textproduct: Grand Forks

KEY MESSAGES

- Light snow will spread north today, ending this evening. 7 am Thursday to 1 am Friday period snowfall generally 2 to 4 inches RRV and east...locally higher near 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.

UPDATE

Issued at 710 AM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

Heavier snow band entering far southern RRV and passing thru Fergus Falls. Dry slot though working in behind it with area of rain and t-storms entering far SW MN. No forecast changes. Will update aviation section below.

UPDATE Issued at 341 AM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

No changes to headlines this early morning. Light snow area is spreading north once again ahead of 500 mb upper wave which is in northwest Kansas moving north-northeast. So will expect light snow area will spread north today. For second system most model data has focused now on that area of 6-12 inches from Bismarck area to Grand Forks and Fargo then toward Bemidji. That system main snow is focused for the afternoon, and most intense 00z to 15z Sat.

..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 /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 710 AM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

Expect conditions to trend down into IFR ceilings and visibilities most of the day. Ceilings and vsby likely to go back and forth from MVFR to IFR thru the day into the evening, but for the most part IFR category will be predominate. East to northeast wind 8 to 15 kts.

FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ND...Winter Storm Watch from Friday afternoon through late Saturday night for NDZ008-014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054. Winter Weather Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for NDZ024- 028>030-038-039-049-052-053. MN...Winter Storm Watch from Friday afternoon through late Saturday night for MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040. Winter Weather Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for MNZ002- 003-022-023-027>031-040. Winter Weather Advisory until 1 AM CDT Friday for MNZ006-009- 016-017-024-032.