Alert archive / Montana / Red Flag Warnings in 2015

Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Missoula, MT

July 7, 20157 counties in Montana

NWS Missoula, MT issued this red flag warning at Jul 7, 2015, 5:14 AM MDT for 7 counties in Montana. It was in force for 16 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: Jul 7, 2015, 5:14 AM MDT (11:14 UTC)
Expired: Jul 7, 2015, 9:00 PM MDT
In force: 16 hr
Issued by: NWS Missoula, MT

Counties Flathead County, MT, Glacier County, MT, Lake County, MT, Lincoln County, MT, Missoula County, MT, Powell County, MT, Sanders County, MT

The radar

The Missoula radar (KMSX), 87 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:17 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

Spokane, WA (KOTX), launched 00:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 174 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 3342 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 28 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 179 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.

305 
WWUS85 KMSO 071114
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
514 AM MDT TUE JUL 7 2015

MTZ104-080300-
/O.UPG.KMSO.FW.A.0002.150707T1900Z-150708T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KMSO.FW.W.0002.150707T1114Z-150708T0300Z/
KOOTENAI-
514 AM MDT TUE JUL 7 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE
KOOTENAI...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING. THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* THUNDERSTORMS: THUNDERSTORMS WITH AMPLE LIGHTNING WILL MOVE
  THROUGH NORTHWEST MONTANA EARLY THIS MORNING. THERE MAY BE A
  LULL IN THUNDERSTORMS IN THE LATE MORNING, HOWEVER THUNDERSTORMS
  ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE AGAIN EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
  ALTHOUGH SOME STORMS MAY PRODUCE WETTING RAINS, GIVEN THE
  EXTREMELY DRY FUELS ANY LIGHTNING STRIKES OUTSIDE OF THE MAIN
  RAIN CORES WILL PRESENT CONCERNS FOR FIRE STARTS. THUNDERSTORM
  ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO DISSIPATE AROUND SUNSET.

* WINDS: GUSTY AND ERRATIC WINDS ARE POSSIBLE WITH STORMS. IN
  ADDITION, BREEZY EAST WINDS ARE POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
  EVENING.

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
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

3 follow-up statements

061 
WWUS85 KMSO 071426
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
826 AM MDT TUE JUL 7 2015

MTZ105-072230-
/O.EXA.KMSO.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-150708T0300Z/
FLATHEAD/GLACIER PARK-
826 AM MDT TUE JUL 7 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
THUNDERSTORMS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 105...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING. 

* THUNDERSTORMS: SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH
  OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING WILL MOVE THROUGH NORTHWEST MONTANA THIS
  MORNING. THERE MAY BE A LULL IN THUNDERSTORMS IN THE LATE
  MORNING... HOWEVER THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN
  COVERAGE AGAIN EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. ALTHOUGH SOME STORMS MAY
  PRODUCE WETTING RAINS... GIVEN THE EXTREMELY DRY FUELS ANY
  LIGHTNING STRIKES OUTSIDE OF THE MAIN RAIN CORES WILL PRESENT
  CONCERNS FOR FIRE STARTS. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO
  DISSIPATE AROUND SUNSET.

* WINDS: ERRATIC WINDS TO AROUND 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH STORMS.
  IN ADDITION... BREEZY NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO
  THIS EVENING.

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
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

MTZ104-072230-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-150708T0300Z/
KOOTENAI-
826 AM MDT TUE JUL 7 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 104...

* THUNDERSTORMS: SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH
  OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING WILL MOVE THROUGH NORTHWEST MONTANA THIS
  MORNING. THERE MAY BE A LULL IN THUNDERSTORMS IN THE LATE
  MORNING... HOWEVER THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN
  COVERAGE AGAIN EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. ALTHOUGH SOME STORMS MAY
  PRODUCE WETTING RAINS... GIVEN THE EXTREMELY DRY FUELS ANY
  LIGHTNING STRIKES OUTSIDE OF THE MAIN RAIN CORES WILL PRESENT
  CONCERNS FOR FIRE STARTS. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO
  DISSIPATE AROUND SUNSET.

* WINDS: ERRATIC WINDS TO AROUND 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH STORMS.
  IN ADDITION... BREEZY NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS ARE POSSIBLE AT
  TIMES THROUGH THIS EVENING.

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
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

631 
WWUS85 KMSO 071935
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
135 PM MDT TUE JUL 7 2015

MTZ104-105-080300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-150708T0300Z/
KOOTENAI-FLATHEAD/GLACIER PARK-
135 PM MDT TUE JUL 7 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE KOOTENAI...FLATHEAD/GLACIER PARK...

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

* THUNDERSTORMS: SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH
  OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING WILL MOVE THROUGH PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST
  MONTANA THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THIS AFTERNOON. THUNDERSTORMS ARE
  EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE AGAIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
  SPREAD SOUTHEASTWARD WITH TIME. ALTHOUGH SOME STORMS MAY
  PRODUCE WETTING RAINS... GIVEN THE EXTREMELY DRY FUELS ANY
  LIGHTNING STRIKES OUTSIDE OF THE MAIN RAIN CORES WILL PRESENT
  CONCERNS FOR FIRE STARTS. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO
  DISSIPATE AROUND OR JUST AFTER SUNSET.

* WINDS: ERRATIC WINDS TO AROUND 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH 
  STORMS. IN ADDITION... BREEZY NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS ARE 
  POSSIBLE AT TIMES THROUGH THIS EVENING. 

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
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

347 
WWUS85 KMSO 080300
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
900 PM MDT TUE JUL 7 2015

MTZ104-105-080400-
/O.CAN.KMSO.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-150708T0300Z/
KOOTENAI-FLATHEAD/GLACIER PARK-
900 PM MDT TUE JUL 7 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING IS EXPIRED FOR THE KOOTENAI...
FLATHEAD/GLACIER PARK...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS EXPIRED THE RED FLAG
WARNING.


$$

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Montana, 2015 Every 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.