textproduct: Aberdeen

KEY MESSAGES

- There is a 20% chance of light showers Saturday afternoon and evening over northeastern SD and west central MN. Little to no accumulation is expected.

- Winds out of the northwest will gust 30-40mph Monday afternoon. There is a 20% chance of winds gusting over 45 mph west of the James River Monday afternoon.

- High temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday of next week will be around 10 degrees below normal.

UPDATE

Issued at 829 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

No significant changes to the forecast through 12Z Saturday. Will gradually see winds switch to the south-southwest late tonight under mostly clear skies.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1219 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

Other than a few short periods with the chance of precipitation below 30%, we have a mainly dry forecast over the next 7 days. The 17Z surface map shows high pressure centered across the James River Valley up through eastern ND. This area of high pressure will sink to NE and southeastern SD by 06Z, with winds shifting out of the south but remaining light around 10kts or less. Winds will increase out of the west to southwest during the day Saturday behind the exiting high and ahead of low pressure currently set up along the Alberta/Saskatchewan border.

The surface low will sink southeast across ND and northwestern SD Saturday. Highs Saturday will be in the mid 60s to mid 70s, lowest over the Prairie Coteau of northeastern SD. There is a 20% chance of light showers Saturday afternoon and evening over northeastern SD and west central MN. Little to no accumulation is expected. The low will exit to our southeast shortly after 06Z Sunday, putting an end to any lingering light precipitation. High pressure will briefly build in Sunday - mainly to our south.

The main concern will be with the next low over southern Canada (southern Manitoba) Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening. The low will tract east across Ontario Monday while dropping a cold front across SD Monday. We have around a 20% chance of rain showers Monday morning. Winds out of the west will shift out of the northwest in the morning and gust 30 to near 40 mph. There is a 20% chance of winds gusting over 45 mph west of the James River Monday afternoon. The strongest cold air advection will be over far northern SD and west central MN. We'll continue to monitor the latest trends, as blowing dust may be possible across areas north of Pierre - where less precipitation has fallen over the last week.

Cooler air will move back in Monday, and especially Monday night through Thursday - with mainly northwesterly flow at 500mb. Lows will again be near freezing.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 621 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG

VFR conditions are forecast through the TAF period. Light and variable winds this evening will become light from the south tonight, before turning southwest and increasing to over 12 knots by late morning/early afternoon Saturday.

ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

SD...None. MN...None.