Alert archive / Montana / Red Flag Warnings in 2012
Red Flag Warning 20, NWS Great Falls, MT
NWS Great Falls, MT issued this red flag warning at Aug 23, 2012, 5:25 AM MDT for 18 counties in Montana. It took effect at Aug 23, 2012, 12:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 33 hr. 19 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 23, 2012, 5:25 AM MDT (11:25 UTC)
- In effect from
- Aug 23, 2012, 12:00 PM MDT
- Expired
- Aug 24, 2012, 9:00 PM MDT
- In force
- 33 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Great Falls, MT
Counties Blaine County, MT, Broadwater County, MT, Cascade County, MT, Chouteau County, MT, Fergus County, MT, Gallatin County, MT, Glacier County, MT, Hill County, MT, Jefferson County, MT, Judith Basin County, MT, Lewis and Clark County, MT, Liberty County, MT, Meagher County, MT, Phillips County, MT, Pondera County, MT, Powell County, MT, Teton County, MT, Toole County, MT
The radar
The Great Falls radar (KTFX), 24 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:30 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 23, 4:00 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 58 | 13 Wsw Saint Mary, MT | 58 MPH WIND GUST AT LOGAN PASS THIS AFTERNOON. |
| Aug 24, 10:15 AM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 46 | 3 Sw Cut Bank, MT | 46 MPH WIND GUST AT THE CUT BANK AIRPORT. |
| Aug 24, 11:00 AM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 58 | 13 Wsw Saint Mary, MT | 58 MPH WIND GUST AT LOGAN PASS THIS MORNING. |
| Aug 24, 12:00 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 45 | 7 S Neihart, MT | 45 MPH WIND GUST AT THE PORPHYRY PEAK RAWS LOCATION. |
| Aug 24, 12:00 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 52 | 8 Se East Glacier Park, MT | 52 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DEEP CREEK RAWS LOCATION. |
| Aug 24, 12:06 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 46 | 2 E Inverness, MT | 46 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DOT SENSOR JUST EAST OF INVERNESS. |
| Aug 24, 12:15 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 57 | 1 N Galata, MT | 57 MPH WIND GUST JUST NORTH OF GALATA. |
| Aug 24, 1:00 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 56 | 23 N Havre, MT | 56 MPH WIND GUST AT MUD LAKE. |
| Aug 24, 1:08 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 50 | 21 Se Cascade, MT | 50 MPH WIND GUST AT MILLEGAN. |
| Aug 24, 1:28 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 43 | 5 Wsw Great Falls, MT | 43 MPH WIND GUST AT THE GREAT FALLS AIRPORT. |
| Aug 24, 1:32 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 46 | 2 Wsw Lewistown, MT | 46 MPH WIND GUST AT THE LEWISTOWN AIRPORT. |
| Aug 24, 1:45 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 50 | 7 Se Hilger, MT | 50 MPH PEAK WIND GUST AT THE JUDITH PEAK RAWS. TIME OF EVENT IS ESTIMATED. |
| Aug 24, 2:00 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 52 | 13 S Fort Belknap, MT | 52 MPH WIND GUST AT FORT BELKNAP RAWS. TIME OF EVENT IS ESTIMATED. |
| Aug 24, 2:00 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 52 | 4 W Havre, MT | 52 MPH WIND GUST AT THE HAVRE AIRPORT. |
| Aug 24, 2:30 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 53 | 2 E Roy, MT | 53 MPH WIND GUST JUST EAST OF ROY. TIME OF EVENT IS ESTIMATED. |
| Aug 24, 3:00 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 55 | 3 Wnw Townsend, MT | 55 MPH WIND GUST AT THE GINGER RAWS LOCATION. TIME OF EVENT IS ESTIMATED. |
| Aug 24, 5:00 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 44 | 3 Ene Helena, MT | 44 MPH WIND GUST AT THE HELENA AIRPORT. |
| Aug 24, 5:00 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 59 | 13 Wsw Saint Mary, MT | 59 MPH WIND GUST AT LOGAN PASS. |
| Aug 24, 6:00 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 41 | 6 Se Winston, MT | 41 MPH WIND GUST AT THE SILOS RECREATION AREA. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
The nearest sounding before it
Great_falls, MT (KTFX), launched 00:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 37 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 4392 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 27 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 42 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 72 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
659 WWUS85 KTFX 231125 RFWTFX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 525 AM MDT THU AUG 23 2012 .A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE NORTHERN ROCKIES THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. IT WILL BE PRECEDED BY VERY WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS. GUSTY WEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP BEHIND THE FRONT NEAR AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 15. A WEATHER SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE NORTHERN ROCKIES ON FRIDAY AND BRING WIDESPREAD GUSTY WEST WINDS. THE WEATHER SYSTEM WILL BE DRY BUT THERE WILL BE A SMALL THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH LITTLE IF ANY RAINFALL NEAR THE CANADIAN BORDER. MTZ112-114-116-232330- /O.UPG.KTFX.FW.A.0012.120823T2100Z-120825T0300Z/ /O.NEW.KTFX.FW.W.0020.120823T1800Z-120825T0300Z/ EASTERN GLACIER/TOOLE/CENTRAL AND EASTERN PONDERA/LIBERTY COUNTIES- LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST ROCKY MOUNTAIN DISTRICT/ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT- LINCOLN RANGER DISTRICT OF THE HELENA NATIONAL FOREST- 525 AM MDT THU AUG 23 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112...114 AND 116... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT FRIDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. * AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112...114 AND 116. * WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING INCREASING TO 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH ON FRIDAY. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 TO 20 PERCENT TODAY AND 20 TO 30 PERCENT FRIDAY. * IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THESE AREAS OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING. && $$ MTZ113-115-117-118-232330- /O.UPG.KTFX.FW.A.0012.120823T2100Z-120825T0300Z/ /O.NEW.KTFX.FW.W.0020.120824T1800Z-120825T0300Z/ HILL AND BLAINE COUNTIES-CHOUTEAU AND FERGUS COUNTIES- CENTRAL AND EASTERN LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST AREAS- HELENA AND TOWNSEND RANGER DISTRICTS OF THE HELENA NATIONAL FOREST- 525 AM MDT THU AUG 23 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 113...115...117 AND 118... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT FRIDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. * AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 113...115...117 AND 118. * WINDS...WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 TO 20 PERCENT. * IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. * ADDITIONAL IMPACTS...NEAR AND NORTH OF U.S. ROUTE 2 THERE WILL BE A SMALL THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH LITTLE OR NO RAINFALL WHICH COULD CREATE NEW FIRE STARTS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THESE AREAS OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING. && $$ HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
4 follow-up statements
374 WWUS85 KTFX 232022 RFWTFX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 222 PM MDT THU AUG 23 2012 .A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE NORTHERN ROCKIES AND MONTANA TONIGHT. GUSTY WEST WINDS ALREADY OCCURRING ALONG THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT AND ADJACENT PLAINS WILL INCREASE AND SPREAD EAST ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF NORTH CENTRAL AND CENTRAL MONTANA LATER TONIGHT AS THE FRONT MOVES EAST THROUGH THE REGION. GUSTY WEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY EVENING. THE AIRMASS WILL REMAIN DRY BEHIND THE FRONT DESPITE COOLER TEMPERATURES ON FRIDAY AND HUMIDITY WILL FALL INTO THE TEENS TO AROUND TWENTY PERCENT BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON...CREATING CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS MUCH OF NORTH CENTRAL AND CENTRAL MONTANA. MTZ112-114-116-241200- /O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0020.000000T0000Z-120825T0300Z/ EASTERN GLACIER/TOOLE/CENTRAL AND EASTERN PONDERA/LIBERTY COUNTIES- LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST ROCKY MOUNTAIN DISTRICT/ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT- LINCOLN RANGER DISTRICT OF THE HELENA NATIONAL FOREST- 222 PM MDT THU AUG 23 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112...114 AND 116... A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT FRIDAY. * AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112...114 AND 116. * WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH..INCREASING TO 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ON FRIDAY. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 TO 20 PERCENT TODAY AND 15 TO 25 PERCENT FRIDAY. * IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THESE AREAS OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING. && $$ MTZ113-115-117-118-241200- /O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0020.120824T1800Z-120825T0300Z/ HILL AND BLAINE COUNTIES-CHOUTEAU AND FERGUS COUNTIES- CENTRAL AND EASTERN LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST AREAS- HELENA AND TOWNSEND RANGER DISTRICTS OF THE HELENA NATIONAL FOREST- 222 PM MDT THU AUG 23 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 113...115...117 AND 118... A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT FRIDAY. * AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 113...115...117 AND 118. * WINDS...WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 TO 20 PERCENT. * IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. * ADDITIONAL IMPACTS...NEAR AND NORTH OF U.S. ROUTE 2 THERE WILL BE A SMALL THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH LITTLE OR NO RAINFALL WHICH COULD CREATE NEW FIRE STARTS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THESE AREAS OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING. && $$ HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
446 WWUS85 KTFX 240941 RFWTFX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 341 AM MDT FRI AUG 24 2012 .GUSTY WEST WINDS ALONG THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT WILL INCREASE AND SPREAD EAST ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL AND CENTRAL MONTANA AS A COLD FRONT MOVES EAST THROUGH THE REGION TODAY. THE AIRMASS WILL REMAIN DRY BEHIND THE FRONT DESPITE COOLER TEMPERATURES TODAY. HUMIDITY WILL FALL INTO THE TEENS TO AROUND TWENTY PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON...CREATING CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS MUCH OF NORTH CENTRAL AND CENTRAL MONTANA. MTZ112-114-116-242200- /O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0020.000000T0000Z-120825T0300Z/ EASTERN GLACIER/TOOLE/CENTRAL AND EASTERN PONDERA/LIBERTY COUNTIES- LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST ROCKY MOUNTAIN DISTRICT/ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT- LINCOLN RANGER DISTRICT OF THE HELENA NATIONAL FOREST- 341 AM MDT FRI AUG 24 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112...114 AND 116... A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING. * AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112...114 AND 116. * WINDS...WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...15 TO 25 PERCENT. * IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THESE AREAS OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING. && $$ MTZ113-115-117-118-242200- /O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0020.120824T1800Z-120825T0300Z/ HILL AND BLAINE COUNTIES-CHOUTEAU AND FERGUS COUNTIES- CENTRAL AND EASTERN LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST AREAS- HELENA AND TOWNSEND RANGER DISTRICTS OF THE HELENA NATIONAL FOREST- 341 AM MDT FRI AUG 24 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 113...115...117 AND 118... A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING. * AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 113...115...117 AND 118. * WINDS...WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 TO 20 PERCENT. * IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. * ADDITIONAL IMPACTS...NEAR AND NORTH OF U.S. ROUTE 2 THERE WILL BE A SMALL THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH LITTLE OR NO RAINFALL WHICH COULD CREATE NEW FIRE STARTS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THESE AREAS OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING. && $$ HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
126 WWUS85 KTFX 242028 RFWTFX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 228 PM MDT FRI AUG 24 2012 MTZ112>118-250300- /O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0020.000000T0000Z-120825T0300Z/ EASTERN GLACIER/TOOLE/CENTRAL AND EASTERN PONDERA/LIBERTY COUNTIES-HILL AND BLAINE COUNTIES- LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST ROCKY MOUNTAIN DISTRICT/ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-CHOUTEAU AND FERGUS COUNTIES- LINCOLN RANGER DISTRICT OF THE HELENA NATIONAL FOREST- CENTRAL AND EASTERN LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST AREAS- HELENA AND TOWNSEND RANGER DISTRICTS OF THE HELENA NATIONAL FOREST- 228 PM MDT FRI AUG 24 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112...113...114...115...116...117 AND 118... A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING. * AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112...113...114...115...116...117 AND 118. * WINDS...WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 TO 20 PERCENT...EXCEPT 20 TO 30 PERCENT ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER. * IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING BEFORE WINDS DIMINISH AFTER SUNSET. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THESE AREAS OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING. && $$ HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
703 WWUS85 KTFX 250232 RFWTFX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 832 PM MDT FRI AUG 24 2012 MTZ112>118-250345- /O.EXP.KTFX.FW.W.0020.000000T0000Z-120825T0300Z/ EASTERN GLACIER/TOOLE/CENTRAL AND EASTERN PONDERA/LIBERTY COUNTIES-HILL AND BLAINE COUNTIES- LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST ROCKY MOUNTAIN DISTRICT/ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-CHOUTEAU AND FERGUS COUNTIES- LINCOLN RANGER DISTRICT OF THE HELENA NATIONAL FOREST- CENTRAL AND EASTERN LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST AREAS- HELENA AND TOWNSEND RANGER DISTRICTS OF THE HELENA NATIONAL FOREST- 832 PM MDT FRI AUG 24 2012 ...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112...113...114...115...116...117 AND 118... THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING. WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO REDUCE IN SPEED THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS...AND THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 9 PM THIS EVENING. $$ HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
Nearby
Red Flag Warnings in Montana, 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.