Dakota Storm Center: Thursday's Weather Blog

7:00pm

Overview

There is a low pressure system over the upper- Mississippi River valley with a cold front stretched west, through the Dakotas. An Arctic air mass is anchored over Canada. A secondary low pressure system is in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.

Discussion

A cold front brought snow to most of the state through this Thursday. Accumulations ranged from a Trace to 3.5". This light snow produced heavier accumulations in the NE & Central ND, North of I-94. The main band of snow was East of Stutsman county by 5pm. This system will continue to move out of the Dakotas. The tail end of a cold front (associated with this same system) will transition to a stationary front and stall out just West of the Dakotas through the weekend. This stationary front will cause scattered snow/flurries tomorrow & Saturday. In the wake of today's passing cold front, temperatures will fall through the teens and single digits tonight. An Arctic air mass (over Canada) will expand South and over the Dakotas through the beginning of the work week. This much colder air will become the focus of our weather headlines, through the next several days.

Model Guidance (GFS) Wind Chill Forecast

Temperatures will fall well below zero and range between -10 and -25 by Sunday & Monday mornings. These temperatures coupled with a light to moderate wind out of the NW will put chills in a dangerous range. Wind Chill Advisories & Warnings will probably be issued across the state.

Through the rest of tonight & Friday

Expect mostly cloudy skies with scattered flurries/light snow, possible. Temperatures will continue to fall through the teens and well into the single digits. Add a light to moderate North wind (that will start to calm) and it will feel like it is near & below zero. Cloud cover will continue through the day tomorrow with some sun shining through at times with a chance for scattered snow/flurries. Temperatures will only climb into the teens before continuing to fall through the midday & afternoon hours. By Friday night temps fall below zero with chills approaching -20.

7day planner

In the wake of a cold front, an Arctic air mass will cause falling temperatures tonight through Friday and into the weekend. A chance for scattered snow/flurries will remain in the forecast Friday & Saturday. Skies will begin to clear out, late Saturday and temperatures will continue to fall well below zero and to near -20. Sunday & Monday mornings Wind Chill values will be -20 to -40 and dangerously cold. The beginning of the work week will bring a gradual warming trend with snow chances staying low and temps back into a seasonable range by the middle of next week.

TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy skies with a chance for a few flurries and temps continuing to fall in the wake of a passing cold front. Lows -5 to 18. North wind 5-15mph. Chills falling to either side of zero.
FRIDAY...Mostly cloudy skies with scattered flurries/light snow and continued falling temperatures. Highs 5-20. North wind 2-12mph. Chills in the single digits.
FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy skies with temps falling below zero. Lows 0 to -14. North wind 2-10mph. Chills -15 to -30.
SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy skies and cold with a chance for scattered snow, followed by gradual clearing. Highs 0 to-10. NW wind 5-15mph G20. Chills in the negative teens & -20s.

SATURDAY NIGHT...Continued gradual clearing and cold. Lows -15 to -25. Light to moderate NW winds. Chills -25 to -40.