Alert archive / North Dakota / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 5, NWS Bismarck, ND

March 15, 201236 counties in North Dakota

NWS Bismarck, ND issued this red flag warning at Mar 15, 2012, 2:46 PM MDT for 36 counties in North Dakota. It took effect at Mar 16, 2012, 10:00 AM MDT. 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
Mar 15, 2012, 2:46 PM MDT (20:46 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 16, 2012, 10:00 AM MDT
Expired
Mar 16, 2012, 8:00 PM MDT
In force
10 hr
Issued by
NWS Bismarck, ND
All 36 counties

Adams County, ND, Billings County, ND, Bottineau County, ND, Bowman County, ND, Burke County, ND, Burleigh County, ND, Dickey County, ND, Divide County, ND, Dunn County, ND, Emmons County, ND, Foster County, ND, Golden Valley County, ND, Grant County, ND, Hettinger County, ND, Kidder County, ND, LaMoure County, ND, Logan County, ND, McHenry County, ND, McIntosh County, ND, McKenzie County, ND, McLean County, ND, Mercer County, ND, Morton County, ND, Mountrail County, ND, Oliver County, ND, Pierce County, ND, Renville County, ND, Rolette County, ND, Sheridan County, ND, Sioux County, ND, Slope County, ND, Stark County, ND, Stutsman County, ND, Ward County, ND, Wells County, ND, Williams County, ND

The radar

The Bismarck radar (KBIS), 71 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:47 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 12:00Z, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 73 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 12:00Z on 2012-03-15Temperature 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 12:00Z on 2012-03-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 198 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
1737 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
198 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
210 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.

967 
WWUS83 KBIS 152046
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
346 PM CDT THU MAR 15 2012

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA FRIDAY...

.VERY WARM AND DRY WEATHER IS FORECAST FOR FRIDAY WITH HIGH
TEMPERATURES WELL INTO THE 70S WITH SOME 80 DEGREE READINGS
LIKELY. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL DROP INTO THE TEENS
SOUTHWEST AND INTO THE 20S TO AROUND 30 CENTRAL. SOUTHERLY WINDS
WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY...TO 15 TO 25 MPH WEST...AND 20 TO
30 MPH CENTRAL...ESPECIALLY IN THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY. THE
COMBINATION OF WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS WILL
CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH.

NDZ009>013-017>023-025-031>037-040>048-050-051-160500-
/O.UPG.KBIS.FW.A.0002.120316T1600Z-120317T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KBIS.FW.W.0005.120316T1600Z-120317T0200Z/
WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-WARD-MCHENRY-PIERCE-MCKENZIE-DUNN-MERCER-
OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-WELLS-FOSTER-GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK-
MORTON-BURLEIGH-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-SLOPE-HETTINGER-GRANT-BOWMAN-
ADAMS-SIOUX-EMMONS-LOGAN-LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY-
346 PM CDT THU MAR 15 2012 /246 PM MDT THU MAR 15 2012/

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ TO 9 PM
CDT /8 PM MDT/ FRIDAY FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...GUSTY SOUTHERLY
WINDS...AND VERY DRY VEGETATION...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BISMARCK HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ TO 9 PM
CDT /8 PM MDT/ FRIDAY. THE WARNING INCLUDES ALL OF WESTERN AND
CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.

* WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 25 MPH...WITH 20 TO 30 MPH LIKELY 
  IN THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL FALL INTO THE TEENS SOUTHWEST...TO THE 
  20S TO AROUND 30 CENTRAL. 

* TEMPERATURES WILL RISE INTO THE 70S...WITH SOME 80 DEGREE 
  READINGS. 

* THE WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND VERY DRY VEGETATION WILL
  CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH LATE FRIDAY
  MORNING INTO FRIDAY EVENING.

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.

&&

$$

NDZ001>005-160500-
/O.NEW.KBIS.FW.W.0005.120316T1600Z-120317T0200Z/
DIVIDE-BURKE-RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-
346 PM CDT THU MAR 15 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM CDT FRIDAY FOR
LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS...AND VERY DRY
VEGETATION...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BISMARCK HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM CDT FRIDAY. THE
WARNING INCLUDES ALL OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA.

* WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 25 MPH. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL FALL INTO THE 20S. 

* TEMPERATURES WILL RISE INTO THE 70S.

* THE WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND VERY DRY VEGETATION WILL
  CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH LATE FRIDAY
  MORNING INTO FRIDAY EVENING.

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.

&&

$$

TM
4 follow-up statements
829 
WWUS83 KBIS 161000
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
500 AM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA FRIDAY...

...A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN NORTH DAKOTA
SATURDAY... 

.VERY WARM AND DRY WEATHER IS FORECAST FOR TODAY WITH HIGH
TEMPERATURES WELL INTO THE 70S WITH SOME 80 DEGREE READINGS
LIKELY. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL DROP INTO THE TEENS
SOUTHWEST AND INTO THE 20S NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL. SOUTHERLY TO
SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY...TO 20 TO 25 MPH
WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH AT TIMES. THE COMBINATION OF WINDS...LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE
FIRE GROWTH. THE RED FLAG WARNING INCLUDES ALL COUNTIES FROM THE
MONTANA BORDER AS FAR EAST AS THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS AND THE JAMES
RIVER BASIN.

ANOTHER WARM...DRY...AND WINDY DAY IS EXPECTED ON SATURDAY. IN
SOUTHWESTERN NORTH DAKOTA HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO REACH
INTO THE LOW TO MID 70S WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY AROUND 20S
PERCENT. SOUTHEAST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO 20 TO 25 MPH
WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 30 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. THESE CONDITIONS HAVE
PROMPTED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR COUNTIES IN SOUTHWESTERN NORTH
DAKOTA...INCLUDING MCKENZIE AND DUNN COUNTIES SOUTHWARD TO THE
SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER. CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE WATCH INCLUDE WATFORD
CITY AND KILLDEER...BEACH AND DICKINSON...BOWMAN AND HETTINGER.

NDZ017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044-161800-
/O.NEW.KBIS.FW.A.0003.120317T1800Z-120318T0000Z/
/O.CON.KBIS.FW.W.0005.120316T1600Z-120317T0200Z/
MCKENZIE-DUNN-GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK-SLOPE-HETTINGER-BOWMAN-
ADAMS-
500 AM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012 /400 AM MDT FRI MAR 16 2012/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/
THIS MORNING TO 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...GUSTY SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST WINDS...AND DRY VEGETATION
FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SATURDAY EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...GUSTY SOUTHEAST
WINDS...AND DRY VEGETATION FOR MOST OF SOUTHWESTERN NORTH DAKOTA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BISMARCK HAS ISSUED A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH FOR MOST OF SOUTHWESTERN NORTH DAKOTA...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 017 MCKENZIE...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 018 DUNN...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 031 GOLDEN VALLEY...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 032 BILLINGS...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 033 STARK...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 040 SLOPE...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 041 HETTINGER...
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 043 BOWMAN AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 044 ADAMS.

* WINDS...SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS TODAY 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS
  TO 30 MPH AT TIMES. SOUTHEAST WINDS SATURDAY 20 TO 25 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE AS LOW AS 15
  PERCENT TODAY AND AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT ON SATURDAY.

* TEMPERATURES...AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S
  TODAY AND IN THE LOW TO MID 70S SATURDAY.

* IMPACTS...THE WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND VERY DRY
  VEGETATION WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH
  LATE THIS FRIDAY MORNING INTO FRIDAY EVENING. EXPLOSIVE FIRE
  GROWTH POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON AS WELL.

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.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG
WARNINGS.

&&

$$

NDZ001>005-009>013-019>023-025-034>037-042-045>048-050-051-161800-
/O.CON.KBIS.FW.W.0005.120316T1600Z-120317T0200Z/
DIVIDE-BURKE-RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-WARD-
MCHENRY-PIERCE-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-WELLS-FOSTER-MORTON-
BURLEIGH-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-GRANT-SIOUX-EMMONS-LOGAN-LA MOURE-
MCINTOSH-DICKEY-
500 AM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012 /400 AM MDT FRI MAR 16 2012/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/
THIS MORNING TO 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...GUSTY SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST WINDS...AND DRY VEGETATION FOR
NORTHWESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...NORTHWESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AS FAR
  EAST AS THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS AND THE JAMES RIVER BASIN.

* SOUTH WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO 25 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH
  LIKELY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL REACH 20 TO 25 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON.

* TEMPERATURES WILL RISE INTO THE 70S...WITH SOME 80 DEGREE 
  READINGS POSSIBLE SOUTH CENTRAL. 

* THE WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND VERY DRY VEGETATION 
  WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH LATE 
  THIS FRIDAY MORNING INTO FRIDAY EVENING. 

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
116 
WWUS83 KBIS 161530
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
1030 AM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA TODAY...

...A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN NORTH
DAKOTA SATURDAY...

.VERY WARM AND DRY WEATHER IS FORECAST FOR TODAY WITH HIGH
TEMPERATURES WELL INTO THE 70S...WITH SOME 80 DEGREE READINGS
LIKELY. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL DROP INTO THE TEENS
SOUTHWEST AND INTO THE 20S NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL. SOUTH TO
SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY...TO 20 TO 25 MPH
WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH AT TIMES. THE COMBINATION OF WINDS... LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR
EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH. THE RED FLAG WARNING INCLUDES ALL COUNTIES
FROM THE MONTANA BORDER AS FAR EAST AS THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS AND
THE JAMES RIVER BASIN.

ANOTHER WARM...DRY...AND WINDY DAY IS EXPECTED ON SATURDAY. IN
SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO REACH
THE LOW TO MID 70S WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY AROUND 20 PERCENT.
SOUTHEAST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO 20 TO 25 MPH WITH
GUSTS TO NEAR 30 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. THESE CONDITIONS HAVE
PROMPTED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR COUNTIES IN SOUTHWESTERN NORTH
DAKOTA...INCLUDING MCKENZIE AND DUNN COUNTIES SOUTHWARD TO THE
SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER. CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE WATCH INCLUDE WATFORD
CITY AND KILLDEER...BEACH AND DICKINSON...BOWMAN AND HETTINGER.

NDZ017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044-162330-
/O.CON.KBIS.FW.W.0005.120316T1600Z-120317T0200Z/
/O.CON.KBIS.FW.A.0003.120317T1800Z-120318T0000Z/
MCKENZIE-DUNN-GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK-SLOPE-HETTINGER-BOWMAN-
ADAMS-
1030 AM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012 /930 AM MDT FRI MAR 16 2012/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/
THIS EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...GUSTY SOUTH AND
SOUTHWEST WINDS...AND DRY VEGETATION FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...GUSTY
SOUTHEAST WINDS...AND DRY VEGETATION FOR MOST OF SOUTHWESTERN
NORTH DAKOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 017 MCKENZIE...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 018 DUNN...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 031 GOLDEN VALLEY...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 032 BILLINGS...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 033 STARK...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 040 SLOPE...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 041 HETTINGER...
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 043 BOWMAN AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 044 ADAMS.

* WINDS...SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS TODAY 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS 
  AROUND 30 MPH AT TIMES. SOUTHEAST WINDS SATURDAY 20 TO 25 MPH. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE AS LOW AS 15 
  PERCENT TODAY AND AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT ON SATURDAY. 

* TEMPERATURES...AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S 
  TODAY AND IN THE LOW TO MID 70S SATURDAY. 

* IMPACTS...THE WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND VERY DRY 
  VEGETATION WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH 
  LATE THIS FRIDAY MORNING INTO FRIDAY EVENING. EXPLOSIVE FIRE 
  GROWTH POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON AS WELL. 

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.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG
WARNINGS.

&&

$$

NDZ001>005-009>013-019>023-025-034>037-042-045>048-050-051-162330-
/O.CON.KBIS.FW.W.0005.120316T1600Z-120317T0200Z/
DIVIDE-BURKE-RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-WARD-
MCHENRY-PIERCE-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-WELLS-FOSTER-MORTON-
BURLEIGH-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-GRANT-SIOUX-EMMONS-LOGAN-LA MOURE-
MCINTOSH-DICKEY-
1030 AM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012 /930 AM MDT FRI MAR 16 2012/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/
THIS EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...GUSTY SOUTH AND
SOUTHWEST WINDS...AND DRY VEGETATION FOR NORTHWESTERN AND CENTRAL
NORTH DAKOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...NORTHWESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AS FAR
  EAST AS THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS AND THE JAMES RIVER BASIN.

* SOUTH WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO 25 MPH...WITH GUSTS AROUND 30 
  MPH LIKELY. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL REACH 20 TO 25 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON.

* TEMPERATURES WILL RISE INTO THE 70S...WITH SOME 80 DEGREE 
  READINGS POSSIBLE SOUTH CENTRAL. 

* THE WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND VERY DRY VEGETATION 
  WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH LATE THIS 
  FRIDAY MORNING INTO FRIDAY EVENING. 

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/RK
879 
WWUS83 KBIS 162004
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
304 PM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA TODAY...

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA
SATURDAY...

.CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY
EVENING...AND A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT.
ANOTHER WARM...DRY...AND WINDY DAY IS EXPECTED ON SATURDAY. IN
SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO PEAK
IN THE LOW TO UPPER 70S..WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY AROUND 15
TO 25 PERCENT. SOUTHEAST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO 20 TO
25 MPH WITH GUSTS NEAR 30 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. THESE CONDITIONS
HAVE PROMPTED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON FROM 1 PM
CDT TO 7 PM CDT...FOR COUNTIES IN SOUTHWESTERN NORTH
DAKOTA...INCLUDING MCKENZIE AND DUNN COUNTIES SOUTHWARD TO THE
SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER. CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE RED FLAG WARNING
INCLUDE WATFORD CITY AND KILLDEER...BEACH AND DICKINSON... BOWMAN
AND HETTINGER.

NDZ017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044-170415-
/O.UPG.KBIS.FW.A.0003.120317T1800Z-120318T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KBIS.FW.W.0006.120317T1800Z-120318T0000Z/
/O.CON.KBIS.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120317T0200Z/
MCKENZIE-DUNN-GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK-SLOPE-HETTINGER-BOWMAN-
ADAMS-
304 PM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012 /204 PM MDT FRI MAR 16 2012/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...GUSTY SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST
WINDS...AND DRY VEGETATION FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT TO 7 PM CDT SATURDAY
FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...GUSTY SOUTHEAST WINDS...AND DRY
VEGETATION FOR SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BISMARCK HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...GUSTY SOUTHEAST WINDS...AND
DRY VEGETATION...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT TO 7 PM CDT SATURDAY.
THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 017 MCKENZIE...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 018 DUNN...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 031 GOLDEN VALLEY...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 032 BILLINGS...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 033 STARK...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 040 SLOPE...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 041 HETTINGER...
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 043 BOWMAN AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 044 ADAMS.

* WINDS...SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS TODAY 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS 
  AROUND 30 MPH AT TIMES. SOUTHEAST WINDS SATURDAY 20 TO 25 MPH. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE AS LOW AS 15 
  PERCENT TODAY AND IN THE 15 TO 25 PERCENT RANGE ON SATURDAY. 

* TEMPERATURES...AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S 
  TODAY AND IN THE LOW TO UPPER 70S SATURDAY. 

* IMPACTS...THE WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND VERY DRY
  VEGETATION WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH
  THROUGH EARLY EVENING...AND AGAIN SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

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.

&&

$$

NDZ001>005-009>013-019>023-025-034>037-042-045>048-050-051-170200-
/O.CON.KBIS.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120317T0200Z/
DIVIDE-BURKE-RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-WARD-
MCHENRY-PIERCE-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-WELLS-FOSTER-MORTON-
BURLEIGH-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-GRANT-SIOUX-EMMONS-LOGAN-LA MOURE-
MCINTOSH-DICKEY-
304 PM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012 /204 PM MDT FRI MAR 16 2012/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/
THIS EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...GUSTY SOUTH AND
SOUTHWEST WINDS...AND DRY VEGETATION FOR NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL
NORTH DAKOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AS FAR EAST
  AS THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS AND THE JAMES RIVER BASIN.

* SOUTH WINDS 20 TO 25 MPH...WITH GUSTS AROUND 30 MPH.

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

* AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 60S AND 70S.

* THE WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND VERY DRY VEGETATION WILL
  CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH THROUGH EARLY
  THIS EVENING.

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.

&&

$$
RK
857 
WWUS83 KBIS 170216
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
916 PM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012


...THE RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR WEST AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA FRIDAY EVENING AND A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT
FOR SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA SATURDAY...

.THE RED FLAG WARNING FRO WEST AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA HAS
EXPIRED. HOWEVER ANOTHER WARM...DRY...AND WINDY DAY IS EXPECTED ON
SATURDAY IN SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA. THE AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES ARE
EXPECTED TO PEAK IN THE LOW TO UPPER 70S..WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE
HUMIDITY AROUND 15 TO 25 PERCENT. SOUTHEAST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
INCREASE TO 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS NEAR 30 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
THESE CONDITIONS HAVE PROMPTED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR SATURDAY
AFTERNOON FROM 1 PM CDT TO 7 PM CDT...FOR COUNTIES IN SOUTHWESTERN
NORTH DAKOTA...INCLUDING MCKENZIE AND DUNN COUNTIES SOUTHWARD TO
THE SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER. CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE RED FLAG WARNING
INCLUDE WATFORD CITY AND KILLDEER...BEACH AND DICKINSON... BOWMAN
AND HETTINGER.

NDZ017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044-171015-
/O.EXP.KBIS.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120317T0200Z/
/O.CON.KBIS.FW.W.0006.120317T1800Z-120318T0000Z/
MCKENZIE-DUNN-GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK-SLOPE-HETTINGER-BOWMAN-
ADAMS-
916 PM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012 /816 PM MDT FRI MAR 16 2012/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT /NOON MDT/ TO
7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ SATURDAY FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...GUSTY
SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS...AND DRY VEGETATION FOR WESTERN AND
CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 017 MCKENZIE...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 018 DUNN...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 031 GOLDEN VALLEY...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 032 BILLINGS...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 033 STARK...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 040 SLOPE...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 041 HETTINGER...
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 043 BOWMAN AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 044 ADAMS.

* WINDS...SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS TODAY 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS 
  AROUND 30 MPH AT TIMES. SOUTHEAST WINDS SATURDAY 20 TO 25 MPH. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE AS LOW AS 15 
  PERCENT TODAY AND IN THE 15 TO 25 PERCENT RANGE ON SATURDAY. 

* TEMPERATURES...AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S 
  TODAY AND IN THE LOW TO UPPER 70S SATURDAY. 

* IMPACTS...THE WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND VERY DRY 
  VEGETATION WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH 
  THROUGH EARLY EVENING...AND AGAIN SATURDAY AFTERNOON. 

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.

&&

$$

NDZ001>005-009>013-019>023-025-034>037-042-045>048-050-051-170330-
/O.EXP.KBIS.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120317T0200Z/
DIVIDE-BURKE-RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-WARD-
MCHENRY-PIERCE-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-WELLS-FOSTER-MORTON-
BURLEIGH-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-GRANT-SIOUX-EMMONS-LOGAN-LA MOURE-
MCINTOSH-DICKEY-
916 PM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012 /816 PM MDT FRI MAR 16 2012/

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA...

WINDS HAVE DIMINISHED...RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS RISING ...AND THE FIRE
DANGER HAS DIMINISHED. THE RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR FRIDAY
EVENING. 

$$

WA

The office that day

Everything else NWS Bismarck, ND issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 15, 3:17 PM MDTRiver Flood WatchBISMcKenzie, Williams21 hr

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.