Dakota Storm Center: Thursday's Weather Blog

Overview

There is a low pressure system moving out of the NE US with a cold front stretched South, over the Atlantic Ocean. This low is leaving a lot of scattered snow in its wake. Elsewhere, a broad ridge of high pressure expands across most of the Gulf Coast states and in the SW US. Closer to home we are seeing partly to mostly cloudy skies with a warm front West of the Dakotas.

Discussion

Through the day we have seen in & out clouds revealing plenty of sunshine across Western ND. Abundant sunshine has lead to another round of unseasonably warm temperatures with winds becoming light & variable. Temperatures today climbed through the 30s and topped out well into the 40s for much of Western ND. the only exceptions were Minot & Garrison.

If you were pleased with today's above average temperatures, the next couple of days will be right up your alley. On the other hand, if you are unsatisfied with the lack of an apparent winter, Friday and Saturday will only increase that feeling. Nevertheless, a warm front to our west will move through the Dakotas tonight. After Midnight, we will see clearing skies from West to East across most of the region. Through the day Friday, there will be some in & out clouds but nothing will stick around for too long. A much warmer air mass will move over our area. WAA (Warm Air Advection) coupled with daytime heating will lead to temperatures climbing into an unseasonably warm range and well into the 50s. Saturday will bring a few more clouds and even warmer temps ranging from the mid to upper 50s through the lower to mid 60s.

In house model guidance (4kmRPM) Saturday PM before daytime highs

This run of increasingly mild temperatures will be interrupted by a weekend clipper that will bring a chance for snow Saturday night followed by cooler temps and gradual clearing to wrap up the weekend.

Through the rest of tonight & Friday

Expect clearing skies, temps falling through the 20s and winds becoming light & variable. It will be cool with temps above the seasonable norm, feeling like it is in the teens.

Through the day tomorrow we will see continued clearing early, followed by plenty of sunshine with in & out light cloud cover. Temperatures will climb through the 40s & into the 50s. Winds will become light to moderate and swing around to the West.

7day planner

A warm front will move through the Dakotas tonight and bring a very mild air mass across the region. Temperatures will climb well into the 50s & 60s, Friday & Saturday. Temps will remain mild and well above average with very little activity on radar and plenty of sunshine. This weekend a clipper system will move through the Northern Plains Saturday night & Sunday. We will see a chance for rain/snow followed by temps falling back into the 30s for highs.

Tonight, expect fair to partly cloudy skies with in & out cover, followed by clearing. Temps will be in the 20s with a few teens and light winds, swinging around to the West 2-12mph.

Friday, we will see plenty of sunshine with a few clouds and a mild feel. Highs 48-59 with a west wind 5-15mph.

Friday night, expect fair to partly cloudy skies with temps remaining well above average and near freezing. Lows 28-35 with a light wind.

Saturday, we will see mostly sunny skies with a mild feel & increasing clouds, late. Highs 56-65 with a light to moderate wind out of the SW/West. Wind speeds will begin to pick up.

Saturday night, expect increasing clouds with a slight chance for AM rain/snow. Lows on either side of freezing with a West/NW wind 10-20mph as a clipper moves through the Dakotas.