Alert archive / Arizona / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 1, NWS Tucson, AZ

February 27, 20216 counties in Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this red flag warning at Feb 27, 2021, 2:06 PM MST for 6 counties in Arizona. It took effect at Feb 28, 2021, 12:00 PM MST. It was in force for 7 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
Feb 27, 2021, 2:06 PM MST (21:06 UTC)
In effect from
Feb 28, 2021, 12:00 PM MST
Expired
Feb 28, 2021, 7:00 PM MST
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ

Counties Cochise County, AZ, Graham County, AZ, Greenlee County, AZ, Pima County, AZ, Pinal County, AZ, Santa Cruz County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 61 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:07 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

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 12:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 49 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, Tuscon, AZ at 12:00Z on 2021-02-27Temperature 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, Tuscon, AZ at 12:00Z on 2021-02-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 120 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
3492 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
120 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
132 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

455 
WWUS85 KTWC 272106
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
206 PM MST Sat Feb 27 2021

AZZ151-152-154-281300-
/O.UPG.KTWC.FW.A.0001.210228T2000Z-210301T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KTWC.FW.W.0001.210228T1900Z-210301T0200Z/
Arizona Fire Weather Zone 151
Western half Desert Grasslands FDRA including elevations up to
5500 feet in Southeast corner of Pinal County-
Extreme Eastern Pima County-Western third of Cochise County-
Santa Cruz County-TDC-Arizona Fire Weather Zone 152
Eastern half Desert Grasslands FDRA including elevations up to
5500 feet in Southwest Graham County and Eastern two thirds of
Cochise County-Southern San Carlos Reservation-
Southern Greenlee County below 5000 feet-TDC-
Arizona Fire Weather Zone 154
Forest Woodlands FDRA including the Sky Islands of Southeast
Arizona above 5500 feet-Coronado NF-TDC-
206 PM MST Sat Feb 27 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MST SUNDAY FOR
STRONG AND GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
AND A HIGH DANGER RATING FOR MOST OF FIRE WEATHER ZONES 151, 152
AND PARTS OF 154...

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from noon to 7 PM MST Sunday. The
Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. 

* AFFECTED AREA...Zones 151, 152 and 154, generally terrain below
  about 7,000 ft east and south of a line from Patagonia Lake, to
  near Cascabel, Klondike, Fort Thomas and east to Clifton. 

* TIMING...Sunday from Noon through 7 PM. 

* WINDS...West to northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
  Higher gusts possible over higher terrain, especially the
  Chiricahua Mountains. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...7 to 13 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop or are ongoing will have the
  potential to spread rapidly and be resistant to control.

* FOR A DETAILED VIEW OF THE HAZARD AREA...Visit
  weather.gov/Tucson and click on the Detailed Hazards icon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now...or are expected to develop. A
combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and dry
vegetation will create the potential for rapid and erratic fire
growth.

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of the Red Flag Warning for portions of Southeast Arizona.

&&

$$

Cerniglia
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
3 follow-up statements
267 
WWUS85 KTWC 281144
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
444 AM MST Sun Feb 28 2021

AZZ151-152-154-282300-
/O.CON.KTWC.FW.W.0001.210228T1900Z-210301T0200Z/
Arizona Fire Weather Zone 151
Western half Desert Grasslands FDRA including elevations up to
5500 feet in Southeast corner of Pinal County-
Extreme Eastern Pima County-Western third of Cochise County-
Santa Cruz County-TDC-Arizona Fire Weather Zone 152
Eastern half Desert Grasslands FDRA including elevations up to
5500 feet in Southwest Graham County and Eastern two thirds of
Cochise County-Southern San Carlos Reservation-
Southern Greenlee County below 5000 feet-TDC-
Arizona Fire Weather Zone 154
Forest Woodlands FDRA including the Sky Islands of Southeast
Arizona above 5500 feet-Coronado NF-TDC-
444 AM MST Sun Feb 28 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM MST
THIS EVENING FOR STRONG AND GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS, LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND A HIGH DANGER RATING FOR MOST OF FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 151, 152 AND PARTS OF 154...

* AFFECTED AREA...Zones 151, 152 and parts of 154. Generally
  terrain below about 7,000 ft and east and south of a line from
  Patagonia Lake, to near Cascabel, to Klondyke, to Fort Thomas
  and then to east to Clifton. 

* TIMING...Noon through 7 PM today.

* WINDS...West to northwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
  Some stronger gusts possible over the higher terrain.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...6 to 13 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop or are ongoing will have the 
  potential to spread rapidly and be resistant to control.

* FOR A DETAILED VIEW OF THE HAZARD AREA...Visit 
  weather.gov/Tucson and click on the Detailed Hazards icon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now...or are expected to develop. A
combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and dry
vegetation will create the potential for rapid and erratic fire
growth.

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of the Red Flag Warning for portions of Southeast Arizona.

&&

$$

Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
371 
WWUS85 KTWC 282120
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
220 PM MST Sun Feb 28 2021

AZZ151-152-154-010200-
/O.CON.KTWC.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210301T0200Z/
Arizona Fire Weather Zone 151
Western half Desert Grasslands FDRA including elevations up to
5500 feet in Southeast corner of Pinal County-
Extreme Eastern Pima County-Western third of Cochise County-
Santa Cruz County-TDC-Arizona Fire Weather Zone 152
Eastern half Desert Grasslands FDRA including elevations up to
5500 feet in Southwest Graham County and Eastern two thirds of
Cochise County-Southern San Carlos Reservation-
Southern Greenlee County below 5000 feet-TDC-
Arizona Fire Weather Zone 154
Forest Woodlands FDRA including the Sky Islands of Southeast
Arizona above 5500 feet-Coronado NF-TDC-
220 PM MST Sun Feb 28 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG AND GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS, VERY LOW RELATIVE 
HUMIDITY AND A HIGH DANGER RATING FOR MOST OF FIRE WEATHER ZONES 
151, 152 AND PARTS OF 154...

* AFFECTED AREA...Zones 151, 152 and parts of 154. Generally 
  terrain below about 7,000 ft and east and south of a line from 
  Patagonia Lake, to near Cascabel, to Klondyke, to Fort Thomas 
  and then to east to Clifton. 

* TIMING...Through 7 PM today.

* WINDS...Currently West to northwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to
  45 mph. Winds will begin to ease most locations after 1600. The
  Gila River Valley will hold onto strong winds a bit later into the
  evening hours. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...6 to 11 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop or are ongoing will have the 
  potential to spread rapidly and be resistant to control.

* FOR A DETAILED VIEW OF THE HAZARD AREA...Visit 
  weather.gov/Tucson and click on the Detailed Hazards icon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now...or are expected to develop. A
combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and dry
vegetation will create the potential for rapid and erratic fire
growth.

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of the Red Flag Warning for portions of Southeast Arizona.

&&

$$

Cerniglia
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
486 
WWUS85 KTWC 010153
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
653 PM MST Sun Feb 28 2021

AZZ151-152-154-010300-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210301T0200Z/
Arizona Fire Weather Zone 151
Western half Desert Grasslands FDRA including elevations up to
5500 feet in Southeast corner of Pinal County-
Extreme Eastern Pima County-Western third of Cochise County-
Santa Cruz County-TDC-Arizona Fire Weather Zone 152
Eastern half Desert Grasslands FDRA including elevations up to
5500 feet in Southwest Graham County and Eastern two thirds of
Cochise County-Southern San Carlos Reservation-
Southern Greenlee County below 5000 feet-TDC-
Arizona Fire Weather Zone 154
Forest Woodlands FDRA including the Sky Islands of Southeast
Arizona above 5500 feet-Coronado NF-TDC-
653 PM MST Sun Feb 28 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY
WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 151, 152, 
AND 154...

Winds will gradually diminish through the next hour or so,
therefore the Red Flag Waring will be allowed to expire. 

$$


Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Arizona, 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.