textproduct: Bismarck

KEY MESSAGES

- Light snow and strong winds today, resulting in near blizzard conditions in the north central through the James River Valley.

- Wind Advisory and Winter Weather Advisory in effect through this afternoon for winds gusting up to 55 MPH and for blowing snow. - Active northwest flow continues this week, with chances for snow and breezy winds around the middle of next week.

- Below average temperatures continue through the week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 255 AM CST Sun Jan 18 2026

Currently the strong northwest flow continues across the Northern Plains between an area of lower heights north of the Great Lakes, and a higher heights area in southern California. At the surface there is a clipper system working through southern Canada. A warm front is moving west to east across the state, and is currently between Bismarck and Jamestown. This front is almost warming temperatures 10 degrees per hour. Behind the front, winds are starting to gust around 35mph. In western South Dakota a secondary low pressure center exists. Between the two low centers a surface trough is draped across western ND. On the positive side of the surface trough located in northwestern ND, more snow showers have formed are are moving southeast. Near the ND border but still in Canada is the backdoor cold front.

This morning light snow is expected throughout western and central ND before the cold front then moves through later this morning. That cold front will kick the winds gusts up to 55mph with the cold air advection. This in turn will dramatically cool temperatures by this afternoon. This means today's high temperature will occur between the warm front and cold front sometime before the sunrise depending on your location. Only around 1 inch of snow is expected where the Winter Weather Advisory is, but with the winds and existing snowpack, near blizzard conditions are possible. After sunset winds will start to relax down to 15 to 20 mph gusts. Tonight the winds combined with sub-zero temperatures will create more dangerous wind chills in the north central down through the James River Valley. A Cold Weather Advisory may be needed.

Monday a surface high pressure will move through in the continuing strong northwest flow. This will maintain the colder temperatures. For highs, expect temps around 0 degrees in the northeast to near 20 in the far southwest. Winds will briefly be windy in the afternoon with gusts nearing 30 mph. Tuesday yet another clipper system moves through. This could produce up to 2 inches of snow in the central and James River Valley, along with wind gusts around 25 mph. Tuesday will be the warmest day of the week with the counter-clockwise spin wrapping in warmer air ahead of the low. Highs could be between 10 in the northeast to 30 southwest.

Wednesday will be slightly cooler as the low pressure starts to exit. Late in the week a large area of low heights north of the Great Lakes will create a surge of very cold air into the Northern Plains. We are talking high temperatures below zero through next weekend. The NBM has a large temperature spread as the timing and strength varies right now, but we are confident in well below normal temperatures through this weekend.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1200 AM CST Sun Jan 18 2026

Another round of light snow and strong winds this forecast period. Expected IFR VIS in the falling snow in the central and east before 2am, then northwest winds will increase to 40kts tonight forecast area wide. CIGs will MVFR through most of the period with BLSN.

BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Wind Advisory until 6 PM CST /5 PM MST/ this evening for NDZ001>003-009>011-017>021-031>035-040>046. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening for NDZ004- 005-012-013-022-023-025-036-037-047-048-050-051.