Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
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622 FXUS63 KFGF 071010 AFDFGF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 410 AM CST Sun Dec 7 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Monday: 70 percent chance of more than 1 inch of snow in far northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. 50 percent chance more than 2 inches in the same area. - Stronger low coming in on Tuesday, with an 80 percent chance for at least minor impacts area wide, and some mixed precipitation possible in southeastern North Dakota, && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 347 AM CST Sun Dec 7 2025 ...Synopsis... High pressure at 08z this morning near Rugby-Jamestown region and moving southeast. Cirrus clouds spreading east into areas west of the Red River valley and these cirrus clouds will spread east thru the early morning with clear sky ahead of them. Temperatures a mix of teens and single digits below zero. Today will see a north-south located short wave that is central Montana at 08z move quickly east with mid level warm advection ahead of it generating a band of light snow. Overall light snow area diminishes as it moves into eastern ND and the Red River valley this afternoon and evening. Highest chances for a half inch or so of snow is southeast ND. ...Monday clipper... Monday low pressure, clipper system develops southwest of Saskatoon tonight and moves southeast to near the Manitoba/North Dakota, Saskatchewan border area by 18z Monday to near Grand Forks by 00z Tue then to in be north of the low track thru particularly north of DVL-GFK-FSE-PKD line. Probs for more than 2 inches is around 50 percent in far northwest MN. Looks like a quick period of frontogenetical forcing and 850-700 layer warm advection along with a moderate strength 700-500 mb system to aid in snow development. ...Tuesday Stronger System... Still a few differences with exact track of sfc-850 mb low and zone between where temps will rise above 32F and where the are in the 20s. Canadian Global 00z and 06z Canadian Regional operational runs went farther south with low tracking southeast from saw far northeast Montana to just north of Bismarck to near Wahpeton with axis of higher snowfall Estevan SK to Minot to Fargo. Whereas the operational 00z runs of GFS and ECMWF and its 00z ensembles are a bit more north and close to previous runs with consensus track of low from east of Estevan to in between Grand Forks and Fargo and highest snow chances in that area from Bottineau to Grand Forks to Park Rapids where there is a 50-70 pct chance of more than 3 inches and 25 pct chance isolated pockets of more than 6 inches. Consensus snowfall from NBM and the GFS/ECMWF ensembles keep totals averaging 4-5 inches in this band. Track of low and 850 mb low critical as there will be a potential esp Tuesday morning for freezing rain in a zone just near or south of low track from NW into SE ND, though that icing potential diminishes in the aftn into MN. Timing of snow, looks to arrive into DVl region by 15z Tues and into RRV by 18z and eastern fcst area by 21z. Good frontogenetical forcing noted in 850 mb warm advection zone just east and northeast of low track as it moves southeast. Strongest winds and cold advection will be west and southwest of sfc low/850 mb low which places best chances for 50 mph or higher wind gusts southwest half of ND into SD. But still a period of north winds align mid and southern valley in the evening with gust 30-40 mph. But these winds dont align to where the heavier snow is forecast and is more in the area where forecast temps are to reach above 32F during the day Tuesday. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1112 PM CST Sat Dec 6 2025 VFR conditions and light winds will prevail through 18z of the TAF period. As the surface high moves off early tomorrow afternoon, southeasterly winds will increase at DVL/GFK/FAR. Accompanying this by late afternoon will be falling ceilings, likely to MVFR depending on the track of a system moving from northwest to southeast. Accompanying this will be a broad swath of light snowfall that will push visibilities down to 2-4SM. The bulk of guidance keeps the main portions of this system west, however a few ensemble members do push the system as far east as FAR/GFK. Should a further easterly scenario arise, expect widespread MVFR ceilings and visibility at DVL/GFK/FAR while a further west solution will allow for those TAF sites to remain VFR. Regardless, the reasonable worst case scenario for these TAF sites will be prevailing MVFR conditions with a low chance for brief IFR conditions. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...None. MN...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Riddle AVIATION...Perroux