Dakota Storm Center: Friday's Weather Blog

9:00pm

Overview
There is a stationary front stretched across the Northern Plains. A low pressure system is developing on the lee side of the Rockies, over the Montana/Wyoming border. Elsewhere, a second low pressure system (over the Lower Mississippi River valley) will continue to bring a lot of rain to the SE US.

Discussion

Across the Dakotas today, we saw a lot of cloud cover with clearing skies late, revealing plenty of sunshine. Temperatures were well above average (avg 18/38) and climbed into the mid to upper 60s & lower 70s for daytime highs. Bismarck & Jamestown both broke record highs, while Minot tied the record high and Mobridge came close.

This warm air mass will remain anchored over our area tonight and through most of the weekend. We will continue to see plenty of sunshine with in & out clouds and dry conditions. A low pressure system (that continues to develop on the lee side of the Rockies) will move across the region, tomorrow & Sunday. By Saturday night, we will see more cloud cover. Sunday this weak system will bring a chance for scattered showers to our area, providing a little relief from dry conditions to affected areas. Hit and miss, light rain will mainly affect Eastern ND. Nevertheless, there will be a chance for rain into Sunday night. A second system will move through the Northern Plains Monday & Tuesday, bringing another chance for rain.

Tonight, it will feel cool with pleasantly warm temps continuing through the next couple of days. By Tomorrow temps will climb through the 60s and to either side of 70, again. This rain free forecast coupled with dry conditions and warmer temps means a continued increased fire danger for much of Western ND and parts of Central ND.

Through the rest of tonight & Saturday

Overnight, we will see fair to partly cloudy skies with some cloud cover and a cool feel. Temperatures will fall into the 30s for lows with a light wind, swinging around to the East.

Tomorrow will bring clearing skies early, followed by plenty of sunshine and another round of unseasonably warm temperatures. Winds will be moderate, swinging around to the SE and becoming gusty at times.

7day planner

A mild feel will continue tonight with in & out clouds, resulting in partly to mostly cloudy skies at times. Saturday will bring another round of warm temps, topping out on either side of 70 with a continued sun/cloud mix. Sunday & Sunday night we will see a chance for scattered rain, but not everyone will get wet. A second front will move through the Dakotas during the beginning of our work week. This system will bring temperatures down, through the 50s and back into the 40s through the latter half of the week.

Tonight, we will see partly cloudy skies with in & out cover. Lows 33-41 with a light wind swinging around to the East.

Saturday will bring mostly sunny skies with hit & miss clouds and another round of pleasantly warm temperatures. Highs 66-75 with a East/SE wind 10-20mph, becoming gusty at times.

Saturday night, more cloud cover will begin to gradually roll into the Dakotas with low rain chances and a mild feel. Lows will be on either side of 40 with a SE, becoming NW wind 2-10mph.

Sunday, expect partly to mostly cloudy skies with in & out clouds and a slight chance for rain across Eastern, ND. Winds SE 5-15mph, beginning to pick up and become gusty at times. Daytime highs will climb into the mid to upper 60s and lower 70s.

Sunday night, we will see partly cloudy skies with some clearing and a few light showers (East). Temps will fall back into the 30s with a light wind 2-10mph out of the NW.