Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
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601 FXUS63 KFGF 141130 AFDFGF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 530 AM CST Fri Nov 14 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - There is a signal for precipitation chances heading into next week. At this time, the chance for minor winter impacts is around 10 percent. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 331 AM CST Fri Nov 14 2025 ...Synopsis... Large scale pattern continues to feature broad shortwave ridging over the Northern Plains/Upper Midwest with a split trough pattern upstream over the Western US and Canadian Rockies. Rising heights and a west-southwest competent to the cross mountain flow is resulting in an anomalously warm air mass advecting into our region, and highs today may reach daily records for some locations (daily records are in the low to middle 60s). The mid level trough over the Canadian Rockies eventually pushes east, and with the main synoptic forcing remaining north and drier air in place measurable precipitation chances are low late this afternoon into Saturday morning, and predominantly tied to the associated cold frontal passage (more likely just sprinkles than measurable showers). Temperatures trend closer to seasonal ranges due to falling heights and at least a period of brief northwest flow behind this shortwave. Temperatures and precipitation chances/impacts become much less certain as we head into next week as we transition to more of a split-flow pattern. ...Low chance winter impacts next week... The second split in the southern upstream trough evolves into a cutoff low off the western US coast and gradually tracks east across the Rockies an Plains next week. As is often the case with cutoff features like this there is high ensemble spread in track/evolution of the system an the interaction of this upper low and any weak waves in the northern flow that may be closer to our CWA would determine any wintry precipitation potential. The cutoff low itself is associated with a much warmer air mass, with the northern stream associated with colder airmasses. The ensemble members that show any light to moderate snowfall or a wintry mix in our CWA are often resolving slightly stronger embedded waves in the northern stream where it is colder or just a little stronger CAA as the cutoff low glances by our CWA Wed-Thu. These amount to around 10% of members and match pWSSI probs for minor category/advisory impacts. More likely scenario based on a larger consensus of ensemble members is us remaining within the gap of the split flow lowering the chances for any measurable precipitation substantially. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 530 AM CST Fri Nov 14 2025 VFR conditions are expected through the TAF period across eastern ND and northwest MN, with a low chance (30% or less) for virga or very light rain showers this evening as a cold front moves through the region. Early in the TAF period there is a southwest orientated LLJ (25-35kt) across northeast ND and parts of northwest MN resulting in directional wind shear. Winds increase from the south today to around 12kt (gusts to 20kt at times) and eventually shift to the west then northwest through the TAF period due to the frontal passage. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...None. MN...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...DJR AVIATION...DJR