Red Flag Program Tips

The purpose of the Fire Weather Watch and Red Flag Warning is to alert the public and land management agencies of developing weather conditions that,when combined with critically dry wildland fuels, could lead to dangerous wildfires...which will be issued using Xnow and will be distributed under AWIPS Pil JANRFWJAN.

********Tips for issuing Redflag products*********

• A Red flag Warning must be issued for the 1st period...possibly for the second period if the forecaster has a high degree of confidence.

• NOTE: Coordination Center Numbers are in TELEPHONE on AWIPS.

• A Fire Weather Watch can be issued for periods of 12 to 48 hours in advance of the expected onset of criteria...beyond 48 hours to 72 hours does not serve our local customers too well.

• For instance if on Thursday we issued a Fire Weather Watch for Friday...then on early friday the forecasters have to make up their minds on whether or not to issue a Red Flag Warning. If not...then issue a JANRFWJAN cancelling the Fire Weather Watch and be sure to note it on the headline of the Fire Weather Forecast product as well as the appropriate zones.

• A Fire Weather Watch should not be issued, or continued, to indicate low confidence or borderline conditions. In these situations, the forecaster should describe the expected conditions and reasons for uncertainty in the discussion portions of the routine Fire Weather Forecasts.

• Red Flag Warning is used to warn of an impending, or occuring Red Flag Event. Its issuance denotes a high degree of confidence that weather and fuel conditions consistent with local Red Flag Event criteria will occur in 24 hours or less. Forecasters can issue the warning for all or selected portions within a fire weather zone.

• Red Flag Warning expiration time is 12-24 hours to coincide with the next issuance of the fire weather forecast.

• Fire Weather Watch expiration time is 24 to 48 hours.

• If the forecaster favors a Redflag Warning...then it will be issued under JANRFWJAN. Be sure to be careful about expiration times on the products.

• In the Fire Weather forecast (FWF) be sure to note the redflag products issuances or cancellations at the head of the product as well as the appropriate fire zones which are affected.

• As far as public Fire Danger Statements are concern We consult mainly with the State Forestry Commission and get some quotes from them on Public Fire Safety. For Mississippi this will come out of the Jackson head office with Bill Lambert...who is the manager of the Mississippi Forestry Commission. We can also confer with the US Forest Service on any input they would like in the statement. We usually play it on the CRS about 2-3 times a week until the dry period has passed.

• A Fire Weather Watch will remain in effect until the Watch is 1) is cancelled, 2) is upgraded to a Red Flag Warning, or 3) expires.

• A Red Flag Warning will remain in effect until the warning: 1) is cancelled, or 2) expires.

• Use the same product identifier (RFW) for issuing,updating, and cancelling Fire Weather Watches and Red Flag Warnings. Forecasters will also update the Forestry Forecast.

We consult both the state and federal agencies for the region before issuing these products.

Examples of actual Redflag Warning and a Fire Weather Watch products

JANRFWJAN
TTAA00 KJAN 131925
RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON,MS
125 PM CDT THU NOV 13, 2003

MSZ018-019-025>066-072>074-132330

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR STRONG NORTH WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES FROM 130 PM CST UNTIL SUNSET FOR MUCH OF MISSISSIPPI...

FIRE WEATHER COUNTIES INCLUDED IN THIS WARNING ARE:

COVINGTON...JONES...JEFFERSON...CLAIBORNE...SMITH...CLARKE...
JASPER...HINDS...NEWTON...LAUDERDALE...RANKIN...WARREN...
SCOTT...MADISON...KEMPER...LEAKE...NESHOBA...FORREST...LAMAR...MARION
...FRANKLIN...LINCOLN...ADAMS...LAWRENCE...JEFFERSON DAVIS...BOLIVAR...
SIMPSON...SUNFLOWER...GRENADA...LEFLORE...CLAY...LOWNDES...WEBSTER...CARROLL
...MONTGOMERY...OKTIBBEHA...WASHINGTON...CHOCTAW...HOLMES...HUMPHREYS...ATTALA
...NOXUBEE...WINSTON...COPIAH...SHARKEY...ISSAQUENA AND YAZOO.

.DISCUSSION:STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS OF 15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON BEHIND A COLD FRONT...WHICH HAS MOVED SOUTH OF THE AREA. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE AREA WILL ALLOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES TO REMAIND BELOW 30 PERCENT. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES SHOULD INCREASE AS WIND SPEEDS DECREASE AROUND SUNSET. (ALSO LIST ANY BURNING BANS AS WELL AS SIZE AND LOCATIONS OF MAJOR FIRES THAT MAY BE IN PROGRESS).

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

$$

JANRFWJAN
TTAAOO KJAN 132108
FIRE WEATHER WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON,MS
308 PM CST THU NOV 13,2003

MSZ018-019-025>066-072>074-142330

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS BEEN POSTED FOR MUCH OF MISSISSIPPI FOR FRIDAY DUE TO LOW HUMIDITIES...

FIRE WEATHER COUNTIES INCLUDED IN THIS WATCH AREA ARE:

COVINGTON...JONES...JEFFERSON...CLAIBORNE...SMITH...CLARKE...
JASPER...HINDS...NEWTON...LAUDERDALE...RANKIN...WARREN...
SCOTT...MADISON...KEMPER...LEAKE...NESHOBA...FORREST...LAMAR...MARION
...FRANKLIN...LINCOLN...ADAMS...LAWRENCE...JEFFERSON DAVIS...BOLIVAR...
SIMPSON...SUNFLOWER...GRENADA...LEFLORE...CLAY...LOWNDES...WEBSTER...CARROLL
...MONTGOMERY...OKTIBBEHA...WASHINGTON...CHOCTAW...HOLMES...HUMPHREYS...ATTALA
...NOXUBEE...WINSTON...COPIAH...SHARKEY...ISSAQUENA AND YAZOO.

.DISCUSSION...BUILDING HIGH PRESSURE WILL ALLOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES TO REMAIN AROUND 30 PERCENT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON. WITH DRY WEATHER EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY...KBDI VALUES WILL BE APPROACHING 700. DESPITE LOWER WIND SPEEDS...THESE VALUES COULD REACH RED FLAG CRITERIA FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

$$

FIRE DANGER STATEMENTS

The office will also issue Fire Danger Statements. This product is issued under rare circumstances of extremely dry or drought conditions for the entire or part of the region (AWIPS header JANSPSJAN). Distribution will be over NOAA Weather Radio, Internet and the Weather Wire.

The statement will have the following items:

1. Highlight one of these statements
   • ...FIRE DANGER INCREASING IN (Area to be Named)
   • ...HIGH FIRE DANGER CONTINUES IN (Area to be Named) we will not use the term Extreme.

2. Elaborate on the situation with a direct quote of the appropriate Fire Control Agency (State or Federal).

3. Indicate any changes (or no changes) in the weather situation expected over the next few days relative to the fire danger situation. We will not use fire or fire danger in describing the chances of rain, wind, or other weather parameters. We will leave fire behavior to the fire agencies.

4. Request for individual cooperation. The state or federal request that caution jbe exercise to help prevent forest and grass fires.

5. The statement will also mention burning bans that could be in force for a series of counties over portions of the state or a special statewide burning ban that is imposed by the governor.

6. Fire Danger Statements shall be issued only at the request of the forestry services...especially the state forestry agencies...since they cover the public lands of the state.

7. The Fire Danger product if so requested by the state and federal agency should be issued only from noon to 330 pm on NOAA Weather Radio. At most they may request broadcasts up to twice a week.

HIGH FIRE DANGER CONDITIONS CONTINUE ACROSS THE REGION

ACCORDING TO THE MISSISSIPPI FORESTRY COMMISSION, THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS HAVE MADE BURNING EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. CONDITIONS ARE SUCH THAT A SPARK FROM EQUIPMENT, THE HEAT FROM A CATALYTIC CONVERTER, OR ANY HEAT SOURCE WILL START A FIRE. WINDY CONDITIONS COMPLICATE THE BURNING PROCESS BY FURTHER MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTAIN BURING DEBRIS OR TRASH, AND BY SENDING ANY WILDFIRES QUICKLY OUT OF CONTROL. LIGHTNING STRIKES FROM THUNDERSTORMS CAN QUICKLY START FIRES.

FIRES PLACE THE MISSISSIPPI FORESTRY COMMISSION, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND OTHER FIRE CONTROL SERVICES IN LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS, AND CAN ENDANGER ENTIRE COMMUNITIES. PLEASE USE CAUTION AND HELP PREVENT FOREST AND GRASS FIRES. SINCE JULY 1ST OVER 50,100 HAVE BEEN CONSUMED IN OVER 3500 WILD FIRES ACROSS MISSISSIPPI.

THE MISSISSIPPI FORESTRY COMMISSION DOES NOT FEEL THAT ANY REASON FOR BURNING CAN BE JUSTIFIED AT THIS TIME. UNDER SUCH EXTREME CONDITIONS, WE URGE THE PUBLIC TO COMPLY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S BAN AND REFRAIN FROM ANY OUTDOOR BURNING. WHEN BARBECUING TAKE THE UTMOST CARE. DO NOT DUMP ASHES UNLESS YOU ARE CERTAIN THEY ARE COMPLETELY OUT. LIVE COALS CAN BURN FAR AS LONG AS ONE OR TWO DAYS AFTER BEING USED. OCCASIONALLYY, THERE WILL BE SOME RELIEF TO THE HIGH FIRE DANGER IN THE FORM OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. HOWEVER WUCH RELIEF WILL ONLY BE TEMPORARY WITH HIGH FIRE DANGER CONDITIONS RETURNING QUICKLY AFTER A FEW DAYS OF DRYING.