textproduct: Grand Forks

KEY MESSAGES

- Several clippers next week. Impacts look limited until Thursday when a bit higher chances for light snow exist. 20 percent chance of advisory impacts that day.

UPDATE

Issued at 132 PM CST Sat Jan 10 2026

Blowing snow in open country is reducing visibility to a quarter mile at times within localized areas of the eastern Red River Valley within Minnesota. This is particularly the case within western Polk county of east-central Red River Valley, as well as into southwest Otter Tail and Grant counties of southeast Red River Valley. This is leading to hazardous travel conditions as seen via DOT and public reports, surface observations, and area webcams.

This will continue through the afternoon into early evening before winds gradually subside. A Special Weather Statement has been issued for these areas to message the hazardous travel conditions.

Otherwise, widespread light snow continues across our area.

UPDATE Issued at 1133 AM CST Sat Jan 10 2026

Increased and lingered PoPs in northwest and west-central MN through 6pm to account for deeper moisture wrapping around the northern and western flanks of the upper low within eastern MN/northern WI, as inferred on satellite. Also lingered slight chance PoPs across most of the northeast ND, Red River Valley and Minnesota outside of deeper moisture due to low level saturation and weak cold air advection flirting with the DGZ. Wouldn't be surprised if light snow/flurries linger beyond 00Z within Minnesota, too.

There is also some Valley-funneling of winds within the northern and east-central Red River Valley given the NNW wind direction and increasing pressure gradient. This is contributing to widespread drifting snow with localized areas of blowing snow reducing visibility to around half a mile per surface observations and webcams in open country. This will likely be the case through the afternoon before winds ease toward sunset/early evening.

UPDATE Issued at 537 AM CST Sat Jan 10 2026

No changes needed attm. Watching the radar and clearing line out by DVL to see if any tweeks are needed to fcst. Overall fcst holding out pretty good.

..Clipper train alive and well next week

500 mb flow will be more west-northwesterly Sunday into Monday then as upper ridge builds along the west coast more sharply north-northwesterly mid to late week.

Sunday short wave and precipitation area will move east- southeast from Saskatoon to Winnipeg area then to along Ontario/Minnesota border. Precipitation from this should skirt far NW MN. Did go more conshort pops Sunday aftn as NBM was too low. Would not surprised me to have to extend Sun aftn pops a bit more south toward TRF or BJI even. Ptype Sunday would favor liquid freezing rain in Canada with warmer air aloft moving in but they as it reaches far NW MN the warm layer is less and more light snow chance vs freezing rain. At this time though any impacts or amounts more than a dusting/tenth of snow will be in Canada.

Mild air builds east Monday with 850 mb temps above zero all areas with temps above freezing and even holding above freezing in most ares Monday night to the south/west of a clipper system that is moving thru northern Saskatchewan into central Manitoba Monday and into NW Ontario Monday night. Precip southwest of the low looks light, but pops are in the fcst with predominate ptype being liquid light rain as it stands now in all but far NW MN. But even in areas with light rain as predominate ptype colder surfaces may still have issues with freezing. At this time it does look like light precipitation amounts. Clipper exists Tuesday and how fast precip chances exit the area and if temps fall enough or remain mild will determine ptype Tues AM. This is mainly for NW MN.

Next system on the clipper train is Thursday and flow aloft is more north-northwest this time and thus upper wave is progged to drop a bit farther west but compared to 24 hours ago it is farther east than it was. Sfc low too fcst to be more Winnipeg- Bemidji route with upper level vort max in the RRV. Temperature profile with this system more uncertain and moisture with this system is higher. So if all snow then a couple inches of snow psbl in NW MN and risk of freezing rain depending on sfc temps. All in Thursday wave is the system that would next potentially bring advisory impacts, and will keep the 20 percent chance of this in messaging. This is what Friday dayshift had.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1133 AM CST Sat Jan 10 2026

Aviation impacts stems from IFR to MVFR ceilings and reduced visibility from snow.

Widespread low stratus is contributing to mainly MVFR with more localized areas of IFR ceilings. Gradual clearing/lifting into VFR from west to east is expected through the day into this evening, with the exception in northwest MN where IFR ceilings are forecast to remain dominant. Confidence is low in how long these lowered ceilings will linger at sites like KTVF and KBJI, possibly lasting through 12Z.

Reduced visibility from snow is generally in the 2-5SM range within the Red River Valley and Minnesota through 21Z. Afterwards, light snow will continue, but visibility will be above 5SM.

Winds will be out north-northwest between 10-17kt, highest in the Red River Valley where gusts to 25kt will reside through 00Z. Winds gradually taper down between 00Z-06Z, then turning more south and southwesterly by 12Z while remaining under 15kt.

FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ND...None. MN...None.