851 FXUS63 KFGF 280847 AFDFGFArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 347 AM CDT Sun Sep 28 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Near critical fire weather is expected across portions of northwest and west central Minnesota Sunday afternoon.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 347 AM CDT Sun Sep 28 2025
...Synopsis...
Clear, quiet and calm early this morning when looking at radar and satellite. Persistent ridging will keep this period of calm over our region through the early workweek. A fast hitting shortwave will pass through late Tuesday into Wednesday. Showers look to be limited in areal coverage to near the International Border as the wave quickly propagates to the north and east. Troughing over the western US will set up southwesterly flow over the Northern Plains by late week. This will increase precipitation chances towards next weekend, but right now guidance gives the idea of "waves" of systems that cause occasional chances for rain with breaks in between, not one larger system that would provide more persistent and widespread precipitation.
...Near Critical Fire Weather...
Another afternoon of above average temperatures, low dewpoints and a well mixed boundary layer will combine to create near critical fire weather across portions of northwest and west central MN. Looking upstream in SD/central ND, dewpoints are higher, and these values will be advecting into our region due to a south/southwest wind by this afternoon. Winds will be stronger then yesterday due to a tighter pressure gradient, with gusts topping out around 20 knots. All told, decided to issue an SPS for the forested areas of MN where the lower RH values look to reside. If higher dewpoints fail to advect as far east as currently forecasted, another tier of counties to the west of the current SPS will likely see near critical fire weather conditions as well for a few hours this afternoon. Near critical fire weather will continue to be a concern through midweek. The lowest RH and highest winds still look to not overlap though on any one given day, which should alleviate critical fire weather concerns.
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.AVIATION /03Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1032 PM CDT Sat Sep 27 2025
VFR conditions for all through the next 24 hours with winds (namely any gusts) posing the only hazards to aviation. Wind gusts return for all by noon tomorrow with gusts of 15-20kts being widespread.
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.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...None. MN...None.
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DISCUSSION...Rafferty AVIATION...TT
NWS FGF Office Area Forecast Discussion