Alert archive / Washington / Red Flag Warnings in 2016

Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Seattle, WA

August 19, 2016

NWS Seattle, WA issued this red flag warning at Aug 19, 2016, 9:01 AM PDT. It took effect at Aug 20, 2016, 8:00 AM PDT. It was in force for 14 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
Aug 19, 2016, 9:01 AM PDT (16:01 UTC)
In effect from
Aug 20, 2016, 8:00 AM PDT
Expired
Aug 20, 2016, 10:00 PM PDT
In force
14 hr
Issued by
NWS Seattle, WA

The text

As transmitted.

972 
WWUS86 KSEW 191601
RFWSEW

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
901 AM PDT FRI AUG 19 2016

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT TODAY AND THIS EVENING FOR A
COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND A MODERATE BREEZE FOR
ALL OF WESTERN WASHINGTON EXCEPT THE IMMEDIATE COAST...

...A RED FLAG WARNING CONTINUES ON SATURDAY OVER THE OLYMPIC
MOUNTAINS AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL AND NORTH CASCADES FOR DRY AND
UNSTABLE CONDITIONS...

.AN EAST AND NORTHEAST WIND EVENT IS UNDERWAY TODAY. WINDS WILL
DIMINISH LATER TODAY AND THIS EVENING. A DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS
WILL THEN SETTLE OVER THE MOUNTAINS TONIGHT AND
SATURDAY...CONTINUING CRITICAL CONDITIONS OVER THE MOUNTAINS ON
SATURDAY.

WAZ652-658-659-661-200015-
/O.CAN.KSEW.FW.A.0002.160820T0700Z-160821T0000Z/
/O.EXT.KSEW.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-160821T0500Z/
WEST PORTION OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS-
WEST SLOPES OF THE NORTH CASCADES GENERALLY ABOVE 1500 FEET-
WEST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES GENERALLY ABOVE 1500 FEET-
EAST PORTION OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS-
901 AM PDT FRI AUG 19 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR LOW
HUMIDITY IN COMBINATION WITH A MODERATE BREEZE TODAY THEN AN
UNSTABLE AIR MASS ON SATURDAY...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 652...661...658 AND 659.
  THIS INCLUDES THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS ABOVE 1500 FEET AS WELL AS
  THE WEST SIDE OF THE CASCADES ABOVE 1500 FEET.

* HUMIDITY...15 TO 25 PERCENT WILL BE COMMON THIS AFTERNOON AND
  AGAIN ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON...WITH POOR RELATIVE HUMIDITY
  RECOVERY TONIGHT.

* WIND...NORTHEAST AND EAST WINDS OF 10 TO 20 MPH
  TODAY...ESPECIALLY OVER THE NORTHWEST PORTION OF THE OLYMPIC
  PENINSULA AND WEST OF THE MAJOR CASCADE PASSES. WINDS WILL
  DIMINISH THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

* INSTABILITY...THE AIR MASS WILL BECOME MORE UNSTABLE LATER
  TODAY...WITH UNSTABLE CONDITIONS PERSISTING THROUGH SATURDAY
  EVENING. MID-LEVEL HAINES 5 AND 6 CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
  TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING.

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE UNDERWAY. WEATHER
  WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT AGGRAVATING FACTOR ON ANY FIRES THAT GET
  STARTED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW, OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF A
MODERATE BREEZE...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO RAPID RATES OF SPREAD AND DOWNWIND SPOTTING ON
EXISTING FIRES.

A DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS WITH WARM TEMPERATURES CAN CONTRIBUTE
TO ACTIVE FIRE BEHAVIOR. IN WESTERN WASHINGTON, SIGNIFICANT GROWTH
ON EXISTING FIRES TAKES PLACE UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS.

ONCE THE RED FLAG WARNING EXPIRES...BACKGROUND FIRE DANGER DUE TO
DRY FUELS WILL REMAIN. HOWEVER...THE WEATHER WILL BE LESS OF AN
AGGRAVATING FACTOR.

&&

$$

WAZ650-654>657-200015-
/O.CAN.KSEW.FW.A.0002.160820T0700Z-160821T0000Z/
/O.CON.KSEW.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-160820T0700Z/
NORTH COASTAL LOWLANDS-CENTRAL AND SOUTH PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS-
BLACK HILLS AND SOUTHWEST INTERIOR LOWLANDS-
NORTHEAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS GENERALLY BELOW 1500 FEET-
SOUTHEAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS GENERALLY BELOW 1500 FEET-
901 AM PDT FRI AUG 19 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT PDT TONIGHT
FOR A COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND A MODERATE
BREEZE...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 650...654...656...AND 657.
  THIS INCLUDES THE NORTH COASTAL LOWLANDS...THE NORTH AND CENTRAL
  INTERIOR LOWLANDS ZONES BELOW 1500 FEET.

* WIND...NORTHEAST TO EAST WIND 10 TO 18 MPH. 

* HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15 TO 25 PERCENT WILL BE COMMON
  THIS AFTERNOON. 

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE UNDERWAY. WEATHER
  WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT AGGRAVATING FACTOR ON ANY FIRES THAT GET
  STARTED. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW, OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF A
MODERATE BREEZE...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO RAPID RATES OF SPREAD AND DOWNWIND SPOTTING ON
EXISTING FIRES. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN THE TALL DRY GRASS
ALONG ROADSIDES. 

ONCE THE RED FLAG WARNING EXPIRES...BACKGROUND FIRE DANGER DUE TO
DRY FUELS WILL REMAIN. HOWEVER...THE WEATHER WILL BE LESS OF AN
AGGRAVATING FACTOR.

&&

$$

WAZ662-200015-
/O.NEW.KSEW.FW.W.0002.160820T1500Z-160821T0500Z/
EAST PORTION OF NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK/LAKE CHELAN NATIONAL
RECREATIONAL AREA-
901 AM PDT FRI AUG 19 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM TO 10 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR
DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM TO 10 PM PDT SATURDAY. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 662. THIS IS THE PORTION OF
  THE NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK COMPLEX EAST OF THE CASCADE
  CREST...INCLUDING STEHEKIN.

* HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY ON SATURDAY WILL DROP BELOW 15
  PERCENT.

* INSTABILITY...A DEEP COLUMN OF DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR WILL DEVELOP
  ON SATURDAY. THE MID-LEVEL HAINES INDEX WILL REACH A 6...WHICH
  INDICATES A DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING
  LARGE FIRE GROWTH.

* IMPACTS...WEATHER WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT AGGRAVATING FACTOR ON
  ANY FIRES THAT GET STARTED. FIRE DANGER IS ALREADY HIGH TODAY
  DUE TO DRY FUELS AND LOW HUMIDITY...BUT INSTABILITY WILL BE THE
  ADDED AGGRAVATING FACTOR ON SATURDAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW, OR WILL SHORTLY. A DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR
MASS WITH WARM TEMPERATURES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ACTIVE FIRE
BEHAVIOR. SIGNIFICANT GROWTH ON EXISTING FIRES TAKES PLACE UNDER
SUCH CONDITIONS.

&&

$$

WAZ653-200015-
/O.CON.KSEW.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-160820T0700Z/
STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA AND NORTHWEST INTERIOR LOWLANDS-
901 AM PDT FRI AUG 19 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT PDT TONIGHT
FOR THE COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND A MODERATE
BREEZE...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 653. THIS INCLUDES THE 
  NORTHWEST INTERIOR LOWLANDS AND THE AREAS NEAR THE STRAIT OF 
  JUAN DE FUCA. 

* WIND...NORTHEAST 10 TO 18 MPH TODAY...DIMINISHING LATE THIS
  AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. 

* HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 20 TO 35 PERCENT WILL BE COMMON
  THIS AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE UNDERWAY.
  WEATHER WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT AGGRAVATING FACTOR ON ANY FIRES
  THAT GET STARTED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW, OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF A
MODERATE BREEZE...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO RAPID RATES OF SPREAD AND DOWNWIND SPOTTING ON
EXISTING FIRES.

ONCE THE RED FLAG WARNING EXPIRES...BACKGROUND FIRE DANGER DUE TO
DRY FUELS WILL REMAIN. HOWEVER...THE WEATHER WILL BE LESS OF AN
AGGRAVATING FACTOR.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
080 
WWUS86 KSEW 192204
RFWSEW

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
304 PM PDT FRI AUG 19 2016

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
650...654...655 AND 657 UNTIL 10 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND A MODERATE BREEZE...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL SATURDAY EVENING OVER THE
OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL AND NORTH CASCADES FOR
DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS...

.A THERMAL PRESSURE TROUGH WAS LOCATED NEAR THE COAST ON FRIDAY
AFTERNOON. THIS FEATURE WILL MIGRATE EASTWARD ACROSS WESTERN
WASHINGTON ON SATURDAY. ON ONE HAND...THIS WILL BRING LIGHTER
WINDS. HOWEVER...THIS FEATURE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN EXTREMELY
DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS ABOVE 3000 FEET.

WAZ653-656-192315-
/O.CAN.KSEW.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-160820T0700Z/
STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA AND NORTHWEST INTERIOR LOWLANDS-
NORTHEAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS GENERALLY BELOW 1500 FEET-
304 PM PDT FRI AUG 19 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR A COMBINATION OF LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND A MODERATE BREEZE...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS CANCELLED THE RED
FLAG WARNING. 

DRY NORTHEASTERLY FRASER OUTFLOW WINDS HAVE ENDED, AND WIND SPEEDS
ARE GENERALLY BELOW 10 MPH. INSTEAD...SEABREEZES HAVE DEVELOPED
THIS AFTERNOON OVER THE INTERIOR OF NORTHWEST WASHINGTON...WHICH
WILL BRING RISING HUMIDITY FOR THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON.

ALTHOUGH THE RED FLAG WARNING HAS ENDED...BACKGROUND FIRE DANGER
DUE TO DRY FUELS WILL REMAIN FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. IN
ADDITION...NEAR-RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL CONTRIBUTE TO
ELEVATED FIRE DANGER FOR THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON.

$$

WAZ650-654-655-657-200500-
/O.EXT.KSEW.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-160820T0500Z/
NORTH COASTAL LOWLANDS-CENTRAL AND SOUTH PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS-
BLACK HILLS AND SOUTHWEST INTERIOR LOWLANDS-
SOUTHEAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS GENERALLY BELOW 1500 FEET-
304 PM PDT FRI AUG 19 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT THIS EVENING
FOR A COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND A MODERATE
BREEZE...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 650...654...655...AND 657.
  THIS INCLUDES THE NORTH COASTAL LOWLANDS...AND THE CENTRAL AND
  SOUTHWEST INTERIOR LOWLANDS BELOW 1500 FEET. THIS INCLUDES THE
  KITSAP PENINSULA...THE I-5 CORRIDOR FROM SEATTLE ON SOUTH...AND
  THE NORTHWEST OLYMPIC PENINSULA.

* WIND...NORTHEAST TO NORTHEAST WIND 8 TO 15 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15 TO 30 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE UNDERWAY. WEATHER
  WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT AGGRAVATING FACTOR ON ANY FIRES THAT GET
  STARTED DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF HOT TEMPERATURES...LOW RELATIVE
  HUMIDITY AND MODERATE BREEZES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW... OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF A
MODERATE BREEZE...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO RAPID RATES OF SPREAD AND DOWNWIND SPOTTING ON
EXISTING FIRES. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN THE TALL DRY GRASS
ALONG ROADSIDES.

ONCE THE RED FLAG WARNING EXPIRES LATE THIS EVENING...BACKGROUND
FIRE DANGER DUE TO DRY FUELS WILL REMAIN. HOWEVER...THE WEATHER
WILL BE LESS OF AN AGGRAVATING FACTOR.

&&

$$

WAZ652-658-659-661-201615-
/O.CON.KSEW.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-160821T0500Z/
WEST PORTION OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS-
WEST SLOPES OF THE NORTH CASCADES GENERALLY ABOVE 1500 FEET-
WEST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES GENERALLY ABOVE 1500 FEET-
EAST PORTION OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS-
304 PM PDT FRI AUG 19 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT SATURDAY
FOR A DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 652...661...658 AND 659. 
  THIS INCLUDES THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS ABOVE 1500 FEET AS WELL AS 
  THE WEST SIDE OF THE CASCADES ABOVE 1500 FEET. 

* HUMIDITY...15 TO 25 PERCENT WILL BE COMMON THIS AFTERNOON AND 
  AGAIN ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON...WITH POOR RELATIVE HUMIDITY 
  RECOVERY TONIGHT.

* WIND...EAST WINDS HAVE MOSTLY DIMINISHED BELOW 10 MPH...AND
  SPEEDS WILL CONTINUE TO DIMINISH THIS EVENING. 

* INSTABILITY...THE AIR MASS WILL BE UNSTABLE THROUGH SATURDAY
  EVENING. MID-LEVEL HAINES 5 AND 6 CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
  TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING.

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE UNDERWAY.
  WEATHER WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT AGGRAVATING FACTOR ON ANY FIRES 
  THAT GET STARTED. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW... OR WILL SHORTLY. A DRY AND UNSTABLE
AIR MASS WITH WARM TEMPERATURES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ACTIVE FIRE
BEHAVIOR. IN WESTERN WASHINGTON... SIGNIFICANT GROWTH ON EXISTING
FIRES TAKES PLACE UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS.

ONCE THE RED FLAG WARNING EXPIRES...BACKGROUND FIRE DANGER DUE TO
DRY FUELS WILL REMAIN. HOWEVER...THE WEATHER WILL BE LESS OF AN
AGGRAVATING FACTOR.

&&

$$

WAZ662-201615-
/O.CON.KSEW.FW.W.0002.160820T1500Z-160821T0500Z/
EAST PORTION OF NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK/LAKE CHELAN NATIONAL
RECREATIONAL AREA-
304 PM PDT FRI AUG 19 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM TO 10 PM PDT
SATURDAY FOR DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 662. THIS IS THE PORTION OF 
  THE NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK COMPLEX EAST OF THE CASCADE 
  CREST...INCLUDING STEHEKIN. 

* HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY ON SATURDAY WILL DROP BELOW 15 
  PERCENT.

* INSTABILITY...A DEEP COLUMN OF DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR WILL
  DEVELOP ON SATURDAY. THE MID-LEVEL HAINES INDEX WILL REACH A 
  6...WHICH INDICATES A DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS CAPABLE OF 
  SUPPORTING LARGE FIRE GROWTH. 

* IMPACTS...WEATHER WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT AGGRAVATING FACTOR ON 
  ANY FIRES THAT GET STARTED. FIRE DANGER IS ALREADY HIGH TODAY 
  DUE TO DRY FUELS AND LOW HUMIDITY...BUT INSTABILITY WILL BE 
  THE ADDED AGGRAVATING FACTOR ON SATURDAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW... OR WILL SHORTLY. A DRY AND UNSTABLE
AIR MASS WITH WARM TEMPERATURES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ACTIVE FIRE
BEHAVIOR. SIGNIFICANT GROWTH ON EXISTING FIRES TAKES PLACE UNDER
SUCH CONDITIONS.

&&

$$
101 
WWUS86 KSEW 201510
RFWSEW

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
810 AM PDT SAT AUG 20 2016

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 650...
654...655 AND 657 UNTIL 10 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY AND A MODERATE BREEZE...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING OVER THE
OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL AND NORTH CASCADES FOR
DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS...

.A THERMAL PRESSURE TROUGH WAS ALONG COAST THIS MORNING AND IS
EXPECTED TO SHIFT EASTWARD ACROSS WESTERN WASHINGTON THROUGH
TODAY. THIS FEATURE IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN EXTREMELY DRY AND
UNSTABLE AIR MASS ABOVE 2000 FEET.

WAZ652-658-659-661-202315-
/O.CON.KSEW.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-160821T0500Z/
WEST PORTION OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS-
WEST SLOPES OF THE NORTH CASCADES GENERALLY ABOVE 1500 FEET-
WEST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES GENERALLY ABOVE 1500 FEET-
EAST PORTION OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS-
810 AM PDT SAT AUG 20 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT THIS
EVENING FOR A DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 652...661...658 AND 659. 
  THIS INCLUDES THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS ABOVE 1500 FEET AS WELL AS 
  THE WEST SIDE OF THE CASCADES ABOVE 1500 FEET. 

* HUMIDITY...15 TO 25 PERCENT WILL BE COMMON THIS AFTERNOON INTO
  THIS EVENING.

* INSTABILITY...THE AIR MASS WILL BE UNSTABLE THROUGH THIS
  EVENING. MID-LEVEL HAINES 5 AND 6 CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED.

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTINUE. WEATHER
  WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT AGGRAVATING FACTOR ON ANY FIRES THAT GET
  STARTED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW... OR WILL SHORTLY. A DRY AND UNSTABLE
AIR MASS WITH WARM TEMPERATURES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ACTIVE FIRE
BEHAVIOR. IN WESTERN WASHINGTON... SIGNIFICANT GROWTH ON EXISTING
FIRES TAKES PLACE UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS.

ONCE THE RED FLAG WARNING EXPIRES...BACKGROUND FIRE DANGER DUE TO
DRY FUELS WILL REMAIN. HOWEVER...THE WEATHER WILL BE LESS OF AN
AGGRAVATING FACTOR.

&&

$$

WAZ662-202315-
/O.CON.KSEW.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-160821T0500Z/
EAST PORTION OF NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK/LAKE CHELAN NATIONAL
RECREATIONAL AREA-
810 AM PDT SAT AUG 20 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT THIS
EVENING FOR DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 662. THIS IS THE PORTION OF 
  THE NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK COMPLEX EAST OF THE CASCADE 
  CREST...INCLUDING STEHEKIN. 

* HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY TODAY WILL DROP BELOW 15 PERCENT.

* INSTABILITY...A DEEP COLUMN OF DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR WILL DEVELOP
  TODAY. THE MID-LEVEL HAINES INDEX WILL REACH A 6...WHICH
  INDICATES A DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING
  LARGE FIRE GROWTH.

* IMPACTS...WEATHER WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT AGGRAVATING FACTOR ON
  ANY FIRES THAT GET STARTED. FIRE DANGER IS HIGH TODAY DUE TO DRY
  FUELS AND LOW HUMIDITY...BUT INSTABILITY WILL ADD AN AGGRAVATING
  FACTOR TODAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW... OR WILL SHORTLY. A DRY AND UNSTABLE
AIR MASS WITH WARM TEMPERATURES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ACTIVE FIRE
BEHAVIOR. SIGNIFICANT GROWTH ON EXISTING FIRES TAKES PLACE UNDER
SUCH CONDITIONS.

&&

$$

WWW.WEATHER.GOV/

BUEHNER
043 
WWUS86 KSEW 202140
RFWSEW

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
240 PM PDT SAT AUG 20 2016

...A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
652...658...659 AND 661 UNTIL 10 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND A MID-LEVEL UNSTABLE AIR MASS...

.A THERMAL SURFACE PRESSURE TROUGH IN THE WESTERN INTERIOR THIS
AFTERNOON IS EXPECTED TO SHIFT EAST OF THE CASCADES TONIGHT. THIS
FEATURE IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN EXTREMELY DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS
ABOVE 2000 FEET. LOW LEVEL ONSHORE FLOW WITH A MUCH COOLER AIR
MASS WILL SURGE ONSHORE AND INTO THE INTERIOR THROUGH THE NIGHT.

WAZ652-658-659-661-210500-
/O.CON.KSEW.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-160821T0500Z/
WEST PORTION OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS-
WEST SLOPES OF THE NORTH CASCADES GENERALLY ABOVE 1500 FEET-
WEST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES GENERALLY ABOVE 1500 FEET-
EAST PORTION OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS-
240 PM PDT SAT AUG 20 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT THIS
EVENING FOR A DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 652...661...658 AND 659. 
  THIS INCLUDES THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS ABOVE 1500 FEET AS WELL AS 
  THE WEST SIDE OF THE CASCADES ABOVE 1500 FEET. 

* HUMIDITY...15 TO 25 PERCENT WILL BE COMMON INTO THIS EVENING. 

* INSTABILITY...THE AIR MASS WILL BE UNSTABLE THROUGH THIS
  EVENING. MID-LEVEL HAINES 5 AND 6 CONDITIONS EXPECTED.

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTINUE. WEATHER 
  WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT AGGRAVATING FACTOR ON ANY FIRES THAT 
  GET STARTED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
IN PLACE. A DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS WITH WARM TEMPERATURES CAN
CONTRIBUTE TO ACTIVE FIRE BEHAVIOR. IN WESTERN WASHINGTON...
SIGNIFICANT GROWTH ON EXISTING FIRES TAKES PLACE UNDER SUCH
CONDITIONS.

ONCE THE RED FLAG WARNING EXPIRES TONIGHT...BACKGROUND FIRE
DANGER DUE TO DRY FUELS WILL REMAIN. HOWEVER...THE WEATHER WILL BE
LESS OF AN AGGRAVATING FACTOR.

&&

$$

WAZ662-210500-
/O.CON.KSEW.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-160821T0500Z/
EAST PORTION OF NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK/LAKE CHELAN NATIONAL
RECREATIONAL AREA-
240 PM PDT SAT AUG 20 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT THIS
EVENING FOR DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 662. THIS IS THE PORTION OF 
  THE NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK COMPLEX EAST OF THE CASCADE 
  CREST...INCLUDING STEHEKIN. 

* HUMIDITY...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES BETWEEN 10 AND 20 PERCENT. 

* INSTABILITY...A DEEP COLUMN OF DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR. THE MID-
  LEVEL HAINES INDEX OF 6 INDICATING A DRY AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS
  CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING LARGE FIRE GROWTH.

* IMPACTS...WEATHER WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT AGGRAVATING FACTOR ON
  ANY FIRES THAT GET STARTED. FIRE DANGER IS HIGH TODAY DUE TO DRY
  FUELS AND LOW HUMIDITY...BUT INSTABILITY WILL ADD AN AGGRAVATING
  FACTOR THROUGH THIS EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW... OR WILL SHORTLY. A DRY AND UNSTABLE
AIR MASS WITH WARM TEMPERATURES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ACTIVE FIRE
BEHAVIOR. SIGNIFICANT GROWTH ON EXISTING FIRES TAKES PLACE UNDER
SUCH CONDITIONS.

&&

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Seattle, WA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 19, 2:51 AM PDTSmall Craft AdvisorySEW20 hr
Aug 19, 3:39 PM PDTGale WatchSEW23 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Washington, 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.