textproduct: Grand Forks

KEY MESSAGES

- Strong winds, blowing and drifting snow, and blow ice will lead to difficult travel conditions along and north of US Highway 2 through the afternoon. Weather conditions improve shortly after sunset this evening.

- Accumulating snow between 1 to 4 inches is forecast across southeast North Dakota and far southern Red River Valley Saturday morning. Localized areas may see up to 6 inches.

..Snow Saturday morning

There is a noteworthy signal for consolidated and strong low-mid level frontogenesis coincident with a low amplitude but relatively organized shortwave trough. This will generate a band of snow moving west to east into southeast ND into west-central MN starting predawn hours Saturday, lasting through the morning.

Mesoscale ascent juxtaposed with snow production in the DGZ will allow moderate to at times heavy rates of fluffy snow. This will introduce some potential impact from reduced visibility to half a mile.

Accumulating snow is expected under this snow band, generally between 2-4 inches, with locally higher amount nearing 6 inches possible.

Confidence continues to be low in its exact placement, however. This is common for this type of mesoscale-driven type forcing. Some guidance brings the snow band as far north as Devils Lake to Grand Forks and points south, whereas others keep the band more confined to the ND/SD/MN region.

Based on neighborhood probabilities within the HEFS and REFS of at least 3 inches of snow more confined to the tri-state region, opted to issue a Winter Weather Advisory to highlight the relatively best chance at seeing accumulating snow.

Winds are not anticipated to be strong during this event. So even if snow accumulations do touch 6 inches, we do not expect warning-type impacts.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 104 PM CST Fri Feb 27 2026

Aviation impacts through 18Z Saturday include very strong northwest winds, snow showers reducing visibility, and MVFR ceilings.

Northwest winds between 20-35kt, gusting 25-45kt, will continue through at least 21Z, before gradually diminishing and turn more northerly to less than 15kt by 03Z. Winds stay northerly lessening to 5-10kt after 06Z.

Scattered snow showers will reduce visibility, potentially between 1/2SM - 1SM for brief periods of time. Timing this in the TAF will be difficult, and short notice amendments can be expected to capture these potential. This will remain possible at all sites until around 06Z.

These snow showers will bring MVFR ceilings as well. Again, capturing timing of these is difficult resulting in low confidence. These will remain possible at all sites through 06Z, potentially lingering in eastern ND like KDVL through the TAF period.

FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ND...Winter Weather Advisory until 7 PM CST this evening for NDZ006>008-014>016-026-027-054. Wind Advisory until 7 PM CST this evening for NDZ014-024- 028>030-038-039. Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM to noon CST Saturday for NDZ038-049-052-053. MN...Winter Weather Advisory until 7 PM CST this evening for MNZ001- 004-005-007-008-013>015. Wind Advisory until 7 PM CST this evening for MNZ002-003-006- 009-015>017-022>024-027-028-030>032. Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM to noon CST Saturday for MNZ029-040.