Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2018

Red Flag Warning 39, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

September 11, 20185 counties in Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this red flag warning at Sep 11, 2018, 3:06 PM MDT for 5 counties in Colorado. It took effect at Sep 13, 2018, 10:00 AM MDT. It was in force for 10 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
Sep 11, 2018, 3:06 PM MDT (21:06 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 13, 2018, 10:00 AM MDT
Expired
Sep 13, 2018, 8:00 PM MDT
In force
10 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Counties Boulder County, CO, Grand County, CO, Jackson County, CO, Larimer County, CO, Summit County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 124 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:09 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 12:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 229 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 12:00Z on 2018-09-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 39 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 12:00Z on 2018-09-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -7 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
39 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-278 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3416 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-7 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
4 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

682 
WWUS85 KBOU 112106
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
306 PM MDT Tue Sep 11 2018

...CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING FOR MOST OF GRAND AND JACKSON COUNTIES...

.Gusty winds will combine with very low relative humidity and
near record temperatures to create critical fire danger conditions 
across the western mountains and valleys of Jackson and Grand 
Counties on Wednesday. These critical conditions will also 
further dry out the vegetation compounding the fire danger on 
Thursday when another day of hot, dry conditions and strong west 
winds are expected across the northern mountains.

COZ211-213-217-121215-
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0039.180913T1600Z-180914T0200Z/
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0038.180912T1700Z-180913T0200Z/
Jackson County Below 9000 Feet-
Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet-
West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet-
306 PM MDT Tue Sep 11 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR MOST OF GRAND
AND JACKSON COUNTIES...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM MDT THURSDAY FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR Jackson...most of Grand 
County and parts of Summit County.

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag
Warning FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, which is in effect
from 10 AM to 8 PM MDT Thursday.

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 211...213 and 217.

* Timing...Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and evening

* Winds...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

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

* Impacts...Fires may start easily with the dry fuels and spread 
  rapidly with anticipated gusty winds. These gusty and erratic 
  winds may create unpredictable fire behavior.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected. A combination of strong winds...low relative
humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire
behavior.

&&

$$

COZ218-121215-
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0039.180913T1600Z-180914T0200Z/
South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/
Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet-
306 PM MDT Tue Sep 11 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM MDT THURSDAY FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR the higher elevations of 
eastern Grand and Jackson Counties, and western Larimer County 
including Rocky Mountain National Park.

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag
Warning FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, which is in effect
from 10 AM to 8 PM MDT Thursday.

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zone 218.

* Timing...Thursday afternoon and early evening.

* Winds...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

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

* Impacts...Fires may start easily with the dry fuels and spread 
  rapidly with anticipated gusty winds. These gusty and erratic 
  winds may create unpredictable fire behavior.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected. A combination of strong winds...low relative
humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire
behavior.

&&

$$
6 follow-up statements
586 
WWUS85 KBOU 121133
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
533 AM MDT Wed Sep 12 2018

...CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING FOR MOST OF GRAND AND JACKSON COUNTIES...

.Gusty winds will combine with very low relative humidity and
near record temperatures to create critical fire danger
conditions across the western mountains and valleys of Jackson
and Grand Counties on Wednesday. These critical conditions will
also further dry out the vegetation compounding the fire danger
on Thursday when another day of hot, dry conditions and gusty 
west winds are expected across the northern mountains.

COZ211-213-217-122200-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0038.180912T1700Z-180913T0200Z/
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0039.180913T1600Z-180914T0200Z/
Jackson County Below 9000 Feet-
Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet-
West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet-
533 AM MDT Wed Sep 12 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR MOST
OF GRAND AND JACKSON COUNTIES...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM MDT
THURSDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR MOST OF GRAND AND
JACKSON COUNTIES...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 211...213 and 217.

* Timing...Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and evening

* Winds...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 9 percent.

* Impacts...Fires may start easily with the dry fuels and spread 
  rapidly with anticipated gusty winds. These gusty and erratic 
  winds may create unpredictable fire behavior.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected. A combination of strong winds...low relative
humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire
behavior.

&&

$$

COZ218-122200-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0039.180913T1600Z-180914T0200Z/
South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/
Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet-
533 AM MDT Wed Sep 12 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM MDT
THURSDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS OF EASTERN GRAND AND JACKSON COUNTIES, AND WESTERN
LARIMER COUNTY INCLUDING ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK...  

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zone 218.

* Timing...Thursday afternoon and early evening.

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

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

* Impacts...Fires may start easily with the dry fuels and spread 
  rapidly with anticipated gusty winds. These gusty and erratic 
  winds may create unpredictable fire behavior.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected. A combination of strong winds...low relative
humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire
behavior.

&&

$$
032 
WWUS85 KBOU 121948
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
148 PM MDT Wed Sep 12 2018

...CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS ONGING INTO THE EVENING AND ARE 
EXPECTED THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND 
VALLEYS...

.Strong and gusty southwest winds will combine with very low 
relative humidity and near record temperatures to create critical 
fire danger conditions across the mountains and valleys of 
Jackson, Grand, parts of Summit, and western Larimer Counties 
though early evening and again on Thursday.

COZ211-213-217-130600-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0038.000000T0000Z-180913T0200Z/
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0039.180913T1600Z-180914T0200Z/
Jackson County Below 9000 Feet-
Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet-
West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet-
148 PM MDT Wed Sep 12 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR MOST OF GRAND AND JACKSON
COUNTIES...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM MDT
THURSDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR MOST OF GRAND AND
JACKSON COUNTIES...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 211...213 and 217.

* Timing...Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and evening

* Winds...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 9 percent.

* Impacts...Fires may start easily with the dry fuels and spread 
  rapidly with anticipated gusty winds. These gusty and erratic 
  winds may create unpredictable fire behavior.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected. A combination of strong winds...low relative
humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire
behavior.

&&

$$

COZ218-130600-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0039.180913T1600Z-180914T0200Z/
South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/
Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet-
148 PM MDT Wed Sep 12 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM MDT
THURSDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS OF EASTERN GRAND AND JACKSON COUNTIES, AND WESTERN
LARIMER COUNTY INCLUDING ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zone 218.

* Timing...Thursday afternoon and early evening.

* Winds...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

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

* Impacts...Fires may start easily with the dry fuels and spread 
  rapidly with anticipated gusty winds. These gusty and erratic 
  winds may create unpredictable fire behavior.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected. A combination of strong winds...low relative
humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire
behavior.

&&

$$
857 
WWUS85 KBOU 130202
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
802 PM MDT Wed Sep 12 2018

...CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS EXPECTED AGAIN THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR
THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS...

.Strong and gusty southwest winds will combine with very low
relative humidity and near record temperatures to create critical
fire danger conditions across the mountains and valleys of
Jackson, Grand, parts of Summit, and western Larimer Counties
on Thursday. 

COZ211-213-217-131215-
/O.EXP.KBOU.FW.W.0038.000000T0000Z-180913T0200Z/
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0039.180913T1600Z-180914T0200Z/
Jackson County Below 9000 Feet-
Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet-
West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet-
802 PM MDT Wed Sep 12 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM MDT
THURSDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR MOST OF GRAND AND
JACKSON COUNTIES...
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND
AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR MOST OF GRAND AND JACKSON
COUNTIES...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 211...213 and 217.

* Timing...Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and evening

* Winds...Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 9 percent.

* Impacts...Fires may start easily with the dry fuels and spread 
  rapidly with anticipated gusty winds. These gusty and erratic 
  winds may create unpredictable fire behavior.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected. A combination of strong winds...low relative
humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire
behavior.

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.

&&

$$

COZ218-131215-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0039.180913T1600Z-180914T0200Z/
South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/
Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet-
802 PM MDT Wed Sep 12 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM MDT
THURSDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS OF EASTERN GRAND AND JACKSON COUNTIES, AND WESTERN
LARIMER COUNTY INCLUDING ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zone 218.

* Timing...Thursday afternoon and early evening.

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

* Relative Humidity...As low as 11 percent.

* Impacts...Fires may start easily with the dry fuels and spread 
  rapidly with anticipated gusty winds. These gusty and erratic 
  winds may create unpredictable fire behavior.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected. A combination of strong winds...low relative
humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire
behavior.

&&

$$
268 
WWUS85 KBOU 131035
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
435 AM MDT Thu Sep 13 2018

...CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS EXPECTED AGAIN TODAY FOR THE NORTHERN
MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS...

.Gusty southwest winds will combine with very low relative 
humidity and near record temperatures to create critical fire 
danger conditions across the mountains and valleys of Jackson, 
Grand, parts of Summit, and western Larimer Counties today. The 
very warm and dry conditions are expected to prevail through the 
weekend, however winds will not be as strong as today.

COZ211-213-217-218-132200-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0039.180913T1600Z-180914T0200Z/
Jackson County Below 9000 Feet-
Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet-
West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet-
South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/
Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet-
435 AM MDT Thu Sep 13 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO
8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR 
GRAND AND JACKSON COUNTIES, AND WESTERN LARIMER COUNTY INCLUDING 
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 211...213...217 and 218.

* Timing...Late this morning through early evening.

* Winds...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 7 percent.

* Impacts...Fires may start easily with the dry fuels and spread
  rapidly with the anticipated gusty winds. These gusty winds and
  very dry conditions may create extreme fire behavior.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected. A combination of strong winds...low relative
humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire
behavior.

&&

$$
686 
WWUS85 KBOU 131901
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
101 PM MDT Thu Sep 13 2018

...CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS ARE OCCURING ACROSS THE NORTHERN 
MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS...

.Gusty southwest winds, very low relative humidity, and near 
record temperatures are creating critical fire danger conditions 
across the mountains and valleys of Jackson, Grand, parts of 
Summit, and western Larimer Counties today. Critical fire weather
condictions will continue through this evening. The very warm and
dry conditions are expected to prevail through the weekend, 
however winds will not be as strong as today.

COZ211-213-217-218-140200-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0039.000000T0000Z-180914T0200Z/
Jackson County Below 9000 Feet-
Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet-
West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet-
South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/
Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet-
101 PM MDT Thu Sep 13 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR GRAND AND JACKSON
COUNTIES, NORTHERN SUMMIT, AND WESTERN LARIMER COUNTY INCLUDING 
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 211...213...217 and 218.

* Timing...Ongoing through 8PM.

* Winds...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 8 percent.

* Impacts...Existing fires will spread quickly to the northeast.
  New fires will start easily with the dry fuels and spread 
  rapidly with the anticipated gusty winds. These gusty winds and 
  very dry conditions may create extreme fire behavior.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected. A combination of strong winds...low relative
humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire
behavior.

&&

$$
419 
WWUS85 KBOU 140202
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
802 PM MDT Thu Sep 13 2018

COZ211-213-217-218-140315-
/O.EXP.KBOU.FW.W.0039.000000T0000Z-180914T0200Z/
Jackson County Below 9000 Feet-
Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet-
West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet-
South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/
Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet-
802 PM MDT Thu Sep 13 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND MOUNTAIN VALLEYS...

Winds have decreased to around 10 mph in most locations this
evening. As a result, the Red Flag Warning has been allowed to
expire. 

However, humidities will be very low with extremely poor humidity
recovery overnight. An extended period of hot and dry weather is
still in the forecast for the next few days. But generally lighter
winds can be expected through most of the weekend. 

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 11, 11:58 AM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUBroomfield, Denver32 min
Sep 11, 12:37 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUDenver23 min
Sep 11, 2:05 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUBroomfield, Denver, Douglas40 min
Sep 11, 4:25 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUSedgwick35 min

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Colorado, 2018Every red flag warning in 2018

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.