Alert archive / California / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 3, NWS Hanford, CA

September 17, 2021Fresno County, Kern County, Tulare County, California

NWS Hanford, CA issued this red flag warning at Sep 17, 2021, 4:47 PM PDT for Fresno County, Kern County, Tulare County, California. It took effect at Sep 18, 2021, 5:00 PM PDT. It was in force for 27 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
Sep 17, 2021, 4:47 PM PDT (23:47 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 18, 2021, 5:00 PM PDT
Expired
Sep 19, 2021, 8:00 PM PDT
In force
27 hr
Issued by
NWS Hanford, CA

Counties Fresno County, CA, Kern County, CA, Tulare County, CA

The radar

The San Joaquin Valley radar (KHNX), 56 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:51 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

Vandenberg AFB, CA (KVBG), launched 12:00Z, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 201 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, Vandenberg AFB, CA at 12:00Z on 2021-09-17Temperature 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 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Vandenberg AFB, CA at 12:00Z on 2021-09-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -22 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
0 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
1 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-22 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-67 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

454 
WWUS86 KHNX 172347
RFWHNX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Hanford CA
447 PM PDT Fri Sep 17 2021

.A low pressure system will bring gusty winds along with low
relative humidities to areas with already dry fuels Saturday
through Sunday increasing fire weather risks.

CAZ593>596-180800-
/O.UPG.KHNX.FW.A.0003.210919T0000Z-210920T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KHNX.FW.W.0003.210919T0000Z-210920T0300Z/
North Kings River-Sequoia Kings-Lake Isabella-Tehachapi Area-
447 PM PDT Fri Sep 17 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM SATURDAY TO 8 PM PDT
SUNDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 593, 594, 595, AND 596...

The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from 5 PM Saturday to 8 PM PDT
Sunday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. 

Extremely dry fuels, increased winds and low relative humidity
along with ongoing wildfires will combine to create conditions 
which rapid wildfire spread is likely on current wildfires or any
new fire starts. 

* AFFECTED AREA...Sierra Nevada from San Joaquin River southward 
  through Tehachapi area. 

* WIND...Northwest winds 25-35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph 
  possible.

* HUMIDITY...Relative humidity will range from upper single
  digits to upper teens along with poor overnight recoveries. 

* IMPACTS...The combination of parched fuels, gusty winds, and
  low humidities increases chances of rapid fire spread and 
  dangerous fire behavior. Outdoor burning is not recommended. 

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.

&&

$$

Dudley
6 follow-up statements
119 
WWUS86 KHNX 181040
RFWHNX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Hanford CA
340 AM PDT Sat Sep 18 2021

.A low pressure system will bring gusty winds along with low
relative humidities to areas with already dry fuels Saturday
through Sunday increasing fire weather risks.

CAZ593>596-181900-
/O.CON.KHNX.FW.W.0003.210919T0000Z-210920T0300Z/
North Kings River-Sequoia Kings-Lake Isabella-Tehachapi Area-
340 AM PDT Sat Sep 18 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM PDT SUNDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 593, 594, 595, AND 596...

Extremely dry fuels, increased winds and low relative humidity
along with ongoing wildfires will combine to create conditions
which rapid wildfire spread is likely on current wildfires or any
new fire starts.

* AFFECTED AREA...Sierra Nevada from San Joaquin River southward 
  through Tehachapi area. 

* WIND...Northwest winds 25-35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph 
  possible.

* HUMIDITY...Relative humidity will range from upper single 
  digits to upper teens along with poor overnight recoveries.

* IMPACTS...The combination of parched fuels, gusty winds, and 
  low humidities increases chances of rapid fire spread and 
  dangerous fire behavior. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

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.

&&

$$
914 
WWUS86 KHNX 181838
RFWHNX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Hanford CA
1138 AM PDT Sat Sep 18 2021

.A low pressure system will bring gusty winds along with low
relative humidities to areas with already dry fuels Saturday
through Sunday increasing fire weather risks.

CAZ593>596-190245-
/O.CON.KHNX.FW.W.0003.210919T0000Z-210920T0300Z/
North Kings River-Sequoia Kings-Lake Isabella-Tehachapi Area-
1138 AM PDT Sat Sep 18 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM PDT SUNDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 593, 594, 595, AND 596...

* AFFECTED AREA...Sierra Nevada from San Joaquin River southward 
  through Tehachapi area. 

* WIND...Northwest winds 25-35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph 
  possible.

* HUMIDITY...Relative humidity will range from upper single 
  digits to upper teens along with poor overnight recoveries.

* IMPACTS...The combination of parched fuels, gusty winds, and 
  low humidities increases chances of rapid fire spread and 
  dangerous fire behavior. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

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.

&&

$$
994 
WWUS86 KHNX 190221
RFWHNX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Hanford CA
721 PM PDT Sat Sep 18 2021

.A low pressure system will bring gusty winds along with low
relative humidities to areas with already dry fuels Saturday
through Sunday increasing fire weather risks.

CAZ593>596-191100-
/O.CON.KHNX.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-210920T0300Z/
North Kings River-Sequoia Kings-Lake Isabella-Tehachapi Area-
721 PM PDT Sat Sep 18 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT SUNDAY FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 593,
594, 595, AND 596...

* AFFECTED AREA...Sierra Nevada from San Joaquin River southward 
  through Tehachapi area. 

* WIND...Northwest winds 25-35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph 
  possible.

* HUMIDITY...Relative humidity will range from upper single 
  digits to upper teens along with poor overnight recoveries.

* IMPACTS...The combination of parched fuels, gusty winds, and 
  low humidities increases chances of rapid fire spread and 
  dangerous fire behavior. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

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.

&&

$$
034 
WWUS86 KHNX 191045
RFWHNX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Hanford CA
345 AM PDT Sun Sep 19 2021

.A low pressure system will bring gusty winds along with low
relative humidities to areas with already dry fuels Saturday
through Sunday increasing fire weather risks.

CAZ593>596-191900-
/O.CON.KHNX.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-210920T0300Z/
North Kings River-Sequoia Kings-Lake Isabella-Tehachapi Area-
345 AM PDT Sun Sep 19 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 
593, 594, 595, AND 596...

* AFFECTED AREA...Sierra Nevada from San Joaquin River southward 
  through Tehachapi area. 

* WIND...Northwest winds 25-35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph 
  possible.

* HUMIDITY...Relative humidity will range from upper single 
  digits to upper teens along with poor overnight recoveries.

* IMPACTS...The combination of parched fuels, gusty winds, and 
  low humidities increases chances of rapid fire spread and 
  dangerous fire behavior. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

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.

&&

$$

Molina
753 
WWUS86 KHNX 191834
RFWHNX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Hanford CA
1134 AM PDT Sun Sep 19 2021

.A low pressure system will bring gusty winds along with low
relative humidities to areas with already dry fuels this afternoon
and this evening, increasing fire weather risks.

CAZ593>596-200300-
/O.CON.KHNX.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-210920T0300Z/
North Kings River-Sequoia Kings-Lake Isabella-Tehachapi Area-
1134 AM PDT Sun Sep 19 2021

...A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 593, 594, 595, AND 596...

* AFFECTED AREA...Sierra Nevada from San Joaquin River southward 
  through Tehachapi area. 

* WIND...Sustained northwest winds 25 to 35 mph, with gusts near
  45 mph possible.

* HUMIDITY...Minimum relative humidity values will range from the
  single digits to the mid teens.

* IMPACTS...The combination of parched fuels, gusty winds, and 
  low humidities increases chances of rapid fire spread and 
  dangerous fire behavior. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

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.

&&

$$
BS
902 
WWUS86 KHNX 200252
RFWHNX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Hanford CA
752 PM PDT Sun Sep 19 2021



CAZ593>596-200400-
/O.EXP.KHNX.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-210920T0300Z/
North Kings River-Sequoia Kings-Lake Isabella-Tehachapi Area-
752 PM PDT Sun Sep 19 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WINDS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 593, 
594, 595, AND 596...

The Red Flag Warning will be allowed to expire at 8 PM PDT this
evening, as humidity has risen and winds have decreased. Gusts of
around 35 mph are possible in a few locales near Lake Isabella and
the Tehachapi Mountains through the next couple of hours.

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Hanford, CA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 17, 9:27 AM PDTFire Weather WatchHNXFresno, Kern, Tulare7 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in California, 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.