Alert archive / Montana / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Great Falls, MT

March 31, 202117 counties in Montana

NWS Great Falls, MT issued this red flag warning at Mar 31, 2021, 2:39 PM MDT for 17 counties in Montana. It took effect at Apr 1, 2021, 11:43 AM 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
Mar 31, 2021, 2:39 PM MDT (20:39 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 1, 2021, 11:43 AM MDT
Expired
Apr 1, 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, Teton County, MT, Toole County, MT

The radar

The Great Falls radar (KTFX), 33 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:39 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

Glasgow Intl Airport, MT (KGGW), launched 12:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 334 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, Glasgow Intl Airport, MT 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, Glasgow Intl Airport, MT at 12:00Z on 2021-03-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 124 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
1325 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
100 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
124 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
291 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

751 
WWUS85 KTFX 312039
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
239 PM MDT Wed Mar 31 2021

MTZ112>115-117-011145-
/O.NEW.KTFX.FW.W.0002.210401T1800Z-210402T0300Z/
/O.EXT.KTFX.FW.A.0002.210402T1800Z-210403T0300Z/
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-
239 PM MDT Wed Mar 31 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT THURSDAY FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112,
113, 114, 115, AND 117...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING FOR 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 gusty winds and low relative humidity, which is in
effect from noon to 9 PM MDT Thursday.

* 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.

* WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph on
  Thursday. Southwest to west winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up
  to 35 mph on Friday afternoon.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 12 percent on Thursday. As low as
  15 percent on Friday

* IMPACTS...Any fires in the grass and rangelands will be 
  difficult to contain.

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 these Fire Weather headlines.

&&

$$

http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls
4 follow-up statements
193 
WWUS85 KTFX 010855
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
255 AM MDT Thu Apr 1 2021

MTZ112>115-117-020200-
/O.CAN.KTFX.FW.A.0002.210402T1800Z-210403T0300Z/
/O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0002.210401T1800Z-210402T0300Z/
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-
255 AM MDT Thu Apr 1 2021

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

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR FRIDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND 
LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, 
AND 117...

The National Weather Service in Great Falls has cancelled the Fire
Weather Watch for Friday.

The National Weather Service in Great Falls continues the Red Flag
Warning for gusty winds and low relative humidity, which is in 
effect from Noon to 9 PM MDT Today for much of Central and North
Central MT.

* 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.

* WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 13 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires in the grass and rangelands will be 
  difficult to contain.

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
434 
WWUS85 KTFX 011743
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1143 AM MDT Thu Apr 1 2021

MTZ118-020300-
/O.EXB.KTFX.FW.W.0002.210401T1743Z-210402T0300Z/
Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest-
1143 AM MDT Thu Apr 1 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 118...

The National Weather Service in Great Falls has issued a Red Flag
Warning for gusty winds and low relative humidity, which is in
effect until 9 PM MDT this evening.

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

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 16 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires in the grass and rangelands will be 
  difficult to contain.

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>115-117-020300-
/O.EXT.KTFX.FW.W.0002.210401T1743Z-210402T0300Z/
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-
1143 AM MDT Thu Apr 1 2021

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

* WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 13 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires in the grass and rangelands will be 
  difficult to contain.

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
026 
WWUS85 KTFX 012040
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
240 PM MDT Thu Apr 1 2021

MTZ112>115-117-118-020300-
/O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210402T0300Z/
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 Thu Apr 1 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

* AFFECTED AREA...Most of North-central Montana.

* WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires in the grass and rangelands will be 
  difficult to contain.

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
187 
WWUS85 KTFX 020245
RFWTFX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
845 PM MDT Thu Apr 1 2021

MTZ112>115-117-118-020345-
/O.EXP.KTFX.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210402T0300Z/
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-
845 PM MDT Thu Apr 1 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY
WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

Winds are gradually diminishing as relative humidity percentages
slowly inch back above 20 percent across the warning area. As such,
the Red Flag Warning will be allowed to expire at 9 PM MDT as
scheduled.

$$

http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls

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.