Alert archive / Minnesota / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 3, NWS La Crosse, WI

April 9, 20124 counties in Minnesota

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this red flag warning at Apr 9, 2012, 3:38 AM CDT for 4 counties in Minnesota. It took effect at Apr 9, 2012, 1:00 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 9, 2012, 3:38 AM CDT (08:38 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 9, 2012, 1:00 PM CDT
Expired
Apr 9, 2012, 8:00 PM CDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI

Counties Dodge County, MN, Fillmore County, MN, Mower County, MN, Olmsted County, MN

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 107 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 141 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 2012-04-09Temperature 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 2012-04-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 29 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
3359 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
29 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
93 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.

585 
WWUS83 KARX 090838
RFWARX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
338 AM CDT MON APR 9 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING
ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...

.NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE QUICKLY THIS MORNING...THEN
CONTINUE AT 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH INTO THE EVENING. WITH
THE MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY DROPPING TO AROUND 25 PERCENT...THIS
COMBINATION OF DRY AIR AND GUSTY WINDS WILL PRODUCE CRITICAL FIRE
WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR MUCH OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA.

MNZ086-087-094-095-091645-
/O.UPG.KARX.FW.A.0002.120409T1800Z-120410T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KARX.FW.W.0003.120409T1800Z-120410T0100Z/
DODGE-OLMSTED-MOWER-FILLMORE-
338 AM CDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM
CDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE 
HUMIDITY IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LA CROSSE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG 
WARNING FOR SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM
THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS
NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AROUND 25 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...AROUND 50.

* IMPACTS...FIRES COULD START EASILY AND SPREAD QUICKLY.

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.

&&

$$

BOYNE
3 follow-up statements
937 
WWUS83 KARX 091554
RFWARX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1054 AM CDT MON APR 9 2012

...DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND
EARLY EVENING ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...

.LOOK FOR NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS NEAR 40 MPH
THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO EARLY THIS EVENING. THE
COMBINATION OF THE GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY IN THE 20 TO 25 PERCENT RANGE WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS FOR MUCH OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA. CONDITIONS WILL
GRADUALLY IMPROVE AFTER SUNSET. 

MNZ086-087-094-095-100000-
/O.CON.KARX.FW.W.0003.120409T1800Z-120410T0100Z/
DODGE-OLMSTED-MOWER-FILLMORE-
1054 AM CDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR PORTIONS 
OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA INCLUDING
  DODGE...MOWER...OLMSTED...AND FILLMORE COUNTIES.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS NEAR 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...IN THE 20 TO 25 PERCENT RANGE.

* IMPACTS...FIRES COULD START EASILY AND SPREAD QUICKLY.

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.

&&

$$

DAS
141 
WWUS83 KARX 092012
RFWARX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
312 PM CDT MON APR 9 2012

...DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE INTO
EARLY THIS EVENING ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...

.LOOK FOR NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS NEAR 40 MPH
TO CONTINUE INTO EARLY THIS EVENING. THE COMBINATION OF THE GUSTY
NORTHWEST WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY IN THE 20 TO 25
PERCENT RANGE WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS UNTIL SUNSET. CONDITIONS WILL THEN GRADUALLY IMPROVE
AFTER SUNSET AS WINDS SUBSIDE AND THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY BEGINS TO RECOVER.

MNZ086-087-094-095-100100-
/O.CON.KARX.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120410T0100Z/
DODGE-OLMSTED-MOWER-FILLMORE-
312 PM CDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA INCLUDING 
  DODGE...MOWER...OLMSTED...AND FILLMORE COUNTIES. 

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...20 TO 25 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...FIRES COULD START EASILY AND SPREAD QUICKLY.

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 AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE
GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

DAS
976 
WWUS83 KARX 100045
RFWARX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
745 PM CDT MON APR 9 2012

...DANGEROUS FIRE CONDITIONS IMPROVING...

.WINDS WILL QUICKLY DECREASE EARLY THIS EVENING...WITH AN INCREASE
IN RELATIVE HUMIDITY. THUS...THE CRITICAL AND DANGEROUS FIRE
WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE TONIGHT. 


MNZ086-087-094-095-100145-
/O.EXP.KARX.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120410T0100Z/
DODGE-OLMSTED-MOWER-FILLMORE-
745 PM CDT MON APR 9 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR PORTIONS
OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...

WINDS WILL RAPIDLY DECREASE THIS EVENING...WHILE HUMIDITIES
INCREASE. THUS...THE CRITICAL AND DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE AND THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED
TO EXPIRE. 

$$

RIECK

The office that day

Everything else NWS La Crosse, WI issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 9, 3:24 AM CDTFreeze WarningARXDodge, Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha and 1 more31 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Minnesota, 2012Every red flag warning in 2012

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.