Dakota Storm Center: Tuesday's Weather Blog

9:00pm

Overview

There is a broad ridge of high pressure over most of the Eastern half of our nation. A cold front is over the Atlantic Ocean just off of the East coast. This same front stretches West, over the Northern Gulf of Mexico. A weak low will continue to develop along this front, over South Texas with a risk for severe weather today and flash flooding possible in affected areas Wednesday.

Discussion

Across Western ND today, we started off with some cloud cover as a weak warm front moved through the area. This system brought rain to parts of North Dakota. Not everyone got wet and this activity was mainly in the northern half of the state. Temperatures did not climb as high as I thought they would, this time yesterday. This morning's warm front moved a little slower than expected. This afternoon we saw clearing skies followed by temperatures that warmed well into the 60s & 70s. The warm area on the map was Hettinger & Buffalo at 76.

Across the Northern Plains, a weak warm front moved East and through our area today. This front will transition to a weak cold front and move West, tonight. Temperatures will not be as cool as what we saw last night and fall into the 30s. However, it will feel a little chilly and we could see a few in & out clouds. Tomorrow this same front will make one more pass across the state as a low re-organizes to our south. The weak low pressure over Wyoming will move through the Dakotas Wednesday night & early Thursday with a chance for scattered rain and a few thunderstorms possible. In the wake of this developing system, there will be some clearing on Thursday before a stronger low moves through the Northern Plains, Thursday night & Friday. This second system will bring a higher chance for showers and thunderstorms, through the area. During this time (Wednesday & Thursday) we will see the sun shining with in & out clouds through the day. This means that temperatures will continue to climb into an unseasonably warm range. I would not be surprised to see a couple temps climb into the upper 70s and the lower 80s. Not everyone will be near the record breaking high temperature range, but it is possible for a few.

Headlines include plenty of sunshine continuing with in& out clouds during the next couple of days. With abundant sunshine and light to moderate winds, temperatures will climb well above the seasonable norm. Our next system will begin to affect the area Wednesday night and a few thunderstorms are possible Thursday night and Friday.

Through the rest of tonight & Wednesday

Expect mostly clear skies with a few clouds and temps falling through the 30s. Winds will become light and variable across much of the area and it will feel like it is in the 20s. A low pressure system will begin to develop over Montana and we will see a chance for rain Wednesday night, into Thursday. Meanwhile across the area tomorrow, we will start off with plenty of sunshine and a few clouds. Winds will pick back up, becoming moderate and a little gusty at times and temps will climb through the 60s and into the 70s for much of the area, especially SW ND. Toward the latter half of the day, we will begin to see more clouds followed by scattered rain chances.

7day planner

Expect a warming trend through the next couple of days with temperatures climbing well into the 70s Wednesday & Thursday. Our next chance for rain will come Wednesday night followed by a few waves of shower/thunderstorm activity through the latter half of the work week, going into the weekend. A cold front will clear out most of the moisture followed by temperatures dipping below average this weekend. The beginning of the work week will bring another round of gradually warming temps and low rain chances.

Tonight, expect clearing skies early resulting in a mostly clear night with a cool feel. Lows 28-39 with a NE wind 2-12mph and calming.

Wednesday will start off with plenty of sunshine and continued warming. More clouds will move into the area late, followed by rising rain chances. Highs 68-78 with a SE wind 10-20mph becoming a little gusty at times. 20% chance for PM rain.

Wednesday night, expect continued increasing clouds early with scattered rain and winds becoming gusty. Lows will be in the 40s with a SE/East wind 2-12mph. 50% chance for rain.

Thursday, early rain chances will taper off followed by some clearing. A second warm front will approach the area with increasing clouds, late. Expect in & out clouds through the day with continued warming temps. Highs will be in the 70s with an East becoming SE wind 5-15mph. 20% chance for PM rain.

Thursday night, we will see increasing clouds and rising rain chances early. Scattered rain will continue through the overnight hours with winds beginning to pick back up and temps not falling much as a warm front moves through the area. Lows will be in the 50s with a SE wind 5-15mph and gusty. 60% chance for rain.