Red Flag Warning 3, NWS Bismarck, ND

481 
WWUS83 KBIS 231451
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
951 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR STUTSMAN, LOGAN, McINTOSH, LaMOURE, AND
DICKEY COUNTIES IN NORTH DAKOTA TODAY...

.Critical fire weather conditions will occur late this morning
through early this evening over Stutsman, Logan, McIntosh,
LaMoure, and Dickey Counties in North Dakota. Minimum relative
humidity will fall as low as 23 percent while westerly winds
increase to around 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Any fires that
ignite could spread rapidly and become difficult to control.

NDZ037-047-048-050-051-240000-
/O.CON.KBIS.FW.W.0003.260423T1600Z-260424T0000Z/
Stutsman-Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey-
951 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR STUTSMAN, LOGAN, MCINTOSH,
LAMOURE, AND DICKEY COUNTIES IN NORTH DAKOTA...

* WINDS...Westerly around 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 23 percent.

* AFFECTED AREA...Stutsman, Logan, McIntosh, Lamoure and Dickey 
  Counties.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that ignite will spread rapidly and become 
  difficult to control or suppress.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

439 
WWUS83 KBIS 231755
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
1255 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR STUTSMAN, LOGAN, McINTOSH, LaMOURE, AND
DICKEY COUNTIES IN NORTH DAKOTA TODAY...

.Critical fire weather conditions will occur through early this 
evening over Stutsman, Logan, McIntosh, LaMoure, and Dickey 
Counties in North Dakota. Minimum relative humidity will fall as 
low as 23 percent while westerly winds increase to around 30 mph 
with gusts to 50 mph. Any fires that ignite could spread rapidly 
and become difficult to control.

NDZ037-047-048-050-051-240000-
/O.CON.KBIS.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260424T0000Z/
Stutsman-Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey-
1255 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR STUTSMAN, LOGAN, MCINTOSH,
LAMOURE, AND DICKEY COUNTIES IN NORTH DAKOTA...

* WINDS...Westerly around 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 23 percent.

* AFFECTED AREA...Stutsman, Logan, McIntosh, Lamoure and Dickey 
  Counties.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that ignite will spread rapidly and become 
  difficult to control or suppress.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

884 
WWUS83 KBIS 232358
RFWBIS

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
658 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR STUTSMAN, LOGAN, MCINTOSH, LAMOURE, AND 
DICKEY COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM CDT...

.Westerly winds will remain strong this evening, but relative
humidity has risen above 50 percent.

NDZ037-047-048-050-051-240100-
/O.EXP.KBIS.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260424T0000Z/
Stutsman-Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey-
658 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND
AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR STUTSMAN, LOGAN, MCINTOSH, LAMOURE,
AND DICKEY COUNTIES IN NORTH DAKOTA...

Westerly winds will remain strong this evening, but relative
humidity has risen above 50 percent.

$$

Hollan

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
116 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will produce
  strong, erratic wind gusts from south central into eastern
  North Dakota tonight.

- High chances for rain west and low to medium chances for rain
  central on Thursday, followed by low chances of wrap-around
  showers, mostly in the form of snow, Thursday night through
  Saturday.

- Strong west to northwest winds Thursday and Friday.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 112 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

Precipitation has pushed mainly over eastern portions of our
area to the east of highway 83. Still, the threat from gusty
winds exist with these showers/occasional thunderstorms.

UPDATE
Issued at 1112 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026

Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms continue to produce
occasional wind gusts to near 65 mph from south central to
eastern North Dakota. This hazard is being promoted by a very
deep and dry sub-cloud layer with DCAPE around 1000 J/kg. We are
also now starting to see modest heat bursts underneath this
convection, with brief temperature spikes to near 80. The risk
for showers and thunderstorms with strong wind gusts should
gradually diminish through the night.

In far northwest North Dakota, the threat for showers and
thunderstorms has ended for the evening, and winds have
significantly relaxed. The period of strong winds did appear to
advect dust into the area, some of which still lingers as of 11
PM CDT.

UPDATE
Issued at 802 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026

Isolated showers with occasional lightning have developed from
Lake Oahe through the northern James River Valley, and more
recently as far north as the Turtle Mountains. A handful of wind
gusts around 50 mph have been measured under and near this
activity, but on a more consistent basis, peak gusts have been
closer to 40 mph or less. A relatively stronger storm was
poised to enter southern Emmons County as of 8 PM CDT.

Attempts at convective initiation have been made in northwest
North Dakota over the past couple hours, but only a couple of
rain showers have been able to materialize with no lightning
observed as of 8 PM CDT. Further south, an increase in synoptic
scale winds has been observed early this evening throughout
southwest North Dakota between a surface dryline and cold front.
The Red Flag Warning may need to be extended in time for this
part of the state.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 112 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026

As of 1 PM winds across western ND were mainly in the 15 to 25
mph range, with humidities 25 to 35 percent. Wind directions
were southerly over southwest ND to easterly over northwest ND.
Across the south central winds were southeast at 15 to 25 mph
with humidities around 35 to 40 percent. Additional Fire Weather
info is contained in the Fire Weather Section.

As the Montana surface low pushes into northeast Montana this
afternoon, increasing moisture is being pulled northward from
the central Plains. A modestly unstable, but capped atmosphere
currently over eastern SD will continue to advect northward into
eastern ND this evening, with a band of unstable air working all
the way back west into northwest ND. These two areas (Northwest
ND) and the far south central into the James River Valley are
the focus for thunderstorm activity tonight. In the far south
central and James River Valley, the atmosphere is expected to
remain capped. However, with instability aloft and an increasing
low level jet this evening, there could be some isolated to
scattered elevated convection that lifts northeast through the
area. With strong environmental winds in place A strong to
marginally severe wind gust could mix down to the surface. Some
small is also possible. In the northwest, very steep lapse rates
have developed over eastern Montana. Isolated high based
thunderstorms are possible this afternoon into the evening,
mostly over eastern Montana, but there is a low threat that an
isolated storm could brush the far west central into northwest
ND, near the border. These storms would have the potential for
winds gust to around 60 mph.

On Thursday, the surface low lifts into southern Manitoba and we
see strong wind develop over western North Dakota Thursday
morning and eventually spread into central ND by late morning or
afternoon. Bufkit soundings indicate there is 50 to 60 knots of
wind at the top of the mixing layer. The question is if this can
mix down to the surface. Some of our general guidance such as
the ECMWF EFI are not real impressive with the winds Thursday,
but certainly in the Advisory criteria in the west. The NAEFS SA
pages does show a nice 850mb and 700mb jet into Far southwest ND
around Midday Thursday. Guidance shows the surface low lifting
north in the afternoon with the surface gradient relaxing a bit,
so the confidence in strong winds advancing east through central
ND is low at this time. If this did occur, it wouldn't be until
Thursday afternoon and into the evening, therefore week did not
extend the Wind Advisory through central ND and later shifts
will have the chance to evaluate further.

Except for any convection this evening, and morning wrap around
showers in the northwest Thursday morning through mid afternoon,
much of the day over most of the forecast area is expected to be
dry. Much of the west and central is in the dry slot late
tonight, and as the surface and upper low lifts north and
wobbles back to the west into Saskatchewan, much of the state
remains within an unfavorable position for any significant
precipitation Thursday into Thursday night. Then as we get into
late Thursday night through Friday night, the stacked now drops
back south to along the International Border. This will keep
some low precipitation chances to northern portions of the
forecast area. By this time we are cool enough that they may
fall as either rain or snow. However, any significant
accumulations are not anticipated at this time. Saturday and
Sunday into next week we see a slow gradual increase in
temperatures with hit and miss precipitation chances.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 112 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms remain possible
across south central and eastern North Dakota into the overnight
hours. The main hazard from these showers and storms is strong,
erratic wind gusts.

On Thursday morning, and area of rain with MVFR ceilings will
move into western North Dakota. The rain is forecast to lift
northeastward and diminish through the afternoon while MVFR
ceilings persist in the west and expand into central North
Dakota. Some snow could mix with the rain along the Montana
border. Aside from showers and storms, winds will still remain
gusty overnight, generally southwesterly to southerly around
10-20 kts. Westerly winds will then become strong on Thursday,
with sustained speeds around 25-35 kts and gusts up to 45 kts.

&&

.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory from 7 AM CDT /6 AM MDT/ this morning to 7 PM
CDT /6 PM MDT/ this evening for NDZ001-009-017-018-031>033-040-
041-043-044.
Wind Advisory from 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ this morning to 7 PM
CDT /6 PM MDT/ this evening for NDZ002-003-010-019-020-035-042-
046-055>062.

&&

UPDATE...JJS
DISCUSSION...TWH
AVIATION...JJS

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
1238 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

NDZ017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044-240545-
McKenzie-Dunn-Golden Valley-Billings-Stark-Slope-Hettinger-Bowman-
Adams-
1238 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 /1138 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest North
Dakota and southwest North Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

A Wind Advisory is in effect on Thursday. See www.weather.gov/bis
for details.

Strong winds are possible again on Friday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are asked to provide reports to the NWS using standard
procedures, including through our social media accounts.

NDZ001>003-009-010-019-020-035-042-046-055>062-240545-
Divide-Burke-Renville-Williams-Mountrail-Mercer-Oliver-Burleigh-
Grant-Emmons-Northwest Ward-Central and Southern Ward/Minot Area-
Western McLean-Eastern McLean-Western Morton-Eastern Morton-
Western Sioux-Eastern Sioux-
1238 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 /1138 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
North Dakota, northwest North Dakota, and south central North
Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms are possible in far northwest and south
central North Dakota through tonight. A few storms may be strong
with wind gusts to 55 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

A Wind Advisory is in effect on Thursday. See www.weather.gov/bis
for details.

Strong winds are possible again on Friday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are asked to provide reports to the NWS using standard
procedures, including through our social media accounts.

NDZ004-005-012-013-022-023-025-036-037-047-048-050-051-240545-
Bottineau-Rolette-McHenry-Pierce-Sheridan-Wells-Foster-Kidder-
Stutsman-Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey-
1238 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
North Dakota, south central North Dakota, and southeast North
Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms are possible through tonight. A few storms
may be strong with wind gusts to 55 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Strong winds are possible Thursday and Friday.

Near critical fire weather conditions are possible in the James
River Valley on Thursday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are asked to provide reports to the NWS using standard
procedures, including through our social media accounts.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
1014 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026

NDZ020-022-023-025-035>037-042-046>048-050-051-058>062-230500-
Oliver-Sheridan-Wells-Foster-Burleigh-Kidder-Stutsman-Grant-
Emmons-Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey-Eastern McLean-
Western Morton-Eastern Morton-Western Sioux-Eastern Sioux-
Including the cities of Center, Mcclusky, Goodrich, Harvey,
Fessenden, Carrington, Bismarck, Steele, Tappen, Jamestown,
Elgin, Carson, New Leipzig, Linton, Strasburg, Napoleon, Gackle,
Lamoure, Edgeley, Kulm, Wishek, Ashley, Oakes, Ellendale,
Washburn, Underwood, Wilton, Turtle Lake, Max, New Salem,
Glen Ullin, Hebron, Mandan, Porcupine, Fort Yates, Selfridge,
and Solen
1014 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026 /914 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026/

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA LATE THIS
EVENING...

A cluster of strong thunderstorms over south central North Dakota
will produce wind gusts up to 55 mph. The gusty winds could knock
down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.

Telken

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
1154 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026

NDZ013-022-023-025-035>037-046>048-050-051-230700-
Pierce-Sheridan-Wells-Foster-Burleigh-Kidder-Stutsman-Emmons-
Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey-
Including the cities of Rugby, Mcclusky, Goodrich, Harvey,
Fessenden, Carrington, Bismarck, Steele, Tappen, Jamestown,
Linton, Strasburg, Napoleon, Gackle, Lamoure, Edgeley, Kulm,
Wishek, Ashley, Oakes, and Ellendale
1154 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA LATE THIS
EVENING...

A cluster of strong thunderstorms mainly east of Highway 83 will
produce wind gusts up to 55 mph. The gusty winds could knock down
tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.

Telken

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
1209 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

1010 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     7 W Venturia            46.01N 99.69W
04/22/2026  M54 MPH          McIntosh           ND   Mesonet

            Mesonet station 329700 7 NNE Greenway
            (NDAWN).

&&

Telken

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
1210 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

1035 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 SSW Linton            46.22N 100.25W
04/22/2026  M52 MPH          Emmons             ND   AWOS

            AWOS station K7L2 Linton.

&&

Telken

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
1213 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

1006 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     7 W Venturia            46.01N 99.69W
04/22/2026  M67 MPH          McIntosh           ND   Mesonet

            NDAWN 10m peak gust.

&&

Telken

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
1216 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

1032 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     8 ENE Fort Yates        46.13N 100.47W
04/22/2026  M59 MPH          Emmons             ND   Mesonet

            NDAWN 10m peak gust.

&&

Telken