textproduct: Grand Forks

KEY MESSAGES

- Blowing snow will impact travel conditions within the eastern Red River Valley through afternoon. While local/brief instances of near blizzard conditions remain possible in open country, the chance for blizzard conditions has diminished to near zero percent.

UPDATE

Issued at 1118 AM CST Sun Feb 1 2026

Trimmed the Winter Weather Advisory to only focus on the eastern Red River Valley of Minnesota, while also extending it through the afternoon. Blowing snow is forecast to reduce visibility in open country, at times to half a mile, especially areas that are prone to blowing snow. This includes continued potential for brief/local instances of near blizzard conditions. However, the combination of air temperature, forecast wind, and relatively worst case scenario with respect to snow showers. Widespread drifting snow is also expected in these areas.

Locally tightened pressure gradient will maintain winds 20-30 mph, gusting to 35 mph, highest in the northeastern Valley, through the afternoon. This eases in the evening, lessening winds.

Also, still expecting scattered snow showers organized into convective roll features to still be present through the afternoon, just perhaps not as robust/mature to house heavy snow rates (more like light to moderate snow rates) due to marginal environment and available moisture. Snow showers are expected across the entire area today masked underneath stratus clouds, with the Red River Valley into hilly terrain of Minnesota seeing highest coverage of snow showers.

With these in mind, open country areas in the northeastern and east-central Red River Valley hold relatively highest chances for seeing most impacts from reduced visibility via blowing snow.

Another point of interest - will keep an eye out for blow ice in portions of the Sheyenne River Valley. Surface temperatures may increase just above freezing here. Should this occur and widespread drifting snow be present, patchy icy conditions may develop, potentially impacting travel. This is a low confidence, low chance scenario based on uncertainties in how widespread drifting snow may be (this area saw freezing drizzle which may have locked up blowable snow, and winds will be marginal at around 15-20 mph).

UPDATE Issued at 725 AM CST Sun Feb 1 2026

Winds continue to shift to the northwest this morning, with temps falling into the upper teens to low 20s everywhere except far southeast North Dakota. Cold air advection and wind gusts will continue through much of the morning, with the forecast on track thus far. Visibility is generally in the range of 1 to 3 miles so far this morning. Minimal timing adjustments were made this update to capture current conditions.

..Winter Impacts Continue Through Around Midday

Light snow continues to accumulate in the central and southern Red River Valley and west central Minnesota this morning. There have been reports of a light wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain falling in southeast North Dakota as warm temps at the 850mb level are leading to a loss of ice aloft. Winds are shifting to the northwest as the shortwave ridge axis moves from northwest to southeast ahead of the main cold front. Temps this morning are generally in the mid to upper 20s; however, as northwest winds and cold air advection increase around sunrise, blowing snow could become an increasing impact. This is especially true in open country in the eastern Red River Valley, where a 20 percent chance for near blizzard conditions remains possible through early this afternoon.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/

Issued at 537 AM CST Sun Feb 1 2026

IFR to MVFR conditions prevail across much of the region this morning, with periodic VFR ceilings at KGFK. As winds increase this morning, blowing and drifting snow will impact visibility at times, especially at KFAR and KBJI, where light snow continues through around 15Z. Isolated snow showers remain possible through midday in the wake of the clipper system that is working across the area. Look for northwest winds to continue, with wind gusts tapering off later this afternoon.

FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ND...None. MN...Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM CST this afternoon for MNZ001>004-007-029-030.