000
FXUS63 KFGF 180849
AFDFGF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
349 AM CDT Fri Aug 18 2017

.SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight)
Issued at 303 AM CDT Fri Aug 18 2017

A weak H5 shortwave trof and its associated surface low pressure
system will drift eastward across eastern ND through the morning
hours and through northwest and west central Minnesota this
afternoon. Elevated convection mainly associated with the surface
low is currently edging into the Devils lake and Sheyenne River
Basins edging and should continue a slow expansion eastward.
Additional convection which appears more forced by the H5 trof
will drop from southwest MB and merge with convection across the
Devils Lake Basin through the early morning hours.

Operational HRRR guidance has been most consistent with these
features through the overnight period and does show these areas of
convection moving across much of the central Red River Valley
during the morning drive time period. Thunderstorms and related
rainfall intensity are expected to remain light... with rainfall
amounts remaining generally in tenth to quarter of an inch range
with heaviest showers.

Shower activity should weaken a bit during the forenoon and early
afternoon as the system settles across northwest Minnesota. High
temps should reach well into the upper 70s to around 80 degrees
behind this system... in far northwest MN and much of eastern ND.
West central MN will stay a bit cooler and cloudier in scattered
showers... with highs rising only into the lower 70s.

Expect fair skies tonight...with lows settling into the mid to upper
50s by Saturday morning.

.LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday)
Issued at 303 AM CDT Fri Aug 18 2017

Saturday and Sunday...a fairly flat, zonal flow pattern aloft will
keep a steady stream of weak transient systems moving through the
area over the coming week. On Saturday... a weak H5 shortwave
ridge will provide for mainly fair skies, a southerly breeze,
and our likely hottest day of this forecast package. Temperatures
should arc well into the 80s across the area...with dewpoints from
the upper 50s to near 60 providing for perhaps our last truly hot
and humid summertime day of the season. A weak cold frontal
passage early on Sunday may provide an isolated morning
thunderstorm across the north, before a slightly drier and cooler
airmass begins to settle over the area. Expect mainly cloudy
conditions and scattered thunderstorms across the south and east
later Sunday afternoon and evening.

Monday through Thursday...early in the work week, zonal flow
aloft yields an active weather pattern with near normal
temperatures. For Mon into Mon night, increased cloud cover and
small chances for showers and storms continue on and off as low
pressure takes a track from the central High Plains toward the mid
Mississippi Valley. This track combined with building Canadian
sfc high pressure will keep most action across South Dakota and
southern Minnesota, with any storms just clipping our southern
forecast area during this time. Flow turns more northwest Tue and
Wed offering a dry and seasonal pair of days. Some upper ridging
works its way in by Thu, with the possibility of a ridge riding
regime to end the period.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Friday night)
Updated at 320 AM CDT Fri Aug 18 2017

Mainly VFR conditions expected throughout the period. Areas of
shallow ground fog in northwest MN vcnty KBJI expected through
mid morning...will diminish as higher level clouds move in aloft.
Meanwhile...cloud cover continues to increase from west to east
but ceilings should remain VFR. Showers/thunder increasing in
coverage across central North Dakota will approach KDVL through
predawn hours...with eventual expansion of VCTS into KGFK and
KFAR from forenoon into early afternoon. Thundershowers should
persist into central MN through late afternoon and early evening.

&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...None.
MN...None.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Gust
LONG TERM...WJB
AVIATION...Gust