Alert archive / Oregon / Red Flag Warnings in 2016

Red Flag Warning 3, NWS Medford, OR

July 31, 2016Curry County, Oregon

NWS Medford, OR issued this red flag warning at Jul 31, 2016, 5:11 AM PDT for Curry County, Oregon. It was in force for 4 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
Jul 31, 2016, 5:11 AM PDT (12:11 UTC)
Expired
Jul 31, 2016, 9:00 AM PDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Medford, OR

County Curry County, OR

The radar

The Medford radar (KMAX), 130 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 12:10 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

Medford/Jackson, OR (KMFR), launched 12:00Z, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 117 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, Medford/Jackson, OR at 12:00Z on 2016-07-31Temperature 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, Medford/Jackson, OR at 12:00Z on 2016-07-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -29 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
1732 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-29 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
84 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

201 
WWUS86 KMFR 311211
RFWMFR

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
511 AM PDT SUN JUL 31 2016

...GUSTY WINDS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITY THIS MORNING IN THE CURRY
COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND LATER TODAY AND AGAIN ON MONDAY ACROSS
PORTIONS OF THE EAST SIDE...

GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS IN PORTIONS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONE 618 IN
OREGON WILL DIMINISH SOME LATER THIS MORNING. AN APPROACHING UPPER
LEVEL TROUGH AND A VERY DRY AIR MASS IN PLACE ARE EXPECTED TO
COMBINE RESULTING IN VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY WINDS
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS MOST OF FIRE WEATHER ZONE 285 IN
CALIFORNIA. WINDS WILL BE STRONGER ON MONDAY WITH SIMILARLY LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITIES. THIS IS LIKELY TO RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE
WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR PORTIONS OF BOTH FIRE WEATHER ZONE 624 AND
285 MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

ORZ618-311600-
/O.NEW.KMFR.FW.W.0003.160731T1211Z-160731T1600Z/
SOUTHERN OREGON COAST-
511 AM PDT SUN JUL 31 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM PDT THIS MORNING FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEDFORD HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM PDT THIS MORNING. 

* AFFECTED AREA: FIRE WEATHER ZONE 618 FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 1000
  FEET.

* WIND...NORTHEAST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...20 TO 25 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY WINDS THIS
  MORNING WILL RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR RAPID FIRE SPREAD.

* VIEW THE HAZARD AREA IN DETAIL AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/MEDFORD/HAZARD

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

* A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
  ARE OCCURRING.

* ONE LESS SPARK...ONE LESS WILDFIRE.

&&

$$

CAZ285-010000-
/O.CON.KMFR.FW.W.0002.160731T1900Z-160801T0400Z/
/O.CON.KMFR.FW.A.0003.160801T1900Z-160802T0400Z/
MODOC COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE SURPRISE VALLEY-
511 AM PDT SUN JUL 31 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM PDT
THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS WITH LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONE 285...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR FOR GUSTY WINDS WITH LOW HUMIDITY FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONE 285...

* IMPACTS: VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY WINDS THIS AFTERNOON
  AND EVENING WILL RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR RAPID FIRE SPREAD.
  STRONGER WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ON MONDAY WITH SIMILARLY LOW
  RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER
  PERIOD OF CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

* AFFECTED AREA: IN NORTHEASTERN CA...MOST OF FIRE WEATHER ZONE
  285.

* WIND: - THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING: SOUTHWEST 15 MPH GUSTING 25 MPH. 
        - MONDAY: SOUTHWEST 15 TO 20 MPH GUSTING 25 TO 35 MPH.

* MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 4 TO 11 PERCENT.

* HAINES INDEX: 5 (MODERATE).

* VIEW THE HAZARD AREA IN DETAIL AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/MEDFORD/HAZARD

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

* A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER 
  CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR SHORTLY. 

* A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER 
  CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR.

* ONE LESS SPARK...ONE LESS WILDFIRE.

&&

$$

ORZ624-010000-
/O.CON.KMFR.FW.A.0003.160801T1900Z-160802T0400Z/
KLAMATH BASIN AND THE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST-
511 AM PDT SUN JUL 31 2016

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 624...

* IMPACTS: VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND STRONG...GUSTY 
  WINDS MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WILL RESULT IN THE 
  POTENTIAL FOR RAPID FIRE SPREAD.

* AFFECTED AREA: IN SOUTH CENTRAL OR...SOUTHEASTERN PORTION OF
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 624. 

* WIND: SOUTHWEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 7 TO 15 PERCENT.

* HAINES INDEX: 5 (MODERATE).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

* A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER 
  CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR.

* LISTEN FOR LATEST FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS.

* ONE LESS SPARK...ONE LESS WILDFIRE.

&&

$$


VISIT US AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MEDFORD
1 follow-up statement
694 
WWUS86 KMFR 311626
RFWMFR

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
926 AM PDT SUN JUL 31 2016

...GUSTY WINDS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE EAST SIDE THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...
...POOR RECOVERY FOR SW OREGON MOUNTAINS AGAIN TONIGHT BUT WITH
LESS WIND...

AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL TROUGH AND A VERY DRY AIR MASS IN PLACE
ARE EXPECTED TO COMBINE RESULTING IN VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES
AND GUSTY WINDS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS MOST OF FIRE
WEATHER ZONE 285 IN CALIFORNIA. WINDS WILL BE STRONGER ON MONDAY
WITH SIMILARLY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES. THIS IS LIKELY TO RESULT
IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR PORTIONS OF BOTH FIRE
WEATHER ZONE 624 AND 285 MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

ORZ618-311730-
/O.EXP.KMFR.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-160731T1600Z/
SOUTHERN OREGON COAST-
926 AM PDT SUN JUL 31 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITIES FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 618 HAS EXPIRED...

THE RED FLAG WARNING FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 618 HAS EXPIRED.
OFFSHORE WINDS ARE STARTING TO DECREASE THIS MORNING AND HUMIDITY
HAS STABILIZED. EXPECT WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE ABOVE
THE IMMEDIATE COASTAL AREA. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE WEAKER
TONIGHT BUT RECOVERY WILL STILL BE POOR.

$$

CAZ285-010430-
/O.CON.KMFR.FW.W.0002.160731T1900Z-160801T0400Z/
/O.CON.KMFR.FW.A.0003.160801T1900Z-160802T0400Z/
MODOC COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE SURPRISE VALLEY-
926 AM PDT SUN JUL 31 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT THIS EVENING
FOR COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONE 285...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITIES FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 285...

* IMPACTS: VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY WINDS THIS
  AFTERNOON AND EVENING WILL RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR RAPID 
  FIRE SPREAD. STRONGER WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ON MONDAY WITH 
  SIMILARLY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...RESULTING IN THE 
  POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER PERIOD OF CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER 
  CONDITIONS. 

* AFFECTED AREA: IN NORTHEASTERN CA...MOST OF FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  285.

* WIND: - THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING: SOUTHWEST 15 MPH GUSTING
  25 MPH. - MONDAY: SOUTHWEST 15 TO 20 MPH GUSTING 25 TO 35 MPH.

* MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 4 TO 11 PERCENT.

* HAINES INDEX: 5 (MODERATE).

* VIEW THE HAZARD AREA IN DETAIL AT
  HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/MEDFORD/HAZARD

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

* A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER 
  CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR SHORTLY.

* A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER 
  CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR.

* ONE LESS SPARK...ONE LESS WILDFIRE.

&&

$$

ORZ624-010430-
/O.CON.KMFR.FW.A.0003.160801T1900Z-160802T0400Z/
KLAMATH BASIN AND THE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST-
926 AM PDT SUN JUL 31 2016

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITIES FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 624...

* IMPACTS: VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND STRONG...GUSTY 
  WINDS MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WILL RESULT IN THE 
  POTENTIAL FOR RAPID FIRE SPREAD.

* AFFECTED AREA: IN SOUTH CENTRAL OR...SOUTHEASTERN PORTION OF 
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 624.

* WIND: SOUTHWEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 7 TO 15 PERCENT.

* HAINES INDEX: 5 (MODERATE).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

* A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER 
  CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR.

* LISTEN FOR LATEST FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS.

* ONE LESS SPARK...ONE LESS WILDFIRE.

&&

$$


VISIT US AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MEDFORD

The office that day

Everything else NWS Medford, OR issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 31, 2:31 PM PDTGale WarningMFR5 days
Jul 31, 2:46 PM PDTFire Weather WatchMFRHarney, Klamath, Lake24 hr
Jul 31, 2:46 PM PDTRed Flag WarningMFRKlamath, Lake30 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Oregon, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.