WWAK61 PAFC 100214 CCA
RFWAER

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
615 PM ADT SAT JUN 9 2006

AKZ111-141-101300-

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM ADT THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES IN THE MATANUSKA VALLEY...

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM ADT THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES IN THE COPPER RIVER BASIN...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON SATURDAY UNTIL 8 PM ADT
SATURDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES IN THE COPPER
RIVER BASIN...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SATURDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES IN THE MATANUSKA
VALLEY...

FIRE WEATHER ZONE INCLUDED IN THIS WARNING IS...
ZONE 111 - MATANUSKA VALLEY
ZONE 141 - COPPER RIVER BASIN

FIRE WEATHER ZONE INCLUDED IN THIS WATCH IS...
ZONE 111 - MATANUSKA VALLEY

DISCUSSION...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS CONTINUING THE RED FLAG
WARNINGS THAT ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE MATANUSKA VALLEY AND THE COPPER
RIVER BASIN THIS EVENING. STRONG SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS CONTINUE TO BLOW
ASSOCIATED WITH A FRONTAL BOUNDARY THAT IS PASSING THROUGH
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA THIS EVENING. HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN
IN THE 20-35% RANGE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS ACROSS THE COPPER
RIVER BASIN. RELATIVE HUMIDITIES IN THE MATANUSKA VALLEY RANGE FROM
35-45% THIS EVENING AND ARE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG SOUTHEASTERLY
WINDS. STRONG WINDS IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MOST OF
THE EVENING AS RELATIVE HUMIDITIES GRADUALLY INCREASE BY 10 PM
TONIGHT. 

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR THE
COPPER RIVER BASIN AND A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON. A STRONG FRONTAL BOUNDARY MOVED THROUGH
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA THIS EVENING AND WILL CONTINUE TO WEAKEN OVER THE
NEXT 24 HOURS ACROSS THE REGION. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD NORTHWARD
FROM SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA HELPING DRY OUT THE REGION AND LOWER
HUMIDITIES OVER THE COPPER RIVER BASIN. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT IS
EXPECTED TO BECOME ORIENTED TO FAVOR A SOUTH WIND THROUGH THE BASIN
AND USHER WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH NORTHWARD DURING THE AFTERNOON.

THE MATANUSKA VALLEY WILL ALSO SEE STRONG WINDS DEVELOPING IN THE
AFTERNOON ALTHOUGH THE SOUTHWARD COMPONENT TO THE WIND MAY HELP KEEP
THE MATANUSKA VALLEY FROM GETTING AS DRY AS OTHER AREAS. WINDS WILL
HAVE A SLIGHT MARINE INFLUENCE MEANING HUMIDITIES MAY REACH THE
35-45% RANGE INSTEAD OF MUCH DRIER IF THE WINDS WERE COMING FROM THE
EAST OR SOUTHEAST. 

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING OR WILL 
OCCUR WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE AND DANGEROUS
FIRES.  IT IS DIRECTED TOWARD FIRE AGENCIES...AND THROUGH THEM...
TO THE PUBLIC.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD LEAD TO THE
POTENTIAL FOR A RED FLAG EVENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THIS WATCH WILL
REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL IT IS UPGRADED TO A RED FLAG WARNING OR THAT
IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE RED FLAG EVENT WILL NOT DEVELOP.

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

$$

JUN AB