984
FXUS63 KFGF 281148
AFDFGF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
648 AM CDT Thu May 28 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Near critical fire weather conditions may occur Friday into
  this weekend.

- Well above normal temperatures are expected through early next
  week, with near record highs today and Friday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 318 PM CDT Wed May 27 2026

...Synopsis...

Large scale omega block remains in place into the weekend, with the
amplified ridge axis centered across our region. This continues to
amplifying through Saturday and ensemble mean heights impressively
show 582DM heights extending to the arctic circle in Canada. This
pattern keeps well above average temperatures and near record highs
daily through Saturday. By Sunday the ridge axis begins to weaken
and there is a transition to more of a progressive zonal flow
by early next week. Due to high variation in the evolution of
that pattern actual precipitation chances are generally low,
however this time of year that pattern shift would support
progressive waves and rain/thunderstorm chances. Machine
learning systems do not highlight any one period for severe
potential, however just with the patter shift and ensembles
showing the potential for modest instability pooling into our
region there is at least a low risk for severe weather somewhere
in the region during that pattern.

There is a surface feature/frontal zone that could provide just
enough weak forcing from low level convergence and instability
before sunset to support a few thunderstorms in far southeast
ND and west central MN. Significant amounts of dry air aloft and
weak shear (under 20kt) would likely lead to a lot of
skinny/pulse type updrafts due to dry air entrainment if storms
were to develop. I won`t rule out a strong storm or two, but the
threat is minimal and the vast majority of CAMs keeps
conditions dry through this evening and with high based and
DCAPE over 1000 J/KG gusty winds would be a threat.

...Fire weather concerns into the weekend...

RH is highly variable across the region due to low level moist flow
from the southeast along the frontal zone in our south and to the
west and drier air aloft in the north and east. Winds are
periodically gusting around 20 mph along/north of Highway 2,
otherwise they are generally around or less than 10 mph. Near
critical fire weather conditions are ongoing at locations that have
had more widespread 25% or lower RH values this afternoon (mainly in
the northern Red River Valley). The orientation of the surface
gradient aligns that low level southeast flow across the entire
region Thursday, so while winds would be a bit higher mixed layer
Tds would also be higher limiting the coverage of potential 25% or
lower RH values.

Friday and Saturday there is a much drier air mass expected to be in
place off the surface with a strong signal for sub 25% RH region-
wide. The question will come down to winds and increasing surface
gradient over the central and western Dakotas does supporting at
least breezy conditions (strongest west lightest east), and there is
a chance (30%) for RFW conditions to develop over parts of our CWA
during those periods. At very least we are looking at near critical
fire weather conditions where fuels are supportive of rapid
spread.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 646 AM CDT Thu May 28 2026

Increasing southeast wind today 10 to 20 kts for eastern ND and
the RRV, a few higher gusts late morning and afternoon. Lighter
winds as you go east with Bemidji area staying closer to 10 kts.
VFR thru the period with scattered to at times broken cirrus
coverage moving in.

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...DJR
AVIATION...Riddle