Alert archive / Minnesota / Red Flag Warnings in 2017

Red Flag Warning 1, NWS Grand Forks, ND

April 16, 20174 counties in Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this red flag warning at Apr 16, 2017, 3:49 AM CDT for 4 counties in Minnesota. It took effect at Apr 16, 2017, 1:00 PM CDT. It was in force for 7 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 16, 2017, 3:49 AM CDT (08:49 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 16, 2017, 1:00 PM CDT
Expired
Apr 16, 2017, 8:00 PM CDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND

Counties Grant County, MN, Otter Tail County, MN, Wadena County, MN, Wilkin County, MN

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 178 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:52 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

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 236 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2017-04-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 174 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2017-04-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 60 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
174 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-49 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
938 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
53 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
60 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
81 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
1.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

015 
WWUS83 KFGF 160849
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
349 AM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017

MNZ029>032-040-170100-
/O.UPG.KFGF.FW.A.0001.170416T1800Z-170417T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KFGF.FW.W.0001.170416T1800Z-170417T0100Z/
Wilkin-West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-
349 AM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING 
FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a Red Flag
Warning. Westerly winds will increase to 20 to 30 mph this 
afternoon and combine with low RH values and dry fuels to create 
critical fire weather conditions.

The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect for these areas, 
however the watch continues to be in effect for Clay and Becker 
county, Minnesota...where critical fire weather conditions are 
possible.

* AFFECTED AREA...In Minnesota...Fire Weather Zones 029...030... 
  031...032 and 040.

* TIMING...1 PM CDT to 8 PM CDT

* WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 20 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Around 60.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will spread rapidly. Outdoor 
  burning is not recommended.

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 can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

MNZ003-027-028-170100-
/O.CON.KFGF.FW.A.0001.170416T1800Z-170417T0100Z/
Clay-West Becker-East Becker-
349 AM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND 
EARLY EVENING FOR LOW HUMIDITY AND STRONG WINDS...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Minnesota...Fire Weather Zones 003...027 
  and 028.

* WINDS...West 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 25 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will spread rapidly. Outdoor 
  burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible 
Red Flag Warnings.

&&

$$
Speicher
4 follow-up statements
695 
WWUS83 KFGF 161045
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
545 AM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017

MNZ003-027-028-161145-
/O.CAN.KFGF.FW.A.0001.170416T1800Z-170417T0100Z/
Clay-West Becker-East Becker-
545 AM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR LOW HUMIDITY AND STRONG
WINDS...

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has cancelled the
Fire Weather Watch. RH values are expected to be just above Red
Flag criteria, HOWEVER, near critical fire weather conditions can
be expected across Becker and Clay counties.

$$

MNZ029>032-040-170100-
/O.CON.KFGF.FW.W.0001.170416T1800Z-170417T0100Z/
Wilkin-West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-
545 AM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Minnesota...Fire Weather Zones 029...030... 
  031...032 and 040.

* TIMING...1 PM CDT to 8 PM CDT

* WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 20 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Around 60.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will spread rapidly. Outdoor 
  burning is not recommended.

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 can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$
Speicher
542 
WWUS83 KFGF 161744
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1244 PM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017

MNZ029>032-040-170100-
/O.CON.KFGF.FW.W.0001.170416T1800Z-170417T0100Z/
Wilkin-West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-
1244 PM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Minnesota...Fire Weather Zones 029...030... 
  031...032 and 040.

* TIMING...1 PM CDT to 8 PM CDT

* WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 25 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Around 60.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will spread rapidly. Outdoor 
  burning is not recommended.

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 can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$
057 
WWUS83 KFGF 162019
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
319 PM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017

MNZ029>032-040-170100-
/O.CON.KFGF.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-170417T0100Z/
Wilkin-West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-
319 PM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Minnesota...Fire Weather Zones 029...030... 
  031...032 and 040.

* TIMING...1 PM CDT to 8 PM CDT

* WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 20 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...In the upper 50s.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will spread rapidly. Outdoor 
  burning is not recommended.

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 can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$
500 
WWUS83 KFGF 170105
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
805 PM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017

MNZ029>032-040-170215-
/O.EXP.KFGF.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-170417T0100Z/
Wilkin-West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-
805 PM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

Relative humidities have risen and winds have lessened, lowering
the threat for critical fire weather conditions.

$$

jk

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Minnesota, 2017Every red flag warning in 2017

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.