Alert archive / North Dakota / Red Flag Warnings in 2015

Red Flag Warning 7, NWS Grand Forks, ND

April 17, 20159 counties in North Dakota; 9 counties in Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this red flag warning at Apr 17, 2015, 6:53 AM CDT for 9 counties in North Dakota; 9 counties in Minnesota. It took effect at Apr 17, 2015, 12:00 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
Apr 17, 2015, 6:53 AM CDT (11:53 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 17, 2015, 12:00 PM CDT
Expired
Apr 17, 2015, 8:00 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, Marshall County, MN, Pennington County, MN, Polk County, MN, Red Lake County, MN, Roseau County, MN, Benson County, ND, Cavalier County, ND, Eddy County, ND, Grand Forks County, ND, Nelson County, ND, Pembina County, ND, Ramsey County, ND, Towner County, ND, Walsh County, ND

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 81 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:54 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 00:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 285 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 00:00Z on 2015-04-17Temperature 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 00:00Z on 2015-04-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -4 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1844 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
28 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.

715 
WWUS83 KFGF 171153
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
653 AM CDT FRI APR 17 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING ACROSS THE NORTHERN RED RIVER VALLEY AND
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA UNTIL 8PM...

MNZ001-004>009-013>016-NDZ008-016-027-172000-
/O.NEW.KFGF.FW.W.0007.150417T1700Z-150418T0100Z/
WEST POLK-KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS-WEST MARSHALL-
EAST MARSHALL-NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-EAST POLK-
NORTH CLEARWATER-PEMBINA-EASTERN WALSH-GRAND FORKS-
653 AM CDT FRI APR 17 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR DRY FUELS...LOW HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY WINDS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR DRY FUELS...LOW HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY WINDS...WHICH IS
IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN MINNESOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 001...004... 
  005...006...007...008...009...013...014...015 AND 016. IN 
  NORTH DAKOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 008...016 AND 027.

* WINDS...WEST NORTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH
  THIS AFTERNOON TURNING TO THE NORTH BEHIND COLD FRONT LATE
  AFTERNOON EARLY EVENING.

* TIMING...NOON UNTIL 8PM

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

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE MID 60S.

* IMPACTS...A VERY UNSTABLE AIRMASS THIS AFTERNOON...WILL ALLOW
  RAPID FIRE GROWTH WITH ANY FIRES THAT IGNITE. 

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
CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

&&

$$

JK
3 follow-up statements
727 
WWUS83 KFGF 171457
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
957 AM CDT FRI APR 17 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING ACROSS THE NORTHERN RED RIVER VALLEY AND
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA UNTIL 8PM...

MNZ001-004>009-013>016-NDZ008-016-027-172300-
/O.CON.KFGF.FW.W.0007.150417T1700Z-150418T0100Z/
WEST POLK-KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS-WEST MARSHALL-
EAST MARSHALL-NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-EAST POLK-
NORTH CLEARWATER-PEMBINA-EASTERN WALSH-GRAND FORKS-
957 AM CDT FRI APR 17 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR DRY FUELS...LOW HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY WINDS...

* AFFECTED AREA...IN MINNESOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 001...004... 
  005...006...007...008...009...013...014...015 AND 016. IN 
  NORTH DAKOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 008...016 AND 027.

* WINDS...WEST NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH
  THIS AFTERNOON SHIFTING TO THE NORTH BEHIND A COLD FRONTAL 
  PASSAGE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

* TIMING...NOON UNTIL 8PM.

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

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

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON WILL
  ALLOW RAPID FIRE GROWTH WITH ANY FIRES THAT IGNITE.

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
CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

&&

$$
JK/WJB
798 
WWUS83 KFGF 171720
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
1220 PM CDT FRI APR 17 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST
MINNESOTA UNTIL 8PM...

NDZ006-007-014-015-024-026-054-180100-
/O.EXA.KFGF.FW.W.0007.000000T0000Z-150418T0100Z/
TOWNER-CAVALIER-BENSON-RAMSEY-EDDY-NELSON-WESTERN WALSH-
1220 PM CDT FRI APR 17 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR EXTREMELY DRY 
FUELS...LOW HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WINDS WITH A SWITCH FROM WEST TO NORTHWEST FOR 
ALL OF THE DEVILS LAKE BASIN...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR EXTREMELY DRY FUELS...LOW HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WINDS
WITH A SWITCH FROM WEST TO NORTHWEST...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8
PM CDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN NORTH DAKOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 006... 
  007...014...015...024...026 AND 054.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH BECOMING
  NORTHWEST EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
 
* TIMING...NOON UNTIL 8PM.

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

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOW TO MID 70S. 

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON WILL 
  ALLOW RAPID FIRE GROWTH WITH ANY FIRES THAT IGNITE. 

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
CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

&&

$$

MNZ001-004>009-013>016-NDZ008-016-027-180100-
/O.CON.KFGF.FW.W.0007.000000T0000Z-150418T0100Z/
WEST POLK-KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS-WEST MARSHALL-
EAST MARSHALL-NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-EAST POLK-
NORTH CLEARWATER-PEMBINA-EASTERN WALSH-GRAND FORKS-
1220 PM CDT FRI APR 17 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR EXTREMELY DRY FUELS...LOW HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WINDS WITH A SWITCH 
FROM WEST TO NORTHWEST FOR THE NORTHERN RED RIVER VALLEY AND 
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...IN MINNESOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 001...004... 
  005...006...007...008...009...013...014...015 AND 016. IN 
  NORTH DAKOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 008...016 AND 027.

* WINDS...WEST AT 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH BECOMING
  NORTHWEST AT THE SAME SPEEDS BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON.

* TIMING...NOON UNTIL 8PM.

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

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOW TO MID 70S. 

* IMPACTS...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON WILL
  ALLOW RAPID FIRE GROWTH WITH ANY FIRES THAT IGNITE.

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
CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

&&

$$
WJB
145 
WWUS83 KFGF 180109
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
809 PM CDT FRI APR 17 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR NORTHEASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...


MNZ001-004>009-013>016-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026-027-054-180215-
/O.EXP.KFGF.FW.W.0007.000000T0000Z-150418T0100Z/
WEST POLK-KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS-WEST MARSHALL-
EAST MARSHALL-NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-EAST POLK-
NORTH CLEARWATER-TOWNER-CAVALIER-PEMBINA-BENSON-RAMSEY-
EASTERN WALSH-EDDY-NELSON-GRAND FORKS-WESTERN WALSH-
809 PM CDT FRI APR 17 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR NORTHEASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND
NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA...

WINDS HAVE DECREASED ACROSS THE REGION AND WILL CONTINUE TO
DIMINISH AS THE SUN GOES DOWN. THERE WILL BE SOME SPOTS WITH
RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 20 PERCENT FOR THE NEXT FEW
HOURS...BUT VALUES SHOULD IMPROVE BY LATE EVENING AS TEMPERATURES
COOL AND HIGHER DEWPOINTS BEGIN TO MOVE INTO THE AREA. 

$$

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in North Dakota, 2015Red Flag Warnings in Minnesota, 2015Every red flag warning in 2015

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.