textproduct: Grand Forks

KEY MESSAGES

- The first of two rounds of accumulating snow begins this evening, continuing into Thursday night. General 3-6 inches of accumulation will bring advisory impacts, currently forecast for areas along and south of a line from Jamestown to Bemidji.

- The second round of snow moves through Friday into Saturday. This system will be stronger than the first round, bringing an 80 percent chance for warning level impacts from accumulating snowfall greater than 6 inches.

..Second Round of Snow Friday Evening Through Saturday Afternoon

Looking into Friday and Saturday, the second upper low moves east and northeast into the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest as it occludes and slows down slightly. As this inflection occurs, a period of heavy snow is likely along the northern and western side of the low. There will be plenty of moisture available for the second system as 1000mb to 850mb mixing ratios climb well into the 3- 4 g/Kg range as the system occludes just east of the CWA. This, along with good banding support, will allow for snowfall rates upwards of 1+ inches per hour at times. The main uncertainty with this second system will be residence time as the occlusion happens, and whether or not the overall forward movement of the system is impacted. A stronger inflection will allow higher totals upwards of the 90th percentile, or up to about 8"-10" of snow in some places. If we see faster movement, and a weaker inflection, there will be fewer bands and less residence time, thus supporting amounts closer to the 10th-25th percentile in the 3"-6" range. This will be in addition to the first system, not taking into account any compaction or melting. Much like the first system, temperatures will be near freezing or just below freezing Friday night, then climb slightly after sunrise on Saturday.

Overall potential storm totals (Tonight through Saturday), could range anywhere from 5" near Devils Lake, to a foot of snow in the Valley City area. It is worth noting that this will be a very heavy and wet snow due to the temperatures being relatively warm.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1235 PM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

VFR ceilings prevail at midday, with MVFR conditions expected to develop later this afternoon at all TAF sites. Cloud cover will gradually increase out of the west ahead of an upper low. As this moves over the area this evening and overnight, light to moderate snow will impact visibility across much of the area. KFAR will see the highest potential for heavier snowfall through the overnight and into Thursday; however, all sites have a chance for at least some accumulation through the TAF period. Winds remain out of the east to southeast at 7-12 knots, then increase slightly on Thursday morning. A few gusts up to 25 knots are possible, especially at KDVL and KTVF.

FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ND...Winter Weather Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 7 PM CDT Thursday for NDZ024-028>030-038-039-049-052-053. MN...Winter Weather Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 7 PM CDT Thursday for MNZ002-003-022-023-027>031-040. Winter Weather Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 1 AM CDT Friday for MNZ006-009-016-017-024-032.