


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Bismarck, ND
Issued by NWS Bismarck, ND
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901 FXUS63 KBIS 101434 AFDBIS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 934 AM CDT Thu Jul 10 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening across parts of southwest and central North Dakota. - Temperatures will cool down to the 70s for most locations on Friday, before warming back up again for the weekend. - A more active pattern returns for the start of next work week. && .UPDATE... Issued at 932 AM CDT Thu Jul 10 2025 Quiet weather continues across the region this morning. A cold front continues to slowly progress out of southern Saskatchewan this morning shifting the winds out of the north. No updates are needed at this time as the forecast remains on track. UPDATE Issued at 638 AM CDT Thu Jul 10 2025 Isolated showers and a few rumbles of thunder have been ongoing across the north central, slowly moving east, with any one shower not lasting particularly long before diminishing. Surface trough is oriented more north-south and is moving into western North Dakota, while the cold front is more west-east and is north of the International Border. Latest high-res guidance paints a similar picture for this afternoon and evening. As the surface trough drifts east, could see some scattered convection across the south central and east, with the environment becoming more unstable the further east you go. Then, the cold front sweeping through brings additional chances of showers and thunderstorms to the north, which we still think is almost a more favorable environment for strong to severe storms as bulk shear is projected to increase across the north as the front moves through. Guidance is beginning to more consistently advertise precipitation across the north late this evening, although could be too capped for too robust of development. Main change was to update POPs for latest blended guidance, otherwise going forecast looks good for now. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 352 AM CDT Thu Jul 10 2025 This morning, a closed low was analyzed in northern Saskatchewan with quasi-zonal flow across North Dakota. A second, shallower trough was located in southern Idaho, with downstream troughing across the Ohio Valley region. A surface low was centered in northern Manitoba with a trailing surface trough extending southwest across the northwest corner of the state into eastern Montana. Light, scattered radar returns have been consistent across the forecast area and into Montana, but no evidence of any rain at the surface, and ceilings are quite high. We are starting to see some flashes of lightning in the northwest, where it is uncapped but with limited instability. It`s a seasonably warm night, with some stations in western North Dakota seeing temperature spikes as winds increase and mix down the warm 850mb temps. The approaching trough base to our north will slowly shift south, with the aforementioned surface trough then a cold front moving through the forecast area that will provide forcing for showers and thunderstorms today and tonight. There are two main areas to focus on for precipitation -- south central / southeast this afternoon and evening with the trough, and then this evening/tonight with the cold front. The likelihood of severe weather continues to decrease, with only isolated severe thunderstorms possible (level 1 out of 5) with this update. Instability is projected to be lower than previously thought across the forecast area, ranging from around 1000-2000 J/kg central to 3000 J/kg east (which is still notable, just not extreme bouyancy like we had been seeing in previous model runs). Bulk shear continues to be the limiting factor, with many locations seeing those higher instability values also only having 20 to 25 knots of 0-6km shear. There is perhaps a slightly higher threat ceiling across the north central where by late this evening, deterministic guidance increases shear to 30 to 35 knots. The 00Z HREF paints a few longer UH tracks through this area, and some CAMs want to have at least scattered convection at a similar time and area, so worth watching for a later window of stronger storms. Machine learning guidance has trended down for today, with CSU advertising low probabilities for severe hail generally central and east, with a slight increase for the northeast corner of the state. NSSL is also advertising lower probabilities compared to previous, echoing the theme that model guidance is not sold on the environment today. Opted to broad-brush low POPs this afternoon and evening south central and then north, with widely scattered showers and thunderstorms expected. Highs will be in the mid 80s northwest, where cold air advection will arrive first, and in the upper 80s to mid 90s elsewhere. Humidity will still be high central and especially east, with dew points approaching 70 degrees in the James River Valley. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely to continue through Friday morning and into the afternoon as the upper trough base moves across the state, while surface high pressure attempts to build in behind the cold front. Temperatures will be much cooler, with highs generally in the 70s, and could see some lower 80s southeast. A northwest breeze will keep winds sustained around 15 to 20 mph, diminishing in the evening. Flow aloft turns northwesterly on Saturday, with a passing impulse progged to bring an increase in cloud cover but no precipitation chances. Highs will be in the upper 70s to mid 80s, quite seasonable, warming further on Sunday as a low level thermal ridge moves in and boosts temperatures back into the mid 80s to lower 90s. A more active pattern begins for the start of next work week, with increasing precipitation chances and temperatures cooling down through midweek, before a warming signal returns for next weekend. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 638 AM CDT Thu Jul 10 2025 Generally VFR conditions through the TAF period, outside of any showers and thunderstorms that could potentially impact terminals. Winds will be shifting from southerly to westerly as a front moves through the forecast area, although winds could be gusty and erratic around any showers. Did include a PROB30 this evening for KJMS and overnight at KXWA, where there is the highest confidence in showers and thunderstorms, but could potentially see precipitation around KMOT and KBIS as well. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ UPDATE...Johnson DISCUSSION...Jones AVIATION...Jones