Alert archive / Minnesota / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 5, NWS La Crosse, WI

September 10, 20124 counties in Minnesota; 4 counties in Iowa

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this red flag warning at Sep 10, 2012, 2:40 PM CDT for 4 counties in Minnesota; 4 counties in Iowa. It took effect at Sep 11, 2012, 11:00 AM CDT. It was in force for 10 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
Sep 10, 2012, 2:40 PM CDT (19:40 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 11, 2012, 11:00 AM CDT
Expired
Sep 11, 2012, 9:00 PM CDT
In force
10 hr
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI

Counties Chickasaw County, IA, Floyd County, IA, Howard County, IA, Mitchell County, IA, Dodge County, MN, Fillmore County, MN, Mower County, MN, Olmsted County, MN

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 113 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:43 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 12:00Z, 7.7 hours before the alert went out and 170 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 12:00Z on 2012-09-10Temperature 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 12:00Z on 2012-09-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 12 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
1552 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
18 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
12 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
62 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.

919 
WWUS83 KARX 101940
RFWARX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
240 PM CDT MON SEP 10 2012

...DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR WILDFIRES TUESDAY AFTERNOON
AND EVENING...

.DRY CONDITIONS ALONG WITH SOUTH WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH...GUSTING
TO AROUND 35 MPH...WILL LEAD TO DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR
WILDFIRES. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO CLIMB INTO THE UPPER 80S
TO LOWER 90S DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY
VALUES FALLING INTO THE LOWER 20S. THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS
AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL LEAD TO EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH
POTENTIAL.

IAZ008-009-018-019-MNZ086-087-094-095-110345-
/O.NEW.KARX.FW.W.0005.120911T1600Z-120912T0200Z/
MITCHELL-HOWARD-FLOYD-CHICKASAW-DODGE-OLMSTED-MOWER-FILLMORE-
240 PM CDT MON SEP 10 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM CDT TUESDAY FOR
STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY. 

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LA CROSSE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA...WHICH
IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM CDT TUESDAY.

* AFFECTED AREA...PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA. 

* WINDS...SOUTH 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE MID 80S TO LOWER 90S.

* 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.

&&

$$

WETENKAMP
5 follow-up statements
736 
WWUS83 KARX 110208
RFWARX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
908 PM CDT MON SEP 10 2012

...DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR WILDFIRES TUESDAY AFTERNOON
AND EVENING...

.DRY CONDITIONS ALONG WITH SOUTH WINDS OF 20 TO 25 MPH...GUSTING
TO AROUND 35 MPH...WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR
WILDFIRES. TEMPERATURES WILL CLIMB TO AROUND 90 DURING THE
AFTERNOON HOURS WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES FALLING INTO THE
LOWER 20S. THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY WILL LEAD TO EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

IAZ008-009-018-019-MNZ086-087-094-095-111015-
/O.CON.KARX.FW.W.0005.120911T1600Z-120912T0200Z/
MITCHELL-HOWARD-FLOYD-CHICKASAW-DODGE-OLMSTED-MOWER-FILLMORE-
908 PM CDT MON SEP 10 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM CDT
TUESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

* AFFECTED AREA...PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST 
  IOWA.

* WINDS...SOUTH 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 23 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...AROUND 90.

* 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.

&&

$$

RIECK
706 
WWUS83 KARX 110922
RFWARX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
422 AM CDT TUE SEP 11 2012

...DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR WILDFIRES LATE THIS MORNING
THROUGH THIS EVENING...

.DRY CONDITIONS ALONG WITH SOUTH WINDS OF 20 TO 25 MPH...GUSTING
TO 30 TO 40 MPH...WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR
WILDFIRES. TEMPERATURES WILL CLIMB TO AROUND 90 DURING THE
AFTERNOON HOURS WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES FALLING TO 20 TO 25
PERCENT. THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY WILL LEAD TO EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

IAZ008-009-018-019-MNZ086-087-094-095-111730-
/O.CON.KARX.FW.W.0005.120911T1600Z-120912T0200Z/
MITCHELL-HOWARD-FLOYD-CHICKASAW-DODGE-OLMSTED-MOWER-FILLMORE-
422 AM CDT TUE SEP 11 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...

* AFFECTED AREA...PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST 
  IOWA. 

* WINDS...SOUTH 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 22 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...AROUND 90.

* 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.

&&

$$

AJ
767 
WWUS83 KARX 111601
RFWARX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1101 AM CDT TUE SEP 11 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS LEADING TO THE
POTENTIAL OF EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH AND WILDFIRES THROUGH THIS
EVENING...

.SOUTH WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH...GUSTING AT TIMES TO 40 MPH WILL
COMBINE WITH VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY READINGS IN THE 20 TO 25
PERCENT RANGE INTO THIS EVENING. THIS COMBINATION ALONG WITH
ALREADY DRY VEGETATION WILL LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE
FIRE GROWTH AND WILDFIRES. LOOK FOR CONDITIONS TO GRADUALLY
IMPROVE AFTER SUNSET AS WINDS SUBSIDE AND AS THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY 
RECOVERS.

IAZ008-009-018-019-MNZ086-087-094-095-120015-
/O.CON.KARX.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120912T0200Z/
MITCHELL-HOWARD-FLOYD-CHICKASAW-DODGE-OLMSTED-MOWER-FILLMORE-
1101 AM CDT TUE SEP 11 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

* AFFECTED AREA...PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST 
  IOWA. 

* WINDS...SOUTH 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS APPROACHING 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 20 TO 25 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...AROUND 90.

* 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
368 
WWUS83 KARX 112028
RFWARX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
328 PM CDT TUE SEP 11 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 9 PM THIS EVENING...

.SOUTH WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH...GUSTING AT TIMES TO 40 MPH
COMBINING WITH VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY READINGS IN THE 20 TO 25
PERCENT RANGE WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING. THE STRONG WINDS
AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY ALONG WITH ALREADY DRY VEGETATION
WILL LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH AND
WILDFIRES. LOOK FOR CONDITIONS TO GRADUALLY IMPROVE AFTER SUNSET
AS WINDS SUBSIDE AND AS THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY RECOVERS.

IAZ008-009-018-019-MNZ086-087-094-095-120200-
/O.CON.KARX.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120912T0200Z/
MITCHELL-HOWARD-FLOYD-CHICKASAW-DODGE-OLMSTED-MOWER-FILLMORE-
328 PM CDT TUE SEP 11 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

* AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS RED FLAG WARNING INCLUDE PORTIONS OF
  SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA.

* WINDS WILL BE FROM THE SOUTH 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS NEAR 40 MPH
  AT TIMES LATE THIS AFTERNOON...SUBSIDING TO 15 TO 25 MPH BY 9 PM.

* LOOK FOR RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS IN THE 20 TO 25 PERCENT RANGE
  LATE THIS AFTERNOON...RECOVERING TO 35 TO 40 PERCENT BY 9 PM.

* PLAN ON HIGH TEMPERATURES NEAR 90 LATE THIS
  AFTERNOON...LOWERING INTO THE MIDDLE 70S BY 9 PM.

* 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
883 
WWUS83 KARX 120148
RFWARX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
848 PM CDT TUE SEP 11 2012

...CONDITIONS IMPROVING THIS EVENING...

.WITH THE LOSS OF DAYLIGHT...THE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
HAVE BEEN IMPROVING. THE WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO LESS THAN 20 MPH
AND THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY HAS BEEN INCREASING. LOOK FOR THESE
TRENDS TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING AND THE
RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 9 PM.

IAZ008-009-018-019-MNZ086-087-094-095-120300-
/O.EXP.KARX.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120912T0200Z/
MITCHELL-HOWARD-FLOYD-CHICKASAW-DODGE-OLMSTED-MOWER-FILLMORE-
848 PM CDT TUE SEP 11 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

THE SOUTH WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO LESS THAN 20 MPH AND THE
RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE. THIS HAS EASED THE
THREAT FOR RAPIDLY SPREADING FIRES AND THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL
BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 9 PM.

$$

04

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Minnesota, 2012Red Flag Warnings in Iowa, 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.