Weather alerts for the NWS Grand Forks ND forecast area

000
FXUS63 KFGF 281223
AFDFGF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
723 AM CDT Wed Oct 28 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered showers today mainly southeast ND into
  northwest/west central MN.  

- Isolated thunderstorms possible Wadena-Fergus Falls-Elbow Lake
  area early to mid afternoon. Moderate chance of a strong
  storm. 
 
- Temperatures this weekend into early next week will be around
  10 degrees above normal for highs.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 714 AM CDT Wed Oct 28 2026

Thru the night, updated SPS for patchy dense fog that does
persist from Cooperstown to Lisbon/Gwinner and into parts of
Cass county ND. Webcams show continued patchy/area fog coverage
and thus SPS was issued and not advisory. This was done after
coordination with BIS/ABR on fog. Seems as if earlier model data
used for the grids from 00z were too wet this morning with
shower chances as composite radar shows limited activity. barely
worth of a 20 pop in the area from north of Bemidji to Hillsboro
to Valley City where higher chances are. Devils Lake-Grand
Forks-Roseau and north on the edge and precipitation chances are
10-30 percent. 06z SPC update for day 1 had marginal risk for
severe storms skirting southern Wadena county, southeast Otter
Tail, and Grant County MN. Based on instability forecasts do
feel better severe chances is tied more to the slight risk area
from SPC more toward the Twin Cities. Mentioned t-storm chances
in HWO for that part of west central MN near marginal risk and
it is in the forecast grids. 


&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 330 PM CDT Tue Oct 27 2026

...Synopsis...

The trough that has brought precipitation to the region 
overnight into this morning (and a few lingering pockets of 
drizzle in north central MN) is transitioning to the north, 
while the next shortwave trough that will bring rain chances 
Wednesday is centered over Oregon upstream. After the next wave 
passes Wednesday a large upper low and persistent trough pattern
is shown to remain entrenched upstream over the Pacific 
Northwest, with a general SW flow pattern across the central 
Rockies towards the Northern Plains. Our immediate region will 
tend to be under broader ridging within this split-southwest 
flow pattern initially keeping more active tracks and rain 
chances out of the region. However as the more active SW flow 
pattern builds east towards the weekend there are general rain 
chances which increase as the larger upper low/trough finally 
moves east of the Rockies into early next week. Current 
consensus keeps this to the south, however there is still a 
broad precipitation signal with this pattern change. Due to 
above average air mass remain in place there continues to be a 
signal/trend towards only rain.

...Rain on Wednesday...

The shortwave trough over Oregon quickly progresses across 
Rockies and into the Northern Plains overnight tonight into 
Wednesday morning and increasing forcing for ascent, moisture 
return, and some instability should support increasing rain 
coverage particularly in MN head of an associated frontal zone. 
There may be enough instability for some thunderstorm activity 
across west central MN which could contribute to localized 
higher rain totals. Strong/severe storms are not anticipated 
this far north with any potential for higher instability farther
south. General totals will be lighter for most areas with probs
for 0.1" and 0.25" high east of the RRV but probability in 
NBM/HREF for 0.5" lower (20-30% in our far east) and likely 
dependent on convective activity.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 714 AM CDT Wed Oct 28 2026

Typical early morning fashion where low clouds are mixed with
some some clearing along the western edge of low clouds from
Hallock to Grand Forks back to Cooperstown. Mid and high clouds
mask the extent of low IFR ceilings around KGFK and KDVL.
Clearing has been making progress eastward overnight as drier
air at 850 mb moves in from the west on the south side of upper
low in Saskatchewan. Timing of clearing as it works its way east
this afternoon and coverage of IFR or LIFR ceilings this morning
and early afternoon are a concern for TAF amendments.  

&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...None.
MN...None.

&&

$$

UPDATE...Riddle
DISCUSSION...DJR
AVIATION...Riddle