Alert archive / North Dakota / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Grand Forks, ND

March 31, 202117 counties in North Dakota; 13 counties in Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this red flag warning at Mar 31, 2021, 2:32 PM CDT for 17 counties in North Dakota; 13 counties in Minnesota. It took effect at Apr 1, 2021, 10:00 AM CDT. It was in force for 12 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
Mar 31, 2021, 2:32 PM CDT (19:32 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 1, 2021, 10:00 AM CDT
Expired
Apr 1, 2021, 10:00 PM CDT
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
All 30 counties

Becker County, MN, Clay County, MN, Clearwater County, MN, Kittson 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, 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), 13 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:36 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

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 12:00Z, 7.5 hours before the alert went out and 281 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, Bismarck Municip, ND at 12:00Z on 2021-03-31Temperature 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, Bismarck Municip, ND at 12:00Z on 2021-03-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 104 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
970 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
104 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
135 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

958 
WWUS83 KFGF 311932
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
232 PM CDT Wed Mar 31 2021

NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054-020300-
/O.UPG.KFGF.FW.A.0002.210401T1500Z-210402T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KFGF.FW.W.0002.210401T1500Z-210402T0300Z/
Towner-Cavalier-Pembina-Benson-Ramsey-Eastern Walsh-Eddy-Nelson-
Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-
Richland-Western Walsh-
232 PM CDT Wed Mar 31 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 10 PM CDT THURSDAY
FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND STRONG WINDS FOR ALL OF EASTERN
NORTH DAKOTA...

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a Red Flag
Warning for low relative humidity and strong winds, which is in 
effect from 10 AM to 10 PM CDT Thursday. The Fire Weather Watch is
no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...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.

* TIMING...Thursday late morning thru evening.

* WINDS...South 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

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

* TEMPERATURES...In the mid 50s.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that ignite will spread rapidly and become 
  difficult to control and suppress.

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.

&&

$$

MNZ001>005-007-008-013>016-022-023-027>030-020300-
/O.NEW.KFGF.FW.W.0002.210401T1800Z-210402T0300Z/
West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-Roseau-West Marshall-East Marshall-
Pennington-Red Lake-East Polk-North Clearwater-Mahnomen-
South Clearwater-West Becker-East Becker-Wilkin-West Otter Tail-
232 PM CDT Wed Mar 31 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 10 PM CDT THURSDAY FOR
LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND STRONG WINDS FOR MUCH OF NORTHWEST
MINNESOTA...

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a Red Flag
Warning for low relative humidity and strong winds, which is in 
effect from 1 PM to 10 PM CDT Thursday.

* AFFECTED AREA...In Minnesota...Fire Weather Zones 001...002... 
  003...004...005...007...008...013...014...015...016...022...
  023... 027...028...029 and 030.

* TIMING...Thursday early afternoon thru evening. 

* WINDS...South 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

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

* TEMPERATURES...In the mid 40s to low 50s.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that ignite will spread rapidly and become 
  difficult to control and suppress.

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.

&&

$$
WJB
3 follow-up statements
731 
WWUS83 KFGF 010826
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
326 AM CDT Thu Apr 1 2021

NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054-020300-
/O.CON.KFGF.FW.W.0002.210401T1500Z-210402T0300Z/
Towner-Cavalier-Pembina-Benson-Ramsey-Eastern Walsh-Eddy-Nelson-
Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-
Richland-Western Walsh-
326 AM CDT Thu Apr 1 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO
10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND STRONG WINDS
FOR ALL OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...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.

* TIMING...Thursday late morning thru evening.

* WINDS...South 20 to 30 mph with gusts 35 to 40.

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

* TEMPERATURES...In the mid 50s to around 60.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that ignite will spread rapidly and become 
  difficult to control and suppress.

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.

&&

$$

MNZ001>005-007-008-013>016-022-023-027>030-020300-
/O.CON.KFGF.FW.W.0002.210401T1800Z-210402T0300Z/
West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-Roseau-West Marshall-East Marshall-
Pennington-Red Lake-East Polk-North Clearwater-Mahnomen-
South Clearwater-West Becker-East Becker-Wilkin-West Otter Tail-
326 AM CDT Thu Apr 1 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND STRONG WINDS
FOR MUCH OF NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Minnesota...Fire Weather Zones 001...002... 
  003...004...005...007...008...013...014...015...016...022...
  023... 027...028...029 and 030.

* TIMING...Thursday early afternoon thru evening.

* WINDS...South 15 to 30 mph with gusts 35 to 40 mph.

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

* TEMPERATURES...In the mid 40s to low 50s.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that ignite will spread rapidly and become 
  difficult to control and suppress.

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.

&&

$$

dtr
028 
WWUS83 KFGF 012105
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
405 PM CDT Thu Apr 1 2021

MNZ001>005-007-008-013>016-022-023-027>030-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052>054-020300-
/O.CON.KFGF.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210402T0300Z/
West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-Roseau-West Marshall-East Marshall-
Pennington-Red Lake-East Polk-North Clearwater-Mahnomen-
South Clearwater-West Becker-East Becker-Wilkin-West Otter Tail-
Towner-Cavalier-Pembina-Benson-Ramsey-Eastern Walsh-Eddy-Nelson-
Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-
Richland-Western Walsh-
405 PM CDT Thu Apr 1 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND STRONG WINDS FOR MUCH OF
NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Minnesota...Fire Weather Zones 001...002... 
  003...004...005...007...008...013...014...015...016...022...
  023... 027...028...029 and 030. 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.

* TIMING...Thursday early afternoon thru evening.

* WINDS...South 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 19 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...In the upper 40s.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that ignite will spread rapidly and become 
  difficult to control and suppress.

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.

&&

$$
090 
WWUS83 KFGF 020258
RFWFGF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
958 PM CDT Thu Apr 1 2021

MNZ001>005-007-008-013>016-022-023-027>030-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052>054-020400-
/O.EXP.KFGF.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210402T0300Z/
West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-Roseau-West Marshall-East Marshall-
Pennington-Red Lake-East Polk-North Clearwater-Mahnomen-
South Clearwater-West Becker-East Becker-Wilkin-West Otter Tail-
Towner-Cavalier-Pembina-Benson-Ramsey-Eastern Walsh-Eddy-Nelson-
Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-
Richland-Western Walsh-
958 PM CDT Thu Apr 1 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
EASTERN ND AND PARTS OF NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL MN...

Temperatures are slowly cooling and RH values are increasing, so
the Red Flag Warning will be allowed to expired.

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 31, 3:20 AM CDTFire Weather WatchFGFBarnes, Benson, Cass, Cavalier, Eddy, Grand Forks and 11 more11 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in North Dakota, 2021Red Flag Warnings in Minnesota, 2021Every red flag warning in 2021

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.