Dangerous Cold: Snow & Blowing Snow Likely

A Wind chill Warning has been issued for the area until 3:00 AM Wednesday here in the Fargo area, while areas around Jamestown and westward will remain in the warning through most of the week. A winter weather advisory then goes into effect for portions of the southern valley and Minnesota from 3:00 AM Wednesday until 6:00 AM Thursday. Although that will likely be extended through Thursday and Friday and potentially even need to be upgraded to a Blizzard warning Friday as ground blizzard-like to ground blizzard conditions will become more likely, along with very cold temperatures.

Through tonight temperatures will plummet between 15-30 below zero before slowly warming into Wednesday morning between 10-25 below zero. Temperatures will hit about 24 below in Fargo, with subtle wind between 5-10 mph before going light. This light breeze will produce wind chills between 20-40 below, with 20-50 below zero around the area! Scattered snow showers enter the area from the west early Wednesday morning and continue through the afternoon. Temperatures will only warm between 12-5 below zero with wind chills between 20-30 below due to a north wind between 5-15 mph.

Snow showers will wind down and exit the area eastward by Wednesday evening into Minnesota, but not before dropping 2-5 inches of snow with localized areas higher. It will turn breezy overnight Wednesday, producing areas of patchy blowing/drifting snow and wind chills again dropping off between 30-50 below. Thursday will likely need an advisory extended through the day due to wind continuing to pick up through the morning and afternoon between 10-20 gusting to 30 mph, producing areas of patchy blowing and drifting snow. Windy conditions will take over Friday... A northwest wind is expected to be between 20-30 mph and gusting upwards of 40 mph, which will be enough to produce ground blizzard-like to ground blizzard conditions. Travel will become very difficult Friday before winds lighten up overnight Friday into Saturday morning with wind chills again at 20-40 below or colder.
This will be due to a large storm system tracking to our south. Effecting the Central Plains Wednesday evening into the Great Lakes areas Thursday and Friday afternoon, where it will get stronger with strong wind and heavy snow amounts. Traveling will be very difficult and numerous flight delays will be likely.

Another chance for snow looks to head our way on Christmas, with breezy conditions possible Christmas night into Monday, Dec 26. Patchy blowing/drifting snow looks to be possible.
Stay up to date on the forecast as active weather will continue through this week into the holiday weekend.

Attached below is a blend of expected snow accumulation for the US through Friday night, although I believe it is under-anticipating the snow ratio for ND on Wednesday. Where 2-5 inches of snow with localized areas higher are possible. Addition snowfall maps into Thursday morning for the tri-state area are using a higher than a 10:1 snow ratio.

Meteorologist,
Justin Storm