Alert archive / Iowa / Red Flag Warnings in 2017
Red Flag Warning 1, NWS Des Moines, IA
NWS Des Moines, IA issued this red flag warning at Mar 7, 2017, 4:00 AM CST for 51 counties in Iowa. It took effect at Mar 7, 2017, 11:00 AM CST. 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
- Mar 7, 2017, 4:00 AM CST (10:00 UTC)
- In effect from
- Mar 7, 2017, 11:00 AM CST
- Expired
- Mar 7, 2017, 6:00 PM CST
- In force
- 7 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Des Moines, IA
All 51 counties
Adair County, IA, Adams County, IA, Appanoose County, IA, Audubon County, IA, Black Hawk County, IA, Boone County, IA, Bremer County, IA, Butler County, IA, Calhoun County, IA, Carroll County, IA, Cass County, IA, Cerro Gordo County, IA, Clarke County, IA, Crawford County, IA, Dallas County, IA, Davis County, IA, Decatur County, IA, Emmet County, IA, Franklin County, IA, Greene County, IA, Grundy County, IA, Guthrie County, IA, Hamilton County, IA, Hancock County, IA, Hardin County, IA, Humboldt County, IA, Jasper County, IA, Kossuth County, IA, Lucas County, IA, Madison County, IA, Mahaska County, IA, Marion County, IA, Marshall County, IA, Monroe County, IA, Palo Alto County, IA, Pocahontas County, IA, Polk County, IA, Poweshiek County, IA, Ringgold County, IA, Sac County, IA, Story County, IA, Tama County, IA, Taylor County, IA, Union County, IA, Wapello County, IA, Warren County, IA, Wayne County, IA, Webster County, IA, Winnebago County, IA, Worth County, IA, Wright County, IA
The radar
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 23 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:04 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
Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 230 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2603 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 105 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -227 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 179 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
601 WWUS83 KDMX 071000 RFWDMX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Des Moines IA 400 AM CST Tue Mar 7 2017 ...EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON... .The combination of very strong winds and low relative humidity values will lead to extreme fire danger across all of Central Iowa. IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-059>062-074-075-071800- /O.UPG.KDMX.FW.A.0001.170307T1900Z-170307T2300Z/ /O.NEW.KDMX.FW.W.0001.170307T1700Z-170308T0000Z/ Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo- Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-Calhoun- Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Crawford-Carroll-Greene- Boone-Story-Marshall-Tama-Dallas-Polk-Jasper-Poweshiek-Marion- Mahaska- 400 AM CST Tue Mar 7 2017 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS... The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect from 11 AM this morning to 6 PM CST this evening. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * Timing...Late morning until around sunset this evening * Wind...Sustained west wind increasing to 20 to 30 mph with gusts ranging from 40 to 55 mph in the afternoon. The strongest winds will be along and north of Highway 30. * Relative Humidity...Relative humidity values will drop to between 25 and 35 percent across Northern Iowa by afternoon. Across the southern half of the state, values of 20 to 30 percent will be common by this afternoon. * Fuels...Fuels are still cured with some cool season green up and some new growth of warm season grasses. Fuels near the ground are moist from the rainfall from last evening but should quickly dry in the strong wind. * Impacts...Outdoor burning or working with hot machinery in a field is not recommended, even in a watch situation. Any fire that develops will easily spread quickly. Any plans for outdoor burning should be put on hold until conditions improve. 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. && $$ IAZ057-058-070>073-081>086-092>097-071800- /O.NEW.KDMX.FW.W.0001.170307T1700Z-170308T0000Z/ Audubon-Guthrie-Cass-Adair-Madison-Warren-Adams-Union-Clarke- Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne-Appanoose- Davis- 400 AM CST Tue Mar 7 2017 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS... The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect from 11 AM this morning to 6 PM CST this evening. * Timing...Late morning until around sunset this evening. * Wind...Sustained west wind increasing to 20 to 25 mph with gusts ranging from 35 to 45 mph in the afternoon. * Relative Humidity...Relative humidity values will drop to 20 to 25 percent by this afternoon. * Fuels...Fuels are still cured with some cool season green up and some new growth of warm season grasses. Fuels near the ground are moist from the rainfall from last evening but should quickly dry in the strong wind. * Impacts...Outdoor burning or working with hot machinery in a field is not recommended, even in a watch situation. Any fire that develops will easily spread quickly. Any plans for outdoor burning should be put on hold until conditions improve. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. && $$
3 follow-up statements
500 WWUS83 KDMX 071649 RFWDMX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Des Moines IA 1049 AM CST Tue Mar 7 2017 ...EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON... .The combination of very strong winds and low relative humidity values will lead to extreme fire danger across all of Central Iowa. IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075- 081>086-092>097-080000- /O.CON.KDMX.FW.W.0001.170307T1700Z-170308T0000Z/ Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo- Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-Calhoun- Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Crawford-Carroll-Greene- Boone-Story-Marshall-Tama-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Jasper- Poweshiek-Cass-Adair-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Adams-Union- Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne- Appanoose-Davis- 1049 AM CST Tue Mar 7 2017 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS... * Timing...Late morning until around sunset this evening * Wind...West at 20 to 35 mph with gusts ranging from 40 to 55 mph in the afternoon. The strongest winds will be along and north of Highway 30. * Relative Humidity...Relative humidity values along and South of a line from Sac to Tama counties will drop to between 15 and 25 percent. North of this line relative humidity values will range from 25 to 40 percent with slightly higher values around 45 percent in the far Northern counties. * Fuels...Fuels are still cured with some cool season green up and some new growth of warm season grasses. Fuels near the ground are moist from the rainfall from last evening but should quickly dry in the strong wind. * Impacts...Outdoor burning or working with hot machinery in a field is not recommended. Do not toss lit cigarettes out car windows. Any fire that develops will easily spread quickly. Any plans for outdoor burning should be put on hold until conditions improve. 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. && $$ FAB
118 WWUS83 KDMX 072138 RFWDMX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Des Moines IA 338 PM CST Tue Mar 7 2017 ...EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS CONTINUE... .The combination of very strong winds and low relative humidity values will lead to extreme fire danger across all of Central Iowa. IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075- 081>086-092>097-080000- /O.CON.KDMX.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-170308T0000Z/ Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo- Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-Calhoun- Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Crawford-Carroll-Greene- Boone-Story-Marshall-Tama-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Jasper- Poweshiek-Cass-Adair-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Adams-Union- Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne- Appanoose-Davis- 338 PM CST Tue Mar 7 2017 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS... * Timing...Until 6 PM. * Wind...West at 20 to 30 mph with gusts ranging from 35 to 45 mph in the afternoon. The wind will remain brisk through the evening but will be considerably less than current wind speeds. * Relative Humidity...Relative humidity values along and South of Highway 20 will hold between 20 and 25 percent. North of Highway 20 relative humidity values will range from 25 to 40 percent with slightly higher values around 45 percent in the far Northern counties. * Fuels...Fuels are still cured with some cool season green up and some new growth of warm season grasses. Fuels near the ground are moist from the rainfall from last evening but should quickly dry in the strong wind. * Impacts...Outdoor burning or working with hot machinery in a field is not recommended. Do not toss lit cigarettes out car windows. Any fire that develops will easily spread quickly. Any plans for outdoor burning should be put on hold until conditions improve. 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. && $$ FAB
221 WWUS83 KDMX 072356 RFWDMX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Des Moines IA 556 PM CST Tue Mar 7 2017 ...Fire Danger Rapidly Diminishing this Evening... .Winds will continue to diminish and as temperatures fall this evening the relative humidity will increase. This will end the extreme fire danger that was present across the region today. IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075- 081>086-092>097-080100- /O.EXP.KDMX.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-170308T0000Z/ Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo- Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-Calhoun- Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Crawford-Carroll-Greene- Boone-Story-Marshall-Tama-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Jasper- Poweshiek-Cass-Adair-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Adams-Union- Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne- Appanoose-Davis- 556 PM CST Tue Mar 7 2017 ...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS... Winds will continue to diminish over the next hour and with cooler temperatures and higher humidity...the threat for rapid fire growth will continue to quickly diminish this evening. $$ REV
The office that day
Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 6, 6:03 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Boone, Cass, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie and 1 more | 42 min |
| Mar 6, 6:09 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Franklin, Hamilton, Hardin, Wright | 51 min |
| Mar 6, 6:30 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Boone, Dallas, Madison, Polk, Story and 1 more | 45 min |
| Mar 6, 6:31 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Cerro Gordo | 29 min |
| Mar 6, 6:39 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Clarke, Union | 51 min |
| Mar 6, 7:07 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Jasper, Marshall, Polk, Story | 53 min |
| Mar 6, 7:07 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Butler, Franklin, Grundy, Hardin, Marshall | 37 min |
| Mar 6, 7:12 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Marion, Warren | 48 min |
| Mar 6, 7:21 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Clarke, Lucas, Monroe | 54 min |
| Mar 6, 7:21 PM CST | Tornado Warning | DMX | Marion, Warren | 24 min |
| Mar 6, 7:31 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Decatur, Wayne | 59 min |
| Mar 6, 7:32 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, Grundy | 58 min |
| Mar 6, 7:40 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Jasper, Marshall, Poweshiek, Tama | 54 min |
| Mar 6, 7:40 PM CST | Tornado Warning | DMX | Jasper, Mahaska, Marion | 22 min |
| Mar 6, 7:43 PM CST | Tornado Warning | DMX | Jasper, Poweshiek | 32 min |
| Mar 6, 7:51 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Mahaska, Marion | 54 min |
| Mar 6, 7:56 PM CST | Tornado Warning | DMX | Wayne | 34 min |
| Mar 6, 8:08 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Appanoose, Lucas, Monroe, Wayne | 35 min |
| Mar 6, 8:22 PM CST | Tornado Warning | DMX | Appanoose, Wayne | 23 min |
| Mar 6, 8:38 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Appanoose, Davis, Monroe, Wapello | 41 min |
| Mar 6, 8:40 PM CST | Tornado Warning | DMX | Appanoose, Davis, Monroe, Wapello | 35 min |
| Mar 7, 10:40 AM CST | River Flood Warning | DMX | Black Hawk | 4 days |
Nearby
Red Flag Warnings in Iowa, 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.