Alert archive / Minnesota / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 4, NWS Grand Forks, ND

May 12, 201211 counties in Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this red flag warning at May 12, 2012, 12:52 PM CDT for 11 counties in Minnesota. It took effect at May 12, 2012, 1:00 PM CDT. 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
May 12, 2012, 12:52 PM CDT (17:52 UTC)
In effect from
May 12, 2012, 1:00 PM CDT
Expired
May 12, 2012, 9:00 PM CDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND

Counties Beltrami County, MN, Clearwater County, MN, Kittson County, MN, Lake of the Woods County, MN, Mahnomen County, MN, Marshall County, MN, Norman County, MN, Pennington County, MN, Polk County, MN, Red Lake County, MN, Roseau County, MN

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 121 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:55 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

International Fa, MN (KINL), launched 12:00Z, 5.9 hours before the alert went out and 201 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, International Fa, MN at 12:00Z on 2012-05-12Temperature 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, International Fa, MN at 12:00Z on 2012-05-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 64 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
2424 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
64 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
84 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.

599 
WWUS83 KFGF 121752
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
1252 PM CDT SAT MAY 12 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON...

.HAZARDOUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST ACROSS PARTS OF
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA THIS AFTERNOON. WESTERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED
TO CONTINUE AROUND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITY
VALUES AROUND 20 PERCENT. THE WINDS COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITIES
AND VERY DRY FUELS WILL LEAD TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
THIS AFTERNOON.

MNZ001-002-004>009-013>017-022-023-130200-
/O.NEW.KFGF.FW.W.0004.120512T1800Z-120513T0200Z/
WEST POLK-NORMAN-KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS-WEST MARSHALL-
EAST MARSHALL-NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-EAST POLK-
NORTH CLEARWATER-SOUTH BELTRAMI-MAHNOMEN-SOUTH CLEARWATER-
1252 PM CDT SAT MAY 12 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
WINDS...LOW HUMIDITIES AND VERY DRY FUELS FOR PORTIONS OF
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR WINDS...LOW HUMIDITIES AND VERY DRY FUELS...WHICH IS
IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN MINNESOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 001...002... 
  004...005...006...007...008...009...013...014...015...016...
  017... 022 AND 023.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* TIMING...CONTINUING INTO THE EARLY EVENING.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 19 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOW 70S.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR 
  BURNING IS RESTRICTED.

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.

&&

$$

HOPKINS
2 follow-up statements
778 
WWUS83 KFGF 122007
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
307 PM CDT SAT MAY 12 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON...

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS POSSIBLE SUNDAY AFTERNOON...

.HAZARDOUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST ACROSS PARTS OF
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA THIS AFTERNOON. WESTERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED
TO CONTINUE AROUND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITY
VALUES AROUND 20 PERCENT. THE WINDS COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITIES
AND VERY DRY FUELS WILL LEAD TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

MNZ001-002-004>009-013>017-022-023-130415-
/O.NEW.KFGF.FW.A.0003.120513T1700Z-120514T0000Z/
/O.CON.KFGF.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120513T0200Z/
WEST POLK-NORMAN-KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS-WEST MARSHALL-
EAST MARSHALL-NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-EAST POLK-
NORTH CLEARWATER-SOUTH BELTRAMI-MAHNOMEN-SOUTH CLEARWATER-
307 PM CDT SAT MAY 12 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR WINDS...LOW HUMIDITIES AND VERY DRY FUELS FOR PORTIONS OF
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING FOR WINDS...LOW HUMIDITIES AND VERY DRY FUELS FOR
PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH FOR WINDS...LOW HUMIDITIES AND VERY DRY
FUELS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN MINNESOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 001...002... 
  004...005...006...007...008...009...013...014...015...016...
  017... 022 AND 023.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* TIMING...CONTINUING INTO THE EARLY EVENING.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 19 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOW 70S.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR 
  BURNING IS RESTRICTED. 

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 FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE
RED FLAG WARNINGS.

&&

$$

MNZ024-028-032-130415-
/O.NEW.KFGF.FW.A.0003.120513T1700Z-120514T0000Z/
HUBBARD-EAST BECKER-WADENA-
307 PM CDT SAT MAY 12 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING FOR WINDS...LOW HUMIDITIES AND VERY DRY FUELS FOR
PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH FOR WINDS...LOW HUMIDITIES AND VERY DRY
FUELS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN MINNESOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 024...028 
  AND 032.

* WINDS...WEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* TIMING...FROM NOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING.

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

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 70S.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR 
  BURNING IS RESTRICTED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

HOPKINS
029 
WWUS83 KFGF 130157
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
857 PM CDT SAT MAY 12 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS POSSIBLE ONCE AGAIN SUNDAY
AFTERNOON...

.HAZARDOUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS HAVE LESSEN THIS EVENING AS
WINDS HAVE DECREASED AND RELATIVE HUMIDITIES HAVE INCREASED.
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY ONCE AGAIN DEVELOP SUNDAY
AFTERNOON. STRONG WINDS COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITIES AND VERY DRY
FUELS WILL LEAD TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

MNZ001-002-004>009-013>017-022-023-131000-
/O.EXP.KFGF.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120513T0200Z/
/O.CON.KFGF.FW.A.0003.120513T1700Z-120514T0000Z/
WEST POLK-NORMAN-KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS-WEST MARSHALL-
EAST MARSHALL-NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-EAST POLK-
NORTH CLEARWATER-SOUTH BELTRAMI-MAHNOMEN-SOUTH CLEARWATER-
857 PM CDT SAT MAY 12 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR A COMBINATION OF VERY DRY FUELS...
STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST
AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR VERY
DRY FUELS...LOW HUMIDITIES AND WINDS AND FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST
AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...IN MINNESOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 001...002... 
  004...005...006...007...008...009...013...014...015...016...
  017... 022 AND 023.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* TIMING...CONTINUING INTO THE EARLY EVENING.

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

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 60S.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR 
  BURNING IS RESTRICTED. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

MNZ024-028-032-131000-
/O.CON.KFGF.FW.A.0003.120513T1700Z-120514T0000Z/
HUBBARD-EAST BECKER-WADENA-
857 PM CDT SAT MAY 12 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS COMBINED WITH LOW 
HUMIDITIES AND VERY DRY FUELS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...IN MINNESOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 024...028 
  AND 032.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* TIMING...FROM NOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING.

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

* TEMPERATURES...AROUND 70.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR 
  BURNING IS RESTRICTED. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

JK

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 12, 3:07 PM CDTFire Weather WatchFGFBecker, Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods and 8 more13 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.