Dakota Storm Center: Monday's Weather Blog

7:00pm

Overview

Over the Midwest & Plains, a ridge of high pressure is influencing the forecast. A low over Montana will continue to move East & SE as it fizzles out. There is a weak front/trough is stretched to the North & East from this low, into Canada.

Discussion A weak trough that is associated with a low to our West will begin to move over the Northern Plains. As this low & trough move through the Dakotas, expect more clouds with continued mild temps through the next several days. Overnight lows will range through the teens and on either side of 10 degrees. A Light to moderate wind will become variable and lead to (overnight) chills in the single digits through Friday morning. Daytime high temperatures will be in the 20s with chills in the teens/20s. This inactive pattern will continue through the end of the week with a few light flurries by Wednesday Night. By Thursday & Friday the approach of our next cold front will bring about changes to the weather pattern & forecast. Snow chances will be on the rise Thursday Night and scattered snow associated with this passing cold front will move through Western North Dakota overnight & through Friday Afternoon. At this point this looks to be a light snow event. Long-range model guidance shows accumulations ranging from 1"-2" (model avg. <1) through Friday Night. Though this front will bring light snow to most of the area, it will pack a punch when it comes to temperatures. A much colder air-mass will move over the Northern Plains with highs in the single digits and lows falling well below zero and into the -teens. During the next couple of days more of our mid- range models will pick up on this front and we will be able to narrow down the snow & temp ranges. Unitl this next weather-changer moves through the area, our headlines will not change much and a strong El Nino pattern will continue to bring a mild start to 2016.

Through the rest of tonight & Tuesday

Overnight temps will fall through the 20s and into the teens across the state. In & out clouds will accompany changing winds. A southerly breeze will swing around to the West, becoming light & variable. Developing fog will become patchy throught the early morning with chills in the single digits. Tomorrow, expect continued increasing clouds with highs well into the 20s & light winds beoming North (2-12mph) across the state.

7day planner

Through the next several days, mild conditions will continue with temps climbing well into the 20s and overnight lows in the teens and on either side of 10. By Friday increasing clouds and an approaching cold front will lead to mostly cloudy skies, slightly cooler temps and a chance for snow through the Dakotas. In the wake of this front, temperatures will fall below average with lows well below zero and daytime high temps in the single digits through the weekend.

TONIGHT...Fair to partly cloudy skies with in & out cover and patchy AM fog developing for some. Lows 8-17. South/ West wind 2-12mph. Chills in the single digits & teens.

TUESDAY...Partly to mostly cloudy skies with continued increasing cover and patchy AM fog/haze. Highs 24-32. West/ North wind 2-12mph. chills in the teens.

TUESDAY NIGHT...Continued increasing clouds with some patchy fog. Lows 7-14. NE wind 2-10mph. Chills in the teens.

WEDNESDAY...Partly to mostly cloudy skies with more clouds rolling in. Highs 22-28. NE wind 2-10mph. Chills in the teens.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy skies with a few isolated flurries. Lows in the teens. Light NE wind. Chills in the single digits & teens.