Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 26, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

December 20, 20218 counties in Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this red flag warning at Dec 20, 2021, 1:08 PM MST for 8 counties in Colorado. It took effect at Dec 21, 2021, 9:00 AM MST. It was in force for 8 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 20, 2021, 1:08 PM MST (20:08 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 21, 2021, 9:00 AM MST
Expired
Dec 21, 2021, 5:00 PM MST
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

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

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 64 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:07 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, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 175 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 2021-12-20Temperature 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 2021-12-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -1 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
3587 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
28 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

318 
WWUS85 KBOU 202008
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
108 PM MST Mon Dec 20 2021

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

.Very dry and locally breezy conditions will result several hours
of critical fire weather conditions Tuesday afternoon for the
Cheyenne Ridge, lower elevation foothills, and portions of the
Palmer Divide.

COZ215-216-238-242-210415-
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0026.211221T1600Z-211222T0000Z/
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-
Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County-
Northeast Weld County-
108 PM MST Mon Dec 20 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM MST TUESDAY FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR CHEYENNE RIDGE, FOOTHILLS AND
PORTIONS OF PALMER DIVIDE...

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag
Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect
from 9 AM to 5 PM MST Tuesday.

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 216, 238, and 242, as well 
  as Zone 215 below 7500 ft.

* Timing...10 AM to 5 PM for Zone 215. After 12 PM for all other
  zones.

* Winds...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts between 30 and 45 mph.

* Relative Humidity...10 to 15%.

* Impacts...Any fires that develop are likely to spread rapidly.
  Outdoor burning should be avoided, as well as any activities
  that may cause sparks.

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.

&&

$$

Rodriguez
4 follow-up statements
453 
WWUS85 KBOU 210354
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
854 PM MST Mon Dec 20 2021

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

.Very dry and locally breezy conditions will result in several 
hours of critical fire weather conditions Tuesday afternoon for 
the Cheyenne Ridge, foothills, and portions of the Palmer Divide.

COZ216-238-242-211200-
/O.EXT.KBOU.FW.W.0026.211221T1900Z-211222T0000Z/
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-
Northeast Weld County-
854 PM MST Mon Dec 20 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 5 PM MST TUESDAY
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE CHEYENNE RIDGE, 
FOOTHILLS, AND PORTIONS OF THE PALMER DIVIDE...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 216, 238 and 242.

* Timing...12 PM to 5 PM MST. 

* Winds...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* Relative Humidity...10 to 15 percent.

* Impacts...Any fires that develop are likely to spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning should be avoided, as well as any activities 
  that may cause sparks.

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.

&&

$$

COZ215-211200-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0026.211221T1600Z-211222T0000Z/
Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet-
854 PM MST Mon Dec 20 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM MST
TUESDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE NORTHERN 
FOOTHILLS BELOW 7500 FT...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zone 215 below 7500 ft.

* Timing...9 AM to 5 PM MST.

* Winds...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 30 to 50 mph.

* Relative Humidity...10 to 15 percent.

* Impacts...Any fires that develop are likely to spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning should be avoided, as well as any activities 
  that may cause sparks.

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.

&&

$$
582 
WWUS85 KBOU 211103
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
403 AM MST Tue Dec 21 2021

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON...

.Very dry and locally breezy conditions will result in several
hours of critical fire weather conditions this afternoon for the 
Cheyenne Ridge, foothills, and portions of the Palmer Divide.

COZ215-211915-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0026.211221T1600Z-211222T0000Z/
Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet-
403 AM MST Tue Dec 21 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO
5 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
THE NORTHERN FOOTHILLS BELOW 7500 FT...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zone 215.

* Timing...9 AM to 5 PM MST.

* Winds...West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 65 mph.

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

* Impacts...Any fires that develop are likely to spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning should be avoided, as well as any activities 
  that may cause sparks.

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.

&&

$$

COZ216-238-242-211915-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0026.211221T1900Z-211222T0000Z/
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-
Northeast Weld County-
403 AM MST Tue Dec 21 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 5 PM MST
THIS AFTERNOON FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE
CHEYENNE RIDGE, FOOTHILLS, AND PORTIONS OF THE PALMER DIVIDE...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 216, 238 and 242.

* Timing...12 PM to 5 PM MST.

* Winds...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

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

* Impacts...Any fires that develop are likely to spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning should be avoided, as well as any activities 
  that may cause sparks.

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.

&&

$$
049 
WWUS85 KBOU 212114
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
214 PM MST Tue Dec 21 2021

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON...

COZ215-216-238-242-220000-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0026.000000T0000Z-211222T0000Z/
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-
Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County-
Northeast Weld County-
214 PM MST Tue Dec 21 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE CHEYENNE
RIDGE, FOOTHILLS, AND PORTIONS OF THE PALMER DIVIDE...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 215 (below 7500 feet), 216, 
  238 and 242.

* Timing...Through 5 PM.

* Winds...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* Relative Humidity...10 to 15%.

* Impacts...Any fires that develop are likely to spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning should be avoided, as well as any activities 
  that may cause sparks.

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.

&&

$$
705 
WWUS85 KBOU 220002
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
502 PM MST Tue Dec 21 2021

COZ215-216-238-242-220115-
/O.EXP.KBOU.FW.W.0026.000000T0000Z-211222T0000Z/
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-
Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County-
Northeast Weld County-
502 PM MST Tue Dec 21 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED AT 5 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR 
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE CHEYENNE RIDGE, FOOTHILLS, 
AND PORTIONS OF THE PALMER DIVIDE...

Although the Red Flag Warning has expired, the recovery overnight
will be minimal. Consequently the fire danger will remain 
elevated overnight in spite of the cooler temperatures and 
somewhat improved humidities. 

$$

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.