Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 22, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

November 17, 20219 counties in Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this red flag warning at Nov 17, 2021, 2:16 PM MST for 9 counties in Colorado. It took effect at Nov 18, 2021, 10:00 AM MST. It was in force for 19 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
Nov 17, 2021, 2:16 PM MST (21:16 UTC)
In effect from
Nov 18, 2021, 10:00 AM MST
Expired
Nov 19, 2021, 5:00 AM MST
In force
19 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Counties Arapahoe County, CO, Boulder County, CO, Clear Creek County, CO, Douglas County, CO, Elbert County, CO, Gilpin County, CO, Jefferson County, CO, Larimer County, CO, Park County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 53 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:20 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 (KDNR), launched 12:00Z, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 165 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 2021-11-17Temperature 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 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 2021-11-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 101 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
994 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
72 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
101 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
337 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

795 
WWUS85 KBOU 172116
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
216 PM MST Wed Nov 17 2021

...DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER LIKELY OVER THE EAST SLOPES OF THE
FRONT RANGE THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.Very dry air will be over northern Colorado Thursday, with
humidities of 5-10% possible in the Front Range foothills. Winds
will increase during the day, and it will remain dry and windy
overnight Thursday night with little cooling. Conditions are
expected to improve Friday morning and humidities increase, but
it will still be dry and windy on Friday.

COZ214-241-180530-
/O.UPG.KBOU.FW.A.0017.211118T1900Z-211119T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0022.211118T1700Z-211119T0600Z/
Central and Southeast Park County-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet-
216 PM MST Wed Nov 17 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 11 PM MST THURSDAY
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTH PARK AND EASTERN 
DOUGLAS AND WESTERN ELBERT COUNTIES...FIRE ZONES 214 AND 241...

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 11 PM MST Thursday. The Fire Weather Watch is no
longer in effect.

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 214 and 241.

* Timing...Very dry air will be over the area Thursday morning. 
  Winds will increase in the afternoon. Conditions will improve 
  with increasing humidities Thursday evening, though it will 
  remain breezy in Douglas and Elbert counties overnight.

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

* Relative Humidity...As low as 6 percent.

* Impacts...Any fires that start will have the potential to 
  spread rapidly.

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.

&&

$$

COZ215-216-180530-
/O.UPG.KBOU.FW.A.0017.211118T1700Z-211119T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0022.211118T1700Z-211119T1200Z/
Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet-
Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear
Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet-
216 PM MST Wed Nov 17 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THURSDAY TO 5 AM MST 
FRIDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE FRONT RANGE 
FOOTHILLS...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 215 AND 216...

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 Thursday to 5 AM MST Friday. The Fire Weather Watch is
no longer in effect.

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 215 and 216.

* Timing...Very dry air will be over the area Thursday morning. 
  Winds will increase during the day and continue Thursday 
  night, with poor humidity recovery expected until late at 
  night.

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

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

* Impacts...Any fire that starts will have the potential to 
  spread rapidly. Extreme fire behavior will be possible.

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.

&&

$$
5 follow-up statements
437 
WWUS85 KBOU 180342
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
842 PM MST Wed Nov 17 2021

...DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER LIKELY OVER THE EAST SLOPES OF THE
FRONT RANGE THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.Very dry air will be over northern Colorado Thursday, with
humidities of 5-10% possible in the Front Range foothills. Winds
will increase during the day, and it will remain dry and windy
overnight Thursday night with little cooling. Conditions are
expected to improve Friday morning and humidities increase, but
it will still be dry and windy on Friday.

COZ214-241-181300-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0022.211118T1700Z-211119T0600Z/
Central and Southeast Park County-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet-
842 PM MST Wed Nov 17 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 11 PM MST
THURSDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTH PARK AND
EASTERN DOUGLAS AND WESTERN ELBERT COUNTIES...FIRE ZONES 214 AND
241...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 214 and 241.

* Timing...Very dry air will be over the area Thursday morning. 
  Winds will increase in the afternoon. Conditions will improve 
  with increasing humidities Thursday evening, though it will 
  remain breezy in Douglas and Elbert counties overnight.

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

* Relative Humidity...As low as 6 percent.

* Impacts...Any fires that start will have the potential to 
  spread rapidly.

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.

&&

$$

COZ215-216-181300-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0022.211118T1700Z-211119T1200Z/
Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet-
Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear
Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet-
842 PM MST Wed Nov 17 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THURSDAY TO 5 AM
MST FRIDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE FRONT RANGE
FOOTHILLS...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 215 AND 216...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 215 and 216.

* Timing...Very dry air will be over the area Thursday morning. 
  Winds will increase during the day and continue Thursday 
  night, with poor humidity recovery expected until late at 
  night.

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

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

* Impacts...Any fire that starts will have the potential to 
  spread rapidly. Extreme fire behavior will be possible.

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.

&&

$$
715 
WWUS85 KBOU 181211
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
511 AM MST Thu Nov 18 2021

...DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER LIKELY OVER THE EAST SLOPES OF THE
FRONT RANGE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

.Very dry air will surface across northern Colorado today, with 
humidities of 5-10% possible in the Front Range foothills. Winds 
will mainly be above 9000 feet this morning, but will become more
widespread this afternoon and then stronger this evening. It will
remain dry and windy overnight in the foothills with little 
cooling. Conditions are expected to improve Friday morning and 
humidities increase, but it will still be dry and windy on Friday.

COZ214-241-182015-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0022.211118T1700Z-211119T0600Z/
Central and Southeast Park County-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet-
511 AM MST Thu Nov 18 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO
11 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
SOUTH PARK AND EASTERN DOUGLAS AND WESTERN ELBERT COUNTIES...FIRE
ZONES 214 AND 241...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 214 and 241.

* Timing...Very low humidities will become widespread this 
  morning. Winds will increase in the afternoon. Conditions will 
  improve with increasing humidities Thursday evening, though it 
  will remain breezy in Douglas and Elbert counties overnight.

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

* Relative Humidity...As low as 5 percent.

* Impacts...Any fires that start will have the potential to 
  spread rapidly.

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.

&&

$$

COZ215-216-182015-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0022.211118T1700Z-211119T1200Z/
Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet-
Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear
Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet-
511 AM MST Thu Nov 18 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO
5 AM MST FRIDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE FRONT
RANGE FOOTHILLS...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 215 AND 216...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 215 and 216.

* Timing...Very dry air will become widespread this morning. West
  winds will gradually increase today and become stronger this
  evening. Poor humidity recovery is expected until late tonight.

* Winds...Becoming southwest 10 to 20 mph today, then west 15 to
  25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph tonight.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 6 percent.

* Impacts...Any fire that starts will have the potential to 
  spread rapidly. Extreme fire behavior will be possible.

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
791 
WWUS85 KBOU 182007
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
107 PM MST Thu Nov 18 2021

...DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER LIKELY OVER THE EAST SLOPES OF THE
FRONT RANGE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

.Very dry air will surface across northern Colorado today, with
humidities of 5-10% possible in the Front Range foothills. Winds
will mainly be above 9000 feet this morning, but will become more
widespread this afternoon and then stronger this evening. It will
remain dry and windy overnight in the foothills with little
cooling. Conditions are expected to improve Friday morning and
humidities increase, but it will still be dry and windy on
Friday.

COZ214-241-190500-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0022.000000T0000Z-211119T0600Z/
Central and Southeast Park County-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet-
107 PM MST Thu Nov 18 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTH PARK AND
EASTERN DOUGLAS AND WESTERN ELBERT COUNTIES...FIRE ZONES 214 AND
241...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 214 and 241.

* Timing...Very low humidities will become widespread this 
  morning. Winds will increase in the afternoon. Conditions will 
  improve with increasing humidities Thursday evening, though it 
  will remain breezy in Douglas and Elbert counties overnight.

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

* Relative Humidity...As low as 5 percent.

* Impacts...Any fires that start will have the potential to 
  spread rapidly.

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.

&&

$$

COZ215-216-190500-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0022.000000T0000Z-211119T1200Z/
Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet-
Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear
Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet-
107 PM MST Thu Nov 18 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM MST FRIDAY FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS...
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 215 AND 216...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 215 and 216.

* Timing...Very dry air will become widespread this morning. 
  West winds will gradually increase today and become stronger 
  this evening. Poor humidity recovery is expected until late 
  tonight.

* Winds...Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 6 percent.

* Impacts...Any fire that starts will have the potential to 
  spread rapidly. Extreme fire behavior will be possible.

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.

&&

$$
517 
WWUS85 KBOU 190604
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
1104 PM MST Thu Nov 18 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING CONTINUES OVERNIGHT FOR THE FRONT RANGE
FOOTHILLS...

.Very dry air remains over northern Colorado this evening, with
humidities of 10-15% in the Front Range foothills. Winds have been
sporadic, but wind prone areas and the higher foothills have 
mostly had winds of 15-25 mph. Some increase in speeds and
coverage of the winds is expected overnight, with a gradual
increase in the humidities. A further increase in humidities is
expected on Friday, but it will still be dry and windy with
conditions near Red Flag criteria. 

COZ214-241-190715-
/O.EXP.KBOU.FW.W.0022.000000T0000Z-211119T0600Z/
Central and Southeast Park County-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet-
1104 PM MST Thu Nov 18 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 11 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTH PARK AND EASTERN DOUGLAS
AND WESTERN ELBERT COUNTIES...FIRE ZONES 214 AND 241...

Humidities remain low in these areas and will slowly increase
overnight. Winds will generally be under 15 mph.

$$

COZ215-216-191200-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0022.000000T0000Z-211119T1200Z/
Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet-
Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear
Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet-
1104 PM MST Thu Nov 18 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM MST FRIDAY FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS...
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 215 AND 216...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 215 and 216.

* Timing...West winds will gradually become more widespread and a
  bit stronger overnight, with humidities gradually increasing.

* Winds...Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 40 mph in wind
  prone and higher foothills areas.

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

* Impacts...Any fire that starts will have the potential to 
  spread rapidly. Extreme fire behavior will be possible.

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
782 
WWUS85 KBOU 191157
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
457 AM MST Fri Nov 19 2021

COZ215-216-191300-
/O.EXP.KBOU.FW.W.0022.000000T0000Z-211119T1200Z/
Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet-
Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear
Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet-
457 AM MST Fri Nov 19 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 5 AM MST...

Humidities have increased and moisture will continue to move into
the area on west winds today. It will remain windy over the
foothills today, especially above 7500 feet and in wind prone
spots in the lower foothills. These areas will have occasional
gusts in the 30 to 40 mph range. Humidities will still be low, but
not as extreme as yesterday with readings generally between 15 and
25 percent. With high to very high fire danger in the foothills, 
use of fire outdoors is still discouraged today.

$$

Gimmestad

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 17, 4:58 AM MSTFire Weather WatchBOUArapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin and 3 more9 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Colorado, 2021Every red flag warning in 2021

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.