Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 24, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

December 5, 202116 counties in Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this red flag warning at Dec 5, 2021, 3:21 AM MST for 16 counties in Colorado. It took effect at Dec 5, 2021, 10:00 AM MST. It was in force for 5 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
Dec 5, 2021, 3:21 AM MST (10:21 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 5, 2021, 10:00 AM MST
Expired
Dec 5, 2021, 3:00 PM MST
In force
5 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Counties Adams County, CO, Arapahoe County, CO, Boulder County, CO, Broomfield County, CO, Clear Creek County, CO, Denver County, CO, Douglas County, CO, Elbert County, CO, Gilpin County, CO, Jefferson County, CO, Larimer County, CO, Lincoln County, CO, Morgan County, CO, Park County, CO, Washington County, CO, Weld County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 15 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:24 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 00:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 128 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 2021-12-05Temperature 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 00:00Z on 2021-12-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 12 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
3432 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
12 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
34 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

332 
WWUS85 KBOU 051021
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
321 AM MST Sun Dec 5 2021

...DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS LATE MORNING TO MID AFTERNOON 
OVER THE PALMER DIVIDE AND EASTERN PLAINS...FIRE ZONES 216, 241, 
245, 246, AND 249...

.STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL DEVELOP LATE THIS MORNING AS A COLD FRONT
MOVES INTO THE AREA. WARM TEMPERATURES AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT
WILL GENERATE RELATIVE HUMIDITIES IN THE LOW TEENS. RED FLAG
CRITERIA OF WIND GUSTS OVER 25 MPH AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY BELOW 15
PERCENT WILL BE ACROSS MAJORITY OF 246, AND LIMITED TO SOUTHERN 
PORTIONS OF FIRE ZONES 216, 245, AND 249, AND EASTERN 241.

COZ216-241-245-246-249-052100-
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0024.211205T1700Z-211205T2100Z/
Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear
Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet-
Central and East Adams and Arapahoe Counties-
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County-Washington County-
321 AM MST Sun Dec 5 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 2 PM MST
THIS AFTERNOON FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE PALMER
DIVIDE AND EASTERN PLAINS...

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 this morning to 2 PM MST this afternoon.

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 216, 241, 245, 246 and 249.

* Timing...10 am to 2 pm.

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

* Relative Humidity...As low as 13 percent.

* Impacts...Conditions will be conducive to the rapid spread of 
  new fires. Probability of ignition will increase. Avoid any 
  burning or outdoor activities that may cause sparks, and abide 
  by established fire restrictions.

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.

&&

$$

HANSON
2 follow-up statements
047 
WWUS85 KBOU 051751
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
1051 AM MST Sun Dec 5 2021

...DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS LATE THIS MORNING TO MID
AFTERNOON OVER THE PALMER DIVIDE AND EASTERN PLAINS...FIRE ZONES
216, 241, 245, 246, AND 249...

.STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL DEVELOP LATE THIS MORNING AS A COLD
FRONT MOVES INTO THE AREA. WARM TEMPERATURES AHEAD OF THE COLD
FRONT WILL GENERATE RELATIVE HUMIDITIES IN THE LOW TEENS. RED
FLAG CRITERIA OF WIND GUSTS OVER 25 MPH AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY
BELOW 15 PERCENT WILL BE ACROSS MAJORITY OF 246, AND LIMITED TO
SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF FIRE ZONES 216, 245, AND 249, AND EASTERN
241.

COZ238>240-242>244-052200-
/O.EXB.KBOU.FW.W.0024.000000T0000Z-211205T2200Z/
Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County-
Boulder And Jefferson Counties Below 6000 Feet/West Broomfield
County-
North Douglas County Below 6000 Feet/Denver/West Adams and
Arapahoe Counties/East Broomfield County-Northeast Weld County-
Central and South Weld County-Morgan County-
1051 AM MST Sun Dec 5 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE PLAINS OF NORTHEAST
COLORADO...

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag
Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect
until 3 PM MST this afternoon.

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 238, 239, 240, 242, 243 and 
  244.

* Timing...Now through 3 pm.

* Winds...Northwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

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

* Impacts...Conditions will be conducive to the rapid spread of 
  new fires. Probability of ignition will increase. Avoid any 
  burning or outdoor activities that may cause sparks, and abide 
  by established fire restrictions.

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.

&&

$$

COZ216-241-245-246-249-052200-
/O.EXT.KBOU.FW.W.0024.000000T0000Z-211205T2200Z/
Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear
Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet-
Central and East Adams and Arapahoe Counties-
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County-Washington County-
1051 AM MST Sun Dec 5 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE PALMER DIVIDE AND
ADJACENT EASTERN PLAINS...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 216, 241, 245, 246 and 249.

* Timing...Now through 3 pm.

* Winds...Northwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

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

* Impacts...Conditions will be conducive to the rapid spread of 
  new fires. Probability of ignition will increase. Avoid any 
  burning or outdoor activities that may cause sparks, and abide 
  by established fire restrictions.

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.

&&

$$
612 
WWUS85 KBOU 052210
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
310 PM MST Sun Dec 5 2021

COZ216-238>246-249-052315-
/O.EXP.KBOU.FW.W.0024.000000T0000Z-211205T2200Z/
Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear
Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet-
Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County-
Boulder And Jefferson Counties Below 6000 Feet/West Broomfield
County-
North Douglas County Below 6000 Feet/Denver/West Adams and
Arapahoe Counties/East Broomfield County-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet-
Northeast Weld County-Central and South Weld County-Morgan County-
Central and East Adams and Arapahoe Counties-
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County-Washington County-
310 PM MST Sun Dec 5 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR THE PALMER DIVIDE AND ADJACENT EASTERN PLAINS...

A cold front will continue to sweep south and southwest across the
plains with increasing humidity levels. There will be brief strong
northeast winds up to 45 mph with the front, then winds decreasing
through the evening. 

$$

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.