Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
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518 FXUS63 KFGF 032329 AFDFGF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 529 PM CST Wed Dec 3 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Several weak clipper systems traverse the area through the middle of next week. Light snow and periodic gusty winds are possible, primarily in northwest Minnesota and the northern Red River Valley. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 134 PM CST Wed Dec 3 2025 ...Synopsis... Cold high pressure is centered over the area this afternoon, and will slowly move off to the southeast later tonight. Winds are expected to become light overnight, allowing somewhat favorable conditions for radiative cooling, especially over areas with deeper snow pack. Lows across many areas will fall below zero, with southeast ND and west central MN possibly seeing teens below zero. While winds will be light overnight, wind chill values are still likely to fall into the -25 to -20 range through just after sunrise. Warmer temperatures return on Thursday as the thermal gradient pushes northward ahead of a warm front. This will bring a chance for light snow back into the area late Thursday into Friday morning, mainly for areas in northwest Minnesota. A cold front and clipper bring cold air and snow chances for Friday evening and overnight into Saturday morning. Highs on Thursday and Friday are likely to climb into the 20s, with much colder highs in the single digits on Saturday. The overnight period Saturday night into Sunday morning could be the coldest of the season for many locations as lows could fall into the teens below zero across much of eastern North Dakota, west central Minnesota, and northwest Minnesota. Heading into next week, the H5 pattern continues to support the oscillation between reinforcing cold air and occasional shortwaves bringing moisture. A thermal gradient looks to remain in place for the most part, with much of eastern North Dakota to the northeast of the baroclinic zone. This keeps the area generally on the colder side; however, brief warmups and precipitation chances are evident in ensemble guidance. The persistence of this pattern hints at the potential for active winter weather for the middle of next week onward. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 529 PM CST Wed Dec 3 2025 VFR conditions are expected to prevail through this evening and into the overnight period across eastern ND and northwest MN. Winds become light and variable as surface high pressure moves over the region, with winds shifting to the south and increasing Thursday morning as low pressure builds back in from the west. This system brings increasing chances for MVFR ceilings across northeast ND and northwest MN Thursday along with a 30% chance for light snow (mainly in MN). Another cold front pushes east and with it winds would begin to shift back to the west-northwest late in the TAF period over north central ND. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...None. MN...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Lynch AVIATION...DJR