Red Flag Warning 6, NWS Twin Cities, MN

849 
WWUS83 KMPX 082247
RFWMPX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
547 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON IN
WESTERN, CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

.Clearing skies and a deep mixing has promoted increasing wind gusts
heading this afternoon, with gusts from 30-35mph expected into the
early evening. Relative humidity in the upper teens to low 20s, which
alongside the increasing wind gusts is resulting in the high fire
danger and Red Flag Conditions. Burning is discouraged today as any
fires that develop can spread rapidly.

MNZ041>045-047>051-054>057-090100-
/O.EXT.KMPX.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-260509T0100Z/
Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns-
Benton-Sherburne-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-
547 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

* AFFECTED AREA...Portions of central, east central, and west central
  Minnesota.

* TIMING...Until 8 PM CDT this evening.

* WINDS...Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Around 19 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will spread rapidly. Outdoor
  burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A red flag warning is issued when we identify weather conditions that
promote rapid spread of fire which may become life-threatening. This
does not mean there is a fire. These conditions are either occurring
now or will begin soon. It is important to have multiple ways to
receive information from authorities.

&&

$$

MPG

459 
WWUS83 KMPX 090056
RFWMPX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
756 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

MNZ041>045-047>051-054>057-090200-
/O.EXP.KMPX.FW.W.0006.000000T0000Z-260509T0100Z/
Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns-
Benton-Sherburne-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-
756 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

$$

MPG

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
629 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Warmer today with one more round of frosty air this weekend
  before a more sustained warm up next week.

- Some light rain is possible along a passing cold front tonight
  into early Saturday for central Minnesota into western
  Wisconsin.

- Better chance for more widespread rainfall arrives late Monday
  into Tuesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 308 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

This morning's frost advisory looks to be on track as
temperatures have fallen across much of western Wisconsin into
parts of east central Minnesota. Farther west and south some
cloud cover and warmer air aloft has helped keep temperatures
warmer. Moving on to today, it looks like a brief warm up
thanks to some weak WAA. How strong this WAA is today will be
key in determining how windy it gets. If it ends up on the
stronger side, like some of the high resolution guidance like
the HRRR suggest, we may be able to mix down winds from as high
as 700 mb. This would have winds over performing the current
forecast. Importantly this would take the elevated fire weather
conditions and could move it into more critical fire weather.
All together this afternoon into evening does not look like a
good day for burning. Our brief warm up will come to an end as
a cold front passes through tonight into tomorrow morning. With
this frontal passage the key question will be moisture.
Overnight timing of the frontal passage will help by having
temperatures at a diurnal minimum as a afternoon passage would
very likely be dry due to a lack of humidity. Even with the
overnight timing, the farther south the more low level dry air
there will be. Currently expecting the best chance to see
overnight rain along and north of the I-94 corridor. Further
south chances drop off as this dry air starts to win out more
and more.

Behind the frontal passage will be a cooler weekend due to the
CAA. This keeps highs more in the 50s with some 60s across parts
of southern Minnesota into western Wisconsin. Generally higher
surface pressure, especially on Sunday night, will provide for
clear skies that will enable radiational cooling. This will
bring lows down into the 30s Saturday and Sunday night. Both
nights will likely see frost and some freezes will also be
possible, especially on Sunday night into Monday morning.

Next week will see a push of more sustained warm air across the
Upper Midwest. Guidance does not favor frost any morning next
week past Monday morning and CPC outlooks favor above normal
temperatures for the rest of the month. So it is looking
increasingly likely that frost and freeze season ends on Monday
morning. The other story next week will be the early week short
wave trough moving through. There is strong agreement amongst
the global ensembles that a widespread rain event will occur
here. Current QPF amounts do not look high with up to around a
tenth the most common although there is around a quarter to a
third of the global ensemble membership higher than that
depending on location across our area. Behind this trough a
ridge looks to build in midweek. This will help enable
widespread 70s and lower 80s by the end of the week.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 626 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

VFR is expected for all sites throughout the TAF, with the
exception of a chance for -SHRA towards the end of the period
which may result in some brief MVFR visibility. Winds begin
below 5kts variable in some spots but generally at 220-250,
shifting towards 260-290 as they increase to 10-15kts after 18z.
Gusts to 20-25kts are possible after winds increase, diminishing
after 03z as we lose mixing from daylight. Prob30 groups for
-SHRA moving through have been added to most sites except for
 RWF/MKT where the chance is less than 20 percent.

KMSP...Introduced the prob30 window for -SHRA from 09 to 13z,
with the most likely period for visibility reductions from
11-13z. Whether or not we see accumulation will depend on if we
manage to saturate the lower levels, with any accumulations
under a few hundredths of an inch.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
SUN...VFR. Wind NW 10-15kts.
MON...VFR. Wind SE 5kts.
TUE...VFR, chc -TSRA/MVFR early. Wind SE to NW 10-15kts.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...Frost Advisory until 8 AM CDT this morning for Chisago-Isanti.
WI...Frost Advisory until 8 AM CDT this morning for Barron-Chippewa-
     Dunn-Eau Claire-Pepin-Pierce-Polk-Rusk-St. Croix.

&&

DISCUSSION...NDC
AVIATION...TDH

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
322 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
090830-
Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns-
Benton-Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-
Kandiyohi-Meeker-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-
Yellow Medicine-Renville-McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota-
Redwood-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth-
Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn-Polk-Barron-Rusk-
St. Croix-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Eau Claire-
322 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central and
southern Minnesota, and west central Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Elevated fire weather today due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
Avoid burning and check current burn restrictions.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Areas of frost are possible Sunday and Monday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN spotter activation will not be needed.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
221 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

MNZ041>045-047>051-054>057-081900-
Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns-
Benton-Sherburne-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-
Including the cities of Alexandria, Long Prairie, Little Falls,
Princeton, Mora, Morris, Glenwood, St Cloud, Sauk Rapids,
Elk River, Madison, Benson, Montevideo, and Willmar
221 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
MINNESOTA TODAY...

Dry conditions and breezy winds will lead to elevated fire
weather conditions this afternoon into early evening. West to
northwest winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts of 20 to 25 mph are
forecast this afternoon into early evening. These winds combined
with relative humidity values of 18 to 25 percent is the source of
the elevated fire weather risk. Check burning restrictions and
fire danger at the link below before burning.

Check burning restrictions and fire danger levels and consult
with fire officials before burning.

For more information on burning restrictions for Minnesota, see
www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html.