


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Bismarck, ND
Issued by NWS Bismarck, ND
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883 FXUS63 KBIS 150114 AFDBIS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 814 PM CDT Tue Oct 14 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Patchy to areas of fog in the southwest and south central. - Below normal temperatures today, then warming back up to near or slightly above normal temperatures mid to late week. - Periods of rain today through Friday, with a few thunderstorms possible mainly late Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday night. && .UPDATE... Issued at 808 PM CDT Tue Oct 14 2025 Drizzle has developed over south central ND. By looking at radar, it`s definitely filled in around Bismarck and a case could be made for patchy drizzle north to around Minot, east to Jamestown and west to Glen Ullin. For now to make it a little simpler, added patchy drizzle wherever we have fog mentioned. It may not extend that far west but so be it. In the southwest where we have slight chance to chance pops approaching late tonight, ended the drizzle when the pops arrive. Otherwise no changes at this time. UPDATE Issued at 548 PM CDT Tue Oct 14 2025 Rain has exited the forecast area. Wouldn`t be surprised to see a few sprinkles or some patchy drizzle through the night though. Main forecast change was to bump sky cover through the night and all of Wednesday. The far, far southwest could see a bit of sun yet this afternoon, otherwise expect low status and some areas of fog tonight an through the day Wednesday. Wouldn`t be surprised if some areas didn`t see the sun again until late in the work week, or possibly the weekend. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 254 PM CDT Tue Oct 14 2025 Water vapor imagery shows an upper level wave moving across the main flow of the jet stream bringing in widespread showers to the northeastern half of the state. Precipitation chances will continue to diminish this afternoon as this system moves to the northeast. Satellite imagery is showing a layer of low stratus that has formed across the state. This low stratus will likely linger across the area into tomorrow. As a result of lower stratus and lighter winds out west could lead to patchy to areas of fog across the southwest mainly, but could leak into the south central. Winds will likely remain elevated enough to hinder widespread fog formation. Low temperatures tonight will warm above freezing north to the lower 40s in the south due to low stratus trapping radiational heat. High temperatures tomorrow are forecast to warm into the 50s across the state. Majority of the day will remain overcast. Forecast models have the upper low located over CA`s Central Valley moving up into the intermountain west. This pattern will continue the upper level southwesterly flow across the Northern Plains. Late tomorrow another upper level wave is going move up from the the Rockies into southwestern North Dakota. Thus, leading to increased chances for showers and thunderstorms late tomorrow. Precipitation chances will continue through the end of the work week as the aforementioned upper level low progress into the Northern Plains. Temperatures will remain fairly regulated in the 50s this week. The highest probability for rain remains out west where the NBM has around a 50-70 percent chance of half an inch of rain in the southwest by Thursday. Rain is forecast to be widespread across central and western North Dakota Thursday into Friday. In addition a tight surface pressure gradient will bring breezy to windy conditions as this upper low pass through the region. Temperatures are forecast to warm up this weekend as the upper level pattern transitions to a ridge by early next week with an active pattern following the upper level ridge. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 548 PM CDT Tue Oct 14 2025 All TAF sites except KMOT will begin the 00Z TAF period with MVFR ceilings or lower. Expect all TAF sites to see IFR to LIFR ceilings by the early overnight hours, if not earlier. This setup looks to be more stratus in nature, but with upslope flow, the southwest looks to be favored for lower visibilities in fog later tonight through Wednesday morning. However, would not be surprised to see the fog expand north and east late tonight into Wednesday morning. Expect IFR-LIFR ceilings to continue through the day Wednesday. Easterly flow will also continue through the forecast period. Shower activity is expected to increase on Wednesday from southwest to northeast, but think the better chances will not be until after the 00Z TAF period so was not too aggressive with adding pops attim. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ UPDATE...TWH DISCUSSION...Johnson AVIATION...TWH