Alert archive / Montana / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 15, NWS Great Falls, MT

September 5, 202118 counties in Montana

NWS Great Falls, MT issued this red flag warning at Sep 5, 2021, 3:21 PM MDT for 18 counties in Montana. It took effect at Sep 6, 2021, 12:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 9 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
Sep 5, 2021, 3:21 PM MDT (21:21 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 6, 2021, 12:00 PM MDT
Expired
Sep 6, 2021, 9:00 PM MDT
In force
9 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 21:20 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

Great_falls, MT (KTFX), launched 12:00Z, 9.4 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Great_falls, MT at 12:00Z on 2021-09-05Temperature 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, Great_falls, MT at 12:00Z on 2021-09-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 171 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
3303 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
171 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
191 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

850 
WWUS85 KTFX 052121
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
321 PM MDT Sun Sep 5 2021

MTZ112>115-117-060400-
/O.UPG.KTFX.FW.A.0011.210906T1800Z-210907T0400Z/
/O.NEW.KTFX.FW.W.0015.210906T1800Z-210907T0300Z/
/O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0014.000000T0000Z-210906T0300Z/
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-
321 PM MDT Sun Sep 5 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR WARM TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR 
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, AND 117...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT MONDAY FOR 
WARM TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE 
WEATHER ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, AND 117...

The National Weather Service in Great Falls has issued a Red Flag
Warning for warm temperatures, gusty winds, and low relative 
humidity, which is in effect from noon to 9 PM MDT Monday. The Fire
Weather Watch for Monday 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 and Central and Eastern Lewis and 
  Clark National Forest Areas.

* TEMPERATURES...In the 80s.

* WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 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.

&&

$$

MTZ116-118-060400-
/O.EXT.KTFX.FW.A.0011.210906T2000Z-210907T0300Z/
/O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0014.000000T0000Z-210906T0300Z/
Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest-
Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest-
321 PM MDT Sun Sep 5 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR WARM TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR 
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 116 AND 118...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
MONDAY EVENING FOR WARM TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW 
RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 116 AND 118...

* AFFECTED AREA...Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National 
  Forest and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena 
  National Forest.

* WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 14 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.

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are possible. A combination of gusty winds, low relative humidity,
and warm temperatures will create high fire growth potential.

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in these
areas of this Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watch.

&&

$$

http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls
4 follow-up statements
267 
WWUS85 KTFX 060233
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
833 PM MDT Sun Sep 5 2021

MTZ116-118-061200-
/O.EXP.KTFX.FW.W.0014.000000T0000Z-210906T0300Z/
/O.UPG.KTFX.FW.A.0011.210906T2000Z-210907T0300Z/
/O.EXA.KTFX.FW.W.0015.210906T1800Z-210907T0300Z/
Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest-
Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest-
833 PM MDT Sun Sep 5 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT MONDAY FOR 
WARM TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE 
WEATHER ZONES 116 AND 118...

The National Weather Service in Great Falls has issued a Red Flag
Warning for warm temperatures, gusty winds, and low relative 
humidity, which is in effect from noon to 9 PM MDT Monday. The Fire
Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National 
  Forest and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena 
  National Forest.

* TEMPERATURES...In the 80s.

* WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 35 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.

&&

$$

MTZ112>115-117-061200-
/O.EXP.KTFX.FW.W.0014.000000T0000Z-210906T0300Z/
/O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0015.210906T1800Z-210907T0300Z/
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-
833 PM MDT Sun Sep 5 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT MONDAY
FOR HOT TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, AND 117...

* 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 and Central and Eastern Lewis and 
  Clark National Forest Areas.

* TEMPERATURES...In the 80s.

* WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 14 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
091 
WWUS85 KTFX 060832
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
232 AM MDT Mon Sep 6 2021

MTZ112>115-117-062300-
/O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0015.210906T1800Z-210907T0300Z/
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-
232 AM MDT Mon Sep 6 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 ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, AND 117...

* 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 and Central and Eastern Lewis and 
  Clark National Forest Areas.

* TEMPERATURES...In the 80s.

* WINDS...West to northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 14 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.

&&

$$

MTZ116-118-062300-
/O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0015.210906T1800Z-210907T0300Z/
Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest-
Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest-
232 AM MDT Mon Sep 6 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT
THIS EVENING FOR WARM TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 116 AND 118...

* AFFECTED AREA...Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National 
  Forest and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena 
  National Forest.

* TEMPERATURES...In the 80s.

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

&&

$$

http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls
692 
WWUS85 KTFX 062108
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
308 PM MDT Mon Sep 6 2021

MTZ112>115-117-070300-
/O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0015.000000T0000Z-210907T0300Z/
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-
308 PM MDT Mon Sep 6 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 ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, AND 117...

* 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 and Central and Eastern Lewis and 
  Clark National Forest Areas.

* TEMPERATURES...In the mid 70s.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 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.

&&

$$

MTZ116-118-070300-
/O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0015.000000T0000Z-210907T0300Z/
Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest-
Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest-
308 PM MDT Mon Sep 6 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR WARM TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 116 AND 118...

* AFFECTED AREA...Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National 
  Forest and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena 
  National Forest.

* TEMPERATURES...In the mid 70s.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 12 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
226 
WWUS85 KTFX 070231
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
831 PM MDT Mon Sep 6 2021

MTZ112>115-117-070345-
/O.EXP.KTFX.FW.W.0015.000000T0000Z-210907T0300Z/
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-
831 PM MDT Mon Sep 6 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR HOT
TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, AND 117...

As temperatures cool this evening, RH values are increasing as
winds die down. Therefore, the Red Flag Warning will be allowed to
expire.

$$

MTZ116-118-070345-
/O.EXP.KTFX.FW.W.0015.000000T0000Z-210907T0300Z/
Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest-
Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest-
831 PM MDT Mon Sep 6 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR WARM
TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 116 AND 118...

As temperatures cool this evening, RH values are increasing as
winds die down. Therefore, the Red Flag Warning will be allowed to
expire.

$$

http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 5, 2:10 AM MDTFire Weather WatchTFXBlaine, Broadwater, Cascade, Chouteau, Fergus, Gallatin and 12 more18 hr

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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.