Alert archive / Montana / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 21, NWS Great Falls, MT

August 28, 201218 counties in Montana

NWS Great Falls, MT issued this red flag warning at Aug 28, 2012, 3:27 AM MDT for 18 counties in Montana. It took effect at Aug 28, 2012, 12:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 33 hr. 1 report 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 28, 2012, 3:27 AM MDT (09:27 UTC)
In effect from
Aug 28, 2012, 12:00 PM MDT
Expired
Aug 29, 2012, 9:23 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 09:29 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 29, 12:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 6013 Wsw Saint Mary, MT

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, 9.5 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Great_falls, MT at 00:00Z on 2012-08-28Temperature 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, Great_falls, MT at 00:00Z on 2012-08-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -7 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
3853 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
5 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-7 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
6 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.

707 
WWUS85 KTFX 280927
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
327 AM MDT TUE AUG 28 2012

MTZ112>118-282200-
/O.UPG.KTFX.FW.A.0013.120828T1800Z-120830T0600Z/
/O.NEW.KTFX.FW.W.0021.120828T1800Z-120830T0600Z/
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-
327 AM MDT TUE AUG 28 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT
WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112...113...114...115...116...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 TODAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE FIRE
WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112...113...114...115...
  116...117 AND 118.

* TUESDAY WINDS...WEST 10 TO 20 WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* TUESDAY RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 TO 15 PERCENT.

* WEDNESDAY WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50
  MPH.

* WEDNESDAY RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 TO 20 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.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
3 follow-up statements
783 
WWUS85 KTFX 281927
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
127 PM MDT TUE AUG 28 2012

MTZ112>118-291300-
/O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0021.000000T0000Z-120830T0600Z/
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-
127 PM MDT TUE AUG 28 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT
WEDNESDAY NIGHT 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 MIDNIGHT MDT WEDNESDAY
NIGHT. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112...113...114...115... 
  116...117 AND 118. 

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

* TUESDAY MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 TO 15 PERCENT.

* WEDNESDAY WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 40 TO 45
  MPH. SOME LOCALIZED GUSTS MAY BE NEAR 50 MPH.

* WEDNESDAY MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 TO 20 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.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
828 
WWUS85 KTFX 290948
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
348 AM MDT WED AUG 29 2012

MTZ112>118-292300-
/O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0021.000000T0000Z-120830T0600Z/
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-
348 AM MDT WED AUG 29 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT
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 MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT. 

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112...113...114...115... 
  116...117 AND 118. 

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 40 TO 45 MPH. SOME
  LOCALIZED GUSTS MAY BE NEAR 50 MPH.

* MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 TO 20 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.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
784 
WWUS85 KTFX 300323
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
923 PM MDT WED AUG 29 2012


MTZ112>118-300430-
/O.CAN.KTFX.FW.W.0021.000000T0000Z-120830T0600Z/
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-
923 PM MDT WED AUG 29 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS
CANCELLED FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112...113...114...115...116...117
AND 118...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS CANCELLED THE RED
FLAG WARNING. 

WINDS HAVE DECREASED STEADILY AND HUMIDITY WILL CONTINUE TO
RECOVER ABOVE RED FLAG CRITERIA.

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Great Falls, MT issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 27, 8:47 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXCascade43 min
Aug 27, 9:17 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXPondera58 min

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.