANAN-DELAWARE-DUBUQUE-BENTON-LINN-JONES-JACKSON-IOWA-JOHNSON-
CEDAR-CLINTON-MUSCATINE-SCOTT-KEOKUK-WASHINGTON-LOUISA-JEFFERSON-
HENRY IA-DES MOINES-VAN BUREN-LEE-JO DAVIESS-STEPHENSON-CARROLL-
WHITESIDE-ROCK ISLAND-HENRY IL-BUREAU-PUTNAM-MERCER-HENDERSON-
WARREN-HANCOCK-MCDONOUGH-SCOTLAND-CLARK-
307 PM CDT MON OCT 19 2015

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

* TIMING...NOW THROUGH 7 PM TODAY.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST AT 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH. WINDS
  WILL DIMINISH RAPIDLY WITH SUNSET.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 23 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE 73 TO 77.

* FUEL...CROPS AND AGRICULTURAL FUELS ARE OVER 90 PERCENT CURED. 
  THE MAJORITY OF WILD GRASSES ARE 60 TO 70 PERCENT CURED AND 
  COMBUSTIBLE. HARVESTING OF CROPS WILL PRODUCE THE LARGER 
  THREAT BUT GRASSY AREAS NEAR FARMLAND CAN EASILY START FROM 
  EMBERS CARRIED BY THE WIND.

* GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX/GFDI/...HIGH. CROPLAND FIRE DANGER 
  INDEX...VERY HIGH TO EXTREME.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY AND BE VERY DIFFICULT 
  TO CONTROL IN THESE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. OUTDOOR BURNING IS 
  HIGHLY DISCOURAGED AND 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 OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...DRY FUELS AND WARM
TEMPERATURES MAY LEAD TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

&&

$$
791 
WWUS83 KDVN 200005
RFWDVN

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
705 PM CDT MON OCT 19 2015

...FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS HAVE IMPROVED...

.WINDS HAVE DECREASED...ALONG WITH TEMPERATURES...RESULTING IN
LESS DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-200115-
/O.EXP.KDVN.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-151020T0000Z/
BUCHANAN-DELAWARE-DUBUQUE-BENTON-LINN-JONES-JACKSON-IOWA-JOHNSON-
CEDAR-CLINTON-MUSCATINE-SCOTT-KEOKUK-WASHINGTON-LOUISA-JEFFERSON-
HENRY IA-DES MOINES-VAN BUREN-LEE-JO DAVIESS-STEPHENSON-CARROLL-
WHITESIDE-ROCK ISLAND-HENRY IL-BUREAU-PUTNAM-MERCER-HENDERSON-
WARREN-HANCOCK-MCDONOUGH-SCOTLAND-CLARK-
705 PM CDT MON OCT 19 2015

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

WINDS HAVE DECREASED AS OF SUNSET...ALLOWING THE DANGEROUS FIRE
WEATHER CONDITIONS TO SUBSIDE. 

$$

ERVIN

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Iowa, 2015Red Flag Warnings in Illinois, 2015Red Flag Warnings in Missouri, 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.