886
FXUS63 KFGF 162322
AFDFGF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
622 PM CDT Sun Aug 16 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Isolated severe thunderstorms may develop over parts of
  southeast North Dakota and west central Minnesota Monday
  afternoon and early evening. Hail to 1 inch and wind gusts to
  60 mph would be the main threats.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 259 PM CDT Sun Aug 16 2026

...Synopsis...

Westerly flow is currently in place across the Northern Plains,
with the next mid/upper trough upstream over Alberta and
Saskatchewan. This feature tracks east tonight through Monday
night north of our region, and deepens into a larger upper low
over the Hudson Bay region Tuesday into Wednesday. This places
our region in northwest flow through the middle and later part
of the week before ridging begins to reamplify over the next
weekend. Outside of the Monday period when scattered
showers/thunderstorms may develop with the frontal passage, the
general pattern will not support organized precipitation
chances. Temperatures will tend to be below average once we
enter NW flow, with above average temperatures returning as the
ridge amplifies and builds back into the region during the later
periods.

...Severe Thunderstorm Risk Monday...

The severe risk Monday in our CWA will be dependent on the
timing of  the cold front and position of the the warm sector
ahead of this during the afternoon/peak heating period.
Initially elevated morning showers/storms may be progressing
through the region ahead of the front and this could result in
more cloud cover limiting initiation in our area as well. A lot
of guidance places the front near west central MN by time
afternoon destabilization occurs, narrowing the window and the
region where stronger/severe storm could initiate, while some
12Z guidance is just slow enough for the window to include
southeast ND. Shear profiles are top heavy, but there is enough
mid/upper level winds with the wave passing to the north to
support effective shear values 30kt+ as the front passes. Mid
level lapse rates are marginally steep (generally 7-7.4 C/km)
and the result in modest CAPE values in the warm sector. If
severe storms were to develop lower end severe impacts appear to
be favored (quarter size hail/60 mph winds).

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 622 PM CDT Sun Aug 16 2026

VFR conditions at all TAF sites with some lingering cumulus that
will clear out in the next few hours. Winds that are
northwesterly around 10 kts will become light and variable as
the center of the surface high moves in overnight. Can`t rule
out some patchy ground fog developing towards morning with
mostly clear skies and light winds, but location uncertainty is
high and will not include in the TAFs at this point. Winds will
shift around to the south and southwest for a period tomorrow
morning. Towards the end of the period, all airports except KBJI
should see the winds shift back to the northwest with some
gusts up to 20 kts as a cold front pushes down into the region.



&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...DJR
AVIATION...JR