Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Bismarck, ND
Issued by NWS Bismarck, ND
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509 FXUS63 KBIS 200305 AFDBIS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 1005 PM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - High chances for light rain south and west of the Missouri River this evening through Sunday afternoon. - Cloudy, humid, and cool on Sunday, with highs in the mid 50s to mid 60s. - Gradual warming trend through the upcoming work week, with highs mostly in the 60s on Monday increasing to the 70s and lower 80s by the end of the week. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1005 PM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026 The forecast remains on track. Current conditions and trends were blended in for this update. UPDATE Issued at 707 PM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026 No major forecast changes are needed for this update. Light rain will continue to become more prevalent over southwest North Dakota this evening through tonight. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 206 PM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026 Surface low remains analyzed over the Central Plains with surface high moving towards Ontario. This continues allowing for drier air to win out over most of the state, except parts of the southwest, resulting in little overall precipitation. Light rain over parts of the southwest should increase in coverage later this afternoon and especially overnight tonight. After which, rain chances should gradually diminish through Sunday night. A quarter to half inch of additional rain is likely over the far southwest, but probabilities rapidly drop off further north and east. Near the Missouri River, probabilities for even a tenth of an inch drop down to around 50 percent, and rapidly less further north and east of the river. Despite the lack of precipitation across most of the state, low-level stratus will prevail overall tonight through Sunday. Though by late Sunday afternoon and through the night, skies should begin to clear from north to south. This thick sky cover will likely moderate temperatures with forecast lows remaining warmer than the NBM produces, and highs potentially cooler than forecast... more so for this afternoon than Sunday. Dry conditions are then expected to prevail Monday through Tuesday before a shortwave potentially brings another round of showers, possibly with a few thunderstorms, through the area Wednesday and Wednesday night. Seasonable temperatures are expected to start the next workweek with highs initially in the 60s to low 70s. A gradual warming trend is then favored to bring highs into the 70s with some low 80s degree readings in western ND by the end of the week. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1005 PM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026 Light rain with MVFR/IFR visibility and primarily IFR/LIFR ceilings will continue in southwest North Dakota through much of the forecast period. Lower chances for light rain exist from northwest to south central North Dakota where ceilings are mostly expected to remain at or perhaps just slightly above MVFR thresholds. Areas from around KMOT to KJMS are more likely to stay dry with VFR ceilings, although intermittent periods of MVFR ceilings cannot be ruled out. Expect northeast to easterly winds around 10 kts through much of the forecast period. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ UPDATE...Hollan DISCUSSION...Telken AVIATION...Hollan