Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2017

Red Flag Warning 5, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

February 21, 20174 counties in Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this red flag warning at Feb 21, 2017, 8:27 PM MST for 4 counties in Colorado. It took effect at Feb 22, 2017, 11:00 AM MST. It was in force for 7 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 21, 2017, 8:27 PM MST (03:27 UTC)
In effect from
Feb 22, 2017, 11:00 AM MST
Expired
Feb 22, 2017, 6:00 PM MST
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Counties Arapahoe County, CO, Douglas County, CO, Elbert County, CO, Lincoln County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 59 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:32 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

Denver, CO (KDEN), launched 00:00Z, 3.5 hours before the alert went out and 106 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 00:00Z on 2017-02-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 16 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 00:00Z on 2017-02-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 21 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
16 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-45 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3681 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
80 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
21 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
75 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

061 
WWUS85 KBOU 220327
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
827 PM MST Tue Feb 21 2017

Fire weather danger continues to impact the state with increased
winds from the SW over dry grasses and fuels with low relative
humidity. Wind gusts are expected to be from 25 to 35 mph over
Elbert and Lincoln counties with RH values dipping into the lower
teens by tomorrow afternoon. These conditions are expected to last
until late Wednesday. 

COZ241-246-247-221130-
/O.UPG.KBOU.FW.A.0003.170222T1800Z-170223T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0005.170222T1800Z-170223T0100Z/
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet-
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County-
Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County-
827 PM MST Tue Feb 21 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM MST WEDNESDAY
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR PORTIONS OF LINCOLN AND
ELBERT COUNTIES...

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 6 PM MST Wednesday. The Fire Weather Watch is no
longer in effect.

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 241...246 and 247.

* Timing...Gusty winds and warm temperatures will produce 
  another round of high fire danger for the area by late 
  Wednesday morning through Wednesday afternoon.

* Winds...Southwest 15 TO 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* Relative Humidity...as low as 10 percent.

* Impacts...If a fire starts, it will be capable of spreading 
  rapidly through grasses and brush due to the strong winds.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
670 
WWUS85 KBOU 221110
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
410 AM MST Wed Feb 22 2017

...EXTREME FIRE DANGER SOUTH OF DENVER TODAY...

Warm temperatures and gusty winds will produce elevated fire
danger across the plains of Colorado again today. Conditions will
be worst in areas south of Interstate 70 this afternoon.

COZ241-246-247-222000-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0005.170222T1800Z-170223T0100Z/
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet-
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County-
Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County-
410 AM MST Wed Feb 22 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM MST FOR 
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
241...246...AND 247...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 241...246 and 247...eastern
  Douglas...Elbert...and Lincoln counties.

* Timing...Fire danger will increase this morning and be extreme
  this afternoon.

* Winds...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* Relative Humidity...as low as 12 percent.

* Impacts...Fires will ignite easily and spread rapidly due to dry
  fuels and strong winds.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

Gimmestad
344 
WWUS85 KBOU 222027
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
127 PM MST Wed Feb 22 2017

...EXTREME FIRE DANGER SOUTH OF DENVER TODAY...

Warm temperatures and gusty winds will produce elevated fire
danger across the plains of Colorado again today. Conditions will
be worst in areas south of Interstate 70 this afternoon.

COZ241-246-247-230100-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170223T0100Z/
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet-
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County-
Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County-
127 PM MST Wed Feb 22 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 241...
246...AND 247...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 241...246 and 247.

* Timing...Fire danger will stay elevated and continue to be
  extreme through the afternoon.

* Winds...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph..especially
  over eastern Douglas and western Elbert counties. 

* Relative Humidity...as low as 12 percent.

* Impacts...Fires will ignite easily and spread rapidly due to 
  dry fuels and strong winds.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$
994 
WWUS85 KBOU 230117
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
617 PM MST Wed Feb 22 2017

COZ241-246-247-230230-
/O.EXP.KBOU.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170223T0100Z/
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet-
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County-
Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County-
617 PM MST Wed Feb 22 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR THE PALMER DIVIDE AREA...

WINDS WILL DECREASE WITH HUMIDITIES INCREASING THROUGH THE NIGHT.

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 22, 2:20 PM MSTWinter Weather AdvisoryBOUBoulder, Grand, Jackson, Larimer, Logan, Phillips and 2 more39 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Colorado, 2017Every red flag warning in 2017

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.