Alert archive / Minnesota / Red Flag Warnings in 2009

Red Flag Warning 3, NWS Twin Cities, MN

April 23, 200942 counties in Minnesota; 9 counties in Wisconsin

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this red flag warning at Apr 23, 2009, 3:38 AM CDT for 42 counties in Minnesota; 9 counties in Wisconsin. It took effect at Apr 23, 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 23, 2009, 3:38 AM CDT (08:38 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 23, 2009, 12:00 PM CDT
Expired
Apr 23, 2009, 7:00 PM CDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
All 51 counties

Anoka County, MN, Benton County, MN, Blue Earth County, MN, Brown County, MN, Carver County, MN, Chippewa County, MN, Chisago County, MN, Dakota County, MN, Douglas County, MN, Faribault County, MN, Freeborn County, MN, Goodhue County, MN, Hennepin County, MN, Isanti County, MN, Kanabec County, MN, Kandiyohi County, MN, Lac qui Parle County, MN, Le Sueur County, MN, Martin County, MN, McLeod County, MN, Meeker County, MN, Mille Lacs County, MN, Morrison County, MN, Nicollet County, MN, Pope County, MN, Ramsey County, MN, Redwood County, MN, Renville County, MN, Rice County, MN, Scott County, MN, Sherburne County, MN, Sibley County, MN, Stearns County, MN, Steele County, MN, Stevens County, MN, Swift County, MN, Todd County, MN, Waseca County, MN, Washington County, MN, Watonwan County, MN, Wright County, MN, Yellow Medicine County, MN, Barron County, WI, Chippewa County, WI, Dunn County, WI, Eau Claire County, WI, Pepin County, WI, Pierce County, WI, Polk County, WI, Rusk County, WI, Saint Croix County, WI

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 20 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:41 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, 8.6 hours before the alert went out and 17 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2009-04-23Temperature 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2009-04-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -44 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
3729 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-44 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
115 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.

449 
WWUS83 KMPX 230947
RFWMPX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
338 AM CDT THU APR 23 2009

...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON UNTIL 7 PM CDT FOR PARTS OF WEST
CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...FOR LOW HUMIDITY...STRONG
WINDS...AND DRY FUELS...

.SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE LATER THIS MORNING INTO THE 25 TO
35 MPH RANGE OUT AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT DROPPING SOUTH ACROSS
NORTHERN MINNESOTA. THE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL ALSO HELP
USHER IN UNSEASONABLY WARM AIR INTO THE WARNED AREA...RESULTING IN
HIGHS THIS AFTERNOON GETTING INTO 80S. WITH DRY AIR STILL IN
PLACE...THIS WILL ALLOW AFTERNOON HUMIDITIES TO DROP INTO THE 20
TO 25 PERCENT RANGE. THE STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES
WILL COMBINE WITH DRY FUELS IN PLACE TO YIELD DANGEROUS WILDFIRE
CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE WARNED AREA. THE RED FLAG
WARNING IS IN EFFECT ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM BENSON...TO
LITCHFIELD...TO BLUE EARTH.

MNZ054>058-064>067-073>075-082-083-091-092-231645-
/O.NEW.KMPX.FW.W.0003.090423T1700Z-090424T0000Z/
LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-YELLOW MEDICINE-
RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-
MARTIN-FARIBAULT-
338 AM CDT THU APR 23 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. 

SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE LATER THIS MORNING INTO THE 25 TO
35 MPH RANGE OUT AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT DROPPING SOUTH ACROSS
NORTHERN MINNESOTA. THE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL ALSO HELP
USHER IN UNSEASONABLY WARM AIR INTO THE WARNED AREA...RESULTING IN
HIGHS THIS AFTERNOON GETTING INTO 80S. WITH DRY AIR STILL IN
PLACE...THIS WILL ALLOW AFTERNOON HUMIDITIES TO DROP INTO THE 20
TO 25 PERCENT RANGE. THE STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES
WILL COMBINE WITH DRY FUELS IN PLACE TO YIELD DANGEROUS WILDFIRE
CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE WARNED AREA.

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.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS83 KMPX 231438
RFWMPX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
938 AM CDT THU APR 23 2009

...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON UNTIL 7 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN FOR LOW
HUMIDITY...STRONG WINDS...AND DRY FUELS...

.SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE THIS MORNING INTO THE
25 TO 35 MPH RANGE OUT AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT DROPPING SOUTH ACROSS
NORTHERN MINNESOTA. THE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL ALSO HELP
USHER IN UNSEASONABLY WARM AIR INTO THE WARNED AREA...RESULTING IN
HIGHS THIS AFTERNOON GETTING INTO MID 70S TO MID 80S. WITH DRY AIR
STILL IN PLACE...THIS WILL ALLOW AFTERNOON HUMIDITIES TO DROP INTO
THE 20 TO 30 PERCENT RANGE. THE STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES WILL COMBINE WITH DRY FUELS IN PLACE TO YIELD DANGEROUS
WILDFIRE CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE WARNED AREA. THE RED
FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE AREAS FROM ALBERT LEA
THEN NORTH THROUGH THE TWIN CITIES TO THE CAMBRIDGE AND MORA AREA.
IT ALSO NOW INCLUDES THE WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN AREAS FROM AMERY
TO RICE LAKE TO LADYSMITH TO EAU CLAIRE AND DURAND.

MNZ041>045-047>053-059>063-068>070-076>078-084-085-093-WIZ014>016-
023>028-232245-
/O.EXA.KMPX.FW.W.0003.090423T1700Z-090424T0000Z/
DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-
BENTON-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-CHISAGO-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-
WASHINGTON-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-WASECA-
STEELE-FREEBORN-POLK-BARRON-RUSK-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-
CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
938 AM CDT THU APR 23 2009

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

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

SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE THIS MORNING INTO THE
25 TO 35 MPH RANGE OUT AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT DROPPING SOUTH ACROSS
NORTHERN MINNESOTA. THE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL ALSO HELP
USHER IN UNSEASONABLY WARM AIR INTO THE WARNED AREA...RESULTING IN
HIGHS THIS AFTERNOON GETTING INTO THE MID 70S TO LOWER 80S. WITH
DRY AIR STILL IN PLACE...THIS WILL ALLOW AFTERNOON HUMIDITIES TO
DROP INTO THE 25 PERCENT RANGE. THE STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES WILL COMBINE WITH DRY FUELS IN PLACE TO YIELD DANGEROUS
WILDFIRE CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE WARNED AREA.

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.

&&

$$

MNZ054>058-064>067-073>075-082-083-091-092-232245-
/O.CON.KMPX.FW.W.0003.090423T1700Z-090424T0000Z/
LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-YELLOW MEDICINE-
RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-
MARTIN-FARIBAULT-
938 AM CDT THU APR 23 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.

SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE INTO THE 25 TO 35 MPH
RANGE THIS MORNING OUT AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT DROPPING SOUTH ACROSS
NORTHERN MINNESOTA. THE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL ALSO HELP
USHER IN UNSEASONABLY WARM AIR INTO THE WARNED AREA...RESULTING IN
HIGHS THIS AFTERNOON GETTING INTO 80S. WITH DRY AIR STILL IN
PLACE...THIS WILL ALLOW AFTERNOON HUMIDITIES TO DROP INTO THE 20
TO 25 PERCENT RANGE. THE STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES
WILL COMBINE WITH DRY FUELS IN PLACE TO YIELD DANGEROUS WILDFIRE
CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE WARNED AREA.

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
000 
WWUS83 KMPX 232315
RFWMPX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
615 PM CDT THU APR 23 2009

...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON UNTIL 7 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN FOR LOW HUMIDITY...
STRONG WINDS...AND DRY FUELS...

.DANGEROUS WILDFIRE CONDITIONS PREVAILED EARLY THIS EVENING 
ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AS TEMPERATURES IN THE
MIDDLE 80S TO LOWER 90S WERE OCCURRING ALONG WITH SOUTHERLY WINDS
NEAR 25 MPH AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 25 PERCENT.
CONDITIONS WERE A LITTLE BETTER OVER WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN WHERE
WIND SPEEDS WERE NOT AS GREAT AND HUMIDITY VALUES WERE MUCH HIGHER
DUE TO AFTERNOON CLOUDINESS. 

THE DANGEROUS WILDFIRE CONDITIONS ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH THIS EVENING AS WIND SPEEDS DROP
AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES RISE AS TEMPERATURES DECREASE.

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
240015-
/O.CON.KMPX.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-090424T0000Z/
DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-
BENTON-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-CHISAGO-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-
KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-
YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-
REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-
WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-POLK-BARRON-RUSK-
ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-EAU CLAIRE-
615 PM CDT THU APR 23 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.

DANGEROUS WILDFIRE CONDITIONS PREVAILED EARLY THIS EVENING 
ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AS TEMPERATURES IN THE
MIDDLE 80S TO LOWER 90S WERE OCCURRING ALONG WITH SOUTHERLY WINDS
NEAR 25 MPH AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 25 PERCENT.
CONDITIONS WERE A LITTLE BETTER OVER WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN WHERE
WIND SPEEDS WERE NOT AS GREAT AND HUMIDITY VALUES WERE MUCH HIGHER
DUE TO AFTERNOON CLOUDINESS. 

THE DANGEROUS WILDFIRE CONDITIONS ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH THIS EVENING AS WIND SPEEDS DROP
AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES RISE AS TEMPERATURES DECREASE.

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

The office that day

Everything else NWS Twin Cities, MN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 23, 3:52 AM CDTWind AdvisoryMPXBlue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue and 12 more15 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Minnesota, 2009Red Flag Warnings in Wisconsin, 2009Every 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.