Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2016

Red Flag Warning 4, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

March 1, 201616 counties in Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this red flag warning at Mar 1, 2016, 2:41 PM MST for 16 counties in Colorado. It took effect at Mar 2, 2016, 11:00 AM MST. It was in force for 8 hr. 11 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Mar 1, 2016, 2:41 PM MST (21:41 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 2, 2016, 11:00 AM MST
Expired
Mar 2, 2016, 7:00 PM MST
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Counties Adams County, CO, Arapahoe County, CO, Boulder County, CO, Broomfield County, CO, Denver County, CO, Douglas County, CO, Elbert County, CO, Jefferson County, CO, Larimer County, CO, Lincoln County, CO, Logan County, CO, Morgan County, CO, Phillips County, CO, Sedgwick County, CO, Washington County, CO, Weld County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 42 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:41 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 2, 12:15 PM MSTNON-TSTM WND GST 564 Ne Boulder, CO
Mar 2, 12:23 PM MSTNON-TSTM WND GST 58Briggsdale, COSUSTAINED WIND 41 MPH
Mar 2, 12:33 PM MSTNON-TSTM WND GST 632 Nw Rocky Flats, CO
Mar 2, 12:42 PM MSTNON-TSTM WND GST 501 Ssw Bennett, CO
Mar 2, 1:43 PM MSTNON-TSTM WND GST 672 Sse Gold Hill, CO
Mar 2, 1:53 PM MSTNON-TSTM WND GST 49Akron, CO
Mar 2, 1:53 PM MSTNON-TSTM WND GST 53Denver Intl Airport, CO
Mar 2, 2:03 PM MSTNON-TSTM WND GST 528 Ssw Grover, CO
Mar 2, 2:20 PM MSTNON-TSTM WND GST 693 Ssw Boulder, CO
Mar 2, 3:52 PM MSTNON-TSTM WND GST 504 Ene Loveland, CO
Mar 2, 5:02 PM MSTNON-TSTM WND GST 483 Se Sterling, CO

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDEN), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 80 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 2016-03-01Temperature 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 2016-03-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -14 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
2486 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
86 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-14 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
398 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

014 
WWUS85 KBOU 012141
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
241 PM MST TUE MAR 1 2016


COZ238>251-021200-
/O.UPG.KBOU.FW.A.0002.160302T1800Z-160303T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0004.160302T1800Z-160303T0200Z/
LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTHWEST WELD COUNTY-
BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET/WEST BROOMFIELD
COUNTY-
NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/DENVER/WEST ADAMS AND
ARAPAHOE COUNTIES/EAST BROOMFIELD COUNTY-
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
NORTHEAST WELD COUNTY-CENTRAL AND SOUTH WELD COUNTY-MORGAN COUNTY-
CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
LOGAN COUNTY-WASHINGTON COUNTY-SEDGWICK COUNTY-PHILLIPS COUNTY-
241 PM MST TUE MAR 1 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MST WEDNESDAY
FOR STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 238...239...240...241...242...243...244...245...246...247...
248...249...250 AND 251....

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MST WEDNESDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 238...239...240...241... 
  242...243...244...245...246...247...248...249...250 AND 251.

* TIMING...11 AM THROUGH 7 PM WEDNESDAY.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 14 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS COMBINED WITH DRY FUELS AND 
  LOWER HUMIDITY READINGS WILL CREATE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR 
  RAPID GRASSLAND FIRE GROWTH. ANY FIRE STARTS MAY QUICKLY 
  ESCAPE CONTROL MEASURES DUE TO THE STRENGTH OF THE GUSTY 
  WINDS. DO NOT BURN ON WEDNESDAY.

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.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
641 
WWUS85 KBOU 021051
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
351 AM MST WED MAR 2 2016

...STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL CREATE CRITICAL CONDITIONS
FOR THE FINE FUELS OVER THE PLAINS TODAY...

.STRONG WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL SPREAD FROM THE HIGH TERRAIN
AND ACROSS THE PLAINS AROUND MID MORNING...INCREASING THROUGH MID
AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS REACHING 40 TO 50 MPH. COMBINED WITH LOW
HUMIDITIES AND DRY FINE FUELS...ANY SORT OF BURNING IS HIGHLY
DISCOURAGED. 

COZ238>251-021900-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0004.160302T1800Z-160303T0200Z/
LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTHWEST WELD COUNTY-
BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET/WEST BROOMFIELD
COUNTY-
NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/DENVER/WEST ADAMS AND
ARAPAHOE COUNTIES/EAST BROOMFIELD COUNTY-
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
NORTHEAST WELD COUNTY-CENTRAL AND SOUTH WELD COUNTY-MORGAN COUNTY-
CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
LOGAN COUNTY-WASHINGTON COUNTY-SEDGWICK COUNTY-PHILLIPS COUNTY-
351 AM MST WED MAR 2 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
7 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 238...239...240...241...242...
243...244...245...246...247...248...249...250 AND 251....

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 238...239...240...241... 
  242...243...244...245...246...247...248...249...250 AND 251.

* TIMING...11 AM THROUGH 7 PM WEDNESDAY.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 14 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS COMBINED WITH DRY FUELS AND LOW
  HUMIDITY READINGS WILL CREATE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR RAPID
  GRASSLAND FIRE GROWTH. ANY FIRE STARTS MAY QUICKLY ESCAPE
  CONTROL MEASURES DUE TO THE STRENGTH OF THE WINDS. DO NOT BURN
  TODAY.

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.

&&

$$
407 
WWUS85 KBOU 021925
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
1225 PM MST WED MAR 2 2016

...STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY CREATING VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER OVER
THE PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON...

.STRONG WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE OVER EASTERN
COLORADO THIS AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. WITH LOW
HUMIDITIES AND DRY GRASSES...ANY FIRES THAT START WILL SPREAD
RAPIDLY. ANY SORT OF BURNING IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED.

COZ238>251-030200-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-160303T0200Z/
LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTHWEST WELD COUNTY-
BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET/WEST BROOMFIELD
COUNTY-
NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/DENVER/WEST ADAMS AND
ARAPAHOE COUNTIES/EAST BROOMFIELD COUNTY-
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
NORTHEAST WELD COUNTY-CENTRAL AND SOUTH WELD COUNTY-MORGAN COUNTY-
CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
LOGAN COUNTY-WASHINGTON COUNTY-SEDGWICK COUNTY-PHILLIPS COUNTY-
1225 PM MST WED MAR 2 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 238...239...240...241...242...243...244...245...246...247...
248...249...250 AND 251....

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 238...239...240...241... 
  242...243...244...245...246...247...248...249...250 AND 251.

* TIMING...11 AM THROUGH 7 PM WEDNESDAY.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

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

* IMPACTS...STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS COMBINED WITH DRY FUELS AND 
  LOW HUMIDITY READINGS WILL CREATE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR 
  RAPID GRASSLAND FIRE GROWTH. ANY FIRE STARTS MAY QUICKLY 
  ESCAPE CONTROL MEASURES DUE TO THE STRENGTH OF THE WINDS. DO 
  NOT BURN TODAY.

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.

&&

$$

GIMMESTAD
105 
WWUS85 KBOU 030153
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
653 PM MST WED MAR 2 2016

COZ238>251-030300-
/O.EXP.KBOU.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-160303T0200Z/
LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTHWEST WELD COUNTY-
BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET/WEST BROOMFIELD
COUNTY-
NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/DENVER/WEST ADAMS AND
ARAPAHOE COUNTIES/EAST BROOMFIELD COUNTY-
ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET-
NORTHEAST WELD COUNTY-CENTRAL AND SOUTH WELD COUNTY-MORGAN COUNTY-
CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES-
NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN
COUNTY-
SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY-
LOGAN COUNTY-WASHINGTON COUNTY-SEDGWICK COUNTY-PHILLIPS COUNTY-
653 PM MST WED MAR 2 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 238...239...240...241...242...243...244...245...246...247...
248...249...250 AND 251....

WINDS HAVE DECREASE TO 15 TO 30 MPH AND WILL CONTINUE TO DECREASE
THIS EVENING. IN ADDITION TO THIS...RELATIVE HUMIDITIES HAVE
CLIMBED ABOVE 15 PERCENT...THEREFORE THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE
ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. 

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 1, 3:44 AM MSTFire Weather WatchBOUAdams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and 10 more11 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Colorado, 2016Every red flag warning in 2016

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.