Dakota Storm Center: Friday's Weather Blog

9:00pm

A Wind Advisory will be in effect from 9am to 9pm Saturday for the Southwest corner of our area. Counties include:

Stark, Hettinger, Adams, Bowman, Slope, Billings & Golden Valley.

Through the day, Southeast winds will become strong with gusts as high as 50mph, outside of thunderstorms. As thunderstorm activity develops, winds may become even stronger. Most of our area will see significant winds. Those in & even outside of this area should be aware & use caution while driving or working on elevated structures.

Overview

There is a low pressure system over the Southeast U.S. & Ohio River valley. This low will continue to move east with a good chance for showers & thunderstorms and a risk for flash flooding. A broad ridge of high pressure is over the Midwest & Great Lakes region, stretched into the plains. A secondary low is developing on the lee side of the Rockies, over the Northern Plains.

Discussion

Across the area today we saw plenty of sunshine with in& out light clouds and a few showers. Temperatures climbed through the 70s and into the 80s, topping out above average for this time of the year. The warm area on the map was Northwest, North Dakota. Sidney, Minot & Williston got up to 81 degrees. This pleasantly warm feel will be interrupted by rain chances, late tomorrow and through the weekend.

A ridge of high pressure that has been anchored over our area this past week will drift to the East, giving way to a developing low that is to our west. This approaching low pressure system will interact with the departing high and cause winds to become strong and gusty, through the next couple of days. The approaching low pressure system will continue to move through Wyoming & Montana and into the Dakotas. We will see rising rain chances Saturday, through the evening hours and as we go into the night. Thunderstorm activity will primarily be contained to the Western edge of our viewing area and may become severe, late Saturday.

Through the day Sunday, this system will continue to move through the Dakotas. By Sunday afternoon and through the evening, rain will develop into thunderstorms again and move through Western & Central ND. The second round of thundersorm activity will be stronger due to daytime heating. There will be another chance for severe weather, Sunday afternoon & Sunday night before this system moves out of our area.

Hour by Hour, expect mostly clear skies with gradually increasing clouds for some and temps falling into a mild range tonight. Winds will become light as they swing around to the Southeast. More sunshine and warmer temperatures are expected during the next couple of days.

Through the rest of tonight & Saturday

Tonight we will see fair to partly cloudy skies with low rain chances for most. The SW corner of our area could see some showers. Otherwise, it will feel mild with winds remaining gusty. Tomorrow will bring increasing clouds, rising rain chances and developing thunderstorms during the afternoon & evening. Some of the thunderstorm activity may become severe for the western half of our area. Highs will be on either side of 80 with winds becoming strong and gusty.

7day planner

A low will move East and through the Northern Plains Saturday night through Monday morning. Until then, we will continue to see plenty of sunshine with more clouds, warmer temperatures and winds becoming moderate to strong and gusty. Our weekend system and cold front will bring showers, thunderstorms and a risk for severe weather. In the wake of this system temps will fall back into the 70s with more sunshine. The latter half of the 7day planner will bring high temps in the 70s. Daily chances for showers& thunderstorms will be back in the forecast.

Tonight will be mild with partly cloudy skies and in & out cover. Lows in the 50s with a moderate & gusty wind out of the SE 5-15mph G20.

Saturday, will be warm with more clouds with low rain chances through most of the day. Highs on either side of 80 with a SE/South wind 20-30mph.

Saturday night, partly to mostly cloudy skies with rising rain chances, early. Showers & thunderstorms will move into the area (West) with a low risk for severe weather and It will be muggy for some. Lows on either side of 60 with a South wind 15-25mph G35.

Sunday, expect partly to mostly cloudy skies with a chance for rain developing into thunderstorms for parts of our area. Highs on either side of 80 with a South wind 10-20mph. 60% chance for rain.

Sunday night showers and thunderstorms will become likely and possibly wide spread. There will be a low threat for severe weather and winds will be breezy. Lows on either side of 50 with a SW wind 5-15mph.