Alert archive / Montana / Red Flag Warnings in 2008

Red Flag Warning 9, NWS Missoula, MT

August 29, 20087 counties in Montana

NWS Missoula, MT issued this red flag warning at Aug 29, 2008, 2:49 PM MDT for 7 counties in Montana. It took effect at Aug 30, 2008, 12:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 9 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 29, 2008, 2:49 PM MDT (20:49 UTC)
In effect from
Aug 30, 2008, 12:00 PM MDT
Expired
Aug 30, 2008, 9:00 PM MDT
In force
9 hr
Issued by
NWS Missoula, MT

Counties Beaverhead County, MT, Deer Lodge County, MT, Granite County, MT, Jefferson County, MT, Madison County, MT, Powell County, MT, Silver Bow County, MT

The radar

The Missoula radar (KMSX), 154 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:52 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

Great_falls, MT (KTFX), launched 12:00Z, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 231 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, Great_falls, MT at 12:00Z on 2008-08-29Temperature 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, Great_falls, MT at 12:00Z on 2008-08-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 111 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1633 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
111 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
112 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 292049
RFWMSO

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
249 PM MDT FRI AUG 29 2008

MTZ110-111-301200-
/O.UPG.KMSO.FW.A.0006.080830T1800Z-080831T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KMSO.FW.W.0009.080830T1800Z-080831T0300Z/
DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD-EAST BEAVERHEAD-
249 PM MDT FRI AUG 29 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TO 9 PM MDT SATURDAY FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES ACROSS THE DEERLODGE/WEST
BEAVERHEAD...EAST BEAVERHEAD...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TO 9 PM MDT SATURDAY. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

AN APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED SURFACE COLD
FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE DISTRICT SATURDAY AFTERNOON. A
TIGHTENING SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT AND MID LEVEL WINDS MIXING
DOWN TO THE SURFACE WILL CREATE SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15-25 MPH WITH
GUSTS AS HIGH AS 35 MPH. DRY AIR MOVING IN AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM
WILL LOWER RELATIVE HUMIDITIES INTO THE 10 TO 20 PERCENT RANGE. THESE
FACTORS COMBINED WITH A HAINES INDEX OF 5 WILL SUPPORT A DANGEROUS
FIRE WEATHER SITUATION. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF ELEVATED
THUNDERSTORMS...GUSTS STRONG WIND GUSTS CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR ANY
STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP.

A RED FLAG WARNING IS INTENDED TO ALERT LAND MANAGERS TO EXPECTED
WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE FIRE DANGER.

$$
4 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS85 KMSO 292055 CCA
RFWMSO

RED FLAG WARNING...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
255 PM MDT FRI AUG 29 2008

MTZ110-111-301215-
/O.UPG.KMSO.FW.A.0006.080830T1800Z-080831T0300Z/
/O.COR.KMSO.FW.W.0009.080830T1800Z-080831T0300Z/
DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD-EAST BEAVERHEAD-
255 PM MDT FRI AUG 29 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TO 9 PM MDT SATURDAY FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES ACROSS THE DEERLODGE/WEST
BEAVERHEAD...EAST BEAVERHEAD...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TO 9 PM MDT SATURDAY. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

AN APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED SURFACE COLD
FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE DISTRICT SATURDAY AFTERNOON. A
TIGHTENING SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT AND MID LEVEL WINDS MIXING
DOWN TO THE SURFACE WILL CREATE SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15-25 MPH WITH
GUSTS AS HIGH AS 35 MPH. DRY AIR MOVING IN AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM
WILL LOWER RELATIVE HUMIDITIES INTO THE 10 TO 20 PERCENT RANGE. THESE
FACTORS COMBINED WITH A HAINES INDEX OF 5 WILL SUPPORT A DANGEROUS
FIRE WEATHER SITUATION. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF ELEVATED
THUNDERSTORMS...ERRATIC STRONG WIND GUSTS CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR ANY
STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP.

A RED FLAG WARNING IS INTENDED TO ALERT LAND MANAGERS TO EXPECTED
WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE FIRE DANGER.

$$
000 
WWUS85 KMSO 301104
RFWMSO

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
504 AM MDT SAT AUG 30 2008

MTZ110-111-302300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0009.080830T1800Z-080831T0300Z/
DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD-EAST BEAVERHEAD-
504 AM MDT SAT AUG 30 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT
THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES ACROSS THE
DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD...EAST BEAVERHEAD...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT
THIS EVENING. 

AN APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL USHER IN AN ASSOCIATED
SURFACE COLD FRONT THROUGH THE DISTRICT THIS AFTERNOON. A
TIGHTENING SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT AND MID LEVEL WINDS MIXING
DOWN TO THE SURFACE WILL CREATE SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15-25 MPH WITH
GUSTS AS HIGH AS 35 MPH. DRY AIR NEAR THE SURFACE AHEAD OF THIS
SYSTEM WILL LOWER RELATIVE HUMIDITIES INTO THE 10 TO 20 PERCENT
RANGE. THESE FACTORS COMBINED WITH A HAINES INDEX OF 5 WILL
SUPPORT A DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER SITUATION. IN ADDITION...ISOLATED ELEVATED
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING...WHICH MAY PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY ERRATIC WIND GUSTS. 

A RED FLAG WARNING IS INTENDED TO ALERT LAND MANAGERS TO EXPECTED
WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE FIRE DANGER.

$$
000 
WWUS85 KMSO 302111
RFWMSO

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
311 PM MDT SAT AUG 30 2008

MTZ111-310300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-080831T0300Z/
EAST BEAVERHEAD-
311 PM MDT SAT AUG 30 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES ACROSS THE EAST BEAVERHEAD...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

THE COMBINATION OF A WESTERLY PRESSURE GRADIENT AND MID LEVEL
WINDS MIXING DOWN TO THE SURFACE WILL CREATE SUSTAINED WINDS OF
15-25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH. THESE WINDS COMBINED WITH LOWER
HUMIDITIES IN THE 13 TO 20 PERCENT RANGE WILL CREATE DANGEROUS
FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS EVENING. IN ADDITION...
ISOLATED ELEVATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND
EARLY EVENING...WHICH MAY PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY ERRATIC WIND
GUSTS.

A RED FLAG WARNING IS INTENDED TO ALERT LAND MANAGERS TO EXPECTED
WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE FIRE DANGER.

$$

MTZ110-310300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-080831T0300Z/
DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD-
311 PM MDT SAT AUG 30 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES ACROSS THE DEERLODGE/WEST
BEAVERHEAD...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

THE COMBINATION OF A WESTERLY PRESSURE GRADIENT AND MID LEVEL
WINDS MIXING DOWN TO THE SURFACE WILL CREATE SUSTAINED WINDS OF
15-25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH. THESE WINDS COMBINED WITH LOWER
HUMIDITIES IN THE 13 TO 20 PERCENT RANGE WILL CREATE DANGEROUS
FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS EVENING. IN ADDITION...
ISOLATED ELEVATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND
EARLY EVENING...WHICH MAY PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY ERRATIC WIND
GUSTS.

A RED FLAG WARNING IS INTENDED TO ALERT LAND MANAGERS TO EXPECTED
WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE FIRE DANGER.

$$
000 
WWUS85 KMSO 310241
RFWMSO

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
841 PM MDT SAT AUG 30 2008

MTZ110-111-310345-
/O.EXP.KMSO.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-080831T0300Z/
DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD-EAST BEAVERHEAD-
841 PM MDT SAT AUG 30 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES ACROSS THE DEERLODGE/WEST
BEAVERHEAD...EAST BEAVERHEAD...

THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING. 

TODAYS GUSTY WINDS HAVE DIED DOWN AND THE VERY LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY LEVELS HAVE BEGUN TO RISE. AS A RESULT...RED FLAG
CONDITIONS ARE NO LONGER BEING MET. THEREFORE THE RED FLAG WARNING
THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST MONTANA HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Missoula, MT issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 29, 7:45 AM MDTWind AdvisoryMSOFlathead, Lake24 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Montana, 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.