Alert archive / Minnesota / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 10, NWS Twin Cities, MN

October 1, 201218 counties in Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this red flag warning at Oct 1, 2012, 6:58 PM CDT for 18 counties in Minnesota. It took effect at Oct 2, 2012, 11:00 AM 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
Oct 1, 2012, 6:58 PM CDT (23:58 UTC)
In effect from
Oct 2, 2012, 11:00 AM CDT
Expired
Oct 2, 2012, 7:00 PM CDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN

Counties Benton County, MN, Brown County, MN, Chippewa County, MN, Douglas County, MN, Kandiyohi County, MN, Lac qui Parle County, MN, Martin County, MN, Meeker County, MN, Morrison County, MN, Pope County, MN, Redwood County, MN, Renville County, MN, Stearns County, MN, Stevens County, MN, Swift County, MN, Todd County, MN, Watonwan County, MN, Yellow Medicine County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 123 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:05 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, 12.0 hours before the alert went out and 120 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 2012-10-01Temperature 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 2012-10-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -156 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
1414 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-156 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-97 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.

965 
WWUS83 KMPX 012358
RFWMPX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
658 PM CDT MON OCT 1 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR TUESDAY FOR WEST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...

.A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TUESDAY FOR WEST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA....ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM GRANITE FALLS TO STAPLES.
SOUTHERLY WINDS ARE FORECAST TO INCREASE TUESDAY AFTERNOON TO
NEAR 20 MPH AS RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES LOWER TO 20 PERCENT OR
LESS. THIS IS EXPECTED TO LEAD TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

MNZ041-042-047-048-054>056-064-020800-
/O.EXP.KMPX.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-121002T0000Z/
/O.UPG.KMPX.FW.A.0010.121002T1900Z-121003T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.FW.W.0010.121002T1600Z-121003T0000Z/
DOUGLAS-TODD-STEVENS-POPE-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-
YELLOW MEDICINE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALEXANDRIA...LONG PRAIRIE...MORRIS...
GLENWOOD...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...GRANITE FALLS
658 PM CDT MON OCT 1 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM CDT TUESDAY FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND
AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WEST CENTRAL THROUGH SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A RED FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS
IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM CDT TUESDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH
IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 041 DOUGLAS...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 042 TODD...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 047 STEVENS...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 048 POPE...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 054 LAC QUI PARLE...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 055 SWIFT...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 056 CHIPPEWA AND 
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 064 YELLOW MEDICINE.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* TIMING...11 AM TUESDAY TO 7 PM TUESDAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 15 TO 20 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...FIRES COULD BECOME FAST MOVING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF 
  TIME DUE TO THE HIGH WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY. 

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.

&&

$$

MNZ049-057-058-065>067-073>075-082-083-091-092-020100-
/O.EXP.KMPX.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-121002T0000Z/
STEARNS-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-REDWOOD-BROWN-
NICOLLET-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. CLOUD...WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...
OLIVIA...HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...
ST. PETER...ST. JAMES...MANKATO...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH
658 PM CDT MON OCT 1 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND
AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WEST CENTRAL THROUGH SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

ALTHOUGH FIRE DANGER WILL BE AT A MINIMUM DURING THE OVERNIGHT
HOURS...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL REDEVELOP ACROSS
WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA ON TUESDAY.

$$
4 follow-up statements
303 
WWUS83 KMPX 020617
RFWMPX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
117 AM CDT TUE OCT 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR TODAY IN WEST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...

.A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TODAY IN WEST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA....ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM GRANITE FALLS TO
STAPLES. SOUTHERLY WINDS ARE FORECAST TO INCREASE TODAY TO NEAR
20 MPH AS RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES LOWER TO 20 PERCENT OR LESS.
THIS IS EXPECTED TO LEAD TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

MNZ041-042-047-048-054>056-064-021430-
/O.CON.KMPX.FW.W.0010.121002T1600Z-121003T0000Z/
DOUGLAS-TODD-STEVENS-POPE-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-
YELLOW MEDICINE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALEXANDRIA...LONG PRAIRIE...MORRIS...
GLENWOOD...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...GRANITE FALLS
117 AM CDT TUE OCT 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WEST
CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 041 DOUGLAS...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 042 TODD...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 047 STEVENS...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 048 POPE...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 054 LAC QUI PARLE...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 055 SWIFT...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 056 CHIPPEWA AND 
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 064 YELLOW MEDICINE.

* WINDS...SOUTH-SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* TIMING...11 AM TO 7 PM TODAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 15 TO 20 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...FIRES COULD BECOME FAST MOVING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF 
  TIME DUE TO THE HIGH WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY. 

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.

&&

$$

JLT
027 
WWUS83 KMPX 020814
RFWMPX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
314 AM CDT TUE OCT 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR TODAY IN WEST CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...

.A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TODAY IN WEST CENTRAL
AND SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA....ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM HARDING
TO SAINT CLOUD TO LITCHFIELD TO NEW ULM TO FAIRMONT. SOUTHERLY
WINDS ARE FORECAST TO INCREASE TODAY TO NEAR 20 MPH AS RELATIVE
HUMIDITY VALUES LOWER TO 20 PERCENT OR LESS. THIS IS EXPECTED TO
LEAD TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

MNZ043-049-050-057-058-065-073-074-082-091-021700-
/O.EXA.KMPX.FW.W.0010.121002T1600Z-121003T0000Z/
MORRISON-STEARNS-BENTON-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-RENVILLE-REDWOOD-BROWN-
WATONWAN-MARTIN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LITTLE FALLS...ST. CLOUD...FOLEY...
WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...OLIVIA...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...
ST. JAMES...FAIRMONT
314 AM CDT TUE OCT 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WEST CENTRAL
AND SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A RED FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS
IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 043 MORRISON...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 049 STEARNS...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 050 BENTON...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 057 KANDIYOHI...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 058 MEEKER...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 065 RENVILLE...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 073 REDWOOD...
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 074 BROWN...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 082 WATONWAN 
  AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 091 MARTIN.

* WINDS...SOUTH 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* TIMING...11 AM TO 7 PM TODAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 15 TO 20 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...FIRES COULD BECOME FAST MOVING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF 
  TIME DUE TO THE HIGH WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY. 

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.

&&

$$

MNZ041-042-047-048-054>056-064-021700-
/O.CON.KMPX.FW.W.0010.121002T1600Z-121003T0000Z/
DOUGLAS-TODD-STEVENS-POPE-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-
YELLOW MEDICINE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALEXANDRIA...LONG PRAIRIE...MORRIS...
GLENWOOD...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...GRANITE FALLS
314 AM CDT TUE OCT 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WEST
CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 041 DOUGLAS...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 042 TODD...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 047 STEVENS...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 048 POPE...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 054 LAC QUI PARLE...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 055 SWIFT...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 056 CHIPPEWA AND 
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 064 YELLOW MEDICINE.

* WINDS...SOUTH 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* TIMING...11 AM TO 7 PM TODAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 15 TO 20 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...FIRES COULD BECOME FAST MOVING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF 
  TIME DUE TO THE HIGH WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY. 

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.

&&

$$
561 
WWUS83 KMPX 021525
RFWMPX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1025 AM CDT TUE OCT 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR WEST CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...

.A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR WEST CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM HARDING TO
SAINT CLOUD TO LITCHFIELD TO NEW ULM TO FAIRMONT. SOUTHERLY WINDS
ARE FORECAST TO INCREASE TODAY TO NEAR 20 MPH AS RELATIVE HUMIDITY
VALUES LOWER TO 20 PERCENT OR LESS. THIS IS EXPECTED TO LEAD TO
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

MNZ041>043-047>050-054>058-064-065-073-074-082-091-030000-
/O.CON.KMPX.FW.W.0010.121002T1600Z-121003T0000Z/
DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-BENTON-LAC QUI PARLE-
SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-REDWOOD-
BROWN-WATONWAN-MARTIN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALEXANDRIA...LONG PRAIRIE...
LITTLE FALLS...MORRIS...GLENWOOD...ST. CLOUD...FOLEY...MADISON...
BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...GRANITE FALLS...
OLIVIA...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. JAMES...FAIRMONT
1025 AM CDT TUE OCT 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
MINNESOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 041 DOUGLAS...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 042 TODD...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 043 MORRISON...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 047 STEVENS...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 048 POPE...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 049 STEARNS...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 050 BENTON...FIRE WEATHER 
  ZONE 054 LAC QUI PARLE...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 055 SWIFT...FIRE 
  WEATHER ZONE 056 CHIPPEWA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 057 KANDIYOHI...
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 058 MEEKER...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 064 YELLOW 
  MEDICINE... FIRE WEATHER ZONE 065 RENVILLE...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  073 REDWOOD... FIRE WEATHER ZONE 074 BROWN...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 
  082 WATONWAN AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 091 MARTIN.

* WINDS...SOUTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* TIMING...11 AM TO 7 PM TODAY.

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

* IMPACTS...FIRES COULD BECOME FAST MOVING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF 
  TIME DUE TO THE GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY. 

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.

&&

$$

BORGHOFF
778 
WWUS83 KMPX 022357
RFWMPX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
657 PM CDT TUE OCT 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

.WINDS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISHED OVER THE LAST HOUR AND WILL 
CONTINUE TO WEAKEN THIS EVENING. HUMIDITY VALUES WILL GRADUALLY 
INCREASE OVERNIGHT AS TEMPERATURES COOL.

MNZ041>043-047>050-054>058-064-065-073-074-082-091-030100-
/O.EXP.KMPX.FW.W.0010.000000T0000Z-121003T0000Z/
DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-BENTON-LAC QUI PARLE-
SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-REDWOOD-
BROWN-WATONWAN-MARTIN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALEXANDRIA...LONG PRAIRIE...
LITTLE FALLS...MORRIS...GLENWOOD...ST. CLOUD...FOLEY...MADISON...
BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...GRANITE FALLS...
OLIVIA...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. JAMES...FAIRMONT
657 PM CDT TUE OCT 2 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING AS WIND 
DECREASES AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY INCREASES IN WEST CENTRAL AND 
SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...

WINDS HAVE DIMINISHED AND HUMIDITY VALUES CONTINUE TO INCREASE. 
TOMORROW WILL BE DRY AS WELL...WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES 
DROPPING INTO THE 20S ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST...BUT WINDS SHOULD REMAIN 
LESS THAN 20 MPH...ALTHOUGH CONFIDENCE IN THE WIND SPEED FORECAST IS 
NOT HIGH. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT 
INTO THURSDAY...AND WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG NORTHWEST 
WINDS...BUT MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES.

$$

SPD

The office that day

Everything else NWS Twin Cities, MN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 1, 3:41 AM CDTFire Weather WatchMPXChippewa, Douglas, Lac qui Parle, Pope, Stevens, Swift and 2 more15 hr
Oct 1, 3:41 AM CDTRed Flag WarningMPXBlue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Douglas, Faribault, Kandiyohi and 15 more15 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.