STORM2K

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
230 PM EST FRI NOV 28 2003

...A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR FOR ALL OF EAST
CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

THE WARNING INCLUDES THE COUNTIES OF VOLUSIA...SEMINOLE...ORANGE...
LAKE...BREVARD...OSCEOLA...INDIAN RIVER...OKEECHOBEE...SAINT LUCIE
AND MARTIN.

THE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED DUE TO THE EXPECTED COMBINATION OF LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35 PERCENT...AND SUSTAINED 20 FOOT
WIND SPEEDS OF 15 MPH FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR. MANY AREAS WILL ALSO
EXPERIENCE RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35% FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

.DISCUSSION...A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA
EARLY TONIGHT. MUCH COLDER AND DRIER AIR WILL SURGE SOUTHWARD INTO
CENTRAL FLORIDA BEHIND THE FRONT THROUGH SATURDAY ON MODERATELY
STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS.

$$

CRISTALDI

Is a RH below 35% a cause for alarm?

National Weather Service wrote:THE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED DUE TO THE EXPECTED COMBINATION OF LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35 PERCENT...AND SUSTAINED 20 FOOT
WIND SPEEDS OF 15 MPH FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR. MANY AREAS WILL ALSO
EXPERIENCE RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35% FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

From "National Weather Service's Fire Weather Watch / Red Flag Warning vs. Division of Forestry's Red Flag Alert" website:

The National Weather Service's Fire Weather Watch / Red Flag Warning Program is designed to provide land management agencies warning of potentially hazardous weather conditions. The National Weather Service does not make any management decisions as a result of the Watch or Warning. Specific actions are determined by user agencies

The Florida Division of Forestry's Red Flag Fire Alert is designed to alert fire service, other emergency response personnel and land managers that a serious wildfire potential exists based on weather conditions, moisture levels of vegetative fuels and availability of fire suppression resources.

The National Weather Service's Fire Weather Watch / Red Flag Warning Program is frequently initiated because it is based on the occurrence of any of the following weather conditions:

Relative humidity below 35% for 4 or more hours
Relative humidity below 35% for any duration and wind speed greater than 15 mph
Forecast afternoon dispersion index greater than 75

In summary: The Florida Division of Forestry is the only state agency to initiate a Red Flag Fire Alert. This is only initiated when weather conditions along with the Division's knowledge of local and state fire conditions indicate a strong potential for hazardous wildland fire conditions.

with all that rain you guys had this past year- there is a fire danger? amazing--pete--

thanks for the explanation, Tom.