Alert archive / Arizona / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 6, NWS Tucson, AZ

March 22, 20216 counties in Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this red flag warning at Mar 22, 2021, 1:50 PM MST for 6 counties in Arizona. It took effect at Mar 23, 2021, 12:00 PM MST. It was in force for 6 hr. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Mar 22, 2021, 1:50 PM MST (20:50 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 23, 2021, 12:00 PM MST
Expired
Mar 23, 2021, 6:00 PM MST
In force
6 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 20:48 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 23, 5:27 PM MSTHAIL 0.257 E Tucson, AZBRIEF SMALL PEA SIZED HAIL WITH PASSING SHOWER.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 12:00Z, 8.8 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 2021-03-22Temperature 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 2021-03-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 125 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
2966 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
125 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
78 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

494 
WWUS85 KTWC 222050
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
150 PM MST Mon Mar 22 2021

AZZ151-152-154-230100-
/O.UPG.KTWC.FW.A.0004.210323T1900Z-210324T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KTWC.FW.W.0006.210323T1900Z-210324T0100Z/
/O.CON.KTWC.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-210323T0100Z/
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-
150 PM MST Mon Mar 22 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY, AND A HIGH FIRE DANGER RATING FOR
SOUTHERN PARTS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONES 151, 152, AND 154... 

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 6 PM MST TUESDAY FOR
STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY, AND A HIGH FIRE DANGER RATING FOR 
PARTS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONES 151, 152, AND 154... 

The National Weather Service in Tucson has upgraded the Fire
Weather Watch to a Red Flag Warning for Tuesday from noon until 
6 PM MST that evening. Otherwise, the current Red Flag Warning 
remains in effect until 6 PM MST this evening. 

* AFFECTED AREA...Portions of Fire weather zones 151...152...and 
  154.
 
* TIMING...Through 6 PM MST this evening and again from noon 
  until 6 PM MST on Tuesday.

* WINDS...Westerly 20-foot winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 
  mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum RH 10 to 15 percent 

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop or are ongoing will have the 
  potential to spread rapidly and be difficult 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
4 follow-up statements
830 
WWUS85 KTWC 230105
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
605 PM MST Mon Mar 22 2021

AZZ151-152-154-231100-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-210323T0100Z/
/O.CON.KTWC.FW.W.0006.210323T1900Z-210324T0100Z/
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-
605 PM MST Mon Mar 22 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 6 PM MST
TUESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY, AND A HIGH FIRE DANGER
RATING FOR SOUTHERN PARTS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONES 151, 152, AND
154...
...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY,
AND A HIGH FIRE DANGER RATING FOR SOUTHERN PARTS OF FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 151, 152, AND 154...

The National Weather Service in Tucson has upgraded the Fire
Weather Watch to a Red Flag Warning for Tuesday from noon until
6 PM MST that evening. Otherwise, the Red Flag Warning that was in
effect today expired at 6 PM MST this evening.

* AFFECTED AREA...Portions of Fire weather zones 151...152... 
  and 154. 

* TIMING...Noon until 6 PM MST on Tuesday.

* WINDS...Westerly 20-foot winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45
  mph. Localized gust to 55 mph are possible.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum RH 10 to 15 percent

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop or are ongoing will have the 
  potential to spread rapidly and be difficult 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
289 
WWUS85 KTWC 231525
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
825 AM MST Tue Mar 23 2021

AZZ151-152-154-240100-
/O.CON.KTWC.FW.W.0006.210323T1900Z-210324T0100Z/
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-
825 AM MST Tue Mar 23 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 6 PM MST
TUESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY, AND A HIGH FIRE DANGER
RATING FOR SOUTHERN PARTS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONES 151, 152, AND
154...

* AFFECTED AREA...Portions of fire weather zones 151...152...154.
  

* TIMING...Noon until 6 PM MST on Today.

* WINDS...Westerly 20-foot winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 
  mph. Localized gust to 55 mph are possible.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum RH 10 to 15 percent

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop or are ongoing will have the 
  potential to spread rapidly and be difficult 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
400 
WWUS85 KTWC 232003
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
103 PM MST Tue Mar 23 2021

AZZ151-152-154-240100-
/O.CON.KTWC.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-210324T0100Z/
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-
103 PM MST Tue Mar 23 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY, AND A HIGH FIRE DANGER RATING FOR
SOUTHERN PARTS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONES 151, 152, AND 154...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 151...152...154.
  

* TIMING...Noon until 6 PM MST on Today.

* WINDS...Westerly 20-foot winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 
  mph. Localized gust to 55 mph are possible.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum RH 10 to 15 percent

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop or are ongoing will have the 
  potential to spread rapidly and be difficult 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
523 
WWUS85 KTWC 240055
RFWTWC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
555 PM MST Tue Mar 23 2021

AZZ151-152-154-240200-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-210324T0100Z/
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-
555 PM MST Tue Mar 23 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 6 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY
WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 151, 152, 
AND 154...

Moisture is increasing and winds are weakening gradually this
evening, therefore the Red Flag Warning will be allowed to expire.
Breezy winds will persist into the evening. 

$$


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

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tucson, AZ issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 22, 2:27 AM MSTRed Flag WarningTWCCochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz16 hr
Mar 22, 1:52 PM MSTWind AdvisoryTWCCochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz28 hr

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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.