textproduct: Bismarck

KEY MESSAGES

- Gusty northwesterly winds today.

- Wrap around snow showers today, possibly mixing with rain in the afternoon.

- Below normal temperatures across the state through Thursday. Near normal temperatures Friday then above normal temperatures this weekend.

- Widespread 30 to 50 percent precipitation chances later this weekend and into early next week. Initially as rain, possibly with a few thunderstorms on Sunday, then potentially changing to snow.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 245 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026

Satellite imagery shows a strong upper low moving across North Dakota. The surface low is located over southern Manitoba placing western and central North Dakota in northwesterly flow at the surface. This backside of the upper low has brought forth strong cold air advection mixing stronger winds down to the surface. The initial surge of sinking air produced high winds across the southwest. However the forecast soundings show a decrease in the mixed layers as colder temperatures surge into the region. Thus high winds quickly died off. There has also been wrap around snow and rain showers associated with the upper low this afternoon leading to temporary visibility reductions. Winds will rapidly diminish west to east this evening. Surface high pressure will quickly move through the region tonight. An upper level shortwave is forecast to dive across South Dakota early tomorrow morning leading to a shot of rain and snow along the North and South Dakota border. Temperatures are forecast to remain below normal tomorrow with temperatures only forecast to warm into the upper 30s to 40s.

Temperatures will begin to trend upward Friday as temperature climb to near normal, the 50s. This weekend temperatures are forecast to warm into the 60s and 70s across the area as an upper level ridge axis passes overhead. Breezy southerly wind will bring advect higher dewpoints into the region Saturday afternoon into Sunday. Dewpoints are forecast to jump to the 50s in the south central and the 60s in eastern North Dakota by Sunday. Saturday looks to be capped, but there is an axis of instability that moves through the region with a few models showing a short wave traversing the jet stream. Sunday an upper level low moves across the region being the lifting the mechanism for Thunderstorms. CSU MLP has been highlighting the eastern half of the state for a low chance of severe weather as there will be plenty of shear and instability this weekend. Thus the timing of the wave is important. This upper low will bring rain across the region with a clipper system following early next week. This clipper system will bring below normal temperatures back across the state to start next week.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1249 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026

A strong upper level low has brought high winds and showers across the state this afternoon. High winds from the northwest are forecast to diminish this evening as the low moves off to the east. Winds up to 50kts have been observed in the southwest. There are currently showers across central and northern North Dakota. Snow showers, which are mainly across the north, have lead to temporary visibility reductions. These showers and lower ceiling are forecast to move off to the east later this evening.

BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ this evening for NDZ001>005-009>013-017>023-025-031>037-040>048-050-051.