Dakota Storm Center: Friday's Weather Blog

9:00pm

Overview

There is a low pressure system over the Great Lakes region with a cold front stretched back through the Northern Plains and into the Central Plains where a second low continues to develop. A third low is over the NE U.S. moving over the Atlantic Ocean. Elsewhere a broad ridge of high pressure is over the Southern Plains, the Mississippi River Valley and most of the East Coast.

Discussion

Across the area today we saw partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered light showers as a weak cold front moved through the state. Skies have been clearing out this evening with smoke/haze still over the area. Temps climbed through the 60s and into the 70s for most. Today, a few of our highs were well into the 80s and the warm spot was over Southeast North Dakota. Fargo got up to 86.

A cold front is continuing to move to the SE and out of the Dakotas. In the wake of this system, cloud cover is moving out of our area. As a ridge of high pressure builds, subsidence is occurring. Subsidence is an action that happens naturally when a ridge of high pressure builds in the wake of a front. The reason this process is important to us now has to do with smoke. 800 miles to our NNW, a large area of wild fires near Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada continues to burn. There is a good chance that smoke will linger over the area for some. This weekend, we will continue to see plenty of sunshine as a ridge of high pressure slowly moves through the Dakotas. Our next chance for rain will be after we start the new work week.

Headlines include a few showers ending this evening, followed by clearing skies with some lingering haze in the sky. The next couple of days will bring cooler temps. Though not as warm as we have been seeing, highs will still be above normal for this time of the year.

Through the rest of tonight & Saturday

We will see continued clearing skies with haze lingering over the area tonight and into the weekend. Parts of our area will continue to see smoke and winds will be light and out of the North. Temperatures will fall through the 50s and into the 40s with a cool feel as winds begin to calm down, tonight. Tomorrow will start off cool with plenty of sunshine and a few clouds. It will feel pleasant with rain chances staying low through the weekend.

7day planner

The next couple of days will bring more sunshine and cooler temperatures. Pleasant conditions will continue through the weekend. Next week, we will see a more significant chance for rain with a second cold front Tuesday & Wednesday and temps near the seasonable average.

Tonight, expect partly to mostly cloudy skies with low rain chances early, followed by clearing. Lows 39-46 with a North wind 2-10mph.

Saturday, we will see plenty of sunshine with a few in & out light clouds possible and a pleasant feel. Temperatures will be much cooler but still above average for this time of the year. Highs 69-77 with a North wind 2-12mph.

Saturday night, expect mostly clear skies with a few clouds and a pleasantly cool feel. Lows will be on either side of 40 with a light wind out of the NE/SE.

Sunday will bring with it mostly sunny skies with a few clouds and a pleasant feel for Mother's Day. Highs in the 70s with a light wind out of the SE 2-12mph.

Sunday night, expect gradually increasing clouds with a mild feel. Lows 44-51 with a SE wind 2-12mph.

Saturday night, expect mostly clear skies with a few clouds and a pleasantly cool feel. Lows will be in the 40s with a light wind out of the SE.