textproduct: Grand Forks

KEY MESSAGES

- Wind gusts 45 mph thru mid morning within the Red River valley with wind advisory in effect.

- Temps return back to above normal values next week.

..Gusty winds this morning

Cold front with a wind shift to due north (360 degrees) is nearing Wahpeton to Detroit Lakes region at 09z. Wind gusts behind this cold front is 35-38kt within the valley, and this follows what was shown in the nam bufkit soundings for KGFK and KFAR with a 3 hour period of peak wind gusts maxed out around 38 kts. The strongest winds are currently mid RRV having moved into Fargo in the past hour and will drop south into the southern valley toward 12z. Winds far northern valley into Winnipeg area showing gusts have tamed down a bit. Will maintain the wind advisory as is for right now as within the advisory area there are more than a couple areas with wind gusts 45-47 mph (MN RWIS Warren to EGF to Beltrami to Halstad has shown these gusts). Sustained winds at times 30-32 mph. So wind advisory is out and is warranted. Will watch these stronger winds though exit the area to the south thru 15z...so likely can end advisory for some a bit early. One negative to getting higher winds is sfc cold air advection not incredibly strong with more of a gentle cooling from the mid 30s to upper 20s to low 20s but this takes 3-4 hours. So not getting an overachiever in wind with this system despite favorable wind direction down the valley.

There has been limited snow flurry activity behind this front. Radars have shown some light returns and evidence of a few HCR's Winnipeg area earlier....but sfc vsbys remained above 10SM at Winnipeg Airport. Kept flurry chances in as previous forecast into the morning. Dont see any intensity of these flurries to limit vsbys.

Clearing will work south, and that is shown in satellite with nose of clearing working south into Winnipeg and also NW Ontario in area of best cold advection and drier air moving in.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1142 PM CST Thu Feb 5 2026

Impacts to aviation are forecast this TAF period from lowered ceilings, gusty winds, and intermittent visibility reductions.

A cold front moves through the area tonight bringing gusty north winds 20-35kt, highest at KGFK and KFAR, shortly after 06Z. These gusty winds last through at least 12Z before gradually tapering off during the day Friday.

This cold front will also bring lowered MVFR to at times IFR ceilings. Period in which these lowered ceilings are forecast is generally through 15Z. There is uncertainty in how long ceilings linger beyond 15Z, especially at sites like KDVL, KTVF, and KBJI.

Intermittent snow showers are also forecast between 07Z-12Z, reducing visibility between 4-6SM, at times perhaps to 1SM between 08Z-12Z. Visibilities lower than 1SM from snow showers is a low confidence scenario, however. There is potential in snow showers lingering until 18Z - again there is low confidence in how long snow showers will linger into the morning.

FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ND...Wind Advisory until noon CST today for NDZ008-016-027-029-030- 039-053. MN...Wind Advisory until noon CST today for MNZ001>004-007-029.