textproduct: Bismarck

KEY MESSAGES

- Gusty southerly winds today becoming northwesterly on Wednesday.

- Rain showers, possibly with a few rumbles of thunder, in western ND this evening. Rain showers will then pass west to east across the state overnight, with light rain and snow possibly lingering through the day on Wednesday.

- Western ND will see highs in the mid 50s to low 60s today, otherwise below normal temperatures are expected across the state through Thursday. Above normal temperatures are then expected Friday through the weekend.

- Widespread 30 to 50 percent precipitation chances are currently forecast later this weekend and into early next week. Initially as rain, then potentially changing to snow.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 253 PM CDT Tue Apr 7 2026

An upper level low continues to move closer into the region bringing in windy conditions and precipitation. The surface low is located over eastern Montana resulting in the north south orientated pressure gradient. This surface pressure gradient is the driving force behind windy conditions across the area this afternoon. A warm front continues to move across the west warming the west into the 50s and even lower 60s. A cold front will quickly follow the warm front bringing forth a wind shift, windy conditions, and precipitation. There is weak instability with this system, but enough for a thunderstorm or two out west. Precipitation is forecast to move through the region this evening through tonight. QPF is forecast to be up to tenth of an inch. Post frontal winds are forecast to be windy across the state tomorrow due to cold advection and pressure rises from the aforementioned upper level low. There is a Wind Advisory in effect for 25 to 35 mph winds with gusts up to 50 mph are possible for much of North Dakota tomorrow. There is a low chance of wrap around snow showers across the north tomorrow afternoon. High temperatures tomorrow will cool a few degrees down into the 30s to 40s.

A shortwave trough could move through the region Thursday morning bringing forth light snow and rain across the south. Temperatures are forecast to remain below normal Thursday as the colder air quickly filters to the east. An upper level ridge out west will tilt northwestward across the Plains this weekend bringing in warm weather this weekend. Temperatures are forecast to warm in the the 50s Friday and touch the 60s to 70s by the weekend. Temperatures will trend down Sunday as the ridge axis progress through the region and an upper level trough digs across Western CONUS. This upper low will bring a more active pattern next week and precipitation chances will increase and temperatures will decrease to below normal again.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1227 PM CDT Tue Apr 7 2026

Windy conditions will continue out of the south this afternoon as a system approaches. VFR and clear conditions will persist into tonight. A front and an upper level system is forecast to move through the region today bringing forth precipitation chances this afternoon. Rain is possible along the front at all sites tonight. Rain showers could lead to reduced visibility and lowered ceilings. The cold front will bring a wind shift form southerly to northwesterly winds. Winds are forecast to be windy tomorrow afternoon with winds speeds around 30 kts. Some wrap around low clouds may bring MVFR to IFR conditions to the northern half of the state by tomorrow morning.

BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Wind Advisory from 9 AM CDT /8 AM MDT/ to 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ Wednesday for NDZ001>005-009>013-017>023-025-031>037-040>048- 050-051.