Alert archive / North Dakota / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 25, NWS Bismarck, ND

July 31, 20124 counties in North Dakota

NWS Bismarck, ND issued this red flag warning at Jul 31, 2012, 2:23 AM MDT for 4 counties in North Dakota. It took effect at Jul 31, 2012, 12:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 8 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
Jul 31, 2012, 2:23 AM MDT (08:23 UTC)
In effect from
Jul 31, 2012, 12:00 PM MDT
Expired
Jul 31, 2012, 7:52 PM MDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Bismarck, ND

Counties Billings County, ND, Bowman County, ND, Golden Valley County, ND, Slope County, ND

The radar

The Bismarck radar (KBIS), 213 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:26 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

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 218 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, Bismarck Municip, ND at 00:00Z on 2012-07-31Temperature 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, Bismarck Municip, ND at 00:00Z on 2012-07-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -69 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
2746 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-69 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-46 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.

631 
WWUS83 KBIS 310823
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
323 AM CDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY EVENING...

.A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE FROM CENTRAL MONTANA INTO WESTERN NORTH
DAKOTA LATE AFTERNOON TUESDAY. SUSTAINED SOUTH WINDS OF 15 TO 20
MPH ARE FORECAST THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON...WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES FALLING TO BETWEEN 15 AND 20 PERCENT ALONG WITH HIGH
TEMPERATURES OF AROUND 100 DEGREES. WINDS WILL GUST TO 25 MPH
THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND SHIFT TO THE WEST AND NORTHWEST BY
LATE AFTERNOON AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH. THERE IS A CHANCE
FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT TODAY.
ANY THUNDERSTORM THAT DEVELOPS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING
AND ERRATIC WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.

WITH DRY FUELS...HOT TEMPERATURES...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND
THE POTENTIAL FOR VERY STRONG AND ERRATIC WINDS WITH A COLD FRONTAL
PASSAGE DURING THE AFTERNOON...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR WILL
OCCUR IN SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA.

NDZ031-032-040-043-311630-
/O.NEW.KBIS.FW.W.0025.120731T1800Z-120801T0200Z/
GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-SLOPE-BOWMAN-
223 AM MDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR DRY FUELS...HOT TEMPERATURES...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND
POSSIBLY VERY STRONG AND ERRATIC WINDS IN SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 031 GOLDEN VALLEY...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 032 BILLINGS...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 040 SLOPE AND 
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 043 BOWMAN.

* WINDS...SOUTH WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH WILL BECOME WEST TO NORTHWEST
  BY LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON. EXPECT GUSTS TO 25 MPH THROUGH THE
  AFTERNOON. VERY STRONG AND ERRATIC WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH MAY
  ACCOMPANY ANY THUNDERSTORM THAT DEVELOPS.

* TIMING...TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY EVENING.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 15 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...HIGH TEMPERATURES AROUND 100 DEGREES.

* LIGHTNING...ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR ALONG
  AND AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT.

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON
  THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY EVENING IN SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA.

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.

&&

$$

KS
3 follow-up statements
329 
WWUS83 KBIS 311756
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
1256 PM CDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY EVENING...

.A FRONTAL BOUNDARY HAD ENTERED FAR WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA FROM
MONTANA LATE THIS MORNING. SUSTAINED SOUTH WINDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH
ARE FORECAST AHEAD OF THE FRONT...WITH WINDS BECOMING SOUTHWEST
BEHIND THE FRONT. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES ARE FORECAST TO
FALL TO BETWEEN 13 AND 20 PERCENT ALONG WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES OF
AROUND 100 DEGREES. WINDS WILL GUST TO 25 MPH THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON AND SHIFT TO THE WEST AND NORTHWEST BY LATE AFTERNOON AS
THE FRONT CONTINUES TO MOVE EASTWARD. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR
THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT TODAY. ANY
THUNDERSTORM THAT DEVELOPS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING
AND ERRATIC WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. DRY LIGHTNING IS ALSO A
POSSIBILITY.

WITH DRY FUELS...HOT TEMPERATURES...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND
THE POTENTIAL FOR VERY STRONG AND ERRATIC WINDS WITH A FRONTAL
PASSAGE DURING THE AFTERNOON...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR WILL
OCCUR IN SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA.

NDZ031-032-040-043-010200-
/O.CON.KBIS.FW.W.0025.120731T1800Z-120801T0200Z/
GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-SLOPE-BOWMAN-
1156 AM MDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR DRY FUELS...HOT TEMPERATURES...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND
POSSIBLY VERY STRONG AND ERRATIC WINDS IN SOUTHWEST NORTH
DAKOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 031 GOLDEN VALLEY...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 032 BILLINGS...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 040 SLOPE AND 
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 043 BOWMAN.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH WILL BECOME WEST TO 
  NORTHWEST BY LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON. EXPECT GUSTS TO 25 MPH
  THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. VERY STRONG AND ERRATIC WINDS IN EXCESS
  OF 60 MPH MAY ACCOMPANY ANY THUNDERSTORM THAT DEVELOPS. 

* TIMING...TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY EVENING.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 13 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...HIGH TEMPERATURES AROUND 100 DEGREES.

* LIGHTNING...ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR 
  ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. 

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR IS EXPECTED THIS 
  AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY EVENING IN SOUTHWEST NORTH 
  DAKOTA. 

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.

&&

$$

JV
245 
WWUS83 KBIS 312135
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
435 PM CDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY EVENING...

.A FRONTAL BOUNDARY EXTENDED FROM BETWEEN TIOGA AND MINOT...TO
BETWEEN DICKINSON AND BISMARCK. WEST OF THIS FRONT WINDS WERE
WESTERLY AT 10 TO 20 MPH WITH SOME GUSTS TO 25 MPH...AND SURFACE
DEWPOINTS SHOULD BE DROPPING INTO THE 40S. TEMPERATURES IN THE MID
TO UPPER 90S WITH LOW DEWPOINTS SHOULD RESULT IN RELATIVE HUMIDITY
VALUES IN THE TEENS TO NEAR 20 PERCENT. THESE CONDITIONS...ALONG
WITH DRY FUELS...WILL KEEP CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS IN
THE RED FLAG AREA THROUGH EARLY EVENING IN FAR SOUTHWESTERN NORTH
DAKOTA.

THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE...BUT MAINLY ALONG AND EAST
OF THE SURFACE FRONT. THEREFORE THE CHANCE OF AFTERNOON AND
EVENING THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN THE RED FLAG AREA HAS
DIMINISHED.



NDZ031-032-040-043-010200-
/O.CON.KBIS.FW.W.0025.000000T0000Z-120801T0200Z/
GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-SLOPE-BOWMAN-
335 PM MDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR DRY FUELS...HOT TEMPERATURES...AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY IN
FAR SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 031 GOLDEN VALLEY...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 032 BILLINGS...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 040 SLOPE AND 
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 043 BOWMAN.

* WINDS...WEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH. EXPECT GUSTS TO 25 MPH AT TIMES
  THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. 

* TIMING...TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY EVENING.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 13 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...HIGH TEMPERATURES 95 TO 100 DEGREES.

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR IS EXPECTED THIS 
  AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY EVENING IN SOUTHWEST NORTH 
  DAKOTA. 

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.

&&

$$


JV
203 
WWUS83 KBIS 010152
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
852 PM CDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING ALLOWED TO EXPIRE FOR SOUTHWEST NORTH
DAKOTA...

.THE RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE FOR SOUTHWEST
NORTH DAKOTA. CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE NO LONGER
OCCURRING.


NDZ031-032-040-043-010300-
/O.CAN.KBIS.FW.W.0025.000000T0000Z-120801T0200Z/
GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-SLOPE-BOWMAN-
752 PM MDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...THE RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE FOR SOUTHWEST
NORTH DAKOTA...

CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE NO LONGER OCCURRING.

$$

HEINERT

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in North Dakota, 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.