textproduct: Grand Forks

KEY MESSAGES

-Winter storm winding down through the evening. Main accumulating snow ends by midnight, with light snow lingering through Thursday.

-Low chance for winter impacts next Tuesday.

UPDATE

Issued at 803 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

We have expanded the Winter Storm Warning southward as the deformation bands forward propagation has slowed so it is likely we'll exceed 6 inches in this area. Additionally, periodic inch per hour rates may make things dangerous with whiteout conditions. Expect warning impacts to continue through at least midnight or possibly longer if snowfall rates maintain itself.

..Winter Impacts next Tuesday

Ensemble members indicate that numerous scenarios exist with the Tuesday/Wednesday upper wave as it round the western CONUS upper ridge. It does have a favorable track for a stronger type cold front, but other than a favorable pattern not much else can be said for details such as strength of forcing, mixing, etc. Ensemble systems indicate ~40% chance for greater than an inch of snow and individual ensemble members are all over the place with regards to wind speeds.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 522 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

Snow will continue to linger across the region with the heaviest rates mainly centered over GFK/FAR/TVF over the next 2-3 hours. Eventually, rates will diminish in intensity but snow will linger for all TAF sites keeping visibilities oscillating between VFR and MVFR. Within the heaviest snow, VLIFR is ongoing and is expected to continue to be a threat through the evening.

Regardless of snowfall rates, expect at least MVFR ceilings with a high chance for IFR to LIFR ceilings for the entire TAF period. There may be brief breaks to VFR at times, but the overwhelming majority of guidance suggests ongoing low ceilings thanks to the upper low that will be spinning through tomorrow.

Generally, aviation impacts should improve after midnight as snowfall rates taper off and we should start to see VFR visibilities becoming more the norm towards the end of the TAF period.

FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ND...Winter Storm Warning until midnight CST tonight for NDZ006>008- 014>016-026-027-030-054. Winter Weather Advisory until midnight CST tonight for NDZ024- 028-029-038-039-049-052-053. MN...Winter Storm Warning until midnight CST tonight for MNZ001>004- 007. Winter Weather Advisory until midnight CST tonight for MNZ029- 030-040.