Alert archive / Minnesota / Red Flag Warnings in 2026
Red Flag Warning 4, NWS Grand Forks, ND
NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this red flag warning at Apr 22, 2026, 2:23 AM CDT for 7 counties in Minnesota; Ransom County, Richland County, Sargent County, North Dakota. It took effect at Apr 22, 2026, 12:00 PM CDT. It was in force for 8 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
- Apr 22, 2026, 2:23 AM CDT (07:23 UTC)
- In effect from
- Apr 22, 2026, 12:00 PM CDT
- Expired
- Apr 22, 2026, 8:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 8 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Grand Forks, ND
Counties Becker County, MN, Beltrami County, MN, Grant County, MN, Hubbard County, MN, Otter Tail County, MN, Wadena County, MN, Wilkin County, MN, Ransom County, ND, Richland County, ND, Sargent County, ND
The radar
The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 138 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:28 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
Aberdeen, SD (KABR), launched 00:00Z, 7.4 hours before the alert went out and 261 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
- 3371 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 43 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 63 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 190 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
037 WWUS83 KFGF 220723 RFWFGF URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 223 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026 MNZ017-024-028>032-040-NDZ049-052-053-230100- /O.UPG.KFGF.FW.A.0002.260422T1700Z-260423T0100Z/ /O.NEW.KFGF.FW.W.0004.260422T1700Z-260423T0100Z/ South Beltrami-Hubbard-East Becker-Wilkin-West Otter Tail- East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-Ransom-Sargent-Richland- 223 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA... The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from noon today to 8 PM CDT this evening. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AFFECTED AREA...In Minnesota, South Beltrami, Hubbard, East Becker, Wilkin, West Otter Tail, East Otter Tail, Wadena and Grant. In North Dakota, Ransom, Sargent and Richland. * WINDS...Southeast 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Highest winds in southeast North Dakota and the southern Red River valley. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 25 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that ignite will spread rapidly and become difficult to control. Outdoor burning is not recommended. 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. && $$
1 follow-up statement
900 WWUS83 KFGF 230044 RFWFGF URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 744 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026 MNZ017-024-028>032-040-NDZ049-052-053-230145- /O.EXP.KFGF.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260423T0100Z/ South Beltrami-Hubbard-East Becker-Wilkin-West Otter Tail- East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-Ransom-Sargent-Richland- 744 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING... Relative humidity will recover above 50% this evening but winds will remain elevated through tomorrow morning. $$
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this red flag warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Grand Forks, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before this red flag warning went out at Apr 21, 11:17 PM CDT, 3 hours 6 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Critical fire weather conditions as winds increase tomorrow across southeastern North Dakota and portions of west central and northwest Minnesota. A fire weather watch is in effect for Wednesday afternoon.
- Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe storms Thursday along and east of the Red River. Main hazards are 1 inch hail and 60 mph wind gusts and perhaps a brief tornado.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 21, 11:17 PM CDT, 3 hours 6 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1117 PM CDT Tue Apr 21 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Critical fire weather conditions as winds increase tomorrow
across southeastern North Dakota and portions of west central
and northwest Minnesota. A fire weather watch is in effect for
Wednesday afternoon.
- Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe storms Thursday along and
east of the Red River. Main hazards are 1 inch hail and 60 mph
wind gusts and perhaps a brief tornado.
&&
.UPDATE...
Issued at 1117 PM CDT Tue Apr 21 2026
Southeast winds continue this evening with temperatures across
the area in the 50s. Look for winds to gradually increase during
the overnight period, with gusts increasing after sunrise.
Overall, the forecast remains on track this evening, with only
minor changes to precip timing later Wednesday evening.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 322 PM CDT Tue Apr 21 2026
...Synopsis...
Surface high pressure centered from Ontario into the central Red
River Valley will move southeastward tonight, allowing winds to
pick up as the pressure gradient increases. That gradient will
continue to tighten as low pressure in the lee of the Rockies
starts to move into the central Dakotas by Wednesday night. An
upper shortwave moving into the Northern Plains will push the
surface trough and cold front into the Red River Valley by
Thursday afternoon. Northwesterly winds with cooler air will
move in Friday and into the weekend. Another low pressure system
starts to move in from the Central Plains into the Upper
Mississippi Valley late Sunday into Monday, but a lot of
variation in the details.
...Near critical fire weather along eastern counties this
evening...
While areas around Lake of the Woods are still hanging onto
relative humidity readings in the 20s, locations further south
near Bemidji, Park Rapids and Wadena have already dropped into
the teens. While winds are light and variable, land managers
report that fuels are dry enough to create near critical
conditions based on RH alone. Rh values will begin to recover
around sunset and should rise into the 60s and 70s percent
overnight.
...Fire weather watch tomorrow...
The center of the surface high will move east and winds will
pick up tonight into tomorrow, with gusts up to 30 mph possible.
There will be come moisture advection, but dew points will not
rise as fast as the temperature will. Afternoon RH values could
drop to 25 percent or even lower across portions of southeastern
ND and western MN. While winds are rather borderline even as
they increase, there is still a chance for critical fire weather
conditions. Best probabilities of seeing both higher winds and
lower RH values are in west central MN. Southeastern North
Dakota will see winds up to 25 mph, and probabilities of getting
down below 30 percent RH are around 70 percent. And there is the
possibility of more mixing than expected. Further east, winds
will be lower but conditions drier and with plenty of fuels in
the Bemidji area from last year's wind event, put them in the
watch also.
...Marginal risk Thursday...
Probabilities from the ensemble for over 500 J/kg of surface
based CAPE are around 80 to 90 percent in a narrow band ahead of
the cold front Thursday afternoon. While chances for getting to
1000 J/kg or above are lower, only around 40 percent, there will
be some very good deep layer bulk shear at 40 to 50 kts. Much
will depend on how showers and a few elevated storms play out
Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Still, high enough chance
to include a mention for Marginal risk Thursday afternoon. Hail
up to 1 inch and winds to 60 mph will be the main threat, but
with the boundary in the area can't completely rule out a quick
tornado spin up.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1117 PM CDT Tue Apr 21 2026
VFR conditions prevail through the period at all TAF sites. The
primary concern for this TAF issuance will be LLWS as upper
boundary layer winds increase overnight to near 30 knots.
Southeast winds gradually increase just after sunrise, with
gusts to near 30 knots developing heading into the late morning
and into midday. Gusty winds will likely continue into the
evening, although gusts should become less frequent later
Wednesday evening.
&&
.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday
evening for NDZ049-052-053.
MN...Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday
evening for MNZ017-024-028>032-040.
&&
UPDATE...Lynch
DISCUSSION...JR
AVIATION...LynchHazardous weather outlook, Apr 21, 3:18 PM CDT, 11 hours 5 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 318 PM CDT Tue Apr 21 2026 NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038-054-222030- Towner-Cavalier-Pembina-Benson-Ramsey-Eastern Walsh-Eddy-Nelson- Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Western Walsh- 318 PM CDT Tue Apr 21 2026 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated today. MNZ017-024-028>032-040-NDZ049-052-053-222030- South Beltrami-Hubbard-East Becker-Wilkin-West Otter Tail- East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-Ransom-Sargent-Richland- 318 PM CDT Tue Apr 21 2026 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Near critical fire weather today Baudette to Wadena where RH values drop to below 20 percent. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Critical fire weather conditions may develop Wednesday. There is a Fire Weather Watch in effect for portions of southeast North Dakota into west-central and northwest Minnesota. There is a level 1 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms Thursday. The main hazards will be hail to 1 inch and wind gusts to 60 mph. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated today. MNZ001>009-013>016-022-023-027-NDZ039-222030- West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-Roseau-Lake Of The Woods- West Marshall-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington-Red Lake- East Polk-North Clearwater-Mahnomen-South Clearwater-West Becker- Cass- 318 PM CDT Tue Apr 21 2026 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday There is a level 1 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms Thursday. The main hazards will be hail to 1 inch and wind gusts to 60 mph. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated today.
Nearby
Red Flag Warnings in Minnesota, 2026Red Flag Warnings in North Dakota, 2026Every red flag warning in 2026
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.