Dakota Storm Center: Wednesday's Weather Blog

7:00pm

Overview

There is a quick moving low pressure system over the Great Lakes region. Elsewhere a ridge of high pressure is anchored over the Central & Northern Plains. A slow moving front that is stretched NE/SW along the East Coast will continue to fizzle out as it moves East, over the Atlantic Ocean.

Discussion

Temperatures climbed into an unseasonably warm range with highs well into the 40s across most of the state, today. Warm temps allowed for the snowpack to melt a bit. Temps tonight will fall into the 20s and a refreeze is expected. Watch for patchy ice tonight and tomorrow.

A broad ridge of high pressure will remain anchored over the plains through tonight & tomorrow. This ridging will continue to bring mild temps to the area with a mixture of sunshine & cloud cover. Late Thursday through early Friday another clipper will move through the Dakotas. This system will bring increasing clouds and scattered rain through our state. During

the later half of Friday morning, we will see clearing skies and increasing wind speeds. This active weather pattern will continue into the weekend before temps start to cool down.

Through the rest of tonight & Thursday

Expect fair to partly cloudy skies with above average temperatures cooling through the 30s and into the mid- upper 20s. Parts of Western, ND could see a few 30s for lows. Winds will remain moderate and out of the Nw. Thursday will bring mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with more clouds moving through the area during the day. Temperatures will bounce back into the upper 30s & lower to mid 40s with a light to moderate wind swinging around to the south.

7day planner

Through the end of the work week, expect mild temperatures with an active weather pattern. By this weekend, a weak cold front will move through the Dakotas with a chance for scattered snow. Temperatures will then fall through the 30s. Through the beginning of the work week, temperatures will return to a more seasonable range with a sun/cloud mix.

TONIGHT...Fair to partly cloudy skies with winds beginning to calm down. Lows 23-31. NW/West wind 5-15mph. Chills in the teens.

THURSDAY...Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies and mild. Highs 34-45. West/South wind 2-12mph.

THURSDAY NIGHT...Increasing clouds with temps falling to near freezing. Lows 28-34. SW/West wind 5-15mph. Chills in the teens & 20s.

FRIDAY...Mostly cloudy skies with a chance for scattered rain/wintry mix, followed by clearing skies and continued mild temps. Highs 38-46. West wind 15-25mph G32.

FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy skies with in & out cover. Lows 24-30. Light to moderate wind out of the West.