Dakota Storm Center: Wednesday's Weather Blog

11:00pm

Overview

There is a low pressure system over the NE U.S. that will continue to move NE. A stationary front is stretched from this low, through the Ohio River valley and into the Central & Northern Plains. A second low is moving inland over the west coast. A broad ridge of high pressure is over the southern half of the nation.

Discussion

There is an area of extreme & critical risk of fire weather across parts of the southern & central plains. Closer to home, a stationary front extends through the Dakotas with warmer air along the western edge of our area and further west. During the next couple of days, expect mostly cloudy skies to continue with areas of fog overnight and temperatures warming into a mild range as warmer air moves over the Dakotas, through Saturday. Fog tonight will continue to develop along the Missouri River and spread across much of Western, ND. Where dense fog is present, freezing fog and a light freezing drizzle is possible. Otherwise, temperatures will not move far and fall to either side of 30. Cloud cover will not thin out much, but there will be some clearing through the day tomorrow as temperatures climb into the 40s and 50s for some.

A clipper system will move through the Northern Plains Thursday night & Friday. This system will bring high winds in its wake with continued mild temperatures. The potential for a wind event this weekend is there. However, there is some uncertainty. Nevertheless, Thursday night through Friday night winds will be strong and gusty at times. No watches or warnings are in effect for Western, ND as of yet. That may change tomorrow. Otherwise, there will be a chance for rain/mix Tomorrow night through Friday morning, followed by clearing skies and more sunshine.

Through the rest of tonight & Thursday

Expect cloudy skies with patchy dense fog and widespread developing fog/haze. Where fog is dense, freezing drizzle/fog is possible. Winds will be light to moderate and out of the SE making it feel around 10 degrees cooler than the actual temp and a few light showers may develop as well. Tomorrow, we will kick the day off with early fog that will break down through the morning & midday hours followed by some clearing and rising rain chances late. Temps will be well above average and climb through the 40s. Winds will be light to moderate and swinging around to the West before picking up speed.

7day planner

Expect mild air through the rest of the work week. A weak clipper will move through the Dakotas Thursday night & Friday bringing a chance for showers with a few thunderstorms possible and a wintry mix where temps fall into a cool enough range. Friday we will see early precip chances taper off, followed by some clearing as winds become strong. There will be another chance for mix/snow this weekend. The beginning of the work week will bring more sunshine with temps still unseasonably warm.

Tonight, we will see mostly cloudy skies with developing fog and chills in the 20s & teens. Lows 25-33 SE wind becoming breezy 5-15mph.

Thursday, mostly cloudy skies with some clearing at times and a mild feel. Rain chances will begin to rise, late. Highs 42-49 with a SE wind 2-12mph.

Thursday night, expect increasing clouds with a chance for rain/mix as a system moves through the Dakotas . Lows 29-36 with a West wind 10-20mph becoming gusty.

Friday, we will see mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain/snow chances tapering off and winds picking up speed. Skies will begin to clear out with mild temps. Highs on either side of 50. West wind 15-25mph G40.

Friday night, fair to partly cloudy skies with winds beginning to calm. Lows 31-25 with 10-20mph winds, swinging around to the South.