


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
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881 FXUS63 KFGF 110301 AFDFGF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 1001 PM CDT Thu Jul 10 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Severe storms are possible in parts of northeast North Dakota and far northwest Minnesota late thursday afternoon and night, with a risk level of 1 out of 5. - Severe storms possible parts of northwest and west central Minnesota Friday afternoon, with a risk level 1 out of 5. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1001 PM CDT Thu Jul 10 2025 All signs point to the BL decoupling with increasing MLCIN across our CWA, with the lone exception our far northwest where RAP analysis shows lower city in proximity to the cold front entering the northern Devils Lake Basin. MLCAPE is in the 3000-4000 J/KG in that region, with DCAPE axis to the south 1000-1300 J/KG. Shear remains on the weaker side (particularly lower level shear) though effective shear near 25kt is still enough for some brief organization. The mid level impulse where most forcing is mainly north of the International Border with more organized forcing with the mid level trough still offset to well to the northwest where conditions will be much more stable. We are in a window where isolated strong to marginally severe hail and wind (quarters and 60 mph) would still be threats in the Devils Lake Basin over the next few hours. However, the trend will be towards any parcels to become elevated with further low level decoupling and the drier BL flow behind the cold front. In absence of organized ascent and lack of true LLJ until Friday morning we may not have much more of a chance for an organized severe threat despite lingering elevated instability into the overnight. UPDATE Issued at 653 PM CDT Thu Jul 10 2025 We are monitoring upstream trends north of Minot where supercells have developed along the cold frontal zone and near the axis of 2500-3500 MLCAPE. This frontal zone is also where better shear has been in place. The question is how far east this initial activity holds together as it moves away from better forcing. There also appears to be a meso low just southwest of the Devils Lake Basin that could act as another feature for development before sunset. There is enough instability through the Devils Lake Basin where MLCIN is shown by RAP analysis to be near zero to at least support a window for severe in our northwest as this activity moving east. With shear much more marginal (less than 25kt 0-3km and 0-6km) the primary threat would be severe wind gusts outside of taller cores. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 307 PM CDT Thu Jul 10 2025 ...Synopsis... West to southwest flow over the Dakotas, with the main shortwave over SD and several weak vorts moving through ND. Surface trough is still out over central ND, with plenty of moisture and capped instability out ahead of it. Cold front just behind the trough axis will move through tonight into tomorrow, with surface high pressure building in behind it for Saturday. Some smoke coming down to the surface is possible behind the front, with a few of the models showing moderate to high concentrations, so included a mention in the forecast. A weak shortwave moving through northwest flow on Sunday, but better precipitation chances when flow returns to the west- southwest and a stronger shortwave comes in late Monday into Tuesday. Troughing behind the shortwave for Wednesday into Thursday should bring some cooler temperatures. ...Marginal risk this afternoon/tonight... Still capped to surface based convection but the SPC mesoanalysis page has CIN weakening over our area. Best upper forcing is to our south but there is at least some convergence along the surface trough. Most cumulus is either to our south or over southwestern Saskatchewan, but can`t completely rule out something popping over our CWA. CAMs are of no help currently given recent performance. Better precipitation chances near the Canadian border later tonight as the main cold front moves in along with some cooler mid-level temps. Don`t expect widespread severe given deep layer bulk shear around 25 kts, but can`t completely rule out something pulsing up so isolated severe mention across our north seems reasonable. ...Marginal risk Friday... Cold front will be through our ND counties by tomorrow morning, but will still be hanging around portions of northwestern and west central MN. Still the potential for plenty of instability out ahead of the front, with probabilities of CAPE over 2000 J/kg around 60 to 70 percent in portions of our southeastern counties. Shear not very impressive as all of the stronger values are behind the front in the stable air, but can`t rule out a few cells firing along the boundary and getting pretty strong before they move off the east. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 653 PM CDT Thu Jul 10 2025 VFR conditions should prevail through this evening, with less certainty as a cold front brings areas of smoke to the region. Upstream trends in Canada support MVFR vis once this front arrives Friday morning, with a low chance for brief IFR if the smoke is dense enough immediately behind the front. There are thunderstorm chances across the region through the night, with better chances early in the TAF period over northeast ND towards KDVL. How thunderstorm coverage/development unfolds tonight then Friday remain highly uncertain though and I held off on introducing mention in TAFs at this time. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...None. MN...None. && $$ UPDATE...DJR DISCUSSION...JR AVIATION...DJR