Alert archive / Montana / Red Flag Warnings in 2017

Red Flag Warning 5, NWS Missoula, MT

August 11, 201716 counties in Montana; 5 counties in Idaho

NWS Missoula, MT issued this red flag warning at Aug 11, 2017, 1:03 PM MDT for 16 counties in Montana; 5 counties in Idaho. It took effect at Aug 12, 2017, 2:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 31 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
Aug 11, 2017, 1:03 PM MDT (19:03 UTC)
In effect from
Aug 12, 2017, 2:00 PM MDT
Expired
Aug 13, 2017, 9:00 PM MDT
In force
31 hr
Issued by
NWS Missoula, MT
All 21 counties

Clearwater County, ID, Idaho County, ID, Latah County, ID, Lewis County, ID, Nez Perce County, ID, 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, Madison 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), 34 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:05 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
Aug 13, 3:55 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 462 Wnw East Helena, MTASOS STATION HLN, HELENA AP ASOS.
Aug 13, 4:43 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 413 Sw Cut Bank, MTASOS STATION CTB, CUT BANK AIRPORT.
Aug 13, 8:21 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 528 Se East Glacier Park, MTMESONET STATION DCRM8, DEEP CREEK RAWS.

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, 7.1 hours before the alert went out and 200 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 2017-08-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 128 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, Spokane, WA at 12:00Z on 2017-08-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 28 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
128 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-281 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2944 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
10 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
28 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
18 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

640 
WWUS85 KMSO 111903
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
103 PM MDT Fri Aug 11 2017

IDZ102-103-131915-
/O.NEW.KMSO.FW.W.0005.170812T2000Z-170814T0300Z/
Palouse/Hells Canyon-Clearwater/Nez Perce-
1203 PM PDT Fri Aug 11 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM SATURDAY TO 8 PM PDT
SUNDAY...

* Affected area:
   Fire Zone 102 (Palouse/Hells Canyon).
   Fire Zone 103 (Clearwater/Nez Perce).

* Impacts: Increased fire activity is expected due to low day
  daytime and overnight humidity and increasing haines on 
  Saturday followed by a change to increased west winds on Sunday.

* Winds: Increasing in the terrain Saturday night then west 12 to
  20 mph by Sunday afternoon.

* Minimum humidities: 15 to 20 percent Saturday. 20 to 25 percent
  Sunday. 

&&

$$

MTZ104>109-131915-
/O.NEW.KMSO.FW.W.0005.170812T2000Z-170814T0300Z/
Kootenai-Flathead/Glacier Park-West Lolo-
Salish and Kootenai Reservation-East Lolo-Bitterroot-
103 PM MDT Fri Aug 11 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM SATURDAY TO 9 PM MDT
SUNDAY...

* Affected area:
   Fire Zone 104 (Kootenai).
   Fire Zone 105 (Flathead/Glacier Park).
   Fire Zone 106 (West Lolo).
   Fire Zone 107 (Salish and Kootenai Reservation).
   Fire Zone 108 (East Lolo).
   Fire Zone 109 (Bitterroot).

* Impacts:Increased fire activity is expected due to low day
  daytime and overnight humidity and increasing haines on 
  Saturday followed by a change to increased west winds on Sunday.

* Winds: Increasing in the terrain Saturday night then west 15 to
  25 mph by Sunday afternoon.

* Minimum humidities: 13 to 18 percent Saturday. 18 to 23 percent
  Sunday. 

&&

$$

MTZ110-111-131915-
/O.NEW.KMSO.FW.W.0005.170812T2000Z-170814T0300Z/
Deerlodge/West Beaverhead-East Beaverhead-
103 PM MDT Fri Aug 11 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM SATURDAY TO 9 PM MDT
SUNDAY...

* Affected area:
   Fire Zone 110 (Deerlodge/West Beaverhead).
   Fire Zone 111 (East Beaverhead).

* Impacts: Increased fire activity is expected due to low day
  daytime and overnight humidity and increasing haines on 
  Saturday followed by a change to increased west winds on Sunday.

* Winds: West 15 to 25 mph by Sunday afternoon.

* Minimum humidities: 13 to 18 percent Saturday. 20 to 25 percent
  Sunday. 

&&

$$
5 follow-up statements
113 
WWUS85 KMSO 121716
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
1116 AM MDT Sat Aug 12 2017

MTZ104-131730-
/O.EXT.KMSO.FW.W.0005.170812T2000Z-170813T2000Z/
Kootenai-
1116 AM MDT Sat Aug 12 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM MDT SUNDAY...

* Affected area: Fire Zone 104 (Kootenai). 

* Impacts: Increased fire activity is expected due to low daytime
  and overnight humidity and increasing haines today followed by 
  a change to increased west winds during Sunday morning. 

* Winds: Increasing in the terrain tonight then west 15 to 25 mph
  during Sunday morning. 

* Minimum humidities: 13 to 18 percent today. 18 to 23 percent 
  Sunday before increasing with the cold front. 

&&

$$

IDZ102-103-131730-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0005.170812T2000Z-170814T0300Z/
Palouse/Hells Canyon-Clearwater/Nez Perce-
1016 AM PDT Sat Aug 12 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT SUNDAY...

* Affected area: Fire Zone 102 (Palouse/Hells Canyon). Fire Zone 
  103 (Clearwater/Nez Perce). 

* Impacts: Increased fire activity is expected due to low daytime
  and overnight humidity and increasing haines today followed by 
  a change to increased west winds on Sunday. 

* Winds: Increasing in the terrain tonight then west 12 to 20 mph
  by Sunday afternoon. 

* Minimum humidities: 15 to 20 percent today. 20 to 25 percent 
  Sunday.
  

&&

$$

MTZ105>109-131730-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0005.170812T2000Z-170814T0300Z/
Flathead/Glacier Park-West Lolo-Salish and Kootenai Reservation-
East Lolo-Bitterroot-
1116 AM MDT Sat Aug 12 2017

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

* Affected area: Fire Zone 105 (Flathead/Glacier Park). Fire Zone
  106 (West Lolo). Fire Zone 107 (Salish and Kootenai 
  Reservation). Fire Zone 108 (East Lolo). Fire Zone 109 
  (Bitterroot). 

* Impacts: Increased fire activity is expected due to low daytime
  and overnight humidity and increasing haines today followed by 
  a change to increased west winds on Sunday. 

* Winds: Increasing in the terrain tonight then west 15 to 25 mph
  by Sunday afternoon. 

* Minimum humidities: 13 to 18 percent today. 18 to 23 percent 
  Sunday.
  

&&

$$

MTZ110-111-131730-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0005.170812T2000Z-170814T0300Z/
Deerlodge/West Beaverhead-East Beaverhead-
1116 AM MDT Sat Aug 12 2017

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

* Affected area: Fire Zone 110 (Deerlodge/West Beaverhead). Fire 
  Zone 111 (East Beaverhead). 

* Impacts: Increased fire activity is expected due to low daytime
  and overnight humidity and increasing haines today followed by 
  a change to increased west winds on Sunday. 

* Winds: West 15 to 25 mph by Sunday afternoon.

* Minimum humidities: 13 to 18 percent today. 20 to 25 percent 
  Sunday. 

&&

$$
866 
WWUS85 KMSO 131048
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
448 AM MDT Sun Aug 13 2017

IDZ102-103-140300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170814T0300Z/
Palouse/Hells Canyon-Clearwater/Nez Perce-
348 AM PDT Sun Aug 13 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS
EVENING...

* Affected area: Fire Zone 102 (Palouse/Hells Canyon). Fire Zone 
  103 (Clearwater/Nez Perce). 

* Impacts: A passing cold front this morning will cause gusty
  winds and a wind shift to a westerly direction.

* Winds: Increasing in the terrain early this morning then west 12
  to 20 mph by this afternoon. 

* Minimum humidities: 20 to 25 percent. The lowest humidities may
  occur with frontal passage this morning. 

&&

$$

MTZ105>109-140300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170814T0300Z/
Flathead/Glacier Park-West Lolo-Salish and Kootenai Reservation-
East Lolo-Bitterroot-
448 AM MDT Sun Aug 13 2017

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

* Affected area: Fire Zone 105 (Flathead/Glacier Park). Fire 
  Zone 106 (West Lolo). Fire Zone 107 (Salish and Kootenai 
  Reservation). Fire Zone 108 (East Lolo). Fire Zone 109 
  (Bitterroot). 

* Impacts: A passing cold front late this morning into the
  afternoon will cause gusty winds and a wind shift to a westerly
  direction.

* Winds: Increasing in the terrain early this morning then west 15
  to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph by this afternoon. 

* Minimum humidities: 18 to 25 percent. 

&&

$$

MTZ110-111-140300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170814T0300Z/
Deerlodge/West Beaverhead-East Beaverhead-
448 AM MDT Sun Aug 13 2017

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

* Affected area: Fire Zone 110 (Deerlodge/West Beaverhead). Fire 
  Zone 111 (East Beaverhead). 

* Impacts: A passing cold front this afternoon will cause gusty 
  winds and a wind shift to a westerly direction.

* Winds: West 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph by this 
  afternoon.

* Minimum humidities: 20 to 25 percent Sunday. 

&&

$$

MTZ104-132000-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170813T2000Z/
Kootenai-
448 AM MDT Sun Aug 13 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON...

* Affected area: Fire Zone 104 (Kootenai).

* Impacts: A passing cold front this morning will cause gusty
  winds and a wind shift to a westerly direction.

* Winds: Increasing in the terrain early this morning then west 15
  to 25 mph by mid morning. 

* Minimum humidities: 20 to 25 percent. The lowest humidities may
  occur with frontal passage this morning. 

&&

$$
193 
WWUS85 KMSO 131541
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
941 AM MDT Sun Aug 13 2017

MTZ104-131645-
/O.CAN.KMSO.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170813T2000Z/
Kootenai-
941 AM MDT Sun Aug 13 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED...

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

Humidities have greatly increased with more moisture on the way.
Gusty westerly winds are still expected to be as high as 25 mph
with the front.

$$

IDZ102-103-140300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170814T0300Z/
Palouse/Hells Canyon-Clearwater/Nez Perce-
841 AM PDT Sun Aug 13 2017

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS
EVENING...

* Affected area: Fire Zone 102 (Palouse/Hells Canyon). Fire Zone 
  103 (Clearwater/Nez Perce). 

* Impacts: A passing cold front this morning will cause gusty 
  winds and a wind shift to a westerly direction. 

* Winds: Increasing in the terrain early this morning then west 
  12 to 20 mph by this afternoon. 

* Minimum humidities: 20 to 25 percent. The lowest humidities 
  may occur with frontal passage this morning. 

&&

$$

MTZ105>109-140300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170814T0300Z/
Flathead/Glacier Park-West Lolo-Salish and Kootenai Reservation-
East Lolo-Bitterroot-
941 AM MDT Sun Aug 13 2017

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

* Affected area: Fire Zone 105 (Flathead/Glacier Park). Fire 
  Zone 106 (West Lolo). Fire Zone 107 (Salish and Kootenai 
  Reservation). Fire Zone 108 (East Lolo). Fire Zone 109 
  (Bitterroot). 

* Impacts: A passing cold front late this morning into the 
  afternoon will cause gusty winds and a wind shift to a 
  westerly direction. 

* Winds: Increasing in the terrain early this morning then west 
  15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph by this afternoon. 

* Minimum humidities: 18 to 25 percent.

&&

$$

MTZ110-111-140300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170814T0300Z/
Deerlodge/West Beaverhead-East Beaverhead-
941 AM MDT Sun Aug 13 2017

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

* Affected area: Fire Zone 110 (Deerlodge/West Beaverhead). Fire 
  Zone 111 (East Beaverhead). 

* Impacts: A passing cold front this afternoon will cause gusty 
  winds and a wind shift to a westerly direction. 

* Winds: West 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph by this 
  afternoon. 

* Minimum humidities: 20 to 25 percent Sunday.

&&

$$
108 
WWUS85 KMSO 132030
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
230 PM MDT Sun Aug 13 2017

IDZ102-103-MTZ106-107-109-132130-
/O.CAN.KMSO.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170814T0300Z/
Palouse/Hells Canyon-Clearwater/Nez Perce-West Lolo-
Salish and Kootenai Reservation-Bitterroot-
230 PM MDT Sun Aug 13 2017 /130 PM PDT Sun Aug 13 2017/

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED...

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

Widespread wetting rains and/or significant increases in relative
humidity have prompted the red flag warning to be cancelled.

$$

MTZ105-108-140300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170814T0300Z/
Flathead/Glacier Park-East Lolo-
230 PM MDT Sun Aug 13 2017

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

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

* Impacts: A passing cold front late this afternoon will cause 
  gusty winds and a wind shift to a westerly direction. 

* Winds: West 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph by this 
  afternoon. 

* Minimum humidities: 18 to 25 percent.

&&

$$

MTZ110-111-140300-
/O.CON.KMSO.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170814T0300Z/
Deerlodge/West Beaverhead-East Beaverhead-
230 PM MDT Sun Aug 13 2017

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

* Affected area: Fire Zone 110 (Deerlodge/West Beaverhead). Fire 
  Zone 111 (East Beaverhead). 

* Impacts: A passing cold front this afternoon will cause gusty 
  winds and a wind shift to a westerly direction. 

* Winds: West 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph by this 
  afternoon. 

* Minimum humidities: 20 to 25 percent.

&&

$$
639 
WWUS85 KMSO 140236
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
836 PM MDT Sun Aug 13 2017

MTZ105-108-140345-
/O.EXP.KMSO.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170814T0300Z/
Flathead/Glacier Park-East Lolo-
836 PM MDT Sun Aug 13 2017

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

* Affected area:
   Fire Zone 105 (Flathead/Glacier Park).
   Fire Zone 108 (East Lolo).


&&

$$

MTZ110-111-140345-
/O.EXP.KMSO.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170814T0300Z/
Deerlodge/West Beaverhead-East Beaverhead-
836 PM MDT Sun Aug 13 2017

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

* Affected area:
   Fire Zone 110 (Deerlodge/West Beaverhead).
   Fire Zone 111 (East Beaverhead).
 

&&

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Missoula, MT issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 10, 6:25 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementMSOFlathead65 min
Aug 10, 7:18 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementMSOFlathead72 min

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Montana, 2017Red Flag Warnings in Idaho, 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.