Dakota Storm Center: Wednesday's Weather Blog

9:00pm

Overview
There is a low pressure system over the Midwest with a cold front stretched south, just west of the Mississippi River valley. A warm front is stretched East & SE through the Ohio River valley and into the SE U.S. Over the lower- Mississippi River valley there will be a risk for flash flooding. A weak cold front is moving into the Northern Plains and will be followed by a ridge of high pressure.

Discussion

Across the area today we saw plenty of sunshine with a few in & out clouds and a pleasant feel. Temperatures climbed through the 60s& into the 70s for some and it was very nice. The warm area on the map was over Northwest North Dakota and Minot reached 74. The almanac shows that in Bismarck/Mandan, there was a high of 71 and a low of 33 and the high was well above average (avg 60/32) for this time of the year. In Dickinson there was a high of 67 with low of 30 and temps were also slightly above average.

There is a low pressure system to our Southeast that will continue to move out of the Plains and away from our area. Elsewhere, a weak front (to our North & NW) will move through the Dakotas tonight, bringing in & out clouds and low rain chances. The passing of this cold front will trigger our next stretch of a relatively calm weather pattern. In the wake of this system, a ridge of high pressure will build over our area. Thursday & Friday we will see plenty of sunshine with temps climbing from the 60s, into the 70s.

Headlines, this evening, include a weak front that will move through the Dakotas tonight. We will see in & out clouds with low rain chances as this quick moving system rolls through the Dakotas. The rest of the work week will bring more sunshine with gradually warming temperatures, after tonight.

Through the rest of tonight & Thursday
We will see low rain chances with in & out clouds and temps falling into a cool range. Winds will be light to moderate and variable (swinging around to the West & NW) in the wake of a passing front. By tomorrow, expect clearing skies revealing plenty of sunshine. Temperatures will be slightly cooler than what we saw today.

7day planner
We will see some clouds move through the area tonight with a weak cold front, followed by plenty of sunshine during the latter half of our work week. After tonight, we will see temperatures warming through the 60s and into the 70s as we go into the weekend. Our next chance for rain will begin Sunday and go through the beginning of the work week as a new system rolls through the Northern Plains. A second chance for precip is at the end of the 7day planner.

Tonight, we will see in & out clouds with a low chance for rain and winds becoming a little breezy at times. Lows will be on either side of 40 with a NW wind 2-10mph.

Thursday, expect plenty of sunshine with some light clouds and another round of seasonable temps. Highs 60-67 with a North/NE wind 5-15mph.

Thursday night, expect fair to partly cloudy skies and a cool feel. Lows 33-41 with an East/SE wind 2-12mph.

Friday, pleasant temperatures will be the theme with plenty of sunshine and a few clouds. Highs will be slightly warmer and on either side of 70 with a SE wind 10-20mph.

Friday night, fair to partly cloudy skies and mild. Lows 39-47 with a SE/East wind 5-15mph.