Dakota Storm Center: Thursday's Weather Blog

9:00pm

A Frost Advisory is in effect for the Northern half of North Dakota until Friday at 9am cdt.

Counties include: McKenzie, McLean, Williams, Ward, Sheridan, Wells, Eddy, Foster, Mountrail, Divide, Burke, Renville, Bottineau, McHenry, Rolette, Pierce, Towner, Benson, Ramsey, Cavalier, Nelson, Walsh, Pembina.

A Frost Advisory means that widespread frost is expected and sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered or exposed to the elements. Also, make sure outdoor pets are taken care of.

Overview

A low pressure system is over the Great Lakes region and continuing to move East. This system has a cold front stretched south, through the Ohio River valley and along the Mississippi river valley, into the Southern Plains. This system will continue to move East with a slight risk for severe weather for some affected areas. In the wake of this front, a broad ridge of high pressure will continue to build. Over the Northern Plains, a weak low and cold front will continue to develop before moving SW.

Discussion

Across the area today we saw a mixture of sunshine & cloud cover in advance of our next system. It felt cool with temps in the 50s for most of us and a few 60s on the map. The temperature sensor in Dickinson stopped reporting this morning at 41 degrees. Temps got up to near 60 but I did not see the high. The warm spot on the map was Buffalo at 68. The cool spot was Devils lake at 47 as a High.

There is a weak low pressure system moving away from Northeast North Dakota and a developing front Southwest that will move through Southwest North Dakota, tonight. Closer to home we have seen increasing clouds and scattered light showers across the area. This weak front will move East- Southeast, through the Dakotas. We will continue to see scattered light rain/mix showers tonight and into the morning hours, tomorrow. Friday will bring clearing skies revealing plenty of sunshine and a ridge of high pressure will anchor its self over the region through the weekend.

Headlines include a weak cold front that will move through our area tonight. This will bring rain/mix chances to most of Southwest & South-central ND The northern half of our area will be under a Frost Advisory. It will feel cool on Friday, followed by clearing skies and some warming this weekend.

Through the rest of tonight & Friday

Tonight, a weak cold front will move through parts of Southwestern ND with more clouds and scattered rain/mix showers expected. Temperatures will fall to near freezing for most of the area. After a chilly start to wrap up the work week, expect clearing skies resulting in plenty of sunshine. There will be a cool feel as highs will only reach either side of 50 with a moderate to strong wind out of the NW.

7day planner

A weak front will move through our area tonight. The southern half of our viewing area will see more clouds and a chance for rain & wintry mix as temps fall well into the 30s. Northwest ND is under a Frost Advisory until 9am cdt with temperatures near freezing, partly to mostly cloudy skies and a chance for scattered light rain/mix showers. In the wake of a passing front, tomorrow will bring clearing skies with unseasonably cool temperatures. Sunshine & a warming trend will be the theme of our forecast, this weekend. The beginning of the work week will bring continued warming temps before another chance for rain during the mid-week.

Tonight, expect mostly cloudy skies with a chance for showers and a wintry mix possible. Lows in the 30s with a North/NW wind 5-15mph G25. 60% chance for rain.

Friday, we will see clearing skies with AM frost (North) and a cool feel through the day. Highs in the 50s with a NW wind 15-25mph G35.

Friday night, fair to partly cloudy skies with a chilly feel and breezy. Lows near freezing with a North wind 2-12mph.

Saturday, expect plenty of sunshine with AM Frost & breezy conditions. Highs 55-62 with a NW wind 10-20mph.

Saturday night, we will see partly to mostly cloudy skies with in & out cover and patchy frost expected. Lows in the 30s with a NW wind 5-15mph.