Alert archive / Texas / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 1, NWS Brownsville, TX

March 16, 20218 counties in Texas

NWS Brownsville, TX issued this red flag warning at Mar 16, 2021, 2:28 PM CDT for 8 counties in Texas. It took effect at Mar 17, 2021, 7:00 AM CDT. It was in force for 12 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
Mar 16, 2021, 2:28 PM CDT (19:28 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 17, 2021, 7:00 AM CDT
Expired
Mar 17, 2021, 7:00 PM CDT
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Brownsville, TX

Counties Brooks County, TX, Cameron County, TX, Hidalgo County, TX, Jim Hogg County, TX, Kenedy County, TX, Starr County, TX, Willacy County, TX, Zapata County, TX

The radar

The Brownsville radar (KBRO), 118 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:32 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

Brownsville Intl, TX (KBRO), launched 12:00Z, 7.5 hours before the alert went out and 120 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, Brownsville Intl, TX at 12:00Z on 2021-03-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1260 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Brownsville Intl, TX at 12:00Z on 2021-03-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 58 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
1260 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-237 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
510 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
58 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
147 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

680 
WWUS84 KBRO 161928
RFWBRO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
228 PM CDT Tue Mar 16 2021

...Rapid Growth and Spread of Wildfires expected Wednesday...

.A relatively dry cold front will move through Deep South Texas
on Wednesday. In the wake of the cold front, the surface winds
will shift around from the west to northwest and will increase
throughout the day Wednesday. In addition, The relatively
humidity values will fall into the teens across much of the inland
Deep South Texas and into the 20 to 30 percent range along the
immediate coast of Cameron, Willacy and Kenedy Counties. Grasses 
and brush have been cured across much of the area due to the hard 
February freeze event. Additional rapid drying is expected which 
will create a critical fire weather situation.

TXZ248>255-353-170330-
/O.UPG.KBRO.FW.A.0001.210317T1200Z-210318T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KBRO.FW.W.0001.210317T1200Z-210318T0000Z/
Zapata-Jim Hogg-Brooks-Inland Kenedy-Starr-Southern Hidalgo-
Inland Willacy-Inland Cameron-Northern Hidalgo-
228 PM CDT Tue Mar 16 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM CDT WEDNESDAY 
MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY 
AND GUSTY WINDS OVER CURED FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 248, 249,
250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, AND 353...

The National Weather Service in Brownsville has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from 7 AM to 7 PM CDT Wednesday. The
Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. 

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 
  253, 254, 255, and 353. 

* WIND...West to Northwest Winds from 15 to 25 mph with some 
  gusts to 20 to 30 mph in some locations. 

* HUMIDITY...Dropping into teens along and west of the Interstate
  69E corridor and into the 20 to 30 percent range east of the
  Interstate 69E.

* HIGHEST THREAT...All of Deep South Texas and the Rio Grande 
  Valley except for Coastal Kenedy, Coastal Willacy and Coastal 
  Cameron Counties.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions are
occurring now...or will shortly. In general...these conditions
include sustained 20 foot winds of 25 MPH or greater...humidity
ranging from below 25 percent in Zapata County to below
45 percent along the coast...each lasting for 2 hours or longer...
and cured fuels. Humidity below 25 percent in most areas will
trigger fire danger at lower wind speeds. Detailed decision
tables are found at HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RGV/?N=MAPCOLORS#FIRE.

&&

$$
4 follow-up statements
173 
WWUS84 KBRO 170330
RFWBRO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
1030 PM CDT Tue Mar 16 2021

...Rapid Growth and Spread of Wildfires Expected Wednesday...

.A dry cold front is still on track to move through Deep South 
Texas on Wednesday morning. In the wake of the cold front, the 
surface winds will shift around from the west to northwest and 
will increase throughout the day. In addition, the relatively 
humidity values will fall into the teens, and even single digits, 
across much of the inland Deep South Texas and into the 20 to 30 
percent range along the immediate coast of Cameron, Willacy and 
Kenedy Counties. Grasses and brush have been cured across much of 
the area due to the hard February freeze event. Critical fire 
weather conditions are likely after the frontal passage, 
especially for locations west of U.S. Highway 281/I-69C.

TXZ248>255-353-171200-
/O.CON.KBRO.FW.W.0001.210317T1200Z-210318T0000Z/
Zapata-Jim Hogg-Brooks-Inland Kenedy-Starr-Southern Hidalgo-
Inland Willacy-Inland Cameron-Northern Hidalgo-
1030 PM CDT Tue Mar 16 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM CDT
WEDNESDAY FOR VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WINDS OVER
CURED FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253,
254, 255, AND 353...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 
  253, 254, 255, and 353. 

* WIND...West to Northwest Winds from 15 to 25 mph with some 
  gusts to 20 to 30 mph in some locations.

* HUMIDITY...Dropping into teens or lower along and west of the 
  Interstate-69E corridor and into the 20 to 30 percent range east
  of the Interstate 69E.

* HIGHEST THREAT...All of Deep South Texas and the Rio Grande 
  Valley except for Coastal Kenedy, Coastal Willacy and Coastal 
  Cameron Counties.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions are
occurring now...or will shortly. In general...these conditions
include sustained 20 foot winds of 25 MPH or greater...humidity
ranging from below 25 percent in Zapata County to below 45 
percent along the coast...each lasting for 2 hours or longer... 
and cured fuels. Humidity below 25 percent in most areas will 
trigger fire danger at lower wind speeds. Detailed decision tables
are found at HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RGV/?N=MAPCOLORS#FIRE.

&&

$$

Mejia
118 
WWUS84 KBRO 170751
RFWBRO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
251 AM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...Rapid Growth and Spread of Wildfires Expected Today...

.A dry cold front is still on track to move through Deep South
Texas later this morning. In the wake of the cold front, the 
surface winds will shift around from the west to northwest and 
will increase throughout the day. In addition, the relatively 
humidity values will fall into the teens, and even single digits, 
across much of the inland Deep South Texas and into the 20 to 30 
percent range along the immediate coast of Cameron, Willacy and 
Kenedy Counties. Grasses and brush have been cured across much of 
the area due to the hard February freeze event. Critical fire 
weather conditions are likely after the frontal passage, 
especially for locations west of U.S. Highway 281/I-69C.

TXZ248>255-353-180000-
/O.CON.KBRO.FW.W.0001.210317T1200Z-210318T0000Z/
Zapata-Jim Hogg-Brooks-Inland Kenedy-Starr-Southern Hidalgo-
Inland Willacy-Inland Cameron-Northern Hidalgo-
251 AM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO
7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND GUSTY 
WINDS OVER CURED FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 248, 249, 250, 251, 
252, 253, 254, 255, AND 353...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 
  253, 254, 255, and 353. 

* WIND...West to Northwest Winds from 15 to 25 mph with some 
  gusts to 20 to 30 mph in some locations.

* HUMIDITY...Dropping into teens or lower along and west of the 
  Interstate-69E corridor and into the 20 to 30 percent range 
  east of the Interstate 69E. 

* HIGHEST THREAT...All of Deep South Texas and the Rio Grande 
  Valley except for Coastal Kenedy, Coastal Willacy and Coastal 
  Cameron Counties.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions are
occurring now...or will shortly. In general...these conditions
include sustained 20 foot winds of 25 MPH or greater...humidity
ranging from below 25 percent in Zapata County to below
45 percent along the coast...each lasting for 2 hours or longer...
 and cured fuels. Humidity below 25 percent in most areas will
trigger fire danger at lower wind speeds. Detailed decision
tables are found at HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RGV/?N=MAPCOLORS#FIRE.

&&

$$
533 
WWUS84 KBRO 171157
RFWBRO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
657 AM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...Rapid Growth and Spread of Wildfires Expected Today...

.A dry cold front is still on track to move through Deep South
Texas later this morning. In the wake of the cold front, the
surface winds will shift around from the west to northwest and
will increase throughout the day. In addition, the relatively
humidity values will fall into the teens, and even single digits,
across much of the inland Deep South Texas and into the 20 to
30 percent range along the immediate coast of Cameron, Willacy
and Kenedy Counties. Grasses and brush have been cured across
much of the area due to the hard February freeze event. Critical
fire weather conditions are likely after the frontal passage,
especially for locations west of U.S. Highway 281/I-69C.

TXZ248>255-353-180000-
/O.CON.KBRO.FW.W.0001.210317T1200Z-210318T0000Z/
Zapata-Jim Hogg-Brooks-Inland Kenedy-Starr-Southern Hidalgo-
Inland Willacy-Inland Cameron-Northern Hidalgo-
657 AM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WINDS OVER CURED FUELS 
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, AND
353...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 
  253, 254, 255, and 353. 

* WIND...West to Northwest Winds from 15 to 25 mph with some 
  gusts to 20 to 30 mph in some locations.

* HUMIDITY...Dropping into teens or lower along and west of the 
  Interstate-69E corridor and into the 20 to 30 percent range 
  east of the Interstate 69E.

* HIGHEST THREAT...All of Deep South Texas and the Rio Grande 
  Valley except for Coastal Kenedy, Coastal Willacy and Coastal 
  Cameron Counties.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions are
occurring now...or will shortly. In general...these conditions
include sustained 20 foot winds of 25 MPH or greater...humidity
ranging from below 25 percent in Zapata County to below
45 percent along the coast...each lasting for 2 hours or longer...
  and cured fuels. Humidity below 25 percent in most areas will
trigger fire danger at lower wind speeds. Detailed decision
tables are found at HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RGV/?N=MAPCOLORS#FIRE.

&&

$$
419 
WWUS84 KBRO 180008
RFWBRO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
708 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...Critical Fire Weather Conditions Ending...

.Winds have diminished with relative humidity continuing rise this
evening.

TXZ248>255-353-180115-
/O.EXP.KBRO.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210318T0000Z/
Zapata-Jim Hogg-Brooks-Inland Kenedy-Starr-Southern Hidalgo-
Inland Willacy-Inland Cameron-Northern Hidalgo-
708 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR LOW HUMIDITY AND STRONG
20-FOOT WIND FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253,
254, 255, AND 353...

Northerly winds will continue to diminish this evening and
overnight. Humidity levels will gradually rebound above fire
weather criteria through this evening. Overall conditions are 
expected to improve through this evening and overnight. Burning of
any kind this evening should still be postponed. 

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Brownsville, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 15, 10:19 PM CDTMarine Dense Fog AdvisoryBRO13 hr
Mar 15, 10:22 PM CDTDense Fog AdvisoryBROKenedy13 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Texas, 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.