Alert archive / North Dakota / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 44, NWS Bismarck, ND

September 25, 2012McKenzie County, North Dakota

NWS Bismarck, ND issued this red flag warning at Sep 25, 2012, 9:02 PM CDT for McKenzie County, North Dakota. It took effect at Sep 26, 2012, 1:00 PM CDT. It was in force for 3 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 25, 2012, 9:02 PM CDT (02:02 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 26, 2012, 1:00 PM CDT
Expired
Sep 26, 2012, 3:50 PM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Bismarck, ND

County McKenzie County, ND

The nearest sounding before it

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 2.0 hours before the alert went out and 230 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 2012-09-26Temperature 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 2012-09-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -9 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
2297 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-9 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
124 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.

401 
WWUS83 KBIS 260202
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
902 PM CDT TUE SEP 25 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR MCKENZIE COUNTY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING...

.WARMER TEMPERATURES WITH HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S...COUPLED WITH
MINIMUM RELATIVE HUDIDITIES FROM 15 TO 20 PERCENT...ALONG WITH A
HIGH HAINES INDEX AT 6...COULD CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE WEATHER
BEHAVIOR OVER THE EXISTING COTTONWOOD CREEK FIRE WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING.

OVERALL WINDS WILL BE MARGINALLY WEAK FOR EXTREME FIRE WEATHER
GROWTH...BUT INSTABILITY OVER THE FIRE WILL BE STRONG...THEREBY
ALLOWING THE EXISTING FIRE TO BECOME PLUME DOMINATED AND POSSIBLY
DEVELOP ADDITIONAL GROWTH. UNTIL THE FIRE BECOMES 100 PERCENT
CONTAINED...RESIDENTS REMAIN THREATENED. CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS MAY BE MET...THUS A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED
DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE GROWTH ON WEDNESDAY.

NDZ017-261015-
/O.UPG.KBIS.FW.A.0033.120926T1800Z-120927T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KBIS.FW.W.0044.120926T1800Z-120927T0200Z/
MCKENZIE-
902 PM CDT TUE SEP 25 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 9 PM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR
WARM TEMPERATURES AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR MCKENZIE COUNTY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BISMARCK HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR WARM TEMPERATURES AND LOW HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM
1 PM TO 9 PM CDT WEDNESDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 017 MCKENZIE.

* WINDS...SOUTHEAST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 MPH.

* TIMING...WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 18 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S.

* LIGHTNING...NONE

* IMPACTS...EXTREME FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR IS POSSIBLE LEADING TO 
  ADDITIONAL GROWTH OVER THE COTTONWOOD CREEK FIRE. 

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/WAA/HW
4 follow-up statements
990 
WWUS83 KBIS 260907
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
407 AM CDT WED SEP 26 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR MCKENZIE COUNTY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING...

.VERY WARM TEMPERATURES WITH HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S...COUPLED
WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES FROM 15 TO 20 PERCENT...ALONG
WITH A HIGH HAINES INDEX AT 6...WILL CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE
WEATHER BEHAVIOR OVER THE EXISTING COTTONWOOD CREEK FIRE WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING.

WIND SPEEDS ALONE WILL BE MARGINALLY WEAK FOR EXTREME FIRE WEATHER
GROWTH...BUT INSTABILITY OVER THE FIRE WILL BE STRONG...THEREBY
ALLOWING THE EXISTING FIRE TO BECOME PLUME DOMINATED LEADING TO
ADDITIONAL GROWTH AND SPREAD. UNTIL THE FIRE BECOMES 100 PERCENT
CONTAINED...RESIDENTS REMAIN THREATENED. THUS A RED FLAG WARNING
CONTINUE IS IN EFFECT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON.

IN ADDITION...ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP
WEDNESDAY EVENING INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT ACROSS EASTERN MONTANA AND
WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR BRIEF GUSTY AND
ERRATIC WINDS TO DEVELOP NEAR OR OVER THE COTTONWOOD FIRE COMPLEX
DURING THIS TIME. THIS COULD RESULT IN SPOTTING AND A FASTER RATE OF
SPREAD. LIGHTNING WILL ALSO BE A CONCERN WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
THURSDAY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION.

NDZ017-261715-
/O.CON.KBIS.FW.W.0044.120926T1800Z-120927T0200Z/
MCKENZIE-
407 AM CDT WED SEP 26 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR VERY WARM TEMPERATURES...LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...AND A HIGH HAINES INDEX OF 6...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 017 MCKENZIE.

* WINDS...SOUTH 10 TO 15 MPH. 

* TIMING...WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 17 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 80S.

* LIGHTNING...LAL OF 1 THROUGH 7PM CDT WEDNESDAY...INCREASING TO
  LAL OF 2 AFTER 7PM CDT.

* IMPACTS...EXTREME FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL
  GROWTH AND SPREAD OVER THE COTTONWOOD CREEK FIRE.

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
010 
WWUS83 KBIS 260911 CCA
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
410 AM CDT WED SEP 26 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR MCKENZIE COUNTY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING...

.VERY WARM TEMPERATURES WITH HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S...COUPLED
WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES FROM 15 TO 20 PERCENT...ALONG
WITH A HIGH HAINES INDEX AT 6...WILL CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE
WEATHER BEHAVIOR OVER THE EXISTING COTTONWOOD CREEK FIRE WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING.

WIND SPEEDS ALONE WILL BE MARGINALLY WEAK FOR EXTREME FIRE WEATHER
GROWTH...BUT INSTABILITY OVER THE FIRE WILL BE STRONG...THEREBY
ALLOWING THE EXISTING FIRE TO BECOME PLUME DOMINATED LEADING TO
ADDITIONAL GROWTH AND SPREAD. UNTIL THE FIRE BECOMES 100 PERCENT
CONTAINED...RESIDENTS REMAIN THREATENED. THUS A RED FLAG WARNING
CONTINUE IS IN EFFECT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON.

IN ADDITION...ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP
WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY ACROSS EASTERN MONTANA AND
WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR BRIEF GUSTY AND
ERRATIC WINDS TO DEVELOP NEAR OR OVER THE COTTONWOOD FIRE COMPLEX
DURING THIS TIME. THIS COULD RESULT IN SPOTTING AND A FASTER RATE OF
SPREAD. LIGHTNING WILL ALSO BE A CONCERN WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
THURSDAY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION.

NDZ017-261730-
/O.CON.KBIS.FW.W.0044.120926T1800Z-120927T0200Z/
MCKENZIE-
410 AM CDT WED SEP 26 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR VERY WARM TEMPERATURES...LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...AND A HIGH HAINES INDEX OF 6...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 017 MCKENZIE.

* WINDS...SOUTH 10 TO 15 MPH. 

* TIMING...WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 17 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 80S.

* LIGHTNING...LAL OF 1 THROUGH 7PM CDT WEDNESDAY...INCREASING TO
  LAL OF 2 AFTER 7PM CDT.

* IMPACTS...EXTREME FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL
  GROWTH AND SPREAD OVER THE COTTONWOOD CREEK FIRE.

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
521 
WWUS83 KBIS 261531
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
1031 AM CDT WED SEP 26 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR MCKENZIE COUNTY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING...

.VERY WARM TEMPERATURES...WITH HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S...COUPLED
WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES FROM 15 TO 20 PERCENT...ALONG
WITH A HIGH HAINES INDEX AT 6...WILL CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE
WEATHER BEHAVIOR OVER THE EXISTING COTTONWOOD CREEK FIRE THIS
AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING.

WIND SPEEDS ALONE WILL BE WEAK FOR EXTREME FIRE WEATHER GROWTH
BUT INSTABILITY OVER THE FIRE WILL BE STRONG...THEREBY ALLOWING
THE EXISTING FIRE TO BECOME PLUME DOMINATED LEADING TO ADDITIONAL
GROWTH AND SPREAD. UNTIL THE FIRE BECOMES 100 PERCENT
CONTAINED...RESIDENTS REMAIN THREATENED. THUS A RED FLAG WARNING
CONTINUE IS IN EFFECT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON.

IN ADDITION...ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP
WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY ACROSS EASTERN MONTANA AND
WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR BRIEF GUSTY AND
ERRATIC WINDS TO DEVELOP NEAR OR OVER THE COTTONWOOD FIRE COMPLEX
DURING THIS TIME. THIS COULD RESULT IN SPOTTING AND A FASTER RATE
OF SPREAD. LIGHTNING WILL ALSO BE A CONCERN WEDNESDAY NIGHT
THROUGH THURSDAY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION.

NDZ017-262345-
/O.CON.KBIS.FW.W.0044.120926T1800Z-120927T0200Z/
MCKENZIE-
1031 AM CDT WED SEP 26 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR VERY WARM TEMPERATURES...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND A HIGH
HAINES INDEX OF 6...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 017 MCKENZIE.

* WINDS...SOUTH 5 TO 15 MPH.

* TIMING...THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 17 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOW TO MIDDLE 80S.

* LIGHTNING...LAL OF 1 THROUGH 7PM CDT WEDNESDAY...INCREASING TO 
  LAL OF 2 AFTER 7PM CDT. 

* IMPACTS...EXTREME FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR WILL RESULT IN 
  ADDITIONAL GROWTH AND SPREAD OVER THE COTTONWOOD CREEK FIRE. 

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.

&&

$$
TWH
386 
WWUS83 KBIS 262050
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
350 PM CDT WED SEP 26 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR MCKENZIE COUNTY HAS BEEN CANCELLED..

.ALTHOUGH WARM TEMPERATURES AND LOW HUMIDITIES CONTINUE OVER
MACKENZIE COUNTY...EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH IS NOT EXPECTED...MAINLY
DUE TO A LACK OF STRONG WINDS. THEREFORE THE RED FLAG WARNING HAS
BEEN CANCELLED.

NDZ017-262200-
/O.CAN.KBIS.FW.W.0044.000000T0000Z-120927T0200Z/
MCKENZIE-
350 PM CDT WED SEP 26 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR WARM TEMPERATURES...LOW
HUMIDITIES AND DRY VEGETATION FOR MACKENZIE COUNTY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BISMARCK HAS CANCELLED THE RED
FLAG WARNING.

EXPLOSIVE FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE NOT ANTICIPATED LATE THIS
AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING...THEREFORE THE RED FLAG WARNING HAS
BEEN CANCELLED

$$
TWH

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.