Dakota Storm Center: Monday's Weather Blog

9:00pm

Overview

There is a low pressure system over the Northeast U.S. with a cold front stretched south over the Atlantic Ocean. A Broad ridge of high pressure is anchored over much of the Eastern half of our nation, to include the Mississippi River valley and the Midwest. A low pressure system is developing over the Central & Northern Plains, on the lee side of the Rockies.

Discussion

Today we started off with plenty of sunshine and a cool feel. Through the day we saw increasing clouds, resulting in partly to mostly cloudy skies this evening. Temps climbed above the seasonable norm and into the 60s for some. An active weather pattern will soon affect our entire area.

Across the Northern Plains, there is a developing low pressure system to our Southwest (over Wyoming) that will move across the Dakotas through Tuesday. A ridge of high pressure to our East will continue to move away from our area. Closer to home we are seeing mostly cloudy skies with scattered light showers to our West. Hit & miss light showers will continue through most of tonight. After Midnight this low pressure system will continue to move West to East, south of our area. This system will bring scattered rain across North Dakota,through Tuesday evening, overnight and into Wednesday morning. Showers will be scattered and not everyone will get wet. Most of the activity will be in the southern half of our viewing area. During the early morning hours Wednesday, we will see tapering rain chances followed by some short-lived clearing. We will see in & out clouds through the day on Wednesday. Expect sunshine mixed with cloud cover and a moderate to strong wind out of the North. This wind will be gusty at times. Wednesday night & Thursday, a second system will move through the Dakotas. This clipper will bring scattered rain/snow mix through our area. This mix & snow will not leave much of an accumulation at all. However, (for some) we may see road conditions become a little hazardous with only up to an inch for parts of the area affected by snow.

In house model (4km_RPM_24hr) Rain Forecast

In summary, headlines include a low pressure system to our south. We will see continued increasing clouds and some clearing during the next couple of days. Tomorrow will bring scattered rain for parts of our area. Wednesday night & Thursday, a second system will move through the Dakotas with a mixture of rain & snow.

Through the rest of tonight & Tuesday

Expect continued increasing clouds tonight with a chance for a few light showers. Temperatures will not fall much (into the 30s) with a light to moderate wind, out of the East. Through the day, we will start off with a few hit & miss showers, followed by continued scattered rain during the afternoon & evening hours. We will see mostly cloudy skies with some clearing and temps climbing through the 50s and even into the 60s, again. Winds tomorrow will be moderate to strong and gusty at times.

7day planner

Two systems will move through the Northern Plains (affecting the Dakotas) this week. Needless to say, we will see an active weather pattern through the next few days. Increasing clouds will continue tonight with some clearing through Tuesday morning. Rain chances will be on the rise with scattered showers expected, tomorrow. Wednesday will bring a lull in the rainfall with some clearing. A second system and front will move through the area Wednesday night & early Thursday with another chance for rain, becoming snow. Clearing skies and another warming trend will be expected as we wrap up the work week.

Tonight, we will see increasing clouds with a cool feel and a chance for a few scattered showers. Lows will be in the 30s with a East wind 5-15mph G25.

Tuesday, expect continued increasing clouds with hit & miss showers through the morning & into the afternoon. Temps will climb through the 50s and into an above average range. Scattered rain will increase (South) as a low moves West to East, across the Northern Plains. Highs 55-63 with an East/NE wind 10-20mph.

Tuesday night, scattered rain with some wintry mix will move through our area. Precip chances will taper off after Midnight with a cool feel. Lows will be in the 30s with gusty winds at times. NE, becoming North wind 15-25mph.

Wednesday, we will see some clearing with temps climbing to near 50. Through the afternoon & evening, expect another round of increasing clouds with scattered rain. Highs 45-55 with a moderate to strong wind at 15-25mph that will swing around to the North.

Wednesday night, expect continued increasing clouds followed by rising rain chances. Rain will become mix & snow as temps fall while this second system moves through the Dakotas. Lows on either side of 30 with a NW wind 10-20mph G30.