textproduct: Grand Forks

KEY MESSAGES

- Advisory level winds are expected this afternoon into tonight across eastern North Dakota and the Red River valley.

- Best chance for widespread freezing temperatures will be Friday night.

UPDATE

Issued at 327 AM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026

Change in the forecast for today was to change start and end time of the wind advisory. Based on HRRR forecasts of peak winds there are two corridors. One is more with a west-northwest wind shift southwest of the sfc low originating in the Saskatoon and Regina area moving southeast thru western into central ND into north central SD. This is more daytime today...with chances for winds reaching advisory after 18z in far western fcst area Cando to Devils Lake to Valley City. Though it is possible advisory level winds remain a bit west of this area. Another corridor of high wind potential will be felt directly to the west of the sfc low in associated with cold advection that drops south from Winnipeg to Fargo after dark tonight. BUFKIT soundings for Fargo and Grand Forks show best lapse rates to mix down winds from 870 mb to be felt 04z-08z Friday where winds of 40-45 kts should mix down. Wind direction during this time overnight is northerly and favorable for a period of highest winds in the valley. Push of cold air isnt intense so dont expect an over achieving wind event at this time, as we may get in the winter time in a similar situation. With the timing above...went advisory 18z to 09z for DVL region, kept it early yet in case winds increase fast enough. In the valley where initial winds will not be advisory, went 23z-11z or 6pm to 6 am.

..Freezing Temperatures Possible Friday Night

Guidance continues to bring colder air into the area following Thursday's cold front. Low temperatures Friday morning are expected to be in the lower 30s, but with lingering cloud cover. A better chance of upper 20s and low 30s will be Friday night into Saturday morning as cloud cover is expected to diminish by midday Friday.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1130 PM CDT Wed Oct 14 2026

Satellite and surface observation trends show VFR conditions are slowly arriving over eastern ND. MVFR ceilings appear likely to linger into the early overnight over parts of northeast ND and northwest MN before finally clearing due to the shifting surface pattern and increasing southerly flow (8-10Z). After a period of VFR conditions midday Thursday a cold front moves into northeast ND and far northwest MN returning MVFR ceilings across eastern ND and northwest MN during the afternoon and evening (lower chance for prevailing IFR). Scattered light rain showers are moving across southeast ND into west central MN early in the TAF period, however most locations should remain dry (KFAR has best chance for light rain). A more organized period of light rain moves through northwest MN behind the cold front Thursday evening.

Winds are currently light, but with the approach of low pressure they should shift to the south and southwest overnight increasing by the morning hours. Behind the cold front winds will turn to the west-northwest and increase. Gusts 30kt or higher are likely over parts of eastern ND Thursday afternoon, with the highest gusts along and west of the Red River Valley during the evening/overnight period Thursday.

FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ND...Wind Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 6 AM CDT Friday for NDZ008-016-027-029-030-039-049-052-053. Wind Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 4 AM CDT Friday for NDZ006-007-014-015-024-026-028-038-054. MN...Wind Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 6 AM CDT Friday for MNZ001>004-007-029.