Dakota Storm Center: Thursday's Weather Blog

9:00pm

Overview
A broad ridge of high pressure is expanded over the NE U.S. the Ohio River valley, Great Lakes region and most of the Midwest. A low pressure system continues to develop along the Gulf Coast. A separate pair of lows is over the Northern Plains.

Discussion
Across the state we saw partly to mostly cloudy skies with some clearing and scattered light rain, today. More activity is expected on radar tonight. Temperatures were well above average again and mainly ranged through the 60s. Warming was restricted some, due to heavy clouds and scattered light rain. The warm spot on the map was Mobridge at 80 and most of the state saw highs on either side of 70.

Across our region, a pair of low pressure systems connected by a front is stretched through the Dakotas. A low pressure system to our Southwest will move through the Northern Plains tonight, bringing a chance for showers & thunderstorms. Off/on rain will move through our area with a low risk for severe weather. We need the rain. Tomorrow will bring some clearing for most of Western ND. The northern fringe of our area (Williston/Minot) will continue to see some off/on rain as a weak front fizzles out. Meanwhile a second front will stall out over Eastern & parts of Central ND through the weekend. It will not be until late on Sunday that we start to see tapering rain chances for areas affected by this stalled out front. During this time, Western ND will see lower rain chances with some clearing at times.

Through the weekend, this system will put down some snow/mix showers. However, temperatures will be too warm for any significant accumulation. As far as rain goes, 2"+ is possible for parts of the state (East) through the next 3 days.

Model Guidance (12km_RPM) 3 Day Rainfall Totals

Headlines include a low pressure system that will move through the Dakotas tonight. Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms across the area this evening through Friday morning. The next couple of days will bring slightly cooler temperatures. Our weekend outlook shows continued rain chances into Sunday, for some.

Through the rest of tonight & Friday
Overnight, a low pressure system to our SW will move East & NE affecting the Dakotas. Expect rising chances for showers & thunderstorms. It will feel mild as temps are not expected to fall very far with a moderate to strong wind swinging around to the SE.
Tomorrow early rain chances will taper off, followed by in& out clouds. Through the day, some of us will see sunshine and temps will climb into the 60s for parts of our area. Otherwise, a broad range of temps is expected across the state. Hit & miss rain will remain in the forecast.

7day planner

A system will bring scattered showers & thunderstorms through the area tonight, with a marginal (low) risk for severe weather. Through the end of the work week, temps will be slightly above average followed by some cooling this weekend. Scattered rain and clouds will remain in the forecast with this event wrapping up on Sunday. The beginning of the work week will bring clearing skies, warming temps and rain chances falling out of the forecast. By the end of the 7day planner we will be back into the 70s.

Tonight, we will see increasing clouds and rising rain chances early. Scattered rain & thunderstorms will be off/on with a mild feel. Lows 40-55 with an E/SE wind 10-20mph and gusty. 60% chance for rain.

Friday will bring mostly cloudy skies with a good chance for continued shower & thunderstorm activity, early. There will be some clearing and temps slightly above average. Highs will range from the 40s, through the 50s and into 60s with a SE/N wind 10-20mph.

Friday night, we will see cloudy skies with a good chance for scattered rain and a few thunderstorms. Lows will be in the 30s with a North wind 10-20mph and breezy at times.

Saturday, we will see mostly cloudy skies with hit & miss scattered rain continuing in Central & Eastern ND. The western side of our state will start to see some clearing. Highs will be on either side of 50 with a North wind 10-20mph.

Saturday night, we will see hit & miss scattered rain in Eastern and parts of Central ND. with rain chances tapering off. Lows 30-37 with a North wind 5-15mph.