Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Bismarck, ND

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158
FXUS63 KBIS 181701
AFDBIS

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
1201 PM CDT Sat Oct 18 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Widespread below freezing temperatures tonight into Sunday
  morning.

- Windy southwest this afternoon. Breezy elsewhere. Windy
  statewide on Monday.

- Near seasonable temperatures expected through early next
  week, followed by a warming trend to above normal mid to late
  week.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 1155 AM CDT Sat Oct 18 2025

For the midday update we bumped up winds in the southwest this
afternoon. Bufkit soundings show wind gust potential above our
current NBM guidance. Perhaps a few gusts of 45 to 50 mph.
Sustained winds are near low end advisory criteria for a few
hours. Will hold off on a wind advisory for now but will
monitor. Otherwise, made some minor adjustments for sky cover
based on latest satellite analysis. Think there may be a bit
more in the way of diurnally driven clouds yet this afternoon.
Very dry stratospheric air over the region this afternoon will
make for some steep lapse rates. We`ll see if there`s enough
moisture around to get any clouds develop.

UPDATE
Issued at 857 AM CDT Sat Oct 18 2025

Made some minor adjustments to sky cover and pops. Precipitation
has all but ended over western and central ND this morning.
Perhaps a sprinkle or two in the James River Valley so
maintained some small pops there this morning. Skies have
cleared over a good portion of western and north central ND, and
clouds will be clearing from the south central during the
morning. Do expect a round diurnally driven clouds to develop a
bit later this morning and into the early afternoon before
dissipating later in the day. Could see some sprinkles or a
brief shower with this activity but for now will hold off on
introducing any pops. Any precip would be negligible.


UPDATE
Issued at 648 AM CDT Sat Oct 18 2025

Chances for showers will remain through the morning as a cold
front moves through, although current radar trends showing
this activity becoming more isolated currently. Overall made
some minor PoP adjustments based and radar trends. This front as
also cleared out any lingering fog in the northeast, thus have
removed fog mention for the remainder of the morning. Otherwise
the forecast remains on track.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 354 AM CDT Sat Oct 18 2025

Weak cold front associated with a clipper system to the north
will push through today. Some shower activity will accompany
this front this morning along with abundant cloud cover. Look
for these clouds and showers to diminish the afternoon, with
slightly cooler temperatures in the 50s forecast. Breezy
northwest winds will be found behind this front today. Pressure
rises and cold air advection with this front look to peak this
morning, leveling out this afternoon. Mid level winds are not
forecast to be particularly strong today as well. Thus kept NBM
winds for today, which are still breezy yet not quite wind
advisory level. There could still be a few sites that see
sustained winds near 30 mph and winds gust near 40 mph today.
Ridge of high pressure then moves in tonight, diminishing winds
and clearing skies. Colder overnight lows will be found as a
result, although there remains some uncertainty on how much cold
air moves into the area given the track of the high is well to
the south. A steady west wind may also help keep temperatures
from dropping tonight. For now made sure lows were as low as NBM
50th. This would put widespread freeze temperatures to most
areas except the James River Valley. Given some uncertainty on
how much cold air is present tonight, have held off on any
freeze products for the time being. High moves eastward on
Sunday switching winds to the south. This brings slightly warmer
temperatures and mainly dry conditions.

Sunday night through Monday, dueling surface lows each with a
weak cold front will bring the next chances for showers across
the area. These chances begin Sunday night into Monday morning,
with the second round Monday afternoon into Monday night. The
increase cloud cover should temper overnight lows Sunday night
into Monday, yet bring cooler highs on Monday. SPC has general
risk for thunderstorms Monday in eastern ND, although
instability looks limited at this time. Main concern for monday
will be strong winds on the backside of the second low on
Monday. This could bring some strong at least advisory level
winds to the area, thus have blended in NBM90th for winds on
Monday into Monday evening. Surface ridge could then diminish
winds and precipitation chances Monday night. More cold
temperatures could also return with this ridge, with forecast
lows at or below freezing currently forecast for most of the
CWA.

A cooler yet mainly dry post system day is then expected for
Tuesday, with highs forecast in the upper 40s to mid 50s. The
rest of next week then still looks to see a warming trend as
zonal flow transitions to weak ridging aloft. This brings a
mainly dry forecast with temperatures forecast to warm through
the week. NBM spreads still remain about 10 degrees although the
cooler side still has highs in the 60s while the warmer spreads
are in the 70s. Low temperatures at night could also be mild,
with NBM spreads generally showing above freezing temperatures
at night.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1155 AM CDT Sat Oct 18 2025

VFR conditions are expected through the 18Z TAF period. Expect
strong northwest winds 20 to 30 mph with some gust to around 45
mph possible. Breezy conditions elsewhere this afternoon. Mainly
mid level clouds expected today, with possibly some diurnally
driven sprinkles or brief showers, but with limited coverage
expected, will not include in any one TAF attim. Winds diminish
this evening, then turn more southerly over western ND Sunday
morning.

&&

.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$

UPDATE...TWH
DISCUSSION...Anglin
AVIATION...TWH