Alert archive / Montana / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 9, NWS Great Falls, MT

June 25, 20128 counties in Montana

NWS Great Falls, MT issued this red flag warning at Jun 25, 2012, 2:42 PM MDT for 8 counties in Montana. It took effect at Jun 26, 2012, 10:00 AM MDT. It was in force for 14 hr. 13 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
Jun 25, 2012, 2:42 PM MDT (20:42 UTC)
In effect from
Jun 26, 2012, 10:00 AM MDT
Expired
Jun 27, 2012, 12:00 AM MDT
In force
14 hr
Issued by
NWS Great Falls, MT

Counties Broadwater County, MT, Cascade County, MT, Fergus County, MT, Gallatin County, MT, Jefferson County, MT, Judith Basin County, MT, Lewis and Clark County, MT, Meagher County, MT

The radar

The Great Falls radar (KTFX), 90 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:44 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
Jun 26, 10:37 AM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 606 Se Winston, MT60 MPH WIND GUST AT THE SILOS MESONET SITE.
Jun 26, 11:30 AM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 656 Se Winston, MT65 MPH WIND GUST AT THE SILOS MESONET SITE.
Jun 26, 11:45 AM MDTTSTM WND GST 5532 Wsw Bynum, MT55 MPH WIND GUST WHEN THE THUNDERSTORM MOVED THROUGH AT THE GATES PARK RAWS LOCATION. TIME IS ESTIMATED.
Jun 26, 12:20 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 593 Wnw East Helena, MT59 MPH WIND GUST AT THE HELENA AIRPORT AS THE COLD FRONT MOVED THROUGH. DRY FRONTAL PASSAGE.
Jun 26, 1:04 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 583 Nne Monarch, MT58 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DOT SENSOR NEAR MONARCH.
Jun 26, 1:10 PM MDTHAIL 111 N Black Eagle, MT
Jun 26, 1:15 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 544 W Helena, MT54 MPH WIND GUST AFTER COLD FRONT WENT THROUGH.
Jun 26, 2:22 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 5411 E Bozeman, MT54 MPH PEAK WIND GUST AT THE DOT SENSOR ON BOZEMAN PASS.
Jun 26, 2:23 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 656 Se Winston, MT65 MPH WIND GUST AT THE SILOS MESONET SITE.
Jun 26, 2:27 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 5817 Sw Simms, MT58 MPH WIND GUST NEAR BOWMANS. WINDS SUSTAINED AT 46 MPH.
Jun 26, 3:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 7016 S Three Forks, MTESTIMATED 70 MPH WIND GUST ON THE BEAR TRAP 2 FIRE. ALSO PEAK WIND GUST TO 69 MPH AT THE YELLOW MULE RAWS LOCATION AT 100 PM.
Jun 26, 3:30 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 595 Sw Great Falls, MT59 MPH PEAK WIND GUST AT THE NWS GREAT FALLS OFFICE.
Jun 26, 7:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 6132 Wsw Bynum, MTGATES PARK RAWS SITE

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 12:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 96 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 12:00Z on 2012-06-25Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1300 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 12:00Z on 2012-06-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 17 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
1300 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-223 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
551 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
17 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
263 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

827 
WWUS85 KTFX 252042
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
242 PM MDT MON JUN 25 2012

MTZ117-260300-
/O.NEW.KTFX.FW.W.0009.120626T1600Z-120627T0300Z/
/O.EXA.KTFX.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120626T0300Z/
CENTRAL AND EASTERN LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST AREAS-
242 PM MDT MON JUN 25 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE
117...FOR MEAGHER COUNTY ONLY. 
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT TUESDAY FOR
FRONTAL PASSAGE...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONE 117 FOR MEAGHER COUNTY ONLY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING. A RED FLAG WARNING HAS ALSO
BEEN ISSUED FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT TUESDAY FOR FRONTAL
PASSAGE...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES.

TODAY

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 117...MEAGHER COUNTY ONLY.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 8 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE 
  HUMIDITIES WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS 
  THROUGH THIS EVENING...WITH RAPID FIRE GROWTH IN AREAS WHERE 
  FUELS ARE DRY. 

TUESDAY

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 117...MEAGHER COUNTY ONLY.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 TO 15 PERCENT.

* FRONTAL PASSAGE...TUESDAY AFTERNOON BETWEEN 2 PM AND 6 PM
  EXPECT A WIND SHIFT TO WEST.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE 
  HUMIDITIES WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS 
  THROUGH THIS EVENING...WITH RAPID FIRE GROWTH IN AREAS WHERE 
  FUELS ARE DRY. 

&&

$$

MTZ118-260300-
/O.NEW.KTFX.FW.W.0009.120626T1600Z-120627T0300Z/
/O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120626T0300Z/
HELENA AND TOWNSEND RANGER DISTRICTS OF THE HELENA NATIONAL
FOREST-
242 PM MDT MON JUN 25 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE
118...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT TUESDAY FOR
FRONTAL PASSAGE...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONE 118...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR FRONTAL PASSAGE...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT TUESDAY. A
RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

TODAY

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 118.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 10 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE 
  HUMIDITIES WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS 
  THROUGH THIS EVENING...WITH RAPID FIRE GROWTH IN AREAS WHERE 
  FUELS ARE DRY. 

TUESDAY

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 118.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

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

* FRONTAL PASSAGE...TUESDAY AFTERNOON BETWEEN 1 PM AND 
  5 PM EXPECT A WIND SHIFT TO WEST.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE 
  HUMIDITIES WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS 
  THROUGH THIS EVENING...WITH RAPID FIRE GROWTH IN AREAS WHERE 
  FUELS ARE DRY. 

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
091 
WWUS85 KTFX 260323
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
923 PM MDT MON JUN 25 2012

MTZ117-118-261530-
/O.EXP.KTFX.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120626T0300Z/
/O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0009.120626T1600Z-120627T0300Z/
CENTRAL AND EASTERN LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST AREAS-
HELENA AND TOWNSEND RANGER DISTRICTS OF THE HELENA NATIONAL
FOREST-
923 PM MDT MON JUN 25 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 117 AND 118...

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT
TUESDAY FOR FRONTAL PASSAGE...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 118 AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE
117...MEAGHER COUNTY ONLY...

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A RED FLAG WARNING
REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT TUESDAY.

TUESDAY

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 118 AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE
  117...MEAGHER COUNTY ONLY.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 10 TO 15 PERCENT.

* FRONTAL PASSAGE...TUESDAY AFTERNOON BETWEEN 1 PM AND 5 PM.
  EXPECT A WIND SHIFT TO THE WEST.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE 
  HUMIDITIES WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS 
  THROUGH THIS EVENING...WITH RAPID FIRE GROWTH IN AREAS WHERE 
  FUELS ARE DRY. 

&&

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THESE
AREAS OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
724 
WWUS85 KTFX 261345
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
744 AM MDT TUE JUN 26 2012

MTZ117-118-270300-
/O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0009.120626T1600Z-120627T0300Z/
CENTRAL AND EASTERN LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST AREAS-
HELENA AND TOWNSEND RANGER DISTRICTS OF THE HELENA NATIONAL
FOREST-
744 AM MDT TUE JUN 26 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND A COLD FRONTAL
PASSAGE WITH A STRONG WIND SHIFT FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 118 AND
SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF 117...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 118 AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF
  FIRE WEATHER ZONE 117 WHICH INCLUDES MEAGHER COUNTY ONLY.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH BECOMING
  WEST TO NORTHWEST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

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

* FRONTAL PASSAGE...THIS AFTERNOON BETWEEN 1 PM AND 5 PM. EXPECT A
  WIND SHIFT TO THE WEST-NORTHWEST.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
  HUMIDITIES WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
  THROUGH THIS EVENING...WITH RAPID FIRE GROWTH IN AREAS WHERE
  FUELS ARE DRY.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THESE
AREAS OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
577 
WWUS85 KTFX 270250
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
850 PM MDT TUE JUN 26 2012

MTZ117-270400-
/O.CAN.KTFX.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120627T0300Z/
CENTRAL AND EASTERN LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST AREAS-
850 PM MDT TUE JUN 26 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 117...

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

AS TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO FALL THIS EVENING...RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES WILL INCREASE. HOWEVER...WINDS WILL REMAIN BREEZY
THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

$$

MTZ118-270600-
/O.EXT.KTFX.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120627T0600Z/
HELENA AND TOWNSEND RANGER DISTRICTS OF THE HELENA NATIONAL
FOREST-
850 PM MDT TUE JUN 26 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 118...

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 118.

* WINDS...WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 12 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...CONTINUED STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES
  WILL KEEP CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH
  MIDNIGHT...WITH RAPID FIRE GROWTH IN AREAS WHERE FUELS ARE DRY
  AND WILDFIRES EXIST. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE ON WEDNESDAY WITH
  LIGHTER WINDS EXPECTED.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THESE
AREAS OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
999 
WWUS85 KTFX 270553
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1153 PM MDT TUE JUN 26 2012

MTZ118-270700-
/O.EXP.KTFX.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120627T0600Z/
HELENA AND TOWNSEND RANGER DISTRICTS OF THE HELENA NATIONAL
FOREST-
1153 PM MDT TUE JUN 26 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT FOR GUSTY
WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 118...

THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT. 

HUMIDITY VALUES HAVE INCREASED AND THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE
ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT MIDNIGHT. 

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 24, 8:35 PM MDTRed Flag WarningTFXBroadwater, Cascade, Fergus, Gallatin, Jefferson, Judith Basin and 2 more24 hr
Jun 24, 11:20 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXHill40 min
Jun 24, 11:52 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXHill38 min
Jun 25, 12:23 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXHill37 min
Jun 25, 12:58 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXBlaine, Hill30 min
Jun 25, 2:45 PM MDTHigh Wind WatchTFX21 hr
Jun 25, 4:19 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXFergus26 min
Jun 25, 4:44 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXFergus46 min
Jun 25, 5:33 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXPondera42 min
Jun 25, 5:38 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXGlacier, Pondera, Teton52 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.