Alert archive / Arizona / Red Flag Warnings in 2017

Red Flag Warning 5, NWS Tucson, AZ

April 24, 20176 counties in Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this red flag warning at Apr 24, 2017, 3:26 PM MST for 6 counties in Arizona. It took effect at Apr 25, 2017, 11:00 AM MST. It was in force for 9 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
Apr 24, 2017, 3:26 PM MST (22:26 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 25, 2017, 11:00 AM MST
Expired
Apr 25, 2017, 8:00 PM MST
In force
9 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 22:23 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, 10.4 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 2017-04-24Temperature 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 2017-04-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 75 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
4013 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
75 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
151 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

298 
WWUS85 KTWC 242226
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
326 PM MST Mon Apr 24 2017

AZZ152-251200-
/O.UPG.KTWC.FW.A.0003.170425T1700Z-170426T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KTWC.FW.W.0005.170425T1800Z-170426T0200Z/
/O.CON.KTWC.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-170425T0200Z/
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-
326 PM MST Mon Apr 24 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONE 152. A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM 11 AM 
TO 7 PM MST TUESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND
HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
152...

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from 11 AM to 7 PM MST Tuesday. The
Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. 

* AFFECTED AREA...Most of Fire Weather Zone 152 including
  elevations above 5000 ft are included in the warning through
  this evening. The Red Flag Warning on Tuesday is primarily for
  the southeast half of the zone and includes the Chiricahua
  Mountains.

* TIMING...The warning remains in effect through 7 PM MST this
  evening. Tuesday's warning is in effect from 11 AM MST Tuesday
  morning through 7 PM MST Tuesday evening.

* WINDS...West to southwest 20-ft winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts
  to 40 mph possible through 7 PM MST this evening. On Tuesday,
  westerly winds will begin to increase around 9 AM MST. Sustained
  west 20-ft winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts to 40 mph will occur
  during the afternoon hours.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values of 5 to 10 percent through 7
  PM MST this evening. On Tuesday, expect slightly higher relative
  humidity with minimum values in the afternoon between 10 and 15
  percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop or are ongoing will have the 
  potential to spread rapidly, especially in areas with a high 
  dead grass load.

* For a detailed view of the hazard area...visit
  weather.gov/Tucson and click on the DETAILED HAZARDS tab 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of the Fire Weather Warning and Watch for portions of
Southeast Arizona.

&&

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.

&&

$$

AZZ151-250200-
/O.CON.KTWC.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-170425T0200Z/
Arizona Fire Weather Zone 151
Eastern Pima County-Southeastern Pinal County-
Santa Cruz County-Western Cochise County-
Coronado NF-TDC-
326 PM MST Mon Apr 24 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR 
SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONE 151...

* AFFECTED AREA...Southern portions of Fire Weather Zone 151
  including Eastern Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties. This
  also includes the Catalina, Rincon, Huachuca, Whetstone and 
  Santa Rita mountain ranges.

* TIMING...The warning remains in effect through 7 PM MST this
  evening.

* WINDS...West to southwest 20-ft winds of 15 to 25 mph with 
gusts to 40 mph will be possible.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values between 5 and 10 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop or are ongoing will have the 
  potential to spread rapidly, especially in areas with a high 
  dead grass load.

* 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
4 follow-up statements
843 
WWUS85 KTWC 250339
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
839 PM MST Mon Apr 24 2017

AZZ152-251245-
/O.CON.KTWC.FW.W.0005.170425T1800Z-170426T0200Z/
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-
839 PM MST Mon Apr 24 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MST
TUESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND HIGH FIRE
DANGER FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 152. A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN
ISSUED FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MST TUESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS, LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF
FIRE WEATHER ZONE 152...

* AFFECTED AREA...The southeast half of Fire Weather Zone 152
  including the Chiricahua Mountains. 

* TIMING...The warning is in effect from 11 AM MST Tuesday 
  morning through 7 PM MST Tuesday evening.

* WINDS...Westerly winds will begin to increase around 9 AM MST. 
  Sustained west 20-ft winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts to 40 mph 
  will occur during the afternoon hours. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Expect slightly higher relative humidity
  with minimum values in the afternoon between 12 and 17 percent 
  in the warning area.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop or are ongoing will have the 
  potential to spread rapidly, especially in areas with a high 
  dead grass load.

* For a detailed view of the hazard area...visit 
  weather.gov/Tucson and click on the DETAILED HAZARDS tab

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of the Fire Weather Warning and Watch for portions of
Southeast Arizona.

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
157 
WWUS85 KTWC 250959
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
259 AM MST Tue Apr 25 2017

AZZ150-151-260200-
/O.EXB.KTWC.FW.W.0005.170425T2100Z-170426T0300Z/
Arizona Fire Weather Zone 150
Western Pima County-South Central Pinal County-
Tohono O'Odham Nation-TDC-Arizona Fire Weather Zone 151
Eastern Pima County-Southeastern Pinal County-
Santa Cruz County-Western Cochise County-
Coronado NF-TDC-
259 AM MST Tue Apr 25 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM
MST THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND 
HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR NORTHERN PORTIONS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONES 150 
AND 151 INCLUDING SOUTHEAST PINAL...NORTH-CENTRAL AND EASTERN 
PIMA COUNTIES...

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from 2 PM this afternoon to 8 PM MST
this evening. 

* AFFECTED AREA...The northern portions of Fire Weather Zones 150
  and 151 including Southeast Pinal, North-central and Eastern
  Pima counties. This warning includes the SAWMILL FIRE near the 
  Santa Rita Mountains.

* TIMING...The warning is in effect from 2 PM MST this afternoon
  through 8 PM MST this evening.

* WINDS...Sustained 20-foot winds from the southwest 15 to 20 mph
  with gusts to 35 mph will begin around 9 AM MST. Winds will then
  become west 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph during the 
  afternoon hours. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Expect slightly higher relative humidity
  values above 20 percent to persist into the early afternoon
  hours...finally dipping into the 12 to 17 percent range during 
  the mid-afternoon and evening.

* IMPACTS...The SAWMILL FIRE and any other fires that develop 
  will have the potential to spread rapidly, especially in areas 
  with a high dead grass load.

* For a detailed view of the hazard area...visit weather.gov/Tucson
  and click on the DETAILED HAZARDS tab

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of the Fire Weather Warning and Watch for portions of
Southeast Arizona.

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.

&&

$$

AZZ152-260200-
/O.EXT.KTWC.FW.W.0005.170425T1800Z-170426T0300Z/
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-
259 AM MST Tue Apr 25 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM
MST THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND 
HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR SOUTHEAST FIRE WEATHER ZONE 152 INCLUDING 
EASTERN COCHISE...SOUTHEAST GRAHAM AND SOUTHERN GREENLEE 
COUNTIES...

* AFFECTED AREA...The southeast half of Fire Weather Zone 152
  including Eastern Cochise, Southwest Graham and Southern 
  Greenlee counties. This includes the Chiricahua Mountains.

* TIMING...The warning is in effect from 11 AM MST this morning
  through 8 PM MST this evening.

* WINDS...Sustained 20-foot winds from the southwest 15 to 25 mph
  with gusts to 35 mph will begin around 9 AM MST. Winds will then
  become west 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph during the 
  afternoon hours. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Expect slightly higher relative humidity
  with minimum values in the afternoon between 12 and 17 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop or are ongoing will have the 
  potential to spread rapidly, especially in areas with a high 
  dead grass load.

* For a detailed view of the hazard area...visit weather.gov/Tucson
  and click on the DETAILED HAZARDS tab

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of the Fire Weather Warning and Watch for portions of
Southeast Arizona.

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
257 
WWUS85 KTWC 252114
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
214 PM MST Tue Apr 25 2017

AZZ150>152-260300-
/O.CON.KTWC.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170426T0300Z/
Arizona Fire Weather Zone 150
Western Pima County-South Central Pinal County-
Tohono O'Odham Nation-TDC-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-
214 PM MST Tue Apr 25 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR
NORTHERN PORTIONS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONES 150 AND 151 INCLUDING 
SOUTHEAST PINAL...NORTH-CENTRAL AND EASTERN PIMA COUNTIES...AND 
SOUTHEAST FIRE WEATHER ZONE 152 INCLUDING EASTERN
COCHISE...SOUTHEAST GRAHAM AND SOUTHERN GREENLEE COUNTIES...

* AFFECTED AREA...The northern portions of Fire Weather Zones 150
  and 151 including Southeast Pinal, North-central and Eastern
  Pima counties. This warning includes the SAWMILL FIRE near the
  Santa Rita Mountains. The southeast half of Fire Weather Zone
  152 including Eastern Cochise, Southwest Graham and Southern
  Greenlee counties. This includes the Chiricahua Mountains.

* TIMING...The warning is in effect through 8 PM MST this evening.

* WINDS...Westerly 20-ft winds around 25 to 35 mph with gusts to
  45 mph into this evening.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values this afternoon between 12 and
  17 percent.

* IMPACTS...The SAWMILL FIRE and any other fires that develop or
  are ongoing will have the potential to spread rapidly,
  especially in areas with a high dead grass load.

* For a detailed view of the hazard area...visit
  weather.gov/Tucson and click on the DETAILED HAZARDS tab 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of the Fire Weather Warning and Watch for portions of
Southeast Arizona.

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
296 
WWUS85 KTWC 260241
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
741 PM MST Tue Apr 25 2017

AZZ150>152-260345-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170426T0300Z/
Arizona Fire Weather Zone 150
Western Pima County-South Central Pinal County-
Tohono O'Odham Nation-TDC-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-
741 PM MST Tue Apr 25 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR
NORTHERN PORTIONS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONES 150 AND 151 INCLUDING
SOUTHEAST PINAL...NORTH-CENTRAL AND EASTERN PIMA COUNTIES...AND
SOUTHEAST FIRE WEATHER ZONE 152 INCLUDING EASTERN COCHISE...
SOUTHEAST GRAHAM AND SOUTHERN GREENLEE COUNTIES...

Humidity levels increased through the afternoon and winds have
decreased significantly this evening, both of which are now well 
below Red Flag Criteria. Therefore the warning will be allowed to 
expire at 8 pm. 

Winds will remain somewhat gusty for a few more hours until
settling down after midnight tonight. 

$$

Cerniglia
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 24, 3:01 PM MSTWind AdvisoryTWCCochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz29 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Arizona, 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.