textproduct: Grand Forks

KEY MESSAGES

- Cold weather advisory in northwestern Minnesota tonight, with wind chills below -30

- Light snow up to 1 inch late tonight into tomorrow could bring sub-advisory impacts.

- Additional periods of light snow expected into the weekend, with sub-advisory impacts likely.

UPDATE

Issued at 1011 PM CST Wed Dec 31 2025

Clouds are filling in across the north and temperatures may have leveled off as winds are decreasing. Based on the current trends we may be able to ultimately cancel the Cold Weather Advisory earlier than the current expiration time Thursday morning, but I will hold onto it for now as some sites are close and may remain so into the early overnight.

Light returns are spreading into the Devils Lake Basin with snow reporting upstream in Canada as the next wave approaches and the nose of 850MB WAA spreads eastward. I made some minor adjustments to PoP trends, however overall forecast is on track tonight and Thursday morning regarding light snow accumulations.

UPDATE Issued at 716 PM CST Wed Dec 31 2025

Temperatures dropped quickly at sunset where skies remained clear and winds are holding up in the 10-15 mph range along and east of the RRV, resulting in wind chills generally -25 to -29 range (just below the -30 advisory threshold). Mid level clouds are increasing now and this may level off temps or even result in a slight increase. The most likely areas to see persistent wind chills tonight/early Thursday morning is where the current advisory is in place, and considering we are close in those areas currently there isn't a reason to adjust the current hazard. Later this evening/overnight we'll be keeping an eye on this next fast moving shortwave that is still progged to bring a period of light fluffy snow to our region through Thursday morning.

..Additional snow chances into the weekend

More fast moving clippers will bring some more light snow on an off into the first weekend of 2026. The first will come through Friday night into Saturday and then another, strong shortwave on Sunday. With both systems probabilities for an inch or more are less than 30 percent, and chances for anything over 3 inches are nil. Looks like snow amounts will be sub-advisory, but still will get slick roads and reduced visibility with falling snow.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1154 PM CST Wed Dec 31 2025

The next mid level system is approaching northeast ND and should moving across eastern ND and northwest MN through midday Thursday. This will bring a period of MVFR ceilings (brief periods of IFR depending on snow shower intensity) and generally light snow (vis reductions generally 1-6sm) through 18Z before conditions gradually improve Thursday afternoon. VFR is unlikely to prevail until late Thursday afternoon.

Winds are decreasing from the north-northwest are becoming light and variable around 5kt or less as surface high pressure slides out of Canada. These winds eventually shift to the south the back to the northwest Thursday (remaining below 10kt) as several weak fronts pass through the region.

FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ND...None. MN...Cold Weather Advisory until 9 AM CST Thursday for MNZ004>009.