Special Weather Statement, NWS Grand Forks, ND

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1138 PM CDT Sat Aug 18 2018

.UPDATE...
Issued at 1138 PM CDT Sat Aug 18 2018

The HRRR and other high resolution models continue to show showers
and thunderstorms breaking out along the frontal boundary after
midnight and continuing into Sunday. However, there is still
nothing happening other than over south central North Dakota and
over the western half of South Dakota. Will maintain some chances
for pcpn over the FA tonight, but still wondering if anything will
form. Better chances may hold off until late Sunday morning into
the afternoon, and then mainly south of a line from Valley City to
Fargo to Park Rapids. Will be in a wait and see mode for the rest
of tonight.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday)
Issued at 309 PM CDT Sat Aug 18 2018

Wildfire smoke continues to impact the Northern Plains and Upper
Midwest today. Smoke has dissipated somewhat since yesterday but
is still present overhead. This lead to slightly higher than
expected temperatures with highs today now forecast to be in the
mid to upper 80s. Much of this smoke is expected to clear out
with the cold front that will move though tonight into tomorrow.

This cold front will also have some higher winds that we are now
experiencing as the pressure gradient tightens. Rain showers with
some thunderstorms are expected to fire along this cold front
tonight into tomorrow. The best chances for rain and thunderstorms
tonight will be in eastern North Dakota and far northwest
Minnesota. As the front continues to move to the southeast the
rain and thunderstorms chances will move to the southeast
spreading the chances into west central and the rest of northwest
Minnesota.

Severe weather is unlikely with weak shear present but
ML CAPE in the 1500 to 2000 J/kg range will provide the
instability for thunderstorms. Another limiting factor is the cap
which will help to limit the occurrence of thunderstorms. The
best chances for thunderstorms will be along the cold front thanks
to the synoptic lift that it will provide.

.LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Saturday)
Issued at 309 PM CDT Sat Aug 18 2018

An amplified west coast H5 ridge and mid continental trof will set
the stage for the early into mid week period... providing at least
the possibility of a somewhat freshened and cooler northerly blayer
flow into the area from Monday into Tuesday. Highs are expected to
reach only into the 70s either day. In regards to air quality...
there is a caveat, however, as at least one Canadian smoke plume
model would show a strong return of intense smoke into northwest MN
with the north winds on Monday... from fires along the MB/ON border.
And, since very little rain is expected to accompany this weekends
frontal passage its a good bet that existing large fire areas across
central and western Canada will persist in some form into the coming
work week.

Thus when surface high pressure, originating in west central Canada,
settles over the area from Tuesday into Wednesday... we will likely
see the return to a somewhat smokey and/or hazy sky and a reduced
air quality. Light and variable winds on Tuesday should turn from
the south on Wednesday... but the same dry and smokey airmass
qualities are likely to persist. Temperatures on Wednesday and
Thursday should rise near seasonal normals /lower to mid 80s/ for
the mid week period... but if substantial smoke is also present,
expect this warming to be somewhat reduced.

There is some hope as we get to the late week period... for a more
substantial and widespread rainfall, and for a improvement in air
quality. Mid range forecast models agree in bringing a strong H5
shortwave trof into the Northern Plains area late Thursday into
Friday which could flush any lingering smoke from the area and
provide rainfall to fire affected area in central and western Canada
to boot.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Sunday night)
Issued at 1138 PM CDT Sat Aug 18 2018

Pretty much stuck with the parameters shown in the 00Z set of
TAFs. Confidence low with any pcpn tonight, so just kept in a VCTS
mention for now. If showers and storms break out along the front,
will have to amend as confidence increases. Otherwise, still
expect the wind switch to the north, and increasing speeds on
Sunday (although nothing too substantial). May see better pcpn
chances around KFAR by later Sunday morning through the afternoon,
but that too remains to be seen. Some models have been backing off
on those chances too. For that reason, have gone more VCTS for
Sunday afternoon at KFAR too.

&&

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

UPDATE...Godon
SHORT TERM...NC
LONG TERM...Gust
AVIATION...Godon

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
542 AM CDT Sat Aug 18 2018

NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054-191045-
Towner-Cavalier-Pembina-Benson-Ramsey-Eastern Walsh County-Eddy-
Nelson-Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-
Sargent-Richland-Western Walsh County-
542 AM CDT Sat Aug 18 2018

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North
Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Patchy dense fog will be possible through mid morning.

Smoke from wildfires in Canada and the western US will move
across the region, lowering air quality.

Thunderstorms will be possible tonight into Sunday.
Severe weather is unlikely.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Thunderstorms are possible Thursday night. Details and impacts
are uncertain at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated.

MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-191045-
West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-
West Marshall-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington-Red Lake-
East Polk-North Clearwater-South Beltrami-Mahnomen-
South Clearwater-Hubbard-West Becker-East Becker-Wilkin-
West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-
542 AM CDT Sat Aug 18 2018

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of west central
and northwest Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Patchy dense fog will be possible through mid morning, mainly over
far northwest Minnesota.

Smoke from wildfires in Canada and the western US continues to
move through the region. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
has issued an Air Quality Alert for fine particle pollution over
all of northern Minnesota.

Thunderstorms will be possible tonight into Sunday.
Severe weather is unlikely.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Thunderstorms are possible Thursday night. Details and impacts are
uncertain at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Eastern ND/Grand Forks ND
220 AM CDT SUN AUG 19 2018

NDZ027-190745-
Grand Forks ND-
220 AM CDT SUN AUG 19 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN GRAND FORKS COUNTY
UNTIL 245 AM CDT...

At 220 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Kempton, or 25 miles west of Grand Forks, moving east at 30 mph.

Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

This strong thunderstorm will be near...
  Arvilla around 230 AM CDT.
  Holmes around 245 AM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Grand Forks.

&&

LAT...LON 4784 9776 4797 9754 4789 9713 4767 9735
TIME...MOT...LOC 0720Z 284DEG 24KT 4784 9761

Lynch

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Eastern ND/Grand Forks ND
233 AM CDT SUN AUG 19 2018

MNZ001-NDZ027-190800-
West Polk MN-Grand Forks ND-
233 AM CDT SUN AUG 19 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN POLK AND EAST
CENTRAL GRAND FORKS COUNTIES UNTIL 300 AM CDT...

At 233 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
East Grand Forks, or near Grand Forks, moving east at 20 mph.

Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Grand Forks.

&&

LAT...LON 4794 9737 4807 9710 4806 9665 4784 9690
TIME...MOT...LOC 0733Z 280DEG 16KT 4797 9702

Lynch

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Eastern ND/Grand Forks ND
235 AM CDT SUN AUG 19 2018

NDZ026>029-190815-
Griggs ND-Nelson ND-Steele ND-Grand Forks ND-
235 AM CDT SUN AUG 19 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN GRAND FORKS...
SOUTHEASTERN NELSON...NORTHEASTERN GRIGGS AND NORTHWESTERN STEELE
COUNTIES UNTIL 315 AM CDT...

At 235 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
McVille, or 43 miles southeast of Devils Lake, moving east at 20 mph.

Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Grand Forks.

&&

LAT...LON 4763 9844 4784 9813 4768 9761 4744 9796
TIME...MOT...LOC 0735Z 280DEG 16KT 4767 9822

Lynch

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
243 AM CDT SUN AUG 19 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0239 AM     HAIL             4 S EMERADO             47.86N 97.36W
08/19/2018  E1.75 INCH       Grand Forks        ND   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            DEPUTY REPORTED GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL. RELAYED BY DISPATCH.

&&

DJR

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Eastern ND/Grand Forks ND
318 AM CDT SUN AUG 19 2018

MNZ001-NDZ026-027-029-030-190900-
West Polk MN-Nelson ND-Steele ND-Traill ND-Grand Forks ND-
318 AM CDT SUN AUG 19 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN POLK...SOUTHERN
GRAND FORKS...SOUTHEASTERN NELSON...NORTHWESTERN TRAILL AND NORTHERN
STEELE COUNTIES UNTIL 400 AM CDT...

At 317 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Tabor to near Arvilla to near Aneta.
Movement was east at 15 mph.

Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Grand Forks.

&&

LAT...LON 4787 9772 4799 9738 4812 9688 4791 9654
      4767 9718 4751 9768 4765 9799 4767 9799
      4767 9803 4768 9805
TIME...MOT...LOC 0817Z 292DEG 11KT 4807 9682 4784 9748 4763 9798

Lynch

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Eastern ND/Grand Forks ND
340 AM CDT SUN AUG 19 2018

NDZ028>030-038-039-190915-
Griggs ND-Steele ND-Traill ND-Barnes ND-Cass ND-
340 AM CDT SUN AUG 19 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN CASS...SOUTHWESTERN
TRAILL...SOUTHEASTERN GRIGGS...NORTHEASTERN BARNES AND SOUTHERN
STEELE COUNTIES UNTIL 415 AM CDT...

At 340 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Roseville to near Colgate to near Sibley.
Movement was southeast at 15 mph.

Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Strong thunderstorms will be near...
  Roseville, Colgate and Portland around 345 AM CDT.
  Clifford around 350 AM CDT.
  Blanchard, Page and Galesburg around 415 AM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Grand Forks.

&&

LAT...LON 4740 9704 4715 9745 4703 9808 4724 9821
      4733 9769 4751 9737
TIME...MOT...LOC 0840Z 310DEG 5KT 4745 9732 4728 9760 4719 9804

Lynch