Alert archive / Minnesota / Red Flag Warnings in 2015

Red Flag Warning 9, NWS Grand Forks, ND

May 2, 201517 counties in Minnesota; 17 counties in North Dakota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this red flag warning at May 2, 2015, 4:22 AM CDT for 17 counties in Minnesota; 17 counties in North Dakota. It took effect at May 2, 2015, 1:00 PM CDT. It was in force for 7 hr. 3 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
May 2, 2015, 4:22 AM CDT (09:22 UTC)
In effect from
May 2, 2015, 1:00 PM CDT
Expired
May 2, 2015, 8:00 PM CDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
All 34 counties

Becker County, MN, Beltrami County, MN, Clay County, MN, Clearwater County, MN, Hubbard County, MN, Kittson County, MN, Lake of the Woods County, MN, Mahnomen County, MN, Marshall County, MN, Norman County, MN, Otter Tail County, MN, Pennington County, MN, Polk County, MN, Red Lake County, MN, Roseau County, MN, Wadena County, MN, Wilkin County, MN, Barnes County, ND, Benson County, ND, Cass County, ND, Cavalier County, ND, Eddy County, ND, Grand Forks County, ND, Griggs County, ND, Nelson County, ND, Pembina County, ND, Ramsey County, ND, Ransom County, ND, Richland County, ND, Sargent County, ND, Steele County, ND, Towner County, ND, Traill County, ND, Walsh County, ND

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 31 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:19 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
May 2, 4:00 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGGrand Forks, NDAN 8 INCH DIAMETER CHERRY TREE SPLIT APPROXIMATELY 4FT ABOVE BASE. TOP PORTION FELLED AND MADE CONTACT WITH REAR OF AUTOMOBILE. OBSERVED AT 445 PM ACROSS FROM SCHROEDER MIDDLE SCHOOL ON 32 AV S. EVENT TIME BASED ON FGF DAVIS WIND DATA.
May 2, 4:00 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGGrand Forks, NDCHERRY TREE SPLIT APPROXIMATELY 4FT ABOVE BASE. TOP PORTION FELLED AND MADE CONTACT WITH REAR OF AUTOMOBILE. OBSERVED AT 445 PM ACROSS FROM SCHROEDER MIDDLE SCHOOL ON 32 AV S. EVENT TIME BASED ON FGF DAVIS WIND DATA.
May 2, 4:15 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 582 Ese Grafton, NDPEAK WIND REPORTED AT THE GRAFTON AIRPORT /KGAF/ AT 2115 UCT.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

International Fa, MN (KINL), launched 00:00Z, 9.4 hours before the alert went out and 290 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 2015-05-02Temperature 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 2015-05-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 38 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
2523 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
38 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
56 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.

242 
WWUS83 KFGF 020922
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
422 AM CDT SAT MAY 2 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING POSTED FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY
EVENING FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF
MINNESOTA...

.STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS OVER THE ENTIRE FIRE WEATHER FORECAST
AREA...COMBINED WITH DRY DORMANT FUELS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
VALUES MAKE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS A GOOD POSSIBILITY
FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING.

MNZ040-021030-
/O.CAN.KFGF.FW.A.0007.150502T1600Z-150503T0100Z/
GRANT-
422 AM CDT SAT MAY 2 2015

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS HAS CANCELLED THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH.

WINDS IN FAR WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA WILL STAY BELOW 20 MPH. 

$$

MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-
038-039-049-052>054-021730-
/O.UPG.KFGF.FW.A.0007.150502T1600Z-150503T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KFGF.FW.W.0009.150502T1800Z-150503T0100Z/
WEST POLK-NORMAN-CLAY-KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS-
WEST MARSHALL-EAST MARSHALL-NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-
EAST POLK-NORTH CLEARWATER-SOUTH BELTRAMI-MAHNOMEN-
SOUTH CLEARWATER-HUBBARD-WEST BECKER-EAST BECKER-WILKIN-
WEST OTTER TAIL-EAST OTTER TAIL-WADENA-TOWNER-CAVALIER-PEMBINA-
BENSON-RAMSEY-EASTERN WALSH-EDDY-NELSON-GRAND FORKS-GRIGGS-STEELE-
TRAILL-BARNES-CASS-RANSOM-SARGENT-RICHLAND-WESTERN WALSH-
422 AM CDT SAT MAY 2 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM
CDT THIS EVENING FOR DRY DORMANT FUELS...SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25
MPH AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND THE 
NORTHWEST QUARTER OF MINNESOTA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR DRY DORMANT FUELS...SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH
AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN MINNESOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 001...002... 
  003...004...005...006...007...008...009...013...014...015...
  016... 017...022...023...024...027...028...029...030...031 AND 
  032. IN NORTH DAKOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 006...007...008...
  014...015... 016...024...026...027...028...029...030...038...
  039...049...052... 053 AND 054.

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

* TIMING...FROM 100 PM THROUGH 800 PM CDT.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 16 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 70S TO MID 80S.

* IMPACTS...RAPID FIRE GROWTH IS VERY POSSIBLE 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.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
041 
WWUS83 KFGF 021953
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
253 PM CDT SAT MAY 2 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING POSTED THROUGH EARLY EVENING FOR EASTERN
NORTH DAKOTA AND THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF MINNESOTA...

.STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS OVER THE ENTIRE FIRE WEATHER FORECAST
AREA...COMBINED WITH DRY DORMANT FUELS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
VALUES ARE CAUSING CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON
WHICH WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY EVENING.

MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-
038-039-049-052>054-030100-
/O.CON.KFGF.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-150503T0100Z/
WEST POLK-NORMAN-CLAY-KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS-
WEST MARSHALL-EAST MARSHALL-NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-
EAST POLK-NORTH CLEARWATER-SOUTH BELTRAMI-MAHNOMEN-
SOUTH CLEARWATER-HUBBARD-WEST BECKER-EAST BECKER-WILKIN-
WEST OTTER TAIL-EAST OTTER TAIL-WADENA-TOWNER-CAVALIER-PEMBINA-
BENSON-RAMSEY-EASTERN WALSH-EDDY-NELSON-GRAND FORKS-GRIGGS-STEELE-
TRAILL-BARNES-CASS-RANSOM-SARGENT-RICHLAND-WESTERN WALSH-
253 PM CDT SAT MAY 2 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR DRY FUELS...STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY VALUES FOR EASTERN
NORTH DAKOTA AND THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF MINNESOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...IN MINNESOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 001...002... 
  003...004...005...006...007...008...009...013...014...015...
  016... 017...022...023...024...027...028...029...030...031 AND 
  032. IN NORTH DAKOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 006...007...008...
  014...015... 016...024...026...027...028...029...030...038...
  039...049...052... 053 AND 054.

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

* TIMING...FROM 100 PM THROUGH 800 PM CDT.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 13 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOW TO MID 80S. 

* IMPACTS...RAPID FIRE GROWTH IS LIKELY 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
294 
WWUS83 KFGF 030057
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
757 PM CDT SAT MAY 2 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING EXPIRING...

MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-
038-039-049-052>054-030200-
/O.EXP.KFGF.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-150503T0100Z/
WEST POLK-NORMAN-CLAY-KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS-
WEST MARSHALL-EAST MARSHALL-NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-
EAST POLK-NORTH CLEARWATER-SOUTH BELTRAMI-MAHNOMEN-
SOUTH CLEARWATER-HUBBARD-WEST BECKER-EAST BECKER-WILKIN-
WEST OTTER TAIL-EAST OTTER TAIL-WADENA-TOWNER-CAVALIER-PEMBINA-
BENSON-RAMSEY-EASTERN WALSH-EDDY-NELSON-GRAND FORKS-GRIGGS-STEELE-
TRAILL-BARNES-CASS-RANSOM-SARGENT-RICHLAND-WESTERN WALSH-
757 PM CDT SAT MAY 2 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR DRY FUELS...
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY VALUES FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND
NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA...

HUMIDITY LEVELS HAVE IMPROVED AS TEMPERATURES HAVE FALLEN AND A
FEW SHOWERS HAVE MOVED ACROSS THE AREA. GUSTY WINDS STILL A
CONCERN FOR A BRIEF PERIOD THIS EVENING. FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
WILL BE NEAR CRITICAL ONCE AGAIN TOMORROW.

$$

JK

The office that day

Everything else NWS Grand Forks, ND issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 2, 3:54 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFKittson51 min
May 2, 4:36 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFMarshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau54 min
May 2, 5:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFNorman, Polk38 min
May 2, 5:39 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFClay66 min
May 2, 6:48 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFClay, Wilkin57 min
May 2, 3:11 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFEddy, Griggs, Nelson, Pembina, Walsh64 min
May 2, 4:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFBarnes, Cass, Steele, Traill33 min

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Minnesota, 2015Red Flag Warnings in North Dakota, 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.