Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
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338 FXUS63 KFGF 231125 AFDFGF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 525 AM CST Sun Nov 23 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Impacts to holiday travel are possible Tuesday and Wednesday with a 70% chance of minor (advisory type) winter impacts. - Below average temperatures arrive after Wednesday, with a more active precipitation pattern possible. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 443 AM CST Sun Nov 23 2025 ...Synopsis... H5 ridging prevails today into Monday across the area, with warmer than average high temperatures in the upper 40s to upper 50s today. A weak cold front brings temps down slightly on Monday, with highs generally in the 40s. A much stronger system is set to move through the region Tuesday and Wednesday as a strong H5 trough combines with an upper low. This will bring widespread precipitation starting late Monday as rain, then into Tuesday as a rain/snow mix, then all snow. North to northwest winds are also expected, ranging from 15-20 mph with gusts as high as 35 mph Tuesday afternoon. These conditions should start to diminish during the overnight hours and into Wednesday morning. Much colder air follows this system as afternoon highs Wednesday only reach the lower to middle 20s. Reinforcing cold air brings temps down further as we head into Thursday and Friday, with another chance for precipitation heading into the weekend. ...Winter Impacts Tuesday into Wednesday... Confidence is increasing in regards to winter impacts heading into Tuesday. A strong H5 trough will be moving southeast into the Northern Plains, while H5 low pressure moves northeast along southwest flow. The two features are expected to combine late Monday night into Tuesday morning, with the trough possibly closing off into a closed low by midday Tuesday. At this time, ensemble guidance seems to be coming into better agreement, both spatially and temporally. Although there is good agreement synoptically, the heaviest bands of snow will be located along mesoscale features that form as the low pivots to the northeast on Tuesday. As such, there is still some uncertainty surrounding the exact amounts expected an any given location. At this time, the heaviest snowfall looks to favor areas south of Highway 2 and north of I-94 in west central and northwest Minnesota. Given the distribution of possible solutions, there is still quite a range of accumulation potential, with the 10th and 90th percentiles showing 1 inch and 8 inches respectively. The median and mean are in the 2-4 inch range. Areas where accumulations are heavier will also face the concern of blowing snow as winds increase out of the north Tuesday afternoon, potentially leading to visibility reductions. At this time, the WSSI-P shows a 70 percent chance for minor impacts and a 20 percent chance for moderate impacts across parts of the area. It is worth noting that if we see the 75th to 90th percentile snowfall in a given area, very difficult travel conditions are likely, especially when considering the higher wind gusts. ...Active Winter Weather Remains Possible Next Week... Looking into Thursday and Friday, much colder temperatures are expected as highs struggle to reach the low 20s on Thursday. Several reinforcing surges of cold air are expected through the end of the week, along with a chance for additional snowfall as we head into the weekend. At this time, guidance is showing a large range of potential solutions, with generally low confidence in a single scenario. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/... Issued at 525 AM CST Sun Nov 23 2025 VFR conditions prevail through the period at all TAF sites. SCT to BKN clouds are expected through much of the day, with bases generally greater than 8000 feet. Winds gradually shift to the west, then increase by midday, with gusts ranging from 18-25 knots everywhere except KBJI. Overall, the probability for aviation impacts is minimal. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...None. MN...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Lynch AVIATION...Lynch