Dakota Storm Center: Thursday's Weather Blog

Overview

There is a low pressure system over the NE US that will continue to gradually move over the Atlantic Ocean. A secondary low is over SE Texas with a front connecting the two. The lower Mississippi River valley will continue to see more rain with a risk for flash flooding. A broad ridge of high pressure is anchored over the SW US and into the Central & Southern Plains. A low pressure system will begin to develop on the lee side of the Rockies tomorrow.

Discussion

Across the area today we saw plenty of sunshine with some in& out cloud cover and temperatures that ranged through the mid to upper 60s. The cool area on the map was Eastern North Dakota with highs ranging from the 30s through the 50s. Minot got up to 67, breaking a record high of 64 set back in 2012.

Headlines for this evening include plenty of sunshine with in & out clouds through the next couple of days. Tonight, it will feel cool followed by continued warming temperatures and highs settling on either side of 70 Friday and Saturday. This rain free forecast coupled with dry conditions and warmer temps will lead to increased fire danger for much of Western ND and parts of Central ND.

A broad ridge of high pressure will continue to build over the Central Plains and expand into the Northern Plains. As a low continues to develop over Montana, we will remain under the influence of this High. This low pressure system that will develop during the next couple of days will move through the Dakotas, Saturday night through Sunday night. There will be a chance for some scattered shower activity with this system. Our next chance for significant precip will be Tuesday & Wednesday as a system moves through the Northern Plains.

Through the rest of tonight & Friday

Temperatures will start off in the 40s & 50s before falling into the 30s as lows. Overnight lows will be close to average highs for this time of the year (37/17). It will be cool tonight and as we start the day. We can also expect some in & out clouds with no rain or any precip expected. Winds will remain light to moderate and out of the South.

Tomorrow we will see mostly sunny skies with some cloud cover working its way through Western ND. Temperatures will climb into a pleasantly warm range with a light to moderate wind swinging around to the North, after Noon.

7day planner

Expect fair to partly cloudy skies overnight with plenty of sunshine through the next few days. Friday & Saturday, temperatures will climb into the upper 60s with lower to mid 70s possible. Near record breaking temperatures are likely as we wrap up the work week and start off our weekend with sunshine and dry conditions. Sunday & Monday we will see gradually increasing clouds with a front moving through the Northern Plains as we go into the middle of next week. This will be our next significant chance for rain.

Tonight, we will see fair to partly cloudy skies with in & out clouds. It will feel cool with lows in the 30s and a south wind 2-12mph.

Friday, expect mostly sunny skies with a few clouds and a pleasantly warm feel. Highs 67-75 with a light to moderate wind, swinging around to the North.

Friday night, 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 plenty of sunshine with in & out clouds and another round of warmer temperatures. Highs 66-75 with a light to moderate wind out of the East.

Saturday night, more cloud cover will begin to 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.