Dakota Storm Center: Wednesday's Weather Blog

9:00pm

Overview

There is a low pressure system over the Central Plains that will move through the Mississippi River valley and into the Midwest. There is a risk for severe weather with this system as it continues to develop while moving East & NE. A cold front is stretched South from this low, into the Southern Plains. A stationary front is stretched North to South along the lee side of the Rocky Mountains in the Northern Plains.

Discussion

Today we started off with mostly cloudy skies and a chilly feel, across Western North Dakota. Through the afternoon, skies have been clearing out and parts of our area have seen temps warm into a seasonable range. After some light precip during the early morning hours, dry conditions have continued across the area. High temps were in the 30s & 40s. Under plenty of sunshine, it felt a little warmer than it actually was, this afternoon.

Across the Northern Plains, there is not much activity. There are only a few light showers over Eastern Montana. Some of this activity may work its way into Western ND. In lieu of a departing low pressure system to our South & Southeast, a ridge of high pressure over Canada will expand into the region. Tomorrow will bring continued clearing and allow temperatures to warm well into the 50s. To our West, a stationary front will transition to a warm front as our next system begins to develop just north of Montana.

As our next system moves into the region, we will see increasing cover and rising rain chances Thursday Night through Friday. Late tomorrow, a low pressure system will redevelop on the lee side of the Rockies, along a stationary front. This stationary front will transition to a warm front and begin to move East. Thursday night, we will see hit & miss rain/mix. Some freezing rain is possible as this system moves into the Dakotas, Friday morning. Through Friday, night this low will move East & SE, across the Dakotas. The combination of CAA (Cold Air Advection) and lack of sunshine will lead to temps back near the seasonable norm. This chance for precip on Friday will bring rain & snow. By the end of this event, light accumulations will be possible across much of the state. Most of our area will see less than 1" of accumulation with 1"-2" possible for some.

In-house Model (4km_RPM) Friday will bring a chance for rain & snow.

In conclusion, we will see continued clearing skies as a broad ridge of high pressure extends over the Dakotas. Tomorrow, we will continue to see plenty of sunshine with temperatures climbing above average for this time of the year. By Thursday night and Friday, a low pressure system will roll through the Northern Plains bringing our next chance for significant precip.

Through the rest of tonight & Thursday

We could see a little wintry mix and snow affecting the parts of our area, tonight. It will feel chilly with a light & variable wind and chills in the teens. Clearing will continue with dry conditions and plenty of sunshine through the day, tomorrow. Daytime highs will be slightly above average and in a pleasant range. Friday will be our next significant chance for precip as a low pressure system moves through the area. We will see off/on rain, becoming snow by late Friday. Little to no accumulations are expected.

7day planner

Expect continued clearing skies, revealing plenty of sunshine through tomorrow. By Thursday night & Friday, our next system will move through the Northern Plains. This will bring breezy conditions, slightly cooler temps and our next chance for rain & snow. This quick moving system will clear our area Friday night. Through the weekend, expect more sunshine and a gradual warming trend that will last through Easter Sunday and into the beginning of the work week. By the middle of next week, we will see a second system and chance for precip.

Tonight, expect continued clearing and a chilly feel. A few light mix/snow showers may move into Western ND. Lows will be in the 20s with a light wind swinging around to the South and chills in the teens.

Thursday, expect plenty of sunshine with some in & out clouds and temperatures climbing into a mild range. Highs 54-62 with a light to moderate wind, swinging around to the SW and becoming a little gusty at times.

Thursday night, we will see increasing clouds, followed by rising chances for rain/snow showers in advance of our next system. Lows will be in the 30s with a light to moderate wind out of the South & West.

Friday will bring mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain/snow showers as our next system moves through the area. Temperatures will top out in the30s & 40s, before cooling with a moderate wind swinging around to the North.

Friday night, we will see tapering chances for rain & snow, followed by clearing skies. Lows will be in the lower 20s & teens with a light to moderate wind out of the North and chills in the teens & single digits.