Alert archive / Virginia / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Baltimore/Washington

March 14, 202116 counties in Virginia; 15 counties in Maryland; 7 counties in West Virginia

NWS Baltimore/Washington issued this red flag warning at Mar 14, 2021, 4:01 AM EDT for 16 counties in Virginia; 15 counties in Maryland; 7 counties in West Virginia. It took effect at Mar 14, 2021, 8:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 14 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 14, 2021, 4:01 AM EDT (08:01 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 14, 2021, 8:00 AM EDT
Expired
Mar 14, 2021, 10:00 PM EDT
In force
14 hr
Issued by
NWS Baltimore/Washington
All 38 counties

Allegany County, MD, Anne Arundel County, MD, Baltimore County, MD, Calvert County, MD, Carroll County, MD, Cecil County, MD, Charles County, MD, City of Baltimore, MD, Frederick County, MD, Harford County, MD, Howard County, MD, Montgomery County, MD, Prince George's County, MD, Saint Mary's County, MD, Washington County, MD, Arlington County, VA, City of Alexandria, VA, City of Falls Church, VA, City of Winchester, VA, Clarke County, VA, Fairfax County, VA, Fauquier County, VA, Frederick County, VA, Greene County, VA, Loudoun County, VA, Madison County, VA, Page County, VA, Rappahannock County, VA, Rockingham County, VA, Shenandoah County, VA, Warren County, VA, Berkeley County, WV, Grant County, WV, Hampshire County, WV, Hardy County, WV, Jefferson County, WV, Mineral County, WV, Morgan County, WV

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 17 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:59 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

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 8.0 hours before the alert went out and 25 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 00:00Z on 2021-03-14Temperature 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 00:00Z on 2021-03-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 78 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
3125 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
57 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
78 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
230 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

852 
WWUS81 KLWX 140801
RFWLWX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
401 AM EDT Sun Mar 14 2021

VAZ503-504-WVZ505-506-140915-
/O.CAN.KLWX.FW.A.0002.210314T1200Z-210315T0200Z/
Western Highland-Eastern Highland-Western Pendleton-
Eastern Pendleton-
401 AM EDT Sun Mar 14 2021

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR HIGHLAND COUNTY IN VIRGINIA
AND PENDLETON COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...

The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington has
cancelled the Fire Weather Watch.

Widespread critical fire weather conditions are unlikely today. 
However, relative humidity values will be low with wind gusts 
above 25 mph and dry fuels, so the fire danger threat will still 
be elevated today.

$$

DCZ001-MDZ003>006-008-011-013-014-501>508-VAZ028-031-053-054-
505>507-WVZ050>053-055-501>504-142215-
/O.UPG.KLWX.FW.A.0002.210314T1200Z-210315T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KLWX.FW.W.0002.210314T1200Z-210315T0200Z/
District of Columbia-Washington-Frederick MD-Carroll-
Northern Baltimore-Cecil-Southern Baltimore-Prince Georges-
Anne Arundel-Extreme Western Allegany-
Central and Eastern Allegany-Northwest Montgomery-
Central and Southeast Montgomery-Northwest Howard-
Central and Southeast Howard-Northwest Harford-Southeast Harford-
Frederick VA-Clarke-Fairfax-Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-
Western Loudoun-Eastern Loudoun-Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-
Hampshire-Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson-Hardy-Western Grant-
Eastern Grant-Western Mineral-Eastern Mineral-
401 AM EDT Sun Mar 14 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM EDT
THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR PORTIONS OF 
NORTHERN VIRGINIA...MUCH OF MARYLAND...EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA...AND
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA...

The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington has
issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds and low humidity, which
is in effect from 8 AM this morning to 10 PM EDT this evening. 
The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* WINDS...Northwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...15 to 25 percent.

* IMPACTS...Critical fire weather conditions are expected to 
  develop today. All outdoor burning is discouraged, as fires 
  could rapidly spread and become uncontrollable.

* FUEL MOISTURE...3 to 6 percent for fine fuels.

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. Be careful of heat and 
sparks while operating any equipment, and avoid smoking in 
wildland areas.

&&

$$

MDZ016>018-VAZ027-030-052-501-142215-
/O.NEW.KLWX.FW.W.0002.210314T1200Z-210315T0200Z/
Charles-St. Marys-Calvert-Shenandoah-Warren-
Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-Northern Fauquier-
401 AM EDT Sun Mar 14 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM EDT
THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR PORTIONS OF 
NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND SOUTHERN MARYLAND...

The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington has
issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds and low humidity, which
is in effect from 8 AM this morning to 10 PM EDT this evening.

* WINDS...Northwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...15 to 25 percent.

* IMPACTS...Critical fire weather conditions are expected to 
  develop today. All outdoor burning is discouraged, as fires 
  could rapidly spread and become uncontrollable.

* FUEL MOISTURE...3 to 6 percent for fine fuels.

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. Be careful of heat and 
sparks while operating any equipment, and avoid smoking in 
wildland areas.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
279 
WWUS81 KLWX 141940
RFWLWX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
340 PM EDT Sun Mar 14 2021


DCZ001-MDZ003>006-008-011-013-014-016>018-501>508-VAZ027-028-030-
031-052>054-501-505>507-WVZ050>053-055-501>504-150200-
/O.CON.KLWX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210315T0200Z/
District of Columbia-Washington-Frederick MD-Carroll-
Northern Baltimore-Cecil-Southern Baltimore-Prince Georges-
Anne Arundel-Charles-St. Marys-Calvert-Extreme Western Allegany-
Central and Eastern Allegany-Northwest Montgomery-
Central and Southeast Montgomery-Northwest Howard-
Central and Southeast Howard-Northwest Harford-Southeast Harford-
Shenandoah-Frederick VA-Warren-Clarke-
Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-Fairfax-
Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-Northern Fauquier-
Western Loudoun-Eastern Loudoun-Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-
Hampshire-Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson-Hardy-Western Grant-
Eastern Grant-Western Mineral-Eastern Mineral-
340 PM EDT Sun Mar 14 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN
VIRGINIA...MUCH OF MARYLAND...EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA...AND THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA...

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 16 percent.

* IMPACTS...Critical fire weather conditions are expected to 
  develop today. All outdoor burning is discouraged, as fires 
  could rapidly spread and become uncontrollable.

* FUEL MOISTURE...3 to 6 percent for fine fuels.

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. Be careful of heat and
sparks while operating any equipment, and avoid smoking in
wildland areas.

&&

$$
782 
WWUS81 KLWX 142032
RFWLWX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
432 PM EDT Sun Mar 14 2021


VAZ029-150200-
/O.EXA.KLWX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210315T0200Z/
Page-
432 PM EDT Sun Mar 14 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR LOW
HUMIDITY AND STRONG WINDS FOR PAGE COUNTY..

The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington has
issued a Red Flag Warning for low humidity and strong winds,

which is in effect until 10 PM EDT this evening.

* WINDS...Northwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 23 percent.

* IMPACTS...Critical fire weather conditions are expected to 
  develop today. All outdoor burning is discouraged, as fires 
  could rapidly spread and become uncontrollable.

* FUEL MOISTURE...3 to 6 percent for fine fuels.

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.

&&

$$

DCZ001-MDZ003>006-008-011-013-014-016>018-501>508-VAZ027-028-030-
031-052>054-501-505>507-WVZ050>053-055-501>504-150200-
/O.CON.KLWX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210315T0200Z/
District of Columbia-Washington-Frederick MD-Carroll-
Northern Baltimore-Cecil-Southern Baltimore-Prince Georges-
Anne Arundel-Charles-St. Marys-Calvert-Extreme Western Allegany-
Central and Eastern Allegany-Northwest Montgomery-
Central and Southeast Montgomery-Northwest Howard-
Central and Southeast Howard-Northwest Harford-Southeast Harford-
Shenandoah-Frederick VA-Warren-Clarke-
Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-Fairfax-
Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-Northern Fauquier-
Western Loudoun-Eastern Loudoun-Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-
Hampshire-Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson-Hardy-Western Grant-
Eastern Grant-Western Mineral-Eastern Mineral-
432 PM EDT Sun Mar 14 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN
VIRGINIA...MUCH OF MARYLAND...EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA...AND THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA...

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 16 percent.

* IMPACTS...Critical fire weather conditions are expected to 
  develop today. All outdoor burning is discouraged, as fires 
  could rapidly spread and become uncontrollable.

* FUEL MOISTURE...3 to 6 percent for fine fuels.

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. Be careful of heat and
sparks while operating any equipment, and avoid smoking in
wildland areas.

&&

$$
757 
WWUS81 KLWX 150200
RFWLWX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1000 PM EDT Sun Mar 14 2021


DCZ001-MDZ003>006-008-011-013-014-016>018-501>508-VAZ027>031-
052>054-501-505>507-WVZ050>053-055-501>504-150300-
/O.EXP.KLWX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210315T0200Z/
District of Columbia-Washington-Frederick MD-Carroll-
Northern Baltimore-Cecil-Southern Baltimore-Prince Georges-
Anne Arundel-Charles-St. Marys-Calvert-Extreme Western Allegany-
Central and Eastern Allegany-Northwest Montgomery-
Central and Southeast Montgomery-Northwest Howard-
Central and Southeast Howard-Northwest Harford-Southeast Harford-
Shenandoah-Frederick VA-Page-Warren-Clarke-
Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-Fairfax-
Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-Northern Fauquier-
Western Loudoun-Eastern Loudoun-Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-
Hampshire-Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson-Hardy-Western Grant-
Eastern Grant-Western Mineral-Eastern Mineral-
1000 PM EDT Sun Mar 14 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA...
MUCH OF MARYLAND...EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA...AND THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA...

Winds will diminish overnight through Monday, but relative
humidities won't recover much overnight. It is likely that Monday
will turn out drier than today, but the winds should be light. 

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Baltimore/Washington issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 14, 5:47 AM EDTGale WarningLWX13 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Virginia, 2021Red Flag Warnings in Maryland, 2021Red Flag Warnings in West Virginia, 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.