Dakota Storm Center: Thursday's Weather Blog

7:30pm

Overview

There is a weak low pressure system that is moving toward the NE U.S. with a cold front stretched back through the Midwest and into the Northern Plains. A developing clipper system is just north of the Dakotas with a trough stretched SW across Montana. Elsewhere, a broad ridge of high pressure is over the Central & Southern plains and expanded over the SE U.S.

Discussion

Across our area today, we saw another round of mild conditions with temperatures that climbed well into the lower to mid 40s. This unseasonably warm trend will continue tonight & tomorrow. Although we didn't see any record breaking high temperatures across the state, Dickinson warmed to 45 which is today's 3rd warmest high (record 53/1992). Across the western half of North Dakota, temperatures topped out in the 40s. There were even a few lower 50s in the SW corner of our viewing area.

A clipper system to our north will move through and affect our area tonight & tomorrow. This system will bring a chance for scattered rain starting through the early morning hours. Before sunrise, scattered showers will begin to move into the Dakotas and continue through the midday hours, Friday. Most of our temperatures at this time will be above the freezing mark, causing rain. A few isolated areas could see a wintry mix. This scattered rain is expected to move across the state, but not everyone will get wet. Another low will begin to develop over the Central plains and move West to East (South of our area). Scattered snow will move through Western, ND with light accumulations expected, at this point.

Through the rest of tonight & Friday

We will see in & out clouds with a chance for rain after Midnight, closer to sunrise. There will be a few scattered showers/mix. Temperatures will not fall much and overnight lows will range through the 30s with a few areas seeing min temps near the freezing mark. Tomorrow, warming begins early with temps climbing back into an unseasonably warm & mild range. The chance for scattered rain will wrap up during the midday & afternoon hours. In the wake of this weak system, expect clearing skies and increasing wind speeds. Moderate to strong winds will accompany temps in the 40s.

7day planner

In the short term, mild temps will continue with a chance for scattered rain/mix as a weak system moves through the area early Friday morning & afternoon. Saturday, there will be a chance for light, scattered snow. Sunday & Monday colder air will move over the Dakotas and temperatures will gradually fall into a more seasonable range through the beginning of the work week. By Tuesday & Wednesday Highs will be near 20 and lows will be in the teens and near the single digits, again.

TONIGHT...Increasing clouds with temps falling to near freezing. Lows 28-36. South/West wind 2-12mph. Chills in the teens & 20s.
FRIDAY...Mostly cloudy skies with an early chance for scattered rain/wintry mix, followed by clearing skies and continued mild temps. Wind speeds will increase as skies clear out. Highs 40-50. West wind 15-25mph G35. 30% chance for rain/mix.
FRIDAY NIGHT...Fair to partly cloudy skies with increasing clouds, late. Lows 24-31. West wind 5-15mph. Chills in the teens.
SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy skies with continued increasing cover and a chance for scattered rain/mix becoming snow as temps fall to near freezing through the evening hours. Highs 37-43. 30% chance for mix/snow.
SATURDAY NIGHT...Cloudy skies with a chance for scattered flurries tapering off. Lows in the 20s. Light to moderate West/NW wind. Chills in the teens.