Alert archive / Montana / Red Flag Warnings in 2008

Red Flag Warning 4, NWS Missoula, MT

August 7, 200814 counties in Montana; 5 counties in Idaho

NWS Missoula, MT issued this red flag warning at Aug 7, 2008, 3:45 AM MDT for 14 counties in Montana; 5 counties in Idaho. It took effect at Aug 7, 2008, 7:57 AM MDT. It was in force for 25 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
Aug 7, 2008, 3:45 AM MDT (09:45 UTC)
In effect from
Aug 7, 2008, 7:57 AM MDT
Expired
Aug 8, 2008, 8:37 AM MDT
In force
25 hr
Issued by
NWS Missoula, MT

Counties Clearwater County, ID, Idaho County, ID, Latah County, ID, Lewis County, ID, Nez Perce County, ID, Beaverhead County, MT, Deer Lodge County, MT, Flathead County, MT, Granite County, MT, Jefferson County, MT, Lewis and Clark County, MT, Lincoln County, MT, Madison County, MT, Mineral County, MT, Missoula County, MT, Powell County, MT, Ravalli County, MT, Sanders County, MT, Silver Bow County, MT

The radar

The Missoula radar (KMSX), 51 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:02 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

Spokane, WA (KOTX), launched 00:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 205 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, Spokane, WA at 00:00Z on 2008-08-07Temperature 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, Spokane, WA at 00:00Z on 2008-08-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 17 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
4410 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
17 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
165 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WWUS85 KMSO 070945
RFWMSO

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
345 AM MDT THU AUG 7 2008

MTZ108>111-071800-
/O.UPG.KMSO.FW.A.0002.080807T1800Z-080808T0600Z/
/O.NEW.KMSO.FW.W.0004.080807T1800Z-080808T0600Z/
EAST LOLO-BITTERROOT-DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD-EAST BEAVERHEAD-
345 AM MDT THU AUG 7 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT
TONIGHT FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE EAST LOLO...BITTERROOT...
DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD...EAST BEAVERHEAD...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT
TONIGHT. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

INCREASING INSTABILITY AND MID LEVEL MOISTURE OVER SOUTHWEST
MONTANA WILL LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS
AFTERNOON. ALTHOUGH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE HAS SLOWLY INCREASED OVER
THE PAST FEW DAYS THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE REMAINS VERY DRY. THUS
THUNDERSTORMS WHICH FORM TODAY WILL PRODUCE LITTLE PRECIPITATION
THAT ACTUALLY REACHES THE GROUND. GUSTY...ERRATIC WINDS AND
FREQUENT LIGHTNING CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED NEAR THESE STORMS.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$

IDZ102-103-071800-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.A.0002.080807T1800Z-080808T0600Z/
PALOUSE/HELLS CANYON-CLEARWATER/NEZ PERCE-
245 AM PDT THU AUG 7 2008

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM PDT THIS
MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
PALOUSE/HELLS CANYON...CLEARWATER/NEZ PERCE...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM PDT THIS
MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING. 

MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY WILL INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE DAY OVER
CENTRAL IDAHO RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. ALTHOUGH MOISTURE IN THE LOWER LEVELS OR
THE ATMOSPHERE HAS SLOWLY INCREASED...THE ATMOSPHERE NEAR THE
SURFACE REMAINS VERY DRY. THUS ANY STORMS WHICH DEVELOP WILL
PRODUCE LITTLE PRECIPITATION WHICH REACHES THE GROUND.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE
RED FLAG WARNINGS.

$$
6 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS85 KMSO 071357
RFWMSO

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
757 AM MDT THU AUG 7 2008

IDZ102-103-072200-
/O.UPG.KMSO.FW.A.0002.080807T1800Z-080808T0600Z/
/O.EXB.KMSO.FW.W.0004.080807T1400Z-080808T0600Z/
PALOUSE/HELLS CANYON-CLEARWATER/NEZ PERCE-
657 AM PDT THU AUG 7 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE PALOUSE/HELLS CANYON...CLEARWATER/NEZ
PERCE...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

INCREASING INSTABILITY AND MID LEVEL MOISTURE WILL LEAD TO THE
FORMATION OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE
REMAINS VERY DRY. THUS THUNDERSTORMS WHICH FORM TODAY WILL PRODUCE
LITTLE PRECIPITATION. GUSTY...ERRATIC WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING
CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED NEAR THESE STORMS.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$

MTZ104-106-072200-
/O.EXB.KMSO.FW.W.0004.080807T1400Z-080808T0600Z/
KOOTENAI-WEST LOLO-
757 AM MDT THU AUG 7 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT FOR
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE KOOTENAI...WEST LOLO...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT. 

INCREASING INSTABILITY AND MID LEVEL MOISTURE WILL LEAD TO THE
FORMATION OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE
REMAINS VERY DRY. THUS THUNDERSTORMS WHICH FORM TODAY WILL PRODUCE
LITTLE PRECIPITATION. GUSTY...ERRATIC WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING
CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED NEAR THESE STORMS.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$

MTZ108>111-072200-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0004.080807T1800Z-080808T0600Z/
EAST LOLO-BITTERROOT-DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD-EAST BEAVERHEAD-
757 AM MDT THU AUG 7 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT
MDT TONIGHT FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE EAST LOLO...BITTERROOT...
DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD...EAST BEAVERHEAD...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT
MDT TONIGHT. 

INCREASING INSTABILITY AND MID LEVEL MOISTURE OVER SOUTHWEST
MONTANA WILL LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS
TODAY. THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE REMAINS VERY DRY. THUS THUNDERSTORMS
WHICH FORM TODAY WILL PRODUCE LITTLE PRECIPITATION. GUSTY...ERRATIC
WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED NEAR THESE
STORMS.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$
000 
WWUS85 KMSO 072113
RFWMSO

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
313 PM MDT THU AUG 7 2008

IDZ102-103-MTZ104-106-108>111-080515-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-080808T0600Z/
PALOUSE/HELLS CANYON-CLEARWATER/NEZ PERCE-KOOTENAI-WEST LOLO-
EAST LOLO-BITTERROOT-DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD-EAST BEAVERHEAD-
313 PM MDT THU AUG 7 2008 /213 PM PDT THU AUG 7 2008/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT /11 PM
PDT/ TONIGHT FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE PALOUSE/HELLS CANYON...
CLEARWATER/NEZ PERCE...KOOTENAI...WEST LOLO...EAST LOLO...
BITTERROOT...DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD...EAST BEAVERHEAD...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT /11 PM
PDT/ TONIGHT. 

INSTABILITY AND MID LEVEL MOISTURE HAS LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE
REMAINS FAIRLY DRY. THUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE PRODUCING LITTLE
PRECIPITATION. GUSTY...ERRATIC WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING CAN
ALSO BE EXPECTED NEAR THESE STORMS.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$
000 
WWUS85 KMSO 072308
RFWMSO

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
508 PM MDT THU AUG 7 2008

MTZ104-080015-
/O.CAN.KMSO.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-080808T0600Z/
KOOTENAI-
508 PM MDT THU AUG 7 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
KOOTENAI...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS CANCELLED THE RED
FLAG WARNING. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DISSIPATE BEFORE
REACHING THE KOOTENAI AREA TONIGHT. STILL MAY SEE SOME OVERNIGHT
SHOWERS BUT LIGHTNING THREAT WILL BE MINIMAL.

$$

IDZ102-103-MTZ106-108>111-080600-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-080808T0600Z/
PALOUSE/HELLS CANYON-CLEARWATER/NEZ PERCE-WEST LOLO-EAST LOLO-
BITTERROOT-DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD-EAST BEAVERHEAD-
508 PM MDT THU AUG 7 2008 /408 PM PDT THU AUG 7 2008/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT /11 PM
PDT/ TONIGHT FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE PALOUSE/HELLS CANYON...
CLEARWATER/NEZ PERCE...WEST LOLO...EAST LOLO...BITTERROOT...
DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD...EAST BEAVERHEAD...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT /11 PM
PDT/ TONIGHT. 

INSTABILITY AND MID LEVEL MOISTURE HAS LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE
REMAINS FAIRLY DRY. THUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE PRODUCING LITTLE
PRECIPITATION. GUSTY...ERRATIC WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING CAN
ALSO BE EXPECTED NEAR THESE STORMS.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$
000 
WWUS85 KMSO 080324
RFWMSO

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
924 PM MDT THU AUG 7 2008

MTZ110-111-080430-
/O.CAN.KMSO.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-080808T0600Z/
DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD-EAST BEAVERHEAD-
924 PM MDT THU AUG 7 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD...EAST BEAVERHEAD...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS CANCELLED THE RED
FLAG WARNING. 

THE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DECREASED IN COVERAGE. ONLY
ISOLATED...WET THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT.

$$

IDZ102-103-MTZ106-108-109-080900-
/O.EXT.KMSO.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-080808T0900Z/
PALOUSE/HELLS CANYON-CLEARWATER/NEZ PERCE-WEST LOLO-EAST LOLO-
BITTERROOT-
924 PM MDT THU AUG 7 2008 /824 PM PDT THU AUG 7 2008/

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM MDT /2 AM PDT/
FRIDAY FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE PALOUSE/HELLS CANYON...
CLEARWATER/NEZ PERCE...WEST LOLO...EAST LOLO...BITTERROOT...

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM MDT /2 AM PDT/
FRIDAY FOR THUNDERSTORMS AFTER A DRY PERIOD.

INSTABILITY AND MID LEVEL MOISTURE HAS LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE LOWER
ATMOSPHERE HAS MOISTENED UP AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BECOME WET.
HOWEVER...THE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO PRODUCE FREQUENT TO
CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA. THUS
THE RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN EXTENDED.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$
000
WWUS85 KMSO 080856
RFWMSO

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
256 AM MDT FRI AUG 8 2008

MTZ106-108-081000-
/O.CAN.KMSO.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-080808T0900Z/
WEST LOLO-EAST LOLO-
256 AM MDT FRI AUG 8 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
WEST LOLO...EAST LOLO...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS CANCELED THE RED
FLAG WARNING. ALTHOUGH THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP LATE
THIS MORNING AND INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS...THE ATMOSPHERE APPEARS
TO HAVE MOISTENED SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE
WIDESPREAD WETTING RAINFALL. HOWEVER FREQUENT DANGEROUS CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING CAN STILL BE EXPECTED.

$$

IDZ102-103-MTZ109-081700-
/O.EXT.KMSO.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-080808T1800Z/
PALOUSE/HELLS CANYON-CLEARWATER/NEZ PERCE-BITTERROOT-
256 AM MDT FRI AUG 8 2008 /156 AM PDT FRI AUG 8 2008/

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MDT /11 AM PDT/
TODAY FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE PALOUSE/HELLS CANYON...
CLEARWATER/NEZ PERCE...BITTERROOT...

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MDT /11 AM PDT/
TODAY. 

THUNDERSTORMS OVER OREGON AND SOUTHERN IDAHO WILL MOVE NORTH
ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING. FREQUENT DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING IS LIKELY WITH THESE STORMS WITH LITTLE PRECIPITATION
EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH WILL ALSO BE
POSSIBLE NEAR THE STRONGEST STORMS. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO THE AFTERNOON BUT WITH A BETTER CHANCE
OF PRODUCING WETTING RAINFALL.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$

DICKERSON
000 
WWUS85 KMSO 081437
RFWMSO

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
837 AM MDT FRI AUG 8 2008

IDZ102-103-MTZ109-081545-
/O.CAN.KMSO.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-080808T1800Z/
PALOUSE/HELLS CANYON-CLEARWATER/NEZ PERCE-BITTERROOT-
837 AM MDT FRI AUG 8 2008 /737 AM PDT FRI AUG 8 2008/

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR THE PALOUSE/HELLS CANYON...
CLEARWATER/NEZ PERCE...BITTERROOT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS CANCELLED THE RED
FLAG WARNING. 

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS CANCELED THE RED
FLAG WARNING. ALTHOUGH THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP LATE
THIS MORNING AND INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS...THE ATMOSPHERE APPEARS
TO HAVE MOISTENED SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE
WIDESPREAD WETTING RAINFALL. HOWEVER FREQUENT DANGEROUS CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING CAN STILL BE EXPECTED.

$$

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Montana, 2008Red Flag Warnings in Idaho, 2008Every red flag warning in 2008

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.