Dakota Storm Center: Friday's Weather Blog

9:00pm

A Freeze Warning is in effect for the entire state of North Dakota until Saturday at 9am cdt.

A Freeze Warning means sub-freezing temperatures are expected and highly likely. These conditions may kill crops and other sensitive plants/vegetation. Conditions will also be hazardous to some outdoor pets.

Overview

There is a low pressure system over the Midwest along a cold front that is stretched into the Southern Plains. Some areas affected by this system will be facing a risk for severe weather. A ridge of high pressure is building in the wake of a cold front, over the Northern Plains.

Discussion

Across the area today we saw mostly cloudy skies with a few light flurries/mix before skies cleared out. Even more sunshine is in the forecast, through this weekend. Today, Highs were in the 40s & 50s across the state. The warm area on the map was Northwest North Dakota where temperatures climbed into the lower to mid 50s after skies cleared out.

Over the Northern Plains we started off with a lot of cloud cover. As a Canadian ridge of high pressure continued to build south, skies began to clear out. By sunset, we were seeing plenty of sunshine with temps still mainly in the 40s. Today was a chilly Friday the 13th, across the region. A ridge of high pressure will continue to build over the area. Temperatures tonight will fall into a chilly range and will be below the freezing mark for an extended period of time. This means that there will be freezing risk to crops, sensitive vegetation, and some outdoor pets. Our next chance for rain will be Saturday night as a clipper moves through the Eastern half of our state. Parts of Central ND may see scattered rain/mix showers. A ridge of high pressure will anchor its self over the region through the weekend. With the exception of Saturday's weak system, there will be little to no influence on our forecast from another system. So, the high pressure will remain in place through the beginning of the work week. High temperatures will gradually climb through the 60s and into the 70s, late in the 7day planner.

Headlines include a ridge of high pressure that will continue to move over our area. Skies will remain fair to partly cloudy with in & out clouds during the next couple of days. Rain chances will stay low with a few rain/snow showers possible Saturday & into Sat night. Temperatures will begin to warm up this weekend with more sunshine.

Through the rest of tonight & Saturday

Tonight we will continue to see clearing skies, resulting in fair to partly cloudy conditions and temps falling into a chilly range. Lows will be on either side of 30 with a light to moderate wind out of the NW. Saturday will start off chilly. Plenty of sunshine will lead to temps warming to either side of 60 and becoming pleasant. A weak system will move through the state bringing a chance for some scattered precip.

7day planner

Tonight we will see clearing skies as a ridge of high pressure builds over the region, in the wake of last night's low. This weekend will bring more sunshine with in & out light clouds and temps warming into a seasonable range by Sunday. Saturday night will bring low precip chances for parts of our area and through the weekend, overnight lows will be around the freezing mark with frost possible through Sunday morning. Otherwise, temps will warm into the upper 60s through the beginning of the work week and into the 70s for highs, next week. Our next chance for significant precip will be late, next week.

Tonight will be fair to partly cloudy with clearing skies, a chilly feel and winds becoming breezy. Lows near and below freezing with a North wind calming to 2-12mph.

Saturday, expect plenty of sunshine with AM Frost & breezy conditions resuming. Highs 55-63 with a NW wind 10-20mph and chills in the 20s.

Saturday night, we will see partly to mostly cloudy skies with in & out cover and patchy AM frost expected. Lows in the 30s with a NW wind 2-12mph and chills on either side of 30.

Sunday will bring with it a chilly start and plenty of sunshine. Expect in & out clouds as temps climb into a seasonable range. Highs 63-69 with a West/NW wind 2-12mph.

Sunday night, we will see fair to partly cloudy skies with a cool feel. Lows on either side of 40 with a light wind out of the West/NW and chills in the 30s.