Alert archive / Montana / Red Flag Warnings in 2021
Red Flag Warning 13, NWS Great Falls, MT
NWS Great Falls, MT issued this red flag warning at Aug 14, 2021, 2:40 PM MDT for 18 counties in Montana. It took effect at Aug 15, 2021, 12:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 33 hr. 17 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 14, 2021, 2:40 PM MDT (20:40 UTC)
- In effect from
- Aug 15, 2021, 12:00 PM MDT
- Expired
- Aug 16, 2021, 8:42 PM MDT
- In force
- 33 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Great Falls, MT
Counties Blaine County, MT, Broadwater County, MT, Cascade County, MT, Chouteau County, MT, Fergus County, MT, Gallatin County, MT, Glacier County, MT, Hill County, MT, Jefferson County, MT, Judith Basin County, MT, Lewis and Clark County, MT, Liberty County, MT, Meagher County, MT, Phillips County, MT, Pondera County, MT, Powell County, MT, Teton County, MT, Toole County, MT
The radar
The Great Falls radar (KTFX), 24 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:43 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 7:21 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 48 | 8 Se East Glacier Park, MT | MESONET STATION DCRM8 DEEP CREEK RAWS. |
| Aug 16, 11:45 AM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 40 | 2 Se Browning, MT | MESONET STATION MTBWG BROWNING (MT DOT). |
| Aug 16, 12:22 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 46 | 1 Ene East Glacier Park, MT | MESONET STATION MTBRN TWO MEDICINE BRIDGE (MT DOT). |
| Aug 16, 12:50 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 40 | 13 N Chester, MT | MESONET STATION DW4776 CHESTER. |
| Aug 16, 1:05 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 45 | 2 E Inverness, MT | MESONET STATION MTINV INVERNESS (MT DOT). |
| Aug 16, 1:31 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 46 | 20 N Rudyard, MT | MESONET STATION EW1937 GOLDSTONE. |
| Aug 16, 1:46 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 47 | 14 Nnw Joplin, MT | MESONET STATION DW4821 CHESTER. |
| Aug 16, 1:52 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 40 | 5 Wsw Great Falls, MT | ASOS STATION KGTF GREAT FALLS AIRPORT. |
| Aug 16, 2:00 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 40 | 15 Wnw Wolf Creek, MT | MESONET STATION MTROG ROGERS PASS (MT DOT). |
| Aug 16, 2:00 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 42 | 6 Wsw Havre, MT | MESONET STATION MTM06 6.4 SW HAVRE (MT-MESO). |
| Aug 16, 2:10 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 49 | 4 W Havre, MT | ASOS STATION KHVR HAVRE AIRPORT. |
| Aug 16, 2:16 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 43 | 12 S Rudyard, MT | MESONET STATION EW1931 RUDYARD. |
| Aug 16, 2:47 PM MDT | TSTM WND GST 40 | 4 Sse Basin, MT | MESONET STATION GAAM8 GALENA RAWS. |
| Aug 16, 3:30 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 40 | 1 Wsw Sun Prairie, MT | MESONET STATION FW5493 VAUGHN. |
| Aug 16, 4:18 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 40 | 13 S Fort Belknap, MT | MESONET STATION FBLM8 FORT BELKNAP RAWS. |
| Aug 16, 5:42 PM MDT | TSTM WND GST 45 | Belgrade, MT | ASOS STATION KBZN BOZEMAN YELLOWSTONE AIRPORT. |
| Aug 16, 6:04 PM MDT | TSTM WND GST 48 | 7 Ssw Big Sky, MT | MESONET STATION YLWM8 YELLOW MULE RAWS. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
The nearest sounding before it
Great_falls, MT (KTFX), launched 12:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 37 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 3079 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 26 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 6 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 77 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
207 WWUS85 KTFX 142040 RFWTFX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Great Falls MT 240 PM MDT Sat Aug 14 2021 MTZ112>115-117-118-151145- /O.UPG.KTFX.FW.A.0010.210815T1500Z-210817T0300Z/ /O.NEW.KTFX.FW.W.0013.210815T1800Z-210817T0600Z/ Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty- Hill and Blaine Counties- Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District- Rocky Mountain Front-Chouteau and Fergus Counties- Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas- Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest- 240 PM MDT Sat Aug 14 2021 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON SUNDAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT MONDAY NIGHT FOR HOT TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, AND 118... The National Weather Service in Great Falls has issued a Red Flag Warning for hot temperatures, gusty winds, and low relative humidity, which is in effect from noon Sunday to midnight MDT Monday night. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AFFECTED AREA...Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty, Hill and Blaine Counties, Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-Rocky Mountain Front, Chouteau and Fergus Counties, Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest. * TEMPERATURES...Highs in the mid to upper 90s on Sunday, and from the mid-80s to mid-90s on Monday * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph on Sunday, and winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph on Monday, with lower winds overnight into Monday morning. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 to 15 percent on Sunday, at 14 to 20 percent on Monday, with poor overnight recovery. * IMPACTS...Any new or existing fire may be able to grow and spread rapidly in the dry and windy conditions. 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. Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in these areas of this Red Flag Warning. && $$ MTZ116-151145- /O.UPG.KTFX.FW.A.0010.210815T1500Z-210817T0300Z/ /O.NEW.KTFX.FW.W.0013.210815T1800Z-210816T0300Z/ Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest- 240 PM MDT Sat Aug 14 2021 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT SUNDAY FOR HOT TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 116... The National Weather Service in Great Falls has issued a Red Flag Warning for hot temperatures, gusty winds, and low relative humidity, which is in effect from noon to 9 PM MDT Sunday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AFFECTED AREA...Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest. * TEMPERATURES...Highs in the mid-80s to around 90 degrees. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 12 to 17 percent. * IMPACTS...Any new or existing fire may be able to grow and spread rapidly in the dry and windy conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in these areas of this Red Flag Warning. && $$ http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls
6 follow-up statements
786 WWUS85 KTFX 151009 RFWTFX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Great Falls MT 409 AM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021 MTZ112>115-117-118-152300- /O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0013.210815T1800Z-210817T0600Z/ Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty- Hill and Blaine Counties- Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District- Rocky Mountain Front-Chouteau and Fergus Counties- Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas- Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest- 409 AM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT MONDAY NIGHT FOR HOT TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, AND 118... * AFFECTED AREA...Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty, Hill and Blaine Counties, Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-Rocky Mountain Front, Chouteau and Fergus Counties, Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest. * TEMPERATURES...In the 90s. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 11 percent. * IMPACTS...Any new or existing fire may be able to grow and spread rapidly in the dry and windy conditions. 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. Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in these areas of this Red Flag Warning. && $$ MTZ116-152300- /O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0013.210815T1800Z-210816T0300Z/ Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest- 409 AM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR HOT TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 116... * AFFECTED AREA...Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest. * TEMPERATURES...90 to 95. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 9 percent. * IMPACTS...Any new or existing fire may be able to grow and spread rapidly in the dry and windy conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in these areas of this Red Flag Warning. && $$ http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls
389 WWUS85 KTFX 151920 RFWTFX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Great Falls MT 120 PM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021 MTZ112>115-117-118-160300- /O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-210817T0600Z/ Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty- Hill and Blaine Counties- Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District- Rocky Mountain Front-Chouteau and Fergus Counties- Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas- Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest- 120 PM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT MONDAY NIGHT FOR HOT TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, AND 118... * AFFECTED AREA...Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty, Hill and Blaine Counties, Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-Rocky Mountain Front, Chouteau and Fergus Counties, Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest. * TEMPERATURES...Upper 80s to upper 90s. * WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent. * IMPACTS...Any new or existing fire may be able to grow and spread rapidly in the dry and windy conditions. 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. Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in these areas of this Red Flag Warning. && Moldan $$ MTZ116-160300- /O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-210816T0300Z/ Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest- 120 PM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR HOT TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 116... * AFFECTED AREA...Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest. * TEMPERATURES...80s to low 90s. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent. * IMPACTS...Any new or existing fire may be able to grow and spread rapidly in the dry and windy conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in these areas of this Red Flag Warning. && Moldan $$ http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls
369 WWUS85 KTFX 160220 RFWTFX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Great Falls MT 820 PM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021 MTZ116-160330- /O.CAN.KTFX.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-210816T0300Z/ Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest- 820 PM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021 ...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR HOT TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 116... The National Weather Service in Great Falls has cancelled the Red Flag Warning. Red Flag conditions have mostly diminished across this fire zone. $$ MTZ112>115-117-118-161200- /O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-210817T0600Z/ Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty- Hill and Blaine Counties- Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District- Rocky Mountain Front-Chouteau and Fergus Counties- Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas- Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest- 820 PM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT MONDAY NIGHT FOR HOT TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, AND 118... * AFFECTED AREA...Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty, Hill and Blaine Counties, Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-Rocky Mountain Front, Chouteau and Fergus Counties, Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest. * TEMPERATURES...Warming back into the mid 80s to mid 90s Monday afternoon. * WINDS...West winds increasing once again to between 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph Monday afternoon. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Falling to as low as 10 percent Monday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Any new or existing fire may be able to grow and spread rapidly in the dry and windy conditions. Conditions will moderate overnight, but critical fire weather conditions are expected during the day on Monday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in these areas of this Red Flag Warning. && $$ http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls
953 WWUS85 KTFX 160929 RFWTFX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Great Falls MT 329 AM MDT Mon Aug 16 2021 MTZ112>115-117-118-170030- /O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-210817T0600Z/ Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty- Hill and Blaine Counties- Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District- Rocky Mountain Front-Chouteau and Fergus Counties- Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas- Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest- 329 AM MDT Mon Aug 16 2021 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT FOR HOT TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, AND 118... * AFFECTED AREA...Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty, Hill and Blaine Counties, Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-Rocky Mountain Front, Chouteau and Fergus Counties, Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest. * TEMPERATURES...Highs will reach the mid 80s to mid 90s this afternoon. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 to 15 percent. * IMPACTS...Any new or existing fire may be able to grow and spread rapidly in the dry and windy conditions. Conditions will moderate overnight, but critical fire weather conditions are expected during the day on Monday. 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. Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in these areas of this Red Flag Warning. && $$ http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls
160 WWUS85 KTFX 161910 RFWTFX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Great Falls MT 110 PM MDT Mon Aug 16 2021 MTZ112>115-117-118-170600- /O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-210817T0600Z/ Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty- Hill and Blaine Counties- Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District- Rocky Mountain Front-Chouteau and Fergus Counties- Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas- Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest- 110 PM MDT Mon Aug 16 2021 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT FOR HOT TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, AND 118... * AFFECTED AREA...Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty, Hill and Blaine Counties, Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-Rocky Mountain Front, Chouteau and Fergus Counties, Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest. * TEMPERATURES...Upper 80s to upper 90s. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent. * IMPACTS...Any new or existing fire may be able to grow and spread rapidly in the dry and windy conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in these areas of this Red Flag Warning. && Moldan $$ http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls
304 WWUS85 KTFX 170242 RFWTFX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Great Falls MT 842 PM MDT Mon Aug 16 2021 MTZ112>115-117-118-170345- /O.CAN.KTFX.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-210817T0600Z/ Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty- Hill and Blaine Counties- Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District- Rocky Mountain Front-Chouteau and Fergus Counties- Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas- Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest- 842 PM MDT Mon Aug 16 2021 ...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR HOT TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, AND 118... The National Weather Service in Great Falls has cancelled the Red Flag Warning. Winds have decreased and shifted more northerly across north central Montana, which has allowed humidity to climb back above 20 percent. Scattered showers across portions of southwest Montana have also helped the humidity recover, although gusty southerly winds there will be slower to decrease through midnight. $$ http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls
The office that day
Everything else NWS Great Falls, MT issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14, 3:39 AM MDT | Fire Weather Watch | TFX | Blaine, Broadwater, Cascade, Chouteau, Fergus, Gallatin and 12 more | 11 hr |
| Aug 14, 3:27 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | 33 min | |
| Aug 14, 4:08 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | 37 min | |
| Aug 14, 4:10 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | Gallatin | 35 min |
| Aug 14, 4:55 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | 35 min | |
| Aug 14, 5:23 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | 37 min |
Nearby
Red Flag Warnings in Montana, 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.