073
FXUS63 KFGF 251550
AFDFGF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
950 AM CST Sat Jan 25 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Light snow and gusty winds support blowing and drifting snow
  today. Visibility reductions down to 1/4 mile remain possible
  at times, especially in open areas. Additional accumulations
  up to about 1 inch are possible, primarily east of the Red
  River.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 949 AM CST Sat Jan 25 2025

Areas of whiteout conditions have been observed in the eastern
side of the northern Red River Valley. This is primarily tied to
falling snow, of which the intensity should continue to diminish
over the next few hours. The current Winter Weather Advisory
continues to capture the worst impacts. On the backside of the
main line of snow, HCRs are being observed, however impacts to
visibility have been difficult to discern. For this reason, the
current expiration time of noon will continue.

UPDATE
Issued at 714 AM CST Sat Jan 25 2025

Moderate to heavy bands of snow continue to work across the
region this morning. Visibility during the heavier snow showers
has been falling to near 1/2 mile at times when combined with
gusty northwest winds. The heaviest snow is currently located
within a heavier band of Fgen stretching from central Walsh
County thorugh southeastern Grand Forks County. Snowfall rates
in this band have been around 3/4 inch per hour as measured at
NWS Grand Forks with slightly higher rates just west of Grand
Forks. Will need to watch visibility over the next couple of
hours to monitor for the potential for isolated blizzard
conditions in open country.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 336 AM CST Sat Jan 25 2025

...Synopsis...

Today: Cold front continues to move across the region this morning,
with temperatures in lower teens in the Devils Lake Basin and in the
lower 20s in the southern Red River Valley. Light snow is falling at
times, mainly east of the Red River, with only isolated snow showers
to the west. Blowing and drifting snow will be a concern, especially
in open areas through much of the morning and into the early
afternoon.

Sunday Onward: Flow transitions from northwesterly to zonal late
Sunday and into next week. Low level chinook winds out of the west
will help bring temperatures to the 20s and 30s for daytime highs.
Windy conditions are expected both Sunday and Monday as our westerly
chinook winds pump in warm air towards eastern North Dakota and
northwestern Minnesota. Wind gusts up to 35mph are possible during
both afternoons. Slick travel conditions are possible from drifting
snow both Sunday and Monday. If headed out monitor the latest
conditions across the area. Otherwise, temperatures will be well
above normal across the area, with highs peaking on Monday in the
mid to upper 30s. Some areas near the Sheyenne River Valley have the
potential to reach the lower 40s if skies can clear out faster in
the afternoon hours.

A quick system moves through Ontario midweek clipping portions of
the area. Precipitation type is expected to be snow, with the main
area of synoptic forcing toward the arrowhead of Minnesota.
Temperatures moderate mid week as the westerly winds subside slowly,
with highs in the 20s to lower 30s. Near the end of the week there
are indications of further chinook style westerly winds helping to
increase temperatures once again, with the introduction of further
upper level waves moving out of the Rockies.

...Blowing and Drifting Snow Today...

Northwest winds have increased, following this morning`s cold
front, ranging from 20 to 25 mph with gusts to near 40 mph thus
far this morning. This is leading to visibility reductions as
low as 1/4 mile in open areas, with several observation sites
reporting prevailing visibility of 3/4 mile to 1 1/2 miles. The
strongest winds today are expected to impact areas west of the
Red River as well as the northern Red River Valley, where
pressure rises are greatest following the shortwave passage.
Travel impacts are possible, especially in open areas across the
Devils Lake Basin, northern Red River Valley and far northwest
Minnesota.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 532 AM CST Sat Jan 25 2025

Snow and blowing snow are impacting visibility, with low
ceilings due to a broken to overcast stratus deck. A cold front
has moved through the area overnight and is now pushing further
into west central Minnesota this morning. Look for gusty
northwest winds to bring continued blowing snow through the
early afternoon, with slow improvement from west to east
thereafter. Visibility this morning has been as low as 1/4 mile
to the north of KGFK; however, most observations are ranging
from 1/2SM to 1 1/2SM during actively falling snow. Obs are
slightly better where we only see BLSN, generally ranging from
1SM to 5SM. The highest probability for blowing snow impacts
will be at KGFK and KTVF during the early to mid morning hours.

&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST today for NDZ006>008-
     014>016-026-027-054.
MN...Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST today for MNZ001-004-
     005-007-008-013-014.

&&

$$

UPDATE...Lynch/Perroux
DISCUSSION...Lynch/Spender
AVIATION...Lynch