textproduct: Bismarck

KEY MESSAGES

- Medium to high chances for light rain south and west of the Missouri River today. Rain ending southwest and south central this evening. - Cool and cloudy today with highs from the mid 50s west to the mid 60s east.

- Gradual warming trend through the upcoming workweek, with highs mostly in the 60s on Monday increasing to the 70s and lower 80s by the end of the week.

- Chance of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday through Wednesday night, otherwise mostly dry through the workweek.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 344 AM CDT Sun Sep 20 2026

Showers continue to lift northward through western and south central ND ahead of an upper level low pressure system currently tracking through Wyoming. Occasional showers will continue mainly south and west of the Missouri River through the day today, although there was a bit of a northward shift in the precipitation and light rain has pushed a little north of the Missouri in far northwest ND. Rain amounts here though will remain very light. As the day goes on, better precipitation chances will shift to the south. This evening precipitation is expected to taper off over southwest and south central ND, west of the Missouri. Another cool day is expected today, especially in the southwest where highs are forecast to be in the mid 50s. We should see clear to partly cloudy skies most areas late tonight into Monday morning, thus cooler overnight lows in the 40s are forecast.

Overall, it looks like a pretty quiet week ahead. We will see a gradual warming trend. Highs start out mainly in the 60s on Monday, the climb into the mid 70s to mid 80s by the end of the workweek. One hiccup will be Wednesday through Wednesday night. An upper level low, currently off the California coast lifts northeast across the Rockies and into the Northern Plains by Wednesday. This will bring a chance of showers and possibly a few thunderstorms spreading southwest to northeast across the forecast area. Late in the workweek, we are situated between upper level high pressure over, or just east of us, with another upper level low to our west. Currently the NBM is depicting dry weather each day and can't argue with that, especially Thursday. However, with temperatures creeping into the 80s west, an isolated afternoon/evening thunderstorm Can't be ruled out Friday afternoon or evening. On Saturday the upper low to our west closes off and lifts northeast into Alberta and Saskatchewan, with the associated cold front pushing through the area Saturday-Sunday. Uncertainty is quite high at this time, but another shot of showers and a few thunderstorms may be possible over the weekend. Temperature wise, highs in the 70s and 80s at the end of the workweek cool into the 60s to lower 70s by Sunday.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1150 PM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026

Light rain with MVFR/IFR visibility and primarily IFR/LIFR ceilings will continue in southwest North Dakota through much of the forecast period. Lower chances for light rain exist from northwest to south central North Dakota where ceilings are mostly expected to remain at or perhaps just slightly above MVFR thresholds. Areas from around KMOT to KJMS are more likely to stay dry with VFR ceilings, although intermittent periods of MVFR ceilings cannot be ruled out. Expect northeast to easterly winds around 10 kts through much of the forecast period.

BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.