Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 28, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

December 25, 2021Elbert County, Lincoln County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this red flag warning at Dec 25, 2021, 3:34 PM MST for Elbert County, Lincoln County, Colorado. It took effect at Dec 26, 2021, 11:00 AM MST. It was in force for 6 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 25, 2021, 3:34 PM MST (22:34 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 26, 2021, 11:00 AM MST
Expired
Dec 26, 2021, 5:00 PM MST
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Counties Elbert County, CO, Lincoln County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 81 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:38 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, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 96 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 2021-12-25Temperature 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 2021-12-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 190 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
2171 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
109 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
190 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
307 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

407 
WWUS85 KBOU 252234
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
334 PM MST Sat Dec 25 2021

COZ241-249-252345-
/O.CAN.KBOU.FW.A.0019.211226T1800Z-211227T0000Z/
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet-
Washington County-
334 PM MST Sat Dec 25 2021

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR EASTERN DOUGLAS...WESTERN ELBERT...AND WASHINGTON
COUNTIES...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 241 AND 249...

The National Weather Service in Denver has cancelled the Fire
Weather Watch.

Strong winds are expected on Sunday with low humidities, but cool
temperatures are expected to keep the humidities above Red Flag 
criteria, around 20 percent.

$$

COZ246-247-261200-
/O.UPG.KBOU.FW.A.0019.211226T1800Z-211227T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0028.211226T1800Z-211227T0000Z/
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County-
Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County-
334 PM MST Sat Dec 25 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 5 PM MST SUNDAY FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR EASTERN ELBERT AND LINCOLN
COUNTIES...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 246 AND 247...

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag
Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect
from 11 AM to 5 PM MST Sunday. The Fire Weather Watch is no
longer in effect.

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 246 and 247.

* Timing...Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM MST.

* Winds...Southwest 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 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.

&&

$$

GIMMESTAD
4 follow-up statements
370 
WWUS85 KBOU 261052
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
352 AM MST Sun Dec 26 2021

COZ246-247-261900-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0028.211226T1800Z-211227T0000Z/
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County-
Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County-
352 AM MST Sun Dec 26 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
5 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
EASTERN ELBERT AND LINCOLN COUNTIES...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 246 AND
2745...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 246 and 247.

* Timing...Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM MST.

* Winds...Southwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 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.

&&

$$
227 
WWUS85 KBOU 261053 CCA
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
353 AM MST Sun Dec 26 2021

COZ246-247-261900-
/O.COR.KBOU.FW.W.0028.211226T1800Z-211227T0000Z/
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County-
Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County-
353 AM MST Sun Dec 26 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
5 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
EASTERN ELBERT AND LINCOLN COUNTIES...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 246 AND 
247...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 246 and 247.

* Timing...Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM MST.

* Winds...Southwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 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.

&&

$$
502 
WWUS85 KBOU 261826
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
1126 AM MST Sun Dec 26 2021

COZ246-247-270000-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0028.000000T0000Z-211227T0000Z/
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County-
Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County-
1126 AM MST Sun Dec 26 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR EASTERN ELBERT
AND LINCOLN COUNTIES...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 246 AND 247...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 246 and 247.

* Timing...Winds will increase through early afternoon with
  already low humidities. There will be some decrease in the winds
  along with higher humidities by late afternoon.

* Winds...Southwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 16 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.

&&

$$

Gimmestad
300 
WWUS85 KBOU 262359
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
459 PM MST Sun Dec 26 2021

COZ246-247-270100-
/O.EXP.KBOU.FW.W.0028.000000T0000Z-211227T0000Z/
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County-
Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County-
459 PM MST Sun Dec 26 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 5 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR EASTERN ELBERT AND LINCOLN
COUNTIES...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 246 AND 247...

The strong and gusty winds will gradually decrease through the
evening hours while humidity levels slowly improve. 

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 25, 3:25 AM MSTFire Weather WatchBOUArapahoe, Douglas, Elbert, Lincoln, Washington12 hr
Dec 25, 3:46 AM MSTWinter Storm WatchBOUBoulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, Jefferson and 3 more10 hr
Dec 25, 1:48 PM MSTWinter Storm WarningBOUGrand, Jackson66 hr
Dec 25, 1:48 PM MSTWinter Weather AdvisoryBOUBoulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, Jefferson and 3 more66 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.