Dakota Storm Center: Wednesday's Weather Blog

9:00pm

Overview

There is a low pressure system over the Great Lakes region that will continue to move East toward the NE U.S. This system is bringing a risk for severe weather to affected areas. A secondary low is over the Wyoming/Montana border and is connected to a stationary front that runs into Southern Manitoba. This front will move across the Dakotas tonight & tomorrow.

Discussion

Across the area today we have been seeing plenty of sunshine and warmer temperatures. We have seen any rain on radar and temps are above average for this time of the year. Today, temps topped out in the 70s & 80s. temps were slightly warmer than average for this time of the year and it felt fantastic, today. In Bismarck and Mandan there was a high of 82 and a low of 51. In Dickinson, a high of 78 and a low of 49. Temperatures were a little warmer than average for this time of the year and warm.

A low pressure system will continue to move Northeast and away from our area. In the wake of this latest round of significant rain, skies have been mostly sunny to partly cloudy across Western & Central North Dakota. The next couple of days will bring more sunshine and temperatures topping out in the 80s & on either side of 90. There will be daily chances for scattered showers & thunderstorms, starting tonight. A front to our Northwest is producing some rain that will developing to thunderstorm activity. Most of the strong cells will stay over Northeast Montana, but some of these storms may stray into Northwest, ND. There is a slight risk for severe weather for the NW corner of our area.

There is also a low risk for much of Western ND, to include Williston and as far south as Medora & Beach. Tonight's system over Northwest North Dakota will be along a slow moving front that will move West to East, across the state. Thursday, a few thunderstorms are possible and may become strong, along this same front. A few of these storms may reach the threshold to become severe.

Headlines we will continue to see plenty of sunshine with off/on showers & thunderstorms in the planner during the next couple of day. Temperatures will also be on the rise.

Through the rest of tonight & Thursday

Most of Central & Western ND can expect fair to partly cloudy skies with low rain chances and it feeling a little muggy. A cluster of thunderstorms may affect the Northwest corner of the state. Light to moderate winds will gradually swing around to the Southeast and pick up in speed tomorrow. Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies will be the theme, with in & out clouds and temps climbing to either side of 90. Afternoon showers & thunderstorms will develop with a low chance that some of these storms may become severe.

7day planner

Tonight, most of Western & Central ND will see fair to partly cloudy skies with low rain chances and a little bit of a muggy feel. Thursday will bring more sunshine with temps near 90 for some. Thursday night, Friday & Saturday expect an active weather pattern with in & out clouds and scattered rain & thunderstorms. We will wrap up the weekend with rain chances tapering off for Father's Day. The beginning of the work week will bring the official start of summer. Skies will clear out and temps will falling to either side of 80 through the beginning of the work week.

Tonight, skies will be mostly clear with a few clouds and higher dew point values, making it feel a little muggy. There will be a chance for thunderstorms that may become strong in parts of NW & Western ND. Lows on either side of 60 with an East/SE wind 5-15mph. Winds will pick up, becoming gusty for some. 20% chance for rain.

Thursday, expect mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with much warmer temps and a chance for some rain & a few tstorms, late. It will feel a little muggy with highs on either side of 90 and a South wind 10-20mph. Heat Index values between 90-95 with a 20% chance for rain.

Thursday night, partly to mostly cloudy skies with a muggy feel, in & out clouds. Scattered showers & a few thunderstorms are in the forecast. Lows in the 60s with a light wind out of the East2-12mph G20. 40% chance for rain.

Friday will bring continued in & out cloud cover with scattered showers & thunderstorms picking up, some. Highs will be in the 80s with a light to moderate wind out of the NE/SE and a muggy feel. Heat Index values between 85-90 with a 40% chance for rain.

Friday night, we will see partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered showers & thunderstorms tapering off a bit. Lows will be in the 60s with a light wind out of the East. 50% chance for rain.