133 
FXUS63 KFGF 081007
AFDFGF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
507 AM CDT Tue Sep 8 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Windy conditions develop today with wind gusts to 50 mph 
  across parts of northeast North Dakota and the northern Red 
  River Valley in Minnesota.

- Next strong or severe storm chance is later Friday for parts
  of far southeast North Dakota into west central and northwest
  Minnesota. 

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 452 AM CDT Tue Sep 8 2026

700-300 mb flow aloft is southwest as upper low is moving 
northeast to north of Regina SK. An area of MVFR ceilings have 
been expanding from far SE ND into NW MN. An area of mid clouds 
and some light rain showers have been from Bismarck up thru 
Devils Lake to Langdon the past 1-3 hours. They are moving 
northeast as well. Unsure how long these light showers will last
and if they will eventually track east with time this morning. 

Kept the wind advisory previously issued for today in place but
did alter the start time. Kept 15z for Devils Lake basin but did
delay until 18z for the north RRV as winds speeds will take a
bit of time to reach advisory levels in the north valley. 


&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 328 PM CDT Mon Sep 7 2026

...Synopsis...

SW Flow is in place across the Northern Plains head of a
stronger mid/upper trough/upper level low located over the 
Northern Rockies. This upper low tracks east and deepens over 
the Canadian Prairies and passes north of our region through 
Tuesday. There is more variation in details beyond Tuesday 
regarding any shortwave trough passages and rain 
coverage/chances, though we still remain on the warmer side of 
temperatures despite a shift towards west-northwest flow on the 
back side of this trough. The general trend is for a much more 
substantial shift in flow aloft favoring decreasing heights and 
temperatures by the end of next week and next weekend (highs in 
the 60s). The most likely periods of impactful weather will be 
associated with the trough passage tonight and Tuesday 
(thunderstorms then wind).

...Severe Thunderstorm and Heavy Rain Risk...

Ongoing showers and embedded thunderstorms have remain weaker in
a much more elevated airmass featuring skinny CAPE profiles 
but strong effective shear. Current activity developed with the 
nose of a LLJ and elevated WAA in the 850-700 MB layer and 
besides heavy rain/lighting it may only feature a marginal hail 
threat. Expansive cloud cover is also lingering, which may lower
our window for surface based thunderstorms during the afternoon
and evening. 

Surface pattern indicates surface troughing over western ND, with 
several fronts intersecting near Dickinson. The deepening of this 
surface low and position/timing of these fronts before sunset
will be critical for any potential supercell development to 
our west that may track into the Devils Lake Basin/eastern ND 
during the evening hours. Forcing is much more diffuse before 
the main trough starts shifting east later this 
evening/overnight, so coverage/initiation carries more 
uncertain. Still, within the warm sector where clearing develops
decent instability profiles may coincide with strongly veered 
hodographs/strong shear favorable of supercells and a 
conditional risk for hail around the size of golf balls and a 
conditions risk for tornado development. Some CAMs (mainly runs 
of the HRRR) have supported supercell developing to our west and
potentially tracking east into our west. The farther east and 
the later activity lingers/tracks activity will tend to become 
weaker with more of a marginal hail risk.

Higher PWATs in place raises potential for heavy rain rates with 
thunderstorm activity once again as with previous days, and any 
slower moving/training clusters could lead to localized
flooding.

&&

.AVIATION /03Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 927 PM CDT Mon Sep 7 2026

Variable flight conditions are forecasted throughout the TAF
period. Overnight, a period of MVFR stratus looks to develop at
KBJI and KTVF, creeping into KFAR and KGFK as well. Ceilings 
may flirt with IFR at times, especially around sunrise. 
Confidence in how long MVFR lasts at KGFK and KFAR is lower, as 
these terminals will be on the western edge of the cloud deck. 

A front passing through overnight into Tuesday morning will 
bring a shift in wind direction, along with a rapid increase in
wind gusts. Gusts in excess of 30 knots are forecasted at KDVL,
KGFK and KFAR for at least several hours on Tuesday. The 
strongest winds will occur during afternoon hours, especially at
KGFK and KDVL. Winds will die down after sunset, with gusts
subsiding at all terminals by the end of the TAF period.

&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 7 PM CDT this evening 
     for NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-054.
MN...Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 7 PM CDT this evening 
     for MNZ001-004-007.

&&

$$

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