textproduct: Grand Forks

KEY MESSAGES

- A major winter storm will impact the Northern Plains this weekend. Accumulating snow will begin Saturday afternoon, lasting through Sunday. Total snowfall accumulations will be 4-6 inches, with localized totals approaching a foot, mainly along the Dakota state line.

- Blowing snow will increase Sunday. Widespread blowing snow will periodically reduce visibility to whiteout in the southern Red River Valley.

- Freezing rain and accumulating snow may bring travel impacts Tuesday into Wednesday. The probability for advisory level impacts is 40%.

..WINTER PRECIPITATION TUESDAY

Another swath of precipitation is expected to dive down Tuesday. However, mean temperature profiles increase as a building ridge upstream begins to take hold. This brings a nice temperature gradient and zone of higher forcing to our area, with precipitation expected Tuesday afternoon/evening. Temperature profiles will be variable with a potential range of scenarios from rain, freezing rain, and snow. Still, QPF signals are fairly light and generally a few tenths, so the greatest impacts will likely have to come from any freezing rain or all snow. The probability of advisory impacts is 40% because any freezing rain is enough to generate impacts, while a combo of freezing rain/snow appears to be a more likely scenario. Regardless, this carries a shorter predictability horizon, so stay tuned for further updates as we get closer.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1210 PM CDT Fri Mar 13 2026

Scattered snow showers are possible this afternoon for some TAF sites and could bring both visibility and ceilings down to MVFR. However, prevailing VFR conditions will be the main story for the entire TAF period. Wind speeds will diminish as a surface high approaches from the west, becoming light and variable overnight. Ceilings should begin to fall towards the end of the TAF period tomorrow in advance of a winter storm, although most guidance keeps lower categories from our TAF site until after the TAF period ends.

FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ND...Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM Saturday to 7 PM CDT Sunday for NDZ038-039. Winter Storm Warning from 1 PM Saturday to 7 PM CDT Sunday for NDZ049-052-053. MN...Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM Saturday to 7 PM CDT Sunday for MNZ003. Winter Weather Advisory from 7 PM Saturday to 7 PM CDT Sunday for MNZ024-027-028. Winter Storm Warning from 1 PM Saturday to 7 PM CDT Sunday for MNZ029. Winter Storm Warning from 7 PM Saturday to 7 PM CDT Sunday for MNZ030>032-040.