Alert archive / Alabama / Red Flag Warnings in 2015

Red Flag Warning 6, NWS Mobile, AL

February 18, 201510 counties in Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this red flag warning at Feb 18, 2015, 5:04 AM CST for 10 counties in Alabama. It took effect at Feb 18, 2015, 12:00 PM CST. It was in force for 6 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
Feb 18, 2015, 5:04 AM CST (11:04 UTC)
In effect from
Feb 18, 2015, 12:00 PM CST
Expired
Feb 18, 2015, 6:00 PM CST
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL

Counties Butler County, AL, Choctaw County, AL, Clarke County, AL, Conecuh County, AL, Covington County, AL, Crenshaw County, AL, Escambia County, AL, Monroe County, AL, Washington County, AL, Wilcox County, AL

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 138 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:10 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

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 182 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, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 2015-02-18Temperature 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, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 2015-02-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -159 square meters per square second.1939587897117136156175Sfc1 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
1238 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
106 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-159 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-89 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.

677 
WWUS84 KMOB 181104
RFWMOB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
504 AM CST WED FEB 18 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM CST THIS 
EVENING FOR SOUTHWEST ALABAMA AND THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE 
LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND HIGH WINDS...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH 
THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWEST ALABAMA FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF 
LOW HUMIDITIES...

.HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS EASTWARD ACROSS THE SOUTHERN STATES THROUGH 
THURSDAY...BRINGING VERY DRY AIR TO THE LOCAL AREA.

ALZ051>064-190315-
/O.NEW.KMOB.FW.W.0006.150218T1800Z-150219T0000Z/
/O.CON.KMOB.FW.A.0004.150219T1700Z-150219T2300Z/
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-
504 AM CST WED FEB 18 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM CST THIS
EVENING FOR HIGH WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING
THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWEST ALABAMA DUE TO A LONG
DURATION OF CRITICALLY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES LESS THAN
24 PERCENT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM CST THIS
EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 051...052...053...054... 
  055...056...057...058...059...060...061...062...063 AND 064. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 17 TO 23 PERCENT.

* WINDS: NORTH NORTHWEST 5 TO 10 MPH IN THE INTERIOR AND 10 TO
  15 MPH CLOSE TO THE COAST. 

* DISPERSIONS: GOOD TO EXCELLENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE
RED FLAG WARNINGS.

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

&&

$$

FLZ001>006-190315-
/O.NEW.KMOB.FW.W.0006.150218T1800Z-150219T0000Z/
/O.EXA.KMOB.FW.A.0004.150219T1700Z-150219T2300Z/
INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-
504 AM CST WED FEB 18 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM CST THIS
EVENING FOR HIGH WINDS...LOW HUMIDITIES AND DRY FUELS...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWEST ALABAMA DUE TO A LONG DURATION
OF CRITICALLY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES LESS THAN 24 PERCENT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM CST THIS
EVENING. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED. THIS FIRE
WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY
AFTERNOON. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 051...052...053...054... 
  055...056...057...058...059...060...061...062...063 AND 064. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 17 TO 23 PERCENT.

* WINDS: NORTH NORTHWEST 5 TO 10 MPH IN THE INTERIOR AND 10 TO
  15 MPH CLOSE TO THE COAST. 

* DISPERSIONS: GOOD.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE
RED FLAG WARNINGS.

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

&&

$$
1 follow-up statement
058 
WWUS84 KMOB 182040
RFWMOB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
240 PM CST WED FEB 18 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR SOUTHWEST ALABAMA AND THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO VERY
LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS...

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

.HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS EASTWARD ACROSS THE SOUTHERN STATES THROUGH
THURSDAY...BRINGING VERY DRY AIR TO THE LOCAL AREA.

FLZ001>006-190000-
/O.CAN.KMOB.FW.A.0004.150219T1700Z-150219T2300Z/
/O.CON.KMOB.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-150219T0000Z/
INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-
240 PM CST WED FEB 18 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR NORTHWEST FLORIDA DUE TO VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY COMBINED 
WITH GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS AND ERC VALUES EXCEEDING 26... 

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA
PANHANDLE ON THURSDAY DUE TO ERC VALUES RANGING FROM 28 TO 35 ON
AVERAGE BUT WILL LACK THE WIND REQUIREMENT...

THE RED FLAG WARNING FOR TODAY REMAINS IN EFFECT. THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS CANCELLED THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR
THURSDAY.


* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 001...002...003...004... 
  005 AND 006. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 17 TO 23 PERCENT.

* WINDS: NORTH NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH FREQUENT GUSTS FROM 30 TO
  35 MPH TODAY..ESPECIALLY CLOSER TO THE COAST. WINDS TO DECREASE ON THURSDAY.

* DISPERSIONS: EXCELLENT TODAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

ALZ051>064-191200-
/O.UPG.KMOB.FW.A.0004.150219T1700Z-150219T2300Z/
/O.NEW.KMOB.FW.W.0007.150219T1700Z-150219T2300Z/
/O.CON.KMOB.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-150219T0000Z/
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-
240 PM CST WED FEB 18 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR SOUTHWEST ALABAMA DUE TO A LONG DURATION OF VERY LOW HUMIDITY 
COMBINED WITH STRONG WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 20 MPH...

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 5 PM CST THURSDAY FOR
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA DUE TO A LONG DURATION OF VERY LOW HUMIDITY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS UPGRADED THE FIRE WEATHER
WATCH ON THURSDAY TO A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11
AM TO 5 PM CST THURSDAY. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 051...052...053...054... 
  055...056...057...058...059...060...061...062...063 AND 064. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 17 TO 23 PERCENT.

* WINDS: NORTH NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH FREQUENT HIGHER GUSTS
  TODAY. WINDS TO DECREASE ON THURSDAY.

* DISPERSIONS: GOOD TO EXCELLENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Mobile, AL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 18, 4:49 AM CSTHard Freeze WarningMOBButler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw and 4 more27 hr
Feb 18, 4:49 AM CSTWind AdvisoryMOBButler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw and 4 more13 hr
Feb 18, 5:33 AM CSTSmall Craft AdvisoryMOB15 hr
Feb 18, 2:40 PM CSTRed Flag WarningMOBButler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw and 4 more26 hr
Feb 18, 3:09 PM CSTHard Freeze WatchMOBButler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw and 3 more14 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Alabama, 2015Red Flag Warnings in Florida, 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.