947 FXUS63 KFGF 021855 AFDFGFArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 155 PM CDT Thu Oct 2 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Near record breaking warmth through Saturday.
- There is a level 1 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms late Saturday afternoon into Saturday evening. Widespread rain is forecasted Saturday night through Sunday across portions of eastern North Dakota into northwestern Minnesota.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 155 PM CDT Thu Oct 2 2025
...Synopsis...
Meandering surface trough is washing out over Lakes Country this afternoon, bringing with it a southerly to westerly wind shift. Clear skies have lead to another warm day, with widespread low to mid 80s across the region early this afternoon.
Looking upstream, a large trough over the Pacific Coast will be the catalyst for more active and unsettled weather as it propagates eastward over the weekend. An area of low pressure will form in the lee of the Rockies Friday night into Saturday, tracking from the Nebraska Panhandle northeastward to the Northern Red River Valley by midday Sunday. This system will initially bring thunderstorms and widespread rainfall, with much cooler temperatures and windy conditions on the backside. These cooler temperatures will introduce frost/freeze concerns Monday through Wednesday mornings. Wednesday morning in particular looks to be the coldest as the core of surface high pressure passes through the FA. The probabilities Wednesday morning for temperatures of 32 degrees or colder is 70% area wide.
...Weekend Thunderstorms and Rainfall...
A strong low level jet of 50+ knots and associated warm air advection will bring increasing potential for thunderstorms starting Friday night. The first area of thunderstorm development looks to be along the International Border on the nose of the WWA/LLJ Friday night. While small hail and lightning are possible, severe weather is not anticipated. Attention then shifts to Saturday afternoon and evening. The advancing cold front from the west will provide sufficient forcing for thunderstorms to develop. Instability of up to 2000 J/kg, along with more then adequate 0-6 Km shear of 40+ knots will set the stage for thunderstorm development. The window of time for storms to become severe seems to be limited to a few hours in the late afternoon/early evening. Therefore, the SPC has placed much of the forecast area under a level 1 of 5 marginal risk. The highest shear and instability seem to co- locate themselves in northwestern MN, where a locally bit higher risk of severe weather appears to exist.
A large shield of rain will develop on the cold side of the low, driven by strong synoptic forcing. This deformation band will slowly push northeastward, waning Sunday afternoon. Recent model guidance has trended stronger and further west with the track of the surface low, resulting in a swath of heavy rainfall on the order of 1 to 2 inches across the Devils Lake Basin into the far northern Red River Valley. Rainfall totals taper off to the south and east.
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1214 PM CDT Thu Oct 2 2025
VFR throughout the TAF period. Winds will remain light today, shifting from the south to a more westerly direction at terminals from west to east. Winds become calm and variable overnight, before increasing out of the south up to 12 knots by late Friday morning.
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.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...None. MN...None.
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DISCUSSION...Rafferty AVIATION...Rafferty
NWS FGF Office Area Forecast Discussion