Alert archive / Minnesota / Red Flag Warnings in 2009

Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Twin Cities, MN

April 16, 200922 counties in Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this red flag warning at Apr 16, 2009, 3:11 AM CDT for 22 counties in Minnesota. It took effect at Apr 16, 2009, 12:00 PM CDT. It was in force for 7 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: Apr 16, 2009, 3:11 AM CDT (08:11 UTC)
In effect from: Apr 16, 2009, 12:00 PM CDT
Expired: Apr 16, 2009, 7:00 PM CDT
In force: 7 hr
Issued by: NWS Twin Cities, MN

All 22 counties

Benton County, MN, Blue Earth County, MN, Carver County, MN, Dakota County, MN, Faribault County, MN, Freeborn County, MN, Goodhue County, MN, Hennepin County, MN, Le Sueur County, MN, McLeod County, MN, Meeker County, MN, Morrison County, MN, Nicollet County, MN, Rice County, MN, Scott County, MN, Sherburne County, MN, Sibley County, MN, Stearns County, MN, Steele County, MN, Todd County, MN, Waseca County, MN, Wright County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 25 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:17 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

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 22 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 3857 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -7 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 20 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 
WWUS83 KMPX 160811
RFWMPX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
311 AM CDT THU APR 16 2009

...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TO 7 PM TODAY FOR MUCH OF
CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA FOR LOW
HUMIDITY...STRONG WINDS...AND DRY FUELS...

.SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO AROUND 20 MPH...WITH GUSTS UP TO 
30 MPH...ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND EAST
CENTRAL MINNESOTA THIS AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON HUMIDITY VALUES WILL
FALL INTO THE 15 TO 25 PERCENT RANGE. THE COMBINATION OF THE
STRONG WINDS...LOW HUMIDITY VALUES...AND DRY FUELS WILL YIELD
DANGEROUS WILDFIRE CONDITIONS.

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS GENERALLY BOUNDED BY STAPLES AND MILLE
LACS LAKE ON THE NORTH SIDE...THEN EXTENDING SOUTH TO THE IOWA
BORDER THROUGH AREAS SUCH AS LITCHFIELD...NEW ULM...THE WESTERN
AND SOUTHERN SUBURBS OF THE TWIN CITIES...MANKATO AND ALBERT LEA.


MNZ042-043-049>051-058-059-066>069-075>077-083>085-092-093-161615-
/O.UPG.KMPX.FW.A.0002.090416T1700Z-090417T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.FW.W.0002.090416T1700Z-090417T0000Z/
TODD-MORRISON-STEARNS-BENTON-SHERBURNE-MEEKER-WRIGHT-MCLEOD-
SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-
STEELE-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
311 AM CDT THU APR 16 2009

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM
CDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

THE RED FLAG WARNING INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING FIRE WEATHER ZONES:
IN MINNESOTA...42...43...49...50...51...58...59...66
...67...68...69...75...76...77...83...84...85...92
...93

SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO AROUND 20 MPH...WITH GUSTS UP TO 
30 MPH...ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND EAST
CENTRAL MINNESOTA THIS AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON HUMIDITY VALUES WILL
FALL INTO THE 20 TO 25 PERCENT RANGE. THE COMBINATION OF THE
STRONG WINDS...LOW HUMIDITY VALUES...AND DRY FUELS WILL YIELD
DANGEROUS WILDFIRE CONDITIONS.

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS GENERALLY BOUNDED BY STAPLES AND MILLE
LACS LAKE ON THE NORTH SIDE...THEN EXTENDING SOUTH TO THE IOWA
BORDER THROUGH AREAS SUCH AS LITCHFIELD...NEW ULM...THE WESTERN
AND SOUTHERN SUBURBS OF THE TWIN CITIES...MANKATO AND ALBERT LEA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

MNZ060-070-078-161615-
/O.NEW.KMPX.FW.W.0002.090416T1700Z-090417T0000Z/
HENNEPIN-DAKOTA-GOODHUE-
311 AM CDT THU APR 16 2009

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM
CDT THIS EVENING. 

THE RED FLAG WARNING INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING FIRE WEATHER ZONES:
IN MINNESOTA...60...70...78

SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO AROUND 20 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO
25 MPH...ACROSS PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA THIS AFTERNOON.
AFTERNOON HUMIDITY VALUES WILL FALL INTO THE 15 TO 20 PERCENT
RANGE. THE COMBINATION OF THE STRONG WINDS...LOW HUMIDITY
VALUES...AND DRY FUELS WILL YIELD DANGEROUS WILDFIRE CONDITIONS.

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS GENERALLY BOUNDED BY STAPLES AND MILLE
LACS LAKE ON THE NORTH SIDE...THEN EXTENDING SOUTH TO THE IOWA
BORDER THROUGH AREAS SUCH AS LITCHFIELD...NEW ULM...THE WESTERN
AND SOUTHERN SUBURBS OF THE TWIN CITIES...MANKATO AND ALBERT LEA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

RAH

1 follow-up statement

000 
WWUS83 KMPX 161601
RFWMPX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1101 AM CDT THU APR 16 2009

...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TO 7 PM TODAY FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL...
SOUTH CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA FOR LOW HUMIDITY...
STRONG WINDS...AND DRY FUELS...

.SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE ACROSS SOUTHERN
AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA LATE THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON.
MOST OF THE AREA SHOULD SEE WINDS REACHING AROUND 20 MPH WITH
HIGHER GUSTS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. AS TEMPERATURES RISE WELL INTO
THE 60S RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL DROP INTO THE 20 TO 25 PERCENT
RANGE. THE COMBINATION OF THE GUSTY WINDS...LOW HUMIDITY
VALUES...AND DRY FUELS WILL YIELD DANGEROUS WILDFIRE CONDITIONS.

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS GENERALLY BOUNDED BY STAPLES AND MILLE
LACS LAKE ON THE NORTH SIDE...THEN EXTENDING SOUTH TO THE IOWA
BORDER THROUGH AREAS SUCH AS LITCHFIELD...NEW ULM...THE WESTERN
AND SOUTHERN SUBURBS OF THE TWIN CITIES...MANKATO AND ALBERT LEA.

MNZ042-043-049>051-058>060-066>070-075>078-083>085-092-093-170000-
/O.CON.KMPX.FW.W.0002.090416T1700Z-090417T0000Z/
TODD-MORRISON-STEARNS-BENTON-SHERBURNE-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-
MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-
BLUE EARTH-WASECA-STEELE-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
1101 AM CDT THU APR 16 2009

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

THE RED FLAG WARNING INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING FIRE WEATHER ZONES:
IN MINNESOTA...42...43...49...50...51...58...59...60
...66...67...68...69...70...75...76...77...78...83
...84...85...92...93

SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE ACROSS SOUTHERN
AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA LATE THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON.
MOST OF THE AREA SHOULD SEE WINDS REACHING AROUND 20 MPH WITH
HIGHER GUSTS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. AS TEMPERATURES RISE WELL INTO
THE 60S RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL DROP INTO THE 20 TO 25 PERCENT
RANGE. THE COMBINATION OF THE GUSTY WINDS...LOW HUMIDITY
VALUES...AND DRY FUELS WILL YIELD DANGEROUS WILDFIRE CONDITIONS.

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS GENERALLY BOUNDED BY STAPLES AND MILLE
LACS LAKE ON THE NORTH SIDE...THEN EXTENDING SOUTH TO THE IOWA
BORDER THROUGH AREAS SUCH AS LITCHFIELD...NEW ULM...THE WESTERN
AND SOUTHERN SUBURBS OF THE TWIN CITIES...MANKATO AND ALBERT LEA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$
BAP

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Minnesota, 2009 Every red flag warning in 2009

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.