textproduct: Grand Forks

KEY MESSAGES

- Blizzard warning in effect for the northern Red River Valley through 6am and Winter Weather Advisory for all other areas.

- Another system will move through the area Sunday, impacting travel conditions. This include a 60% chance for blizzard conditions within the Red River Valley. A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for this blizzard potential.

UPDATE

Issued at 1141 PM CST Fri Jan 16 2026

Blizzard to near blizzard continue for much of the Red River Valley late this evening and will continue towards sunrise. Conditions will improve as winds die down in the coming hours with light snow no longer being a primary driver of low vis. Widespread stations still reporting under 1SM vis in the RRV and a fair number of those under 1/2SM and thus have have kept the advisory/blizzard warning in effect for those areas and allow other areas to drop as webcams no longer support notable impacts to those surrounding regions.

UPDATE Issued at 646 PM CST Fri Jan 16 2026

To be frank conditions are not much different across the red region where a blizzard warning is now in effect until 6am vs what they have been the past 12 hours. That said we wanted to at least acknowledge that many across this area are experiencing at least marginal blizzard conditions. Winds remaining 30-35mph through the night and light snow prevailing with perhaps another 1" for the region as low level saturation remains. How much snow has fallen so far you might ask?? Officially 3.1" at the NWS office but that is an estimate that accounts for wind among other factors. Knowing that there should be enough snow out there that should falling snow lighten or end and winds remain there is a sufficiently deep blowable snowpack to keep poor conditions lingering into the morning or until winds die down.

..Potential blizzard Sunday

Looking ahead into Sunday, there is a 60% chance for blizzard conditions to develop within the Red River Valley. With most ensemble guidance in agreement of a more consolidated synoptic wave bringing relatively greater forcing compared to today (including mesoscale forcing via transient frontogensis), we have a better chance at seeing more snow, generally in the 1-3 inch range, as well as higher winds aloft, including 60kt low level jet aloft. Ensembles agree in another surge of arctic air to come with this wave, increasing the pressure gradient as well as colder temperatures below zero.

This lends credence toward seeing 60% chance for blizzard conditions. There is still some uncertainty in the amount of blowable snow that will be available, which is something we may not be confident in know until sometime tomorrow after the current blowing snow impacts and falling snow settles. For this reason, we've issued a Winter Storm Watch for blizzard conditions within the Red River Valley on Sunday.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1141 PM CST Fri Jan 16 2026

Snow and blowing snow are creating near blizzard conditions within the Red River Valley affecting FAR and GFK. This is causing significantly reduced visibility at times less than 1/2SM. These conditions will linger within the Red River Valley through at least 12Z. Ceilings are generally MVFR to IFR, and will remain so through the TAF period. Gusty north- northwest winds to 25-30kt will persist towards 18z but decreasing by 12z enough to allow blowing snow to wane. A few gusts over 40kts remain possible in the next 6 hours.

There is another opportunity for significant aviation impacts Sunday from potential blizzard conditions.

FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ND...Blizzard Warning until 6 AM CST Saturday for NDZ008-016-027. Cold Weather Advisory until 4 PM CST Saturday for NDZ006>008- 014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054. Winter Storm Watch from late Saturday night through Sunday evening for NDZ008-016-027-029-030-039-053. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM CST Saturday for NDZ030-039- 053. MN...Blizzard Warning until 6 AM CST Saturday for MNZ001-002-004- 007. Cold Weather Advisory until 4 PM CST Saturday for MNZ001>005- 007-008-013>015-022-027-029-030-040. Winter Storm Watch from late Saturday night through Sunday evening for MNZ001>004-007-027-029-030-040. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM CST Saturday for MNZ003-027- 029-030-040.