Alert archive / California / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 6, NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA

September 19, 2021Alameda County, Contra Costa County, California

NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA issued this red flag warning at Sep 19, 2021, 9:46 AM PDT for Alameda County, Contra Costa County, California. It took effect at Sep 19, 2021, 11:00 PM PDT. It was in force for 21 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 19, 2021, 9:46 AM PDT (16:46 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 19, 2021, 11:00 PM PDT
Expired
Sep 20, 2021, 8:00 PM PDT
In force
21 hr
Issued by
NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA

Counties Alameda County, CA, Contra Costa County, CA

The radar

The San Francisco radar (KMUX), 70 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:51 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

Oakland, CA (KOAK), launched 12:00Z, 4.8 hours before the alert went out and 24 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, Oakland, CA at 12:00Z on 2021-09-19Temperature 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, Oakland, CA at 12:00Z on 2021-09-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -3 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
684 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-3 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
150 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

572 
WWUS86 KMTR 191646
RFWMTR

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
946 AM PDT Sun Sep 19 2021

...Red Flag Warning 11 pm Sunday through 8 pm Monday for the 
North and East Bay hills as well as the East Bay interior 
valleys...

.Dry northerly offshore winds will push into the Napa hills 
around 11 pm Sunday night and then gradually spread over the North
and East Bay hills. The initial burst of winds will occur while 
humidity values remain fairly moist. However the dry offshore 
winds will begin a rapid drying of the atmosphere with humidity 
values dropping quickly by Monday morning. Continued moderate 
offshore winds on Monday as humidity values drop into the teens. 
Offshore winds will ease by sunset Monday night. Little or no 
humidity recovery Monday night into Tuesday morning but with only 
light offshore winds.

CAZ507-511-200515-
/O.UPG.KMTR.FW.A.0005.210920T0600Z-210921T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KMTR.FW.W.0006.210920T0600Z-210921T0300Z/
North Bay Mountains-East Bay Hills and the Diablo Range-
946 AM PDT Sun Sep 19 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM PDT
MONDAY FOR DRY OFFSHORE WINDS FOR THE NORTH AND EAST BAY HILLS...

The National Weather Service in San Francisco has issued a Red
Flag Warning for dry offshore winds, which is in effect from 11 PM
this evening to 8 PM PDT Monday. The Fire Weather Watch is no 
longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 507 North Bay Mountains and
  Fire Weather Zone 511 East Bay Hills and the Diablo Range. The
  Napa hills and East Bay hills that received less than a tenth of
  an inch of rain will be the areas of biggest concern.

* TIMING...11 PM Sunday night to 8 PM Monday evening. Initial
  burst of gusty offshore winds overnight to mid morning Monday.
  Drier conditions but lighter winds Monday daytime. Offshore
  winds ease Monday night with continued poor humidity recovery.

* WINDS...Northeast 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Local
  gusts up to 50 mph over the highest peaks.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Initially 30-45% tonight drying to 15-30% on
  Monday with little or no recovery Monday night.

* IMPACTS...Any fire starts would likely see rapid spread due to
  dry fuels, low humidity and gusty winds in areas that did not
  receive wetting rains over the last 24 hours.

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.

&&

$$

CAZ510-200515-
/O.NEW.KMTR.FW.W.0006.210920T0600Z-210921T0300Z/
East Bay Interior Valleys-
946 AM PDT Sun Sep 19 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM PDT
MONDAY FOR DRY NORTHEAST WINDS FOR EAST BAY INTERIOR VALLEYS...

The National Weather Service in San Francisco has issued a Red
Flag Warning for gusty offshore winds, which is in effect from 11
PM this evening to 8 PM PDT Monday.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 510 East Bay Interior 
  Valleys.

* TIMING...11 pm Sunday night through 8 pm Monday evening.

* WINDS...Northeast winds 10 to 20 mph gusts to 35 mph, strongest
  through 10 am Monday morning.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...35-50% overnight then drying into the teens
  Monday afternoon with little or no recovery Monday night.

* IMPACTS...Any new ignitions will spread rapidly due to gusty
  offshore winds, lowering humidity and dry 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.

&&

$$
4 follow-up statements
892 
WWUS86 KMTR 200456
RFWMTR

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
956 PM PDT Sun Sep 19 2021

...Red Flag Warning 11 pm Sunday through 8 pm Monday for the
North and East Bay hills as well as the East Bay interior
valleys...

.Dry northerly offshore winds will push into the Napa hills
late tonight and then gradually spread over the North and East 
Bay hills. The initial burst of winds will occur while humidity 
values remain fairly moist. However the dry offshore winds will 
begin a rapid drying of the atmosphere with humidity values 
dropping quickly by Monday morning. Continued moderate offshore 
winds on Monday as humidity values drop into the teens. Offshore 
winds will ease by sunset Monday night. Little or no humidity 
recovery Monday night into Tuesday morning but with only light 
offshore winds.

CAZ507-510-511-201300-
/O.CON.KMTR.FW.W.0006.210920T0600Z-210921T0300Z/
North Bay Mountains-East Bay Interior Valleys-
East Bay Hills and the Diablo Range-
956 PM PDT Sun Sep 19 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT MONDAY FOR
DRY OFFSHORE WINDS FOR THE NORTH BAY MOUNTAINS AND EAST BAY HILLS
AND INTERIOR VALLEYS...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 507 North Bay Mountains, 
  Fire Weather Zone 510 East Bay Interior Valleys and Fire 
  Weather Zone 511 East Bay Hills and the Diablo Range.

* TIMING...11 PM Sunday night to 8 PM Monday evening. Initial 
  burst of gusty offshore winds overnight to mid morning Monday. 
  Drier conditions but lighter winds Monday daytime. Offshore 
  winds ease Monday night with continued poor humidity recovery.

* WINDS...Northeast 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Local 
  gusts up to 50 mph over the highest peaks.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Initially 30-45% tonight drying to 15-30% 
  on Monday with little or no recovery Monday night.

* IMPACTS...Any fire starts would likely see rapid spread due to 
  dry fuels, low humidity and gusty winds in areas that did not 
  receive wetting rains over the last 24 hours.

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.

&&

$$
598 
WWUS86 KMTR 201301
RFWMTR

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
601 AM PDT Mon Sep 20 2021

...Red Flag Warning 11 pm Sunday through 8 pm Monday for the
North and East Bay hills as well as the East Bay interior
valleys...

.Dry northerly offshore winds over the North and East Bay hills. 
These winds will begin a rapid drying of the atmosphere with 
humidity values dropping quickly by Monday morning. Continued 
moderate offshore winds on Monday as humidity values drop into the
teens. Offshore winds will ease by sunset Monday night. Little or
no humidity recovery Monday night into Tuesday morning but with 
only light offshore winds.

CAZ507-510-511-202115-
/O.CON.KMTR.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-210921T0300Z/
North Bay Mountains-East Bay Interior Valleys-
East Bay Hills and the Diablo Range-
601 AM PDT Mon Sep 20 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING
FOR DRY OFFSHORE WINDS FOR THE NORTH BAY MOUNTAINS AND EAST BAY
HILLS AND INTERIOR VALLEYS...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 507 North Bay Mountains, 
  Fire Weather Zone 510 East Bay Interior Valleys and Fire 
  Weather Zone 511 East Bay Hills and the Diablo Range.

* TIMING...11 PM Sunday night to 8 PM Monday evening. Initial 
  burst of gusty offshore winds overnight to mid morning Monday. 
  Drier conditions but lighter winds Monday daytime. Offshore 
  winds ease Monday night with continued poor humidity recovery.

* WINDS...North 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 14 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fire starts would likely see rapid spread due to 
  dry fuels, low humidity and gusty winds in areas that did not 
  receive wetting rains over the last 24 hours.

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.

&&

$$
002 
WWUS86 KMTR 201958
RFWMTR

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
1258 PM PDT Mon Sep 20 2021

...Red Flag Warning until 8 pm Monday for the North and East Bay 
hills as well as the East Bay interior valleys...

.Dry northerly offshore winds this afternoon and evening as 
humidity values drop into the teens. Little or no humidity 
recovery Monday night into Tuesday morning but with only light 
offshore winds.

CAZ507-510-511-210245-
/O.CON.KMTR.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-210921T0300Z/
North Bay Mountains-East Bay Interior Valleys-
East Bay Hills and the Diablo Range-
1258 PM PDT Mon Sep 20 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING
FOR DRY OFFSHORE WINDS FOR THE NORTH AND EAST BAY HILLS AND
INTERIOR EAST BAY VALLEYS...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 507 North Bay Mountains, 
  Fire Weather Zone 510 East Bay Interior Valleys and Fire 
  Weather Zone 511 East Bay Hills and the Diablo Range.

* TIMING...Until 8 PM Monday evening. Offshore winds ease Monday 
  night with continued poor humidity recovery into Tuesday.

* WINDS...Northeast 10 to 20 mph with local gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...15 to 25 percent with little or no humidity
  recovery and continued dry into Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Any fire starts will likely see rapid spread due to
  dry fuels, low humidity and gusty winds.

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.

&&

$$
659 
WWUS86 KMTR 210254
RFWMTR

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
754 PM PDT Mon Sep 20 2021


CAZ507-510-511-210400-
/O.EXP.KMTR.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-210921T0300Z/
North Bay Mountains-East Bay Interior Valleys-
East Bay Hills and the Diablo Range-
754 PM PDT Mon Sep 20 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING...

Conditions no longer meet Red Flag Warning criteria and are
expected to remain below criteria. Low humidities and dry fuels
will continue, therefore caution is still advised. 

$$

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.