Dakota Storm Center: Friday's Weather Blog

7:00pm

There is a Wind Chill Advisory in effect for parts of Western, ND. Though the Wind Chill Advisory is only in effect for the Northern portion of our state, most of our viewing area will experience cold conditions Saturday & Sunday Morning.

Overview

There is a low pressure system over the Midwest & Great Lakes region. A warm front extends to the Atlantic Ocean and a cold front runs through the Plains and over Texas. A secondary low is developing over the Pan-handle of Texas. Elsewhere a ridge of high pressure and an Arctic air mass are moving into the Northern Plains & upper- Midwest.

Discussion

A ridge of high pressure will begin to move over the Dakotas. Through the weekend an Arctic air mass (associated with this high) will bring the coldest air that we have seen so far this winter. Temperatures will fall through the single digits and below zero this evening. Lows tonight will bottom out below zero and into the negative teens. Temps coupled with winds will bring chills into a potentially dangerous range, 20-30 below.

Temps tomorrow will remain below zero through much of the day, topping out on either side of zero. Sub-zero temps with a light to moderate NW wind translates to chills in the negative teens & around 20 below zero through most of the day. Temps will continue to fall through Saturday Night into the negative double digits with a light to moderate wind. Chills will again bottom out between 15 to 25 below zero Sunday morning. By Sunday afternoon, gradually rising temps will climb above zero and into the teens. A secondary, cold air mass will approach the Dakotas at the beginning of our work week.

Through the rest of tonight & Saturday

Expect a few scattered flurries followed by gradually clearing skies as temperatures fall below zero with a light to moderate wind out of the NW. Chills will range from 20-30 below by Saturday Morning. Tomorrow expect in & out clouds with afternoon highs on either side of zero Temps will continue to fall well below zero and into the negative teens through Saturday Night.

7day planner

The next couple of days will be cold with in & out clouds. In the wake of this front, expect clearing skies and falling temps. Saturday & Sunday wind chills will bottom out well below zero. Monday & Tuesday another cold air mass will start to move over the Dakotas with in & out clouds. The end of our 7day planner shows temps climbing back into a range near average for this time of the year. Expect a roller coaster of temperatures with little to no significant snowfall accumulation.

TONIGHT...Expect cloudy skies with gradually clearing skies and temps falling well below zero. Lows -5 to -15. NW wind 5-15mph. Chills from 20 to 30 below.

SATURDAY...Continued clearing skies revealing more sunshine. Temps will continue to fall through the day. Highs -5 to 5. NW wind 5-15mph. Chills in the negative teens & -20s.

SATURDAY NIGHT...Fair to partly cloudy skies and cold. Lows -10 to -17. NW / SW wind 2-10mph. Chills 25 to 35 below.

SUNDAY...Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with increasing clouds and chilly. Highs 9-15. SW becoming West wind 2-10mph. Chills in the negative teens and below zero.

SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly to mostly cloudy skies with continued increasing clouds. Lows in the single digits. Light West wind. Chills below zero.