Alert archive / Montana / Red Flag Warnings in 2017

Red Flag Warning 12, NWS Missoula, MT

September 2, 201715 counties in Montana

NWS Missoula, MT issued this red flag warning at Sep 2, 2017, 1:45 PM MDT for 15 counties in Montana. It took effect at Sep 2, 2017, 4:37 PM MDT. It was in force for 42 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
Sep 2, 2017, 1:45 PM MDT (19:45 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 2, 2017, 4:37 PM MDT
Expired
Sep 4, 2017, 10:27 AM MDT
In force
42 hr
Issued by
NWS Missoula, MT

Counties Beaverhead County, MT, Deer Lodge County, MT, Flathead County, MT, Glacier County, MT, Granite County, MT, Jefferson County, MT, Lake County, MT, Lewis and Clark County, MT, Lincoln County, MT, Mineral County, MT, Missoula County, MT, Powell County, MT, Ravalli County, MT, Sanders County, MT, Silver Bow County, MT

The radar

The Missoula radar (KMSX), 29 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:50 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
Sep 3, 11:29 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 5515 Nne Lincoln, MTMESONET STATION TT236, 15 NE LINCOLN.
Sep 3, 11:43 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 508 Ssw Wolf Creek, MTMESONET STATION MTSBN, SIEBEN FLATS MDT.
Sep 3, 11:53 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 429 N Helena, MTMESONET STATION HRWM8, HELENA RAWS - 9 N HELENA.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Spokane, WA (KOTX), launched 12:00Z, 7.8 hours before the alert went out and 225 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, Spokane, WA at 12:00Z on 2017-09-02Temperature 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, Spokane, WA at 12:00Z on 2017-09-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 29 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
3344 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
29 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
83 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

673 
WWUS85 KMSO 021945
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
145 PM MDT Sat Sep 2 2017

MTZ105-031945-
/O.UPG.KMSO.FW.A.0001.170903T0300Z-170905T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KMSO.FW.W.0012.170903T0300Z-170905T0300Z/
Flathead/Glacier Park-
145 PM MDT Sat Sep 2 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 PM MDT
MONDAY...

The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. 

* Affected area: Fire Zone 105 (Flathead/Glacier Park). 

* Impacts: This evening, the ridges will experience a drier
  airmass and increased winds creating critical conditions
  throughout much of the night. Conditions improve for a few hours
  Sunday morning. Then gusty winds and very low humidity will 
  combine to create Red Flag conditions Sunday afternoon and 
  evening. Wind will shift to east Sunday night and remain dry, 
  extending Red Flag conditions through Monday evening. 

* Winds: West 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph through Sunday 
  late evening. East wind 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph Sunday 
  night through Monday evening. 

* Minimum humidities: 8 to 13 percent.

&&

$$

MTZ104-106-107-109-031945-
/O.UPG.KMSO.FW.A.0001.170903T1800Z-170904T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KMSO.FW.W.0012.170903T1800Z-170904T0300Z/
Kootenai-West Lolo-Salish and Kootenai Reservation-Bitterroot-
145 PM MDT Sat Sep 2 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT SUNDAY...

The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. 

* Affected area: Fire Zone 104 (Kootenai). Fire Zone 106 (West 
  Lolo). Fire Zone 107 (Salish and Kootenai Reservation). Fire 
  Zone 109 (Bitterroot). 

* Impacts: Gusty winds and very low humidity will combine to 
  create Red Flag conditions Sunday afternoon and evening. 

* Winds: West 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph through Sunday 
  evening. 

* Minimum humidities: 8 to 13 percent.

&&

$$

MTZ108-031945-
/O.UPG.KMSO.FW.A.0001.170903T1800Z-170905T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KMSO.FW.W.0012.170903T1800Z-170905T0300Z/
East Lolo-
145 PM MDT Sat Sep 2 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON SUNDAY TO 9 PM MDT
MONDAY...

The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. 

* Affected area: Fire Zone 108 (East Lolo). 

* Impacts: Gusty winds and very low humidity will combine to 
  create Red Flag conditions Sunday afternoon and evening. Wind 
  will shift to east Sunday night and remain dry, extending Red 
  Flag conditions through Monday evening. 

* Winds: West 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph through Sunday 
  late evening. East wind 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph Sunday 
  night through Monday evening. 

* Minimum humidities: 8 to 13 percent.

&&

$$
5 follow-up statements
559 
WWUS85 KMSO 022237
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
437 PM MDT Sat Sep 2 2017

MTZ108-032245-
/O.EXT.KMSO.FW.W.0012.170902T2237Z-170905T0300Z/
East Lolo-
437 PM MDT Sat Sep 2 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT MONDAY...

* Affected area: Fire Zone 108 (East Lolo). 

* Impacts: Gusty winds and very low humidity this afternoon will
  continue through tonight on midslopes and ridges. Critical fire
  weather conditions will again become widespread on Sunday and
  continue through Sunday evening. Wind will shift to east Sunday
  night and remain dry, extending Red Flag conditions through 
  Monday evening. 

* Winds: West 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph through Sunday 
  late evening. East wind 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph Sunday 
  night through Monday evening. 

* Minimum humidities: 8 to 13 percent.

&&

$$

MTZ106-109-032245-
/O.EXT.KMSO.FW.W.0012.170902T2237Z-170904T0300Z/
West Lolo-Bitterroot-
437 PM MDT Sat Sep 2 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT SUNDAY...

* Affected area: Fire Zone 106 (West Lolo). Fire Zone 109 
  (Bitterroot). 

* Impacts: Gusty winds and very low humidity this afternoon will
  continue through tonight on midslopes and ridges. Critical fire
  weather conditions will again become widespread on Sunday and 
  will continue through Sunday evening.

* Winds: West 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph through Sunday 
  evening. 

* Minimum humidities: 8 to 13 percent.

&&

$$

MTZ105-032245-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0012.170903T0300Z-170905T0300Z/
Flathead/Glacier Park-
437 PM MDT Sat Sep 2 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO
9 PM MDT MONDAY...

* Affected area: Fire Zone 105 (Flathead/Glacier Park). 

* Impacts: This evening, the ridges will experience a drier 
  airmass and increased winds creating critical conditions 
  throughout much of the night. Conditions improve for a few 
  hours Sunday morning. Then gusty winds and very low humidity 
  will combine to create Red Flag conditions Sunday afternoon 
  and evening. Wind will shift to east Sunday night and remain 
  dry, extending Red Flag conditions through Monday evening. 

* Winds: West 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph through Sunday 
  late evening. East wind 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph Sunday 
  night through Monday evening. 

* Minimum humidities: 8 to 13 percent.

&&

$$

MTZ104-107-032245-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0012.170903T1800Z-170904T0300Z/
Kootenai-Salish and Kootenai Reservation-
437 PM MDT Sat Sep 2 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT
SUNDAY...

* Affected area: Fire Zone 104 (Kootenai). Fire Zone 107 (Salish 
  and Kootenai Reservation). 

* Impacts: Gusty winds and very low humidity will combine to 
  create Red Flag conditions Sunday afternoon and evening. 

* Winds: West 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph through Sunday 
  evening. 

* Minimum humidities: 8 to 13 percent.

&&

$$
612 
WWUS85 KMSO 030932
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
332 AM MDT Sun Sep 3 2017

MTZ110-040300-
/O.EXA.KMSO.FW.W.0012.170903T1800Z-170904T0300Z/
Deerlodge/West Beaverhead-
332 AM MDT Sun Sep 3 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT THIS
EVENING...

* Affected area: Fire Zone 110 (Deerlodge/West Beaverhead). 

* Impacts: Gusty winds and very low humidity will combine to
  create Red Flag conditions this afternoon and evening. 

* Winds: West 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph through Sunday 
  evening. 

* Minimum humidities: 8 to 13 percent.

&&

$$

MTZ105-040945-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-170905T0300Z/
Flathead/Glacier Park-
332 AM MDT Sun Sep 3 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT MONDAY...

* Affected area: Fire Zone 105 (Flathead/Glacier Park). 

* Impacts: Conditions improve for a few hours this morning. Then
  gusty winds and very low humidity will combine to create Red
  Flag conditions during afternoon and evening. Winds will shift 
  to east tonight and remain dry, extending Red Flag conditions 
  through Monday evening. 

* Winds: West 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph through this
  evening. East wind 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph tonight 
  through Monday evening. 

* Minimum humidities: 8 to 13 percent.

&&

$$

MTZ104-107-040300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0012.170903T1800Z-170904T0300Z/
Kootenai-Salish and Kootenai Reservation-
332 AM MDT Sun Sep 3 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT
THIS EVENING...

* Affected area: Fire Zone 104 (Kootenai). Fire Zone 107 (Salish 
  and Kootenai Reservation). 

* Impacts: Gusty winds and very low humidity will combine to
  create Red Flag conditions this afternoon and evening. 

* Winds: West 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph through Sunday 
  evening. 

* Minimum humidities: 8 to 13 percent.

&&

$$

MTZ108-040945-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-170905T0300Z/
East Lolo-
332 AM MDT Sun Sep 3 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT MONDAY...

* Affected area: Fire Zone 108 (East Lolo). 

* Impacts: Critical fire weather conditions will again become
  widespread on this afternoon and evening. Wind will shift to
  east late tonight and remain dry, extending Red Flag conditions
  through Monday evening. 

* Winds: West 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph through this
  evening. East wind 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph late tonight
  through Monday evening. 

* Minimum humidities: 8 to 13 percent.

&&

$$

MTZ106-109-040300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-170904T0300Z/
West Lolo-Bitterroot-
332 AM MDT Sun Sep 3 2017

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

* Affected area: Fire Zone 106 (West Lolo). Fire Zone 109 
  (Bitterroot). 

* Impacts: Critical fire weather conditions will again become
  widespread on this afternoon and evening.
  

* Winds: West 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph through this 
  evening.
  

* Minimum humidities: 8 to 13 percent.

&&

$$
377 
WWUS85 KMSO 040243
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
843 PM MDT Sun Sep 3 2017

MTZ110-040345-
/O.EXP.KMSO.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-170904T0300Z/
Deerlodge/West Beaverhead-
843 PM MDT Sun Sep 3 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

* Affected area:
   Fire Zone 110 (Deerlodge/West Beaverhead).

Winds are decreasing and humidity is increasing so the warning 
has been allowed to expire.

&&

$$

MTZ104-107-040345-
/O.EXP.KMSO.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-170904T0300Z/
Kootenai-Salish and Kootenai Reservation-
843 PM MDT Sun Sep 3 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

* Affected area:
   Fire Zone 104 (Kootenai).
   Fire Zone 107 (Salish and Kootenai Reservation).

Winds are decreasing and humidity is increasing so the warning 
has been allowed to expire.

&&

$$

MTZ106-109-040345-
/O.EXP.KMSO.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-170904T0300Z/
West Lolo-Bitterroot-
843 PM MDT Sun Sep 3 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

* Affected area:
   Fire Zone 106 (West Lolo).
   Fire Zone 109 (Bitterroot).

Winds are decreasing and humidity is increasing so the warning 
has been allowed to expire.

&&

$$

MTZ105-050245-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-170905T0300Z/
Flathead/Glacier Park-
843 PM MDT Sun Sep 3 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT MONDAY...

* Affected area: Fire Zone 105 (Flathead/Glacier Park). 

* Impacts: Winds will shift to east tonight and remain dry, 
  extending Red Flag conditions through Monday evening. 

* Winds: East wind 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph tonight 
  through Monday evening. 

&&

$$

MTZ108-050245-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-170905T0300Z/
East Lolo-
843 PM MDT Sun Sep 3 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT MONDAY...

* Affected area: Fire Zone 108 (East Lolo). 

* Impacts: Wind will shift to east late tonight and remain dry, 
  extending Red Flag conditions through Monday evening. 

* Winds: East wind 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph late tonight 
  through Monday evening. 

&&

$$
921 
WWUS85 KMSO 040921
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
321 AM MDT Mon Sep 4 2017

MTZ105-050300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-170905T0300Z/
Flathead/Glacier Park-
321 AM MDT Mon Sep 4 2017

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

* Affected area: Fire Zone 105 (Flathead/Glacier Park). 

* Impacts: Gusty east winds and dry conditions will continue
  today, extending Red Flag conditions through the evening. 

* Winds: East wind 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph through this
  evening. 

&&

$$

MTZ108-050300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-170905T0300Z/
East Lolo-
321 AM MDT Mon Sep 4 2017

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

* Affected area: Fire Zone 108 (East Lolo). 

* Impacts: Gusty east winds and dry conditions will continue
  today, extending Red Flag conditions through the evening. 

* Winds: East wind 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph through this
  evening. 

&&

$$
000 
WWUS85 KMSO 041627
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
1027 AM MDT Mon Sep 4 2017

MTZ105-108-041730-
/O.CAN.KMSO.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-170905T0300Z/
Flathead/Glacier Park-East Lolo-
1027 AM MDT Mon Sep 4 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED...

The National Weather Service in Missoula has cancelled the Red
Flag Warning. 

Although breezy easterly winds will continue, RHs have improved
enough that critical fire weather conditions are no longer
expected.

$$

Nearby

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