Alert archive / Virginia / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 1, NWS Blacksburg, VA

March 11, 202112 counties in Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this red flag warning at Mar 11, 2021, 3:24 AM EST for 12 counties in Virginia. It took effect at Mar 11, 2021, 10:00 AM EST. It was in force for 9 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 11, 2021, 3:24 AM EST (08:24 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 11, 2021, 10:00 AM EST
Expired
Mar 11, 2021, 7:00 PM EST
In force
9 hr
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA

Counties Amherst County, VA, Appomattox County, VA, Bath County, VA, Bedford County, VA, Buckingham County, VA, Campbell County, VA, Charlotte County, VA, City of Danville, VA, City of Lynchburg, VA, Halifax County, VA, Pittsylvania County, VA, Rockbridge County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:28 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

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 00:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 33 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, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2021-03-11Temperature 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, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2021-03-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 50 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
3355 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
50 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
120 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

994 
WWUS81 KRNK 110824
RFWRNK

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
324 AM EST Thu Mar 11 2021

...Very Dry and Breezy Today...

.Southwest winds will increase ahead of an approaching cold
front today. Wind gusts to 30 mph are possible, especially east 
of U.S. Highway 29. The combination of gusty winds, low relative 
humidity values, and very dry conditions will favor rapid rates of
spread if a wildfire occurs.

VAZ034-035-044>047-058-059-120000-
/O.UPG.KRNK.FW.A.0001.210311T1500Z-210312T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KRNK.FW.W.0001.210311T1500Z-210312T0000Z/
Bedford-Amherst-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-
Halifax-Charlotte-
324 AM EST Thu Mar 11 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EST
THIS EVENING FOR WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES FOR 
SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA...

The National Weather Service in Blacksburg has issued a Red Flag
Warning for winds and low relative humidity values, which is in 
effect from 10 AM this morning to 7 PM EST this evening. The Fire 
Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* Affected Area...In Virginia, Fire Weather Zone 034 Bedford, 
  Fire Weather Zone 035 Amherst, Fire Weather Zone 044 
  Pittsylvania, Fire Weather Zone 045 Campbell, Fire Weather 
  Zone 046 Appomattox, Fire Weather Zone 047 Buckingham, Fire 
  Weather Zone 058 Halifax and Fire Weather Zone 059 Charlotte.

* Timing...Mid morning through this evening. 

* Winds...Southwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 22 percent.

* Temperatures...In the mid 70s.

* Impacts...If a wildland fire occurs, expect rapid rates of 
  spread...control will be difficult.

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.

&&

$$

VAZ020-024-120000-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FW.W.0001.210311T1500Z-210312T0000Z/
Bath-Rockbridge-
324 AM EST Thu Mar 11 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EST
THIS EVENING FOR WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES FOR ...

The National Weather Service in Blacksburg has issued a Red Flag
Warning for Rockbridge and Bath Counties, which is in effect from
10 AM this morning to 7 PM EST this evening.

* Affected Area...In Virginia, Fire Weather Zone 020 Bath and 
  Fire Weather Zone 024 Rockbridge.

* Timing...Mid morning through this evening. 

* Winds...Southwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 23 percent.

* Temperatures...In the upper 60s.

* Impacts...If a wildland fire occurs, expect rapid rates of 
  spread...control will be difficult.

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.

&&

$$

For more information from NOAA/National Weather Service visit...
http://www.weather.gov/rnk/fire (all lower case)
2 follow-up statements
120 
WWUS81 KRNK 111903
RFWRNK

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
203 PM EST Thu Mar 11 2021

...Very Dry and Breezy Through Early Evening...

.Southwest winds will remain gusty at 20 to 30 mph, especially 
east of U.S. Highway 29. The combination of gusty winds, low 
relative humidity values, and very dry conditions will favor rapid
rates of spread if a wildfire occurs.

VAZ020-024-034-035-044>047-058-059-120000-
/O.CON.KRNK.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210312T0000Z/
Bath-Rockbridge-Bedford-Amherst-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-
Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte-
203 PM EST Thu Mar 11 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING
FOR WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA NORTH
TO THE JAMES RIVER BASIN...

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for winds and low relative 
humidity values, which continues through 7 PM EST this evening.


* Affected Area...In Virginia, Fire Weather Zone 020 Bath, Fire 
  Weather Zone 024 Rockbridge, Fire Weather Zone 034 Bedford, 
  Fire Weather Zone 035 Amherst, Fire Weather Zone 044 
  Pittsylvania, Fire Weather Zone 045 Campbell, Fire Weather 
  Zone 046 Appomattox, Fire Weather Zone 047 Buckingham, Fire 
  Weather Zone 058 Halifax and Fire Weather Zone 059 Charlotte.

* Timing...Through this evening.

* Winds...Southwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* Relative Humidity...20 to 25 percent.

* Temperatures...In the mid to upper 70s.

* Impacts...If a wildland fire occurs, expect rapid rates of 
  spread...control will be difficult.

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.

&&

$$

For more information from NOAA/National Weather Service visit...
http://www.weather.gov/rnk/fire (all lower case)
745 
WWUS81 KRNK 120022
RFWRNK

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
722 PM EST Thu Mar 11 2021


VAZ020-024-034-035-044>047-058-059-120130-
/O.EXP.KRNK.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210312T0000Z/
Bath-Rockbridge-Bedford-Amherst-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-
Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte-
722 PM EST Thu Mar 11 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED...

Now that the sun had gone down, the humidity is increasing and
wind speeds are diminishing. 

$$

For more information from NOAA/National Weather Service visit...
http://www.weather.gov/rnk/fire (all lower case)

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in 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.