Alert archive / Arizona / Red Flag Warnings in 2016

Red Flag Warning 13, NWS Tucson, AZ

May 14, 20166 counties in Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this red flag warning at May 14, 2016, 2:33 PM MST for 6 counties in Arizona. It took effect at May 15, 2016, 11:00 AM MST. It was in force for 8 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
May 14, 2016, 2:33 PM MST (21:33 UTC)
In effect from
May 15, 2016, 11:00 AM MST
Expired
May 15, 2016, 7:00 PM MST
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ

Counties Cochise County, AZ, Graham County, AZ, Greenlee County, AZ, Pima County, AZ, Pinal County, AZ, Santa Cruz County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 61 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:35 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

Tuscon, AZ (KDMA), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 49 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, Tuscon, AZ at 12:00Z on 2016-05-14Temperature 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, Tuscon, AZ at 12:00Z on 2016-05-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -23 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
3033 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-23 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
28 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

522 
WWUS85 KTWC 142133
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
233 PM MST SAT MAY 14 2016

AZZ151-152-151200-
/O.UPG.KTWC.FW.A.0011.160515T1800Z-160516T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KTWC.FW.W.0013.160515T1800Z-160516T0200Z/
ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 151
EASTERN PIMA COUNTY-SOUTHEASTERN PINAL COUNTY-
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY-WESTERN COCHISE COUNTY-
CORONADO NF-TDC-ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 152
SOUTHERN GRAHAM COUNTY-CENTRAL AND EASTERN COCHISE COUNTY-
SOUTHERN GREENLEE COUNTY-
LOWER ELEVATIONS OF THE SAN CARLOS APACHE NATION 
IN GRAHAM COUNTY-CORONADO NF-SAFFORD BLM-TDC-
233 PM MST SAT MAY 14 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MST SUNDAY FOR
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR THE
SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONES 151 AND 152...AND THE
GALIURO AND PINALENO MOUNTAINS.

* AFFECTED AREA...THE SOUTHERN TWO-THIRDS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONE
  151...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 152 IN COCHISE COUNTY AND THE GALIURO
  AND PINALENO MOUNTAIN RANGES OF GRAHAM COUNTY.

* TIMING...FROM 11 AM THROUGH 7 PM SUNDAY.

* WINDS...20-FT WINDS FROM THE SOUTH AT 10 TO 20 MPH IN THE
  MORNING ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME SOUTHWEST AT 20 TO 30 MPH BY
  MIDDAY ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH ARE LIKELY
  WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH POSSIBLE OVER HIGHER TERRAIN.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...HUMIDITY LEVELS SHOULD BEGIN TO DROP BELOW
  15 PERCENT AROUND 11 AM...WITH AFTERNOON MINIMUMS BETWEEN 7 AND
  12 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP OR ARE ONGOING WILL HAVE THE 
  POTENTIAL TO SPREAD RAPIDLY UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

* FOR A DETAILED VIEW OF THE HAZARD AREA...VISIT 
  WEATHER.GOV/TUCSON AND CLICK ON THE DETAILED HAZARDS TAB.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

&&

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP. A
COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND DRY
VEGETATION WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR RAPID AND ERRATIC FIRE
GROWTH.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THE RED FLAG WARNING FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ARIZONA.

&&

$$


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3 follow-up statements
326 
WWUS85 KTWC 151119
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
419 AM MST SUN MAY 15 2016

AZZ151-152-152300-
/O.CON.KTWC.FW.W.0013.160515T1800Z-160516T0200Z/
ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 151
EASTERN PIMA COUNTY-SOUTHEASTERN PINAL COUNTY-
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY-WESTERN COCHISE COUNTY-
CORONADO NF-TDC-ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 152
SOUTHERN GRAHAM COUNTY-CENTRAL AND EASTERN COCHISE COUNTY-
SOUTHERN GREENLEE COUNTY-
LOWER ELEVATIONS OF THE SAN CARLOS APACHE NATION 
IN GRAHAM COUNTY-CORONADO NF-SAFFORD BLM-TDC-
419 AM MST SUN MAY 15 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
7 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
AND HIGH FIRE DANGER RATING FOR THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 151 AND 152...AND THE GALIURO AND PINALENO
MOUNTAINS...

 * AFFECTED AREA...THE SOUTHERN TWO-THIRDS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONE
   151...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 152 IN COCHISE COUNTY AND THE GALIURO
   AND PINALENO MOUNTAIN RANGES OF GRAHAM COUNTY.

 * TIMING...FROM 11 AM THROUGH 7 PM TODAY.

 * WINDS...20-FT WINDS FROM THE SOUTH AT 10 TO 20 MPH DURING THE
   MID MORNING HOURS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME SOUTHWEST AT 20 TO 30
   MPH BY LATE MORNING. GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH
   GUSTS TO 45 MPH POSSIBLE OVER HIGHER TERRAIN.

 * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL BOTTOM OUT
   THIS AFTERNOON BETWEEN 6 AND 15 PERCENT.

 * IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP OR ARE ONGOING WILL HAVE THE 
   POTENTIAL TO SPREAD RAPIDLY UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

 * FOR A DETAILED VIEW OF THE HAZARD AREA...VISIT
   WEATHER.GOV/TUCSON AND CLICK ON THE DETAILED HAZARDS TAB.
   PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP. A
COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND DRY
VEGETATION WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR RAPID AND ERRATIC FIRE
GROWTH.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THE RED FLAG WARNING FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ARIZONA.

&&

$$

VISIT US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...YOUTUBE...AND AT WEATHER.GOV/TUCSON
835 
WWUS85 KTWC 152153
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
253 PM MST SUN MAY 15 2016

AZZ151-152-160200-
/O.CON.KTWC.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-160516T0200Z/
ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 151
EASTERN PIMA COUNTY-SOUTHEASTERN PINAL COUNTY-
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY-WESTERN COCHISE COUNTY-
CORONADO NF-TDC-ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 152
SOUTHERN GRAHAM COUNTY-CENTRAL AND EASTERN COCHISE COUNTY-
SOUTHERN GREENLEE COUNTY-
LOWER ELEVATIONS OF THE SAN CARLOS APACHE NATION 
IN GRAHAM COUNTY-CORONADO NF-SAFFORD BLM-TDC-
253 PM MST SUN MAY 15 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND HIGH FIRE DANGER
RATING FOR THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONES 151 AND
152...AND THE GALIURO AND PINALENO MOUNTAINS...

 * TIMING...UNTIL 7 PM THIS EVENING. 

 * WINDS...20-FT WINDS FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 20 TO 30 MPH TAPERING
   OFF QUICKLY AROUND SUNSET. GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE
   OVER HIGHER TERRAIN.

 * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL BOTTOM OUT  
   THIS AFTERNOON BETWEEN 5 AND 15 PERCENT.

 * IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP OR ARE ONGOING WILL HAVE THE 
   POTENTIAL TO SPREAD RAPIDLY UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

 * FOR A DETAILED VIEW OF THE HAZARD AREA...VISIT   
   WEATHER.GOV/TUCSON AND CLICK ON THE DETAILED HAZARDS TAB.   

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP. A
COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND DRY
VEGETATION WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR RAPID AND ERRATIC FIRE
GROWTH.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD OF THE RED FLAG WARNING FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ARIZONA.

&&

$$


VISIT US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...YOUTUBE...AND AT WEATHER.GOV/TUCSON
619 
WWUS85 KTWC 160154
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
654 PM MST SUN MAY 15 2016

AZZ151-152-160300-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-160516T0200Z/
ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 151
EASTERN PIMA COUNTY-SOUTHEASTERN PINAL COUNTY-
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY-WESTERN COCHISE COUNTY-
CORONADO NF-TDC-ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 152
SOUTHERN GRAHAM COUNTY-CENTRAL AND EASTERN COCHISE COUNTY-
SOUTHERN GREENLEE COUNTY-
LOWER ELEVATIONS OF THE SAN CARLOS APACHE NATION 
IN GRAHAM COUNTY-CORONADO NF-SAFFORD BLM-TDC-
654 PM MST SUN MAY 15 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND HIGH FIRE DANGER RATING
FOR THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONES 151 AND 152...AND
THE GALIURO AND PINALENO MOUNTAINS...

WINDS ARE SUBSIDING THIS EVENING AND HAVE DIMINISHED BELOW RED
FLAG CRITERIA. THEREFORE...THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED
TO EXPIRE AT 7 PM MST. HOWEVER...LOCALIZED NEAR RED FLAG
CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE EXTREME SOUTHEAST CORNER OF ARIZONA
THROUGH 8 PM.

$$

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The office that day

Everything else NWS Tucson, AZ issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 14, 2:30 PM MSTWind AdvisoryTWCCochise, Graham, Pima, Santa Cruz29 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Arizona, 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.