Current weather · Oct 2, 2:44 AM CDT

48.0510, -101.3900

37°

Mostly CloudyFeels like 33° · Humidity 85%NWS forecast for this hour; no recent station reportForecast by NWS Bismarck, ND · grid 94,107
High
60°
Low
47°
Rain today
12%
Sunrise
7:46 AM
Sunset
7:22 PM

Hour by hour

NWS forecast grid

Scroll sideways for more hours. Pick an hour for every number.

Every hour as a table48 hours
TimeWeatherTemperatureFeels likeDew pointHumidityChanceAmountSnowDirWindGustSky coverThunderPressureVisibilityCeiling
Fri 2 AM37°33°33°85%0%SSW5 mph5 mph67%—10 mi24,300 ft
Fri 3 AM37°32°33°85%0%SSW6 mph6 mph63%—10 mi24,200 ft
Fri 4 AM38°33°33°82%0%S7 mph8 mph60%—10 mi23,900 ft
Fri 5 AM39°34°33°79%0%S7 mph10 mph63%—10 mi22,700 ft
Fri 6 AM38°32°33°82%0%S8 mph13 mph67%—10 mi23,000 ft
Fri 7 AM38°32°33°82%1%S8 mph14 mph71%—10 mi22,500 ft
Fri 8 AM39°32°33°79%2%S10 mph18 mph74%—10 mi20,100 ft
Fri 9 AM43°36°34°70%7%S13 mph22 mph77%—10 mi16,400 ft
Fri 10 AMSlight chance of very light rain showers47°41°35°63%11%S14 mph23 mph79%—10 mi11,400 ft
Fri 11 AMSlight chance of very light rain showers51°51°36°56%12%S16 mph26 mph83%—10 mi10,700 ft
Fri 12 PMSlight chance of very light rain showers54°54°37°52%11%SSE18 mph29 mph85%—10 mi8,200 ft
Fri 1 PMSlight chance of very light rain showers55°55°37°51%10%SSE20 mph31 mph87%—10 mi7,300 ft
Fri 2 PMSlight chance of very light rain showers57°57°38°49%10%SSE21 mph31 mph83%—10 mi7,300 ft
Fri 3 PM58°58°39°49%9%SSE21 mph31 mph81%—10 mi9,700 ft
Fri 4 PM59°59°39°47%7%SSE20 mph30 mph78%—10 mi9,400 ft
Fri 5 PM59°59°39°47%6%SSE18 mph30 mph77%—10 mi10,900 ft
Fri 6 PM59°59°39°47%5%SSE17 mph29 mph74%—10 mi15,600 ft
Fri 7 PM56°56°40°55%7%SSE15 mph28 mph72%3%—10 mi18,700 ft
Fri 8 PM54°54°41°61%9%SSE16 mph29 mph66%3%—10 mi20,000 ft
Fri 9 PM53°53°41°64%7%SSE17 mph30 mph60%3%—10 mi20,200 ft
Fri 10 PM52°52°40°63%6%S18 mph30 mph55%3%—10 mi
Fri 11 PM51°51°40°66%5%S18 mph30 mph56%3%—10 mi
Sat 12 AM51°51°41°68%5%S17 mph28 mph57%3%—10 mi
Sat 1 AM51°51°42°71%3%S17 mph26 mph58%3%—10 mi14,000 ft
Sat 2 AM51°51°42°71%2%S15 mph24 mph59%2%—10 mi14,600 ft
Sat 3 AM50°45°43°77%2%SSW14 mph22 mph60%2%—10 mi16,300 ft
Sat 4 AM50°46°44°80%2%SSW12 mph20 mph61%1%—10 mi17,500 ft
Sat 5 AM50°46°44°80%2%SW12 mph20 mph60%1%—10 mi16,600 ft
Sat 6 AM50°46°45°83%2%WSW12 mph18 mph59%1%—10 mi15,200 ft
Sat 7 AM50°46°45°83%3%W12 mph18 mph58%3%—10 mi14,000 ft
Sat 8 AM50°46°44°80%3%W12 mph20 mph58%3%—10 mi13,900 ft
Sat 9 AM53°53°45°74%0%WNW14 mph24 mph58%—10 mi14,400 ft
Sat 10 AM55°55°45°69%0%WNW15 mph26 mph58%—10 mi15,100 ft
Sat 11 AM58°58°46°64%0%NW17 mph29 mph50%——
Sat 12 PM60°60°46°60%0%NW20 mph30 mph42%——
Sat 1 PM61°61°46°58%0%NW21 mph31 mph36%——
Sat 2 PM63°63°45°52%0%NW22 mph31 mph26%——
Sat 3 PM63°63°44°50%0%NW22 mph32 mph15%——
Sat 4 PM63°63°43°48%0%NW22 mph31 mph4%——
Sat 5 PM63°63°41°44%0%NW20 mph30 mph4%——
Sat 6 PM61°61°41°48%0%NW17 mph29 mph4%——
Sat 7 PM58°58°42°55%0%NW13 mph25 mph4%——
Sat 8 PM54°54°42°64%0%NW12 mph22 mph9%——
Sat 9 PM51°51°41°68%0%NW10 mph20 mph14%——
Sat 10 PM50°46°40°68%0%NW10 mph18 mph18%——
Sat 11 PM49°45°40°71%0%NW9 mph17 mph20%——
Sun 12 AM48°44°39°71%0%WNW9 mph15 mph23%——
Sun 1 AM47°43°39°74%0%WNW8 mph14 mph25%——

The next 16 days

NWS grid published Oct 2, 1:31 AM CDT to day 8, the National Blend of Models to day 10, the mean of GFS, ECMWF AI, ECMWF to day 16
  1. TodayOct 260°47°Slight Chance Rain Showers12%wind 21 mph · gusts 31 mph
  2. SatOct 365°40°Mostly Sunny5%wind 22 mph · gusts 32 mph
  3. SunOct 462°42°Sunny0%wind 9 mph · gusts 15 mph
  4. MonOct 570°52°Sunny0%wind 20 mph · gusts 30 mph
  5. TueOct 673°49°Mostly Sunny0%wind 18 mph · gusts 29 mph
  6. WedOct 769°47°Mostly Sunny1%wind 13 mph · gusts 23 mph
  7. ThuOct 867°46°Mostly Sunny1%wind 10 mph · gusts 20 mph
  8. FriOct 969°48°1%wind 16 mph · gusts 26 mph
  9. SatOct 1063°40°National Blend5%wind 22 mph · gusts 32 mph
  10. SunOct 1157°39°National Blend7%wind 14 mph · gusts 23 mph
  11. MonOct 12~49°40°Model mean0.02 in
  12. TueOct 13~56°40°Model mean
  13. WedOct 14~55°43°Model mean0.08 in
  14. ThuOct 15~54°44°Model mean0.03 in
  15. FriOct 16~48°41°Model mean
  16. SatOct 17~60°47°Model mean

Right now

NWS grid for this hour · UV from the EPA · air quality from AirNow
  • Feels like33°
  • WindSSW 5 mph
  • Radar over this pointno reading
  • Humidity85%
  • Dew point33°
  • Pressure—
  • UV index—
  • Air quality—
  • Visibility10 mi
  • Sunrise and sunsetSunrise · Sunset · not yet up
  • Moonrise10:58 PMMoonset 3:23 PM
  • Moon phaseWaning gibbous64% lit

The National Blend of Models

NOAA NBM v5.0 · run of Oct 1, 7:00 PM CDT

NOAA’s weighted blend of every model it runs, to eleven days, with the chances the grid above does not carry. Where the local office’s grid reaches, its figure sits beneath the blend’s; where it does not, the blend stands alone.

  1. TodayOct 260°46°NWS grid 60° / 47°rain 6%wind 21 mph · gusts 31 mph
  2. SatOct 364°40°NWS grid 65° / 40°rain 3%wind 21 mph · gusts 30 mph
  3. SunOct 463°42°NWS grid 62° / 42°rain 0%wind 8 mph · gusts 14 mph
  4. MonOct 570°52°NWS grid 70° / 52°rain 0%wind 20 mph · gusts 31 mph
  5. TueOct 673°49°NWS grid 73° / 49°rain 2%wind 15 mph · gusts 26 mph
  6. WedOct 768°46°NWS grid 69° / 47°rain 2%wind 13 mph · gusts 23 mph
  7. ThuOct 867°46°NWS grid 67° / 46°rain 1%wind 10 mph · gusts 20 mph
  8. FriOct 969°48°NWS grid 69° / 48°rain 2%wind 17 mph · gusts 28 mph
  9. SatOct 1063°40°Beyond the NWS gridrain 5%wind 22 mph · gusts 32 mph
  10. SunOct 1157°39°Beyond the NWS gridrain 7%wind 14 mph · gusts 23 mph
  11. MonOct 1261°—Beyond the NWS gridrain 6%wind 14 mph · gusts 24 mph
32°55°77°SatSunMonTueWedThuFri

BlendNWS gridChance of rain, hourly

The models, side by side

HRRR Oct 1, 7:00 PM CDT · GFS Oct 1, 7:00 PM CDT · GEFS Oct 1, 7:00 PM CDT · ECMWF Oct 1, 7:00 AM CDT · ECMWF AI Oct 1, 7:00 PM CDT

Each line is one model’s own forecast at its own grid cell: three kilometers for HRRR, a quarter of a degree for the global models, which can sit a few hundred meters above or below the town. Where they agree the forecast is settled; where they part is where it is not.

32°55°77°SatSunMonTueWedThuFri

DayNWS gridHRRRGFSGEFSECMWFECMWF AI
Today Oct 260° 47°59° 41°58° 45°60° 45°59° 41°~60° 39°
Sat Oct 365° 40°63° 48°64° 50°0.02 in65° 51°0.03 in61° 50°~65° 51°0.01 in
Sun Oct 462° 42°—62° 46°61° 45°60° 42°~61° 37°
Mon Oct 570° 52°—71° 48°68° 46°69° 47°~70° 45°
Tue Oct 673° 49°—77° 57°75° 58°~69° 52°~74° 48°
Wed Oct 769° 47°—67° 50°66° 51°~66° 48°~67° 46°
Thu Oct 867° 46°—64° 49°65° 48°~64° 44°~62° 46°
Fri Oct 969° 48°—75° 49°69° 50°~62° 49°~70° 42°
Sat Oct 10——72° 55°59° 50°~72° 56°~58° 49°
Sun Oct 11——67° 44°55° 45°0.02 in~54° 46°~41° 35°
Mon Oct 12——~58° 46°—~— —~40° 34°0.05 in
Tue Oct 13——~63° 43°—~61° 47°~44° 30°
Wed Oct 14——~74° 54°—~47° 39°~44° 36°0.24 in
Thu Oct 15——~69° 59°0.01 in—~46° 31°~46° 42°0.07 in
Fri Oct 16——~53° 43°—~43° 43°~43° 39°
Sat Oct 17——~60° 47°———

A ~ marks a high or low read from six-hourly steps, which miss the true extreme by a degree or two.

ECMWF ensemble meteogram

ECMWF ensemble meteogram for this place: box plots of cloud cover, precipitation, wind speed and temperature from the 51 ensemble members for ten days.
Rendered by ECMWF from its 51-member ensemble, in metric units: each box spans the middle half of the members, the whiskers the rest, the line the control run. A forecast, not an observation. © ECMWF, CC BY 4.0.

The next 90 days

NOAA GHCN normals and records at Minot_intl (MOT) · Climate Prediction Center outlooks

No forecast has skill day by day past about two weeks, and this page does not print one. Where the models stop, the calendar takes over: the 1991 to 2020 normal for each date, the record high and low ever set on it, and where the Climate Prediction Center leans warm, cool, wet or dry over the coming weeks, the month and the season. A site that shows a high for a date three months out is showing you this normal with a wobble.

The forecast reaches Sat Oct 17, from the NWS grid, then the National Blend, then the mean of the global models. Beyond it the lines are the calendar.

Climate Prediction Center (CPC) temperature lean40%60%60%warmer 40%50% chance above normal · Oct to Dec-40°-20°0°20°40°60°80°TodayNov 1Dec 1

Forecast high and lowNormal high and lowRecord high and lowCPC leans warmer than normal

Week ofNormalWarmest on recordColdest on recordTemperature leanPrecipitation lean
Oct 258° / 38°94° (1963)17° (1954)40% chance above normal · Oct 202640% chance below normal · Oct 2026
Oct 954° / 35°86° (2003)13° (1985)60% chance above normal · days 8 to 1440% chance below normal · days 8 to 14
Oct 1655° / 35°84° (1961)6° (1960)40% chance above normal · Oct 202640% chance below normal · Oct 2026
Oct 2350° / 29°79° (1948)6° (1957)40% chance above normal · Oct 202640% chance below normal · Oct 2026
Oct 3045° / 26°80° (1950)-4° (2003)50% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Nov 638° / 22°79° (1999)-8° (1991)50% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Nov 1339° / 22°69° (1953)-14° (1959)50% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Nov 2033° / 16°64° (2006)-17° (2013)50% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Nov 2733° / 16°68° (1949)-20° (1964)50% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Dec 426° / 8°62° (2015)-27° (1977)50% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Dec 1126° / 10°56° (1997)-23° (1949)50% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Dec 1824° / 7°51° (2018)-36° (1983)50% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Dec 2522° / 8°52° (1999)-28° (2017)50% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec

Health and activities

Rules of thumb over the next 24 hours of forecast, the warnings in force, the station’s report, air quality and pollen

None of these is a measurement. Each is a rating of the forecast ahead, and of what is happening at the point right now, against what the activity or the ailment is known to mind, and each names the figure that decided it. An ailment or a pest is rated as a risk, low to extreme; an activity, a chore or a journey as a condition, poor to ideal.

Each rating says which span it is for: the rest of today’s daylight, tonight, or the next 24 hours.

Health

  • Arthritisnext 24 hModeratehumid
  • Sinus pressurenext 24 hLowsteady conditions
  • Common coldtodayLowmild
  • FlutodayLowmild
  • Migrainenext 24 hLowsteady conditions
  • Asthmanext 24 hLowclean air
  • Heat stresstodayLowmild
  • SunburntodayLowweak sun
  • Frostbitenext 24 hLowmild
  • SleepingtonightIdealcool, quiet night

Outdoors

  • RunningtodayIdealfine conditions
  • HikingtodayIdealfine conditions
  • BikingtodayVery goodwind
  • GolftodayVery goodwind
  • FishingtodayVery goodwind
  • Boating and paddlingtodayFairwind
  • Beach and pooltodayPoorcool
  • CampingtonightIdealfine conditions
  • StargazingtonightPoormostly cloudy

Travel

  • Air travelnext 24 hIdealclear skies
  • Drivingnext 24 hIdealclear roads

Home and garden

  • Lawn mowingtodayIdealfine conditions
  • GardeningtodayIdealfine conditions
  • Outdoor entertainingtodayVery goodwind
  • Drying laundry outsidetodayGoodlittle sun
  • Painting and outdoor projectstodayGoodcold
  • FrosttonightLowmild

Pests

  • MosquitoestodayModeratewarm
  • TickstodayModeratewarm
  • Indoor pestsnext 24 hLowmild
  • Outdoor peststodayLowcool

Stargazing

Worked out from the NWS hourly forecast and the sun and moon

Tonight has no dark, clear hour without a bright moon in this forecast. Rated poor.

Night ofRatingDarkClear hoursClear and moonlessMoon litTransparency (est.)DewStrongest wind
FridayPoor9:06 PM to 6:04 AM0 of 9None60%18 mph
SaturdayGood9:04 PM to 6:06 AM3 of 93 h from 9:00 PM49%Good10 mph
SundayExcellent9:02 PM to 6:07 AM9 of 95 h from 9:00 PM39%Good14 mph
MondayGood9:00 PM to 6:09 AM4 of 94 h from 9:00 PM29%Fair17 mph
TuesdayPoor8:57 PM to 6:10 AM0 of 9None20%9 mph
WednesdayPoor8:55 PM to 6:12 AM0 of 9None12%7 mph
ThursdayPoor8:53 PM to 6:13 AM0 of 9None6%8 mph

Dark is the sun 18 degrees below the horizon; where it never gets that low, 12 degrees, marked nautical. Clear is sky cover of 20% or less. A bright moon is one above the horizon with a quarter or more of its disc lit. Transparency in the table is estimated from surface humidity (70% and 85% mark fair and poor) and visibility, since the forecast carries no haze or high cloud moisture. Seeing and transparency by hour, where shown, are Environment and Climate Change Canada’s astronomy forecast (regional model; seeing from cloud, wind shear, turbulence near the ground and the surface temperature trend; transparency from the moisture through the whole air column), under the Open Government Licence - Canada. Dew is the air within 2 °C of its dew point. Excellent is four or more clear moonless hours with good transparency; good is three; fair is one, or two clear hours.

Golden hour and blue hour

Computed from the sun and moon positions
DayBlue hour, morningGolden hour, morningGolden hour, eveningBlue hour, evening
Fri7:15 AM to 7:27 AM7:27 AM to 8:28 AM6:41 PM to 7:41 PM7:41 PM to 7:53 PM
Sat7:17 AM to 7:29 AM7:29 AM to 8:29 AM6:39 PM to 7:39 PM7:39 PM to 7:51 PM
Sun7:18 AM to 7:30 AM7:30 AM to 8:31 AM6:37 PM to 7:37 PM7:37 PM to 7:49 PM
Mon7:20 AM to 7:32 AM7:32 AM to 8:32 AM6:35 PM to 7:35 PM7:35 PM to 7:47 PM
Tue7:21 AM to 7:33 AM7:33 AM to 8:34 AM6:33 PM to 7:33 PM7:33 PM to 7:45 PM
Wed7:22 AM to 7:34 AM7:34 AM to 8:35 AM6:31 PM to 7:31 PM7:31 PM to 7:43 PM
Thu7:24 AM to 7:36 AM7:36 AM to 8:37 AM6:28 PM to 7:29 PM7:29 PM to 7:41 PM
NESWSRSSMRMS
  • SR Sunrise 7:46 AM, 95° E
  • SS Sunset 7:22 PM, 265° W
  • MR Moonrise 10:58 PM, 46° NE
  • MS Moonset 3:23 PM, 314° NW
  • Waning gibbous, 64% lit

Golden hour is the sun between 6 degrees above the horizon and 4 degrees below it; blue hour is the sun between 4 and 6 degrees below. These are the definitions timeanddate.com and PhotoPills use. Directions are degrees clockwise from true north, where the sun’s upper edge and the moon’s center cross a flat horizon; hills and buildings change both. None means the sun does not reach that height on the day; all day means it stays inside the band.

Drone flying

NWS hourly forecast, SWPC Kp, FAA TFRs and 14 CFR Part 107

This hour: fly with caution (night: lighting and night training required (107.29)). Next good stretch: Sun 8 AM to 7 PM, 11 hours.

Today: civil twilight for Part 107 7:16 AM to sunrise 7:46 AM, and sunset 7:22 PM to 7:52 PM. Anti-collision lighting is required in those minutes and at night.

Fri6 AM12 PM6 PM
Sat12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM
Sun12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM

Good Caution No-fly

HourVerdictWind (mph)400 ft est. (mph)Gust (mph)RainVisibilityCloud allowsTempKpWhy
Fri 2 AMCaution511110%10 mi400 ft37°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Fri 3 AMCaution614140%10 mi400 ft37°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Fri 4 AMCaution710110%10 mi400 ft38°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Fri 5 AMCaution710130%10 mi400 ft39°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Fri 6 AMCaution812160%10 mi400 ft38°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Fri 7 AMCaution812171%10 mi400 ft38°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Fri 8 AMCaution1013212%10 mi400 ft39°gusts near or over your limit
Fri 9 AMNo-fly1318287%10 mi400 ft43°gusts near or over your limit, wind at 400 ft near or over your limit
Fri 10 AMNo-fly14202911%10 mi400 ft47°gusts near or over your limit, wind at 400 ft near or over your limit
Fri 11 AMNo-fly16233412%10 mi400 ft51°gusts near or over your limit, wind at 400 ft near or over your limit
Fri 12 PMNo-fly18273711%10 mi400 ft54°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, ground wind near or over your limit
Fri 1 PMNo-fly20284010%10 mi400 ft55°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, ground wind near or over your limit
Fri 2 PMNo-fly21304010%10 mi400 ft57°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, ground wind near or over your limit
Fri 3 PMNo-fly2130409%10 mi400 ft58°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, ground wind near or over your limit
Fri 4 PMNo-fly2028397%10 mi400 ft59°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, ground wind near or over your limit
Fri 5 PMNo-fly1827386%10 mi400 ft59°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, ground wind near or over your limit
Fri 6 PMNo-fly1725375%10 mi400 ft59°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit
Fri 7 PMNo-fly1522347%10 mi400 ft56°gusts near or over your limit, wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Fri 8 PMNo-fly1623369%10 mi400 ft54°gusts near or over your limit, wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Fri 9 PMNo-fly1725387%10 mi400 ft53°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Fri 10 PMNo-fly1827386%10 mi52°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, ground wind near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Fri 11 PMNo-fly1827385%10 mi51°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, ground wind near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Sat 12 AMNo-fly1725355%10 mi51°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Sat 1 AMNo-fly1725343%10 mi400 ft51°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)

Flight restrictions nearby

Reading the FAA’s temporary flight restrictions.

Flight restrictions on the map. TFRs are not the whole picture: controlled airspace around airports needs LAANC authorization. Check the FAA’s B4UFLY.

Wind at 400 ft is estimated from the 10 m forecast by the power law, with exponents for each Pasquill stability class (Irwin 1979, rural, as in EPA dispersion models; the class from wind, sun height and cloud, after Turner 1970); gusts keep the ground gust’s margin. Caution from three quarters of your limit; the default 24 mph is the wind resistance printed for common sub-250 g drones. 14 CFR 107.51: “The minimum flight visibility, as observed from the location of the control station must be no less than 3 statute miles” and at least “500 feet below the cloud”. 14 CFR 107.29: “No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft system during periods of civil twilight unless the small unmanned aircraft has lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles”; civil twilight is the 30 minutes before sunrise and after sunset, in Alaska the Air Almanac’s. Kp: SWPC’s scales say satellite navigation problems may occur at G3 (Kp 7) and navigation is “degraded for hours” at G4 (Kp 8); Kp 5 is the typical app warning. Typical limits, not rules: rain chance 30% caution and 60% no-fly, thunder 10% and 20%, below 0 °C caution and −10 °C no-fly, over 40 °C caution. Your drone’s manual and the airspace come first.

Spraying and field work

Worked out from the NWS hourly forecast

Hours fit for spraying, and the days dry enough for fieldwork and hay, read from this forecast’s wind, gusts, humidity, temperature and rain.

Spraying windows

  • Sun 12 AM to 5 AM 5 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Sun 9 AM to 3 PM 6 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Sun 6 PM to Mon 12 AM 6 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Tue 10 PM to Wed 8 AM 10 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Wed 6 PM to Thu 9 AM 15 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Thu 6 PM to Fri 7 AM 13 hours, every hour within the rules
Fri6 AM12 PM6 PM
Sat12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM
Sun12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM
Mon12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM

Good Marginal No

Field days

DayDaytimeChance of rainRainLowest humidityStrongest windDry days in a rowHay drying
FridayDry12%0.00 in47%21 mph8 dGood
SaturdayDry3%0.00 in44%22 mph7 dGood
SundayDry0%0.00 in41%5 mph6 d
MondayDry0%0.00 in53%20 mph5 d
TuesdayDry0%0.00 in37%18 mph4 dGood
WednesdayDry1%0.00 in39%13 mph3 dGood
ThursdayDry0%0.00 in40%10 mph2 dGood
FridayDry1%0.00 in44%16 mph1 dGood

Spraying: sustained wind 3 to 10 mph, the range US extension services and most labels give; gusts no more than 15 mph (this page’s limit); delta T (air minus wet-bulb temperature) 2 to 8 °C preferred and 8 to 10 °C marginal, from GRDC guidance, with the wet bulb by Stull’s formula; no hour at a 30% chance of rain or 0.25 mm forecast during the rain-free time. Follow the product label, which overrides all of this. Field days: dry is no daytime hour at a 30% chance and under 1 mm all day, wet is 6 mm (0.25 in) or more; soil moisture is not in the forecast, so ground still wet from earlier rain is not accounted for. Hay drying marks a dry day with humidity down to 50% and a breeze of 5 mph or more.

Solunar times

Computed from the moon’s position

The best-rated day this week is Wednesday, rated good.

DayRatingMajor periodsMinor periodsMoonSunrise, sunset
Fri Fair5:38 AM to 7:38 AM6:10 PM to 8:10 PM2:53 PM to 3:53 PM10:28 PM to 11:28 PM 64%7:46 AM, 7:22 PM
Sat Fair6:41 AM to 8:41 AM7:11 PM to 9:11 PM3:43 PM to 4:43 PM 53%7:48 AM, 7:20 PM
Sun Fair7:40 AM to 9:40 AM8:09 PM to 10:09 PM11:45 PM to 12:45 AM4:20 PM to 5:20 PM 43%7:49 AM, 7:18 PM
Mon Fair8:36 AM to 10:36 AM9:02 PM to 11:02 PM1:07 AM to 2:07 AM4:47 PM to 5:47 PM 32%7:51 AM, 7:16 PM
Tue Poor9:28 AM to 11:28 AM9:52 PM to 11:52 PM2:29 AM to 3:29 AM5:08 PM to 6:08 PM 23%7:52 AM, 7:14 PM
Wed Good10:16 AM to 12:16 PM10:39 PM to 12:39 AM3:49 AM to 4:49 AM5:26 PM to 6:26 PM 15%7:54 AM, 7:12 PM
Thu Good11:02 AM to 1:02 PM5:07 AM to 6:07 AM5:42 PM to 6:42 PM 8%7:55 AM, 7:10 PM

Periods in bold fall within an hour of sunrise or sunset. The weather’s side is the fishing index

Major periods are two hours centered on the moon’s passage overhead and underfoot; minor periods are one hour centered on moonrise and moonset: the conventional durations of John Alden Knight’s solunar tables (1936). The rating is this site’s: one point to start, two more within a day and a half of a new or full moon (one more within three and a half days), and one more when a period falls within an hour of sunrise or sunset. The theory has mixed support in fisheries research; the times are exact astronomy.

In words

NWS forecast periods, as issued
  1. Overnight37° · S 7 mph

    Mostly cloudy. Low around 37, with temperatures rising to around 39 overnight. South wind around 7 mph.

  2. Friday60° · 12% · S 8–21 mph

    A slight chance of rain showers between 10am and 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. South wind 8 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

  3. Friday Night47° · 9% · S 12–18 mph

    Mostly cloudy. Low around 47, with temperatures rising to around 50 overnight. South wind 12 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

  4. Saturday65° · 3% · W 12–22 mph

    Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. West wind 12 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

  5. Saturday Night40° · NW 7–17 mph

    Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Northwest wind 7 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

  6. Sunday62° · SW 2–6 mph

    Sunny, with a high near 62. Southwest wind 2 to 6 mph.

  7. Sunday Night42° · SE 3–14 mph

    Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Southeast wind 3 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

  8. Monday70° · S 14–20 mph

    Sunny, with a high near 70. South wind 14 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

  9. Monday Night52° · SW 12–17 mph

    Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Southwest wind 12 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

  10. Tuesday73° · W 13–18 mph

    Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. West wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

  11. Tuesday Night49° · W 7–13 mph

    Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. West wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

  12. Wednesday69° · 1% · W 8–13 mph

    Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. West wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

  13. Wednesday Night47° · 1% · NW 7 mph

    Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Northwest wind around 7 mph.

  14. Thursday67° · 1% · W 10 mph

    Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.

The forecaster’s discussion

NWS Bismarck, ND · issued Oct 2, 12:44 AM CDT

Written by the forecaster on duty for their own colleagues and for anyone who wants to know why the forecast says what it says. It is not edited for the public, so it uses the office’s shorthand; it is also the most honest thing any weather service publishes.

KEY Messages

Near-freezing low temperatures across much of the state tonight into Friday morning.

Near normal temperatures through the weekend, warming to above normal early to mid next week.

An overall dry weather pattern expected through at least the middle of next week, with only low chances for very light rain Friday and Saturday.

Update

1244 AM CDT Fri Oct 2 2026

Limited updates needed at this time. Some near to sub freezing temperatures are still possible tonight into Friday morning. With mid to high clouds moving in, widespread freeze is still not anticipated thus will hold off on only freeze highlights for now. A boundary across the southwest could also bring some sprinkles across the southwest tonight. Overall the forecast remains on track.

UPDATE Issued at 1049 PM CDT Thu Oct 1 2026

Radar shows light returns streaming over far southwest North Dakota where there is weak mid level frontogenesis and isentropic ascent. A 20 percent chance of sprinkles has been added to the forecast through tonight. Otherwise, temperatures are plummeting in low-lying areas where there are no or only thin high clouds. Some areas may fall below freezing tonight, but still think sub-freezing lows will not be widespread.

UPDATE Issued at 701 PM CDT Thu Oct 1 2026

No major changes are needed for this update. Current conditions and trends were blended into the forecast.

Discussion

230 PM CDT Thu Oct 1 2026

Currently, west/northwest flow aloft with upper level ridging over the western CONUS and a long wave trough over central/eastern Canada. Strong surface high pressure continues developing east across the Dakotas, with a steady northwest breeze and a mostly clear sky over the region along to ahead of this feature.

Sfc high will continue east tonight, with winds becoming light and variable with time (along with some southerly return flow west). Some increase in mid/upper level clouds ahead of an embedded mid level impulse moving into the Northern Rockies. Lows tonight again dropping into the 30s, with frost developing especially in the more prone areas.

The above mentioned mid level wave continues east for Friday, moving across northern areas of the region and contributing to low chances for showers Fri afternoon north and east. Expect moisture reaching the surface to be minimal. Return flow also increases in the wake of the sfc high, with a breezy south/southeasterly wind during the day tomorrow.

We remain in a steady west/northwesterly flow aloft this weekend, maintaining mainly dry weather and near normal temperatures. Western CONUS ridge nudges east into the Great Plains as it deamplifies early next week, but will provide for temperatures trending to above normal Monday/Tuesday, when highs warm well into the 70s to around 80. The only concern regarding fire weather will be over the southwest, where RH values are projected lowest next week (20-25 percent), and if this is coupled with any elevated afternoon winds.

Aviation · 06Z TAFs Through 06Z Saturday

1244 AM CDT Fri Oct 2 2026

VFR conditions are expected through the forecast period. Increasing mid to upper level clouds will be found tonight through Friday. Some sprinkles are possible at times along with some lower VFR ceilings as these clouds move through. Light winds tonight will become southerly Friday and breezy at times.

BIS Watches / Warnings / Advisories

None.

Hazardous weather outlook Oct 2, 12:38 AM CDT

The office’s own seven-day heads-up for spotters and emergency managers.

FLUS43 KBIS 020538
HWOBIS

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
1238 AM CDT Fri Oct 2 2026

NDZ001>005-009-010-012-013-017>020-022-023-025-031>033-035>037-
040>044-046>048-050-051-055>062-030545-
Divide-Burke-Renville-Bottineau-Rolette-Williams-Mountrail-
McHenry-Pierce-McKenzie-Dunn-Mercer-Oliver-Sheridan-Wells-Foster-
Golden Valley-Billings-Stark-Burleigh-Kidder-Stutsman-Slope-
Hettinger-Grant-Bowman-Adams-Emmons-Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-
Dickey-Northwest Ward-Central and Southern Ward/Minot Area-
Western McLean-Eastern McLean-Western Morton-Eastern Morton-
Western Sioux-Eastern Sioux-
1238 AM CDT Fri Oct 2 2026 /1138 PM MDT Thu Oct 1 2026/

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

$$

The outlooks beyond

SPC, WPC, CPC and the Drought Monitor, read at this point

The national centers each publish a judgment the local grid does not carry. Read here at this exact coordinate.

Severe weather

  1. Day 1 · Fri Oct 2No risk area
  2. Day 2 · Sat Oct 3No risk area
  3. Day 3 · Sun Oct 4No risk area
  4. Day 4 · Mon Oct 5No risk area
  5. Day 5 · Tue Oct 6No risk area
  6. Day 6 · Wed Oct 7No risk area
  7. Day 7 · Thu Oct 8No risk area
  8. Day 8 · Fri Oct 9No risk area

Rainfall

  1. Day 1 · Fri Oct 2Under 0.01 in
  2. Day 2 · Sat Oct 3Under 0.01 in
  3. Day 3 · Sun Oct 4Under 0.01 in
  4. Day 4-5 · Oct 5–Oct 6Under 0.01 in
  5. Day 6-7 · Oct 7–Oct 8Under 0.01 in

The rainfall forecast on the map, days 1 to 7

Six to fourteen days

  1. Days 6–10 · Temperature60% chance above normalOct 7–Oct 11
  2. Days 6–10 · Precipitation40% chance below normalOct 7–Oct 11
  3. Days 8–14 · Temperature60% chance above normalOct 9–Oct 15
  4. Days 8–14 · Precipitation40% chance below normalOct 9–Oct 15

Frost and climate

NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Minot Exp Stn

The last spring freeze (32°F) usually comes around May 13 and the first fall freeze around September 27: a growing season of about 136 days.

One fall in ten brings a freeze by September 14; one spring in ten still has one after May 26.

Climate of 48.05, -101.39: normals, records and every month

Everything else on the grid

NWS forecast grid · 24 elements

The forecast office edits about sixty fields for every cell of its grid. The common ones are above; these are the rest, as the daily extreme, for anyone who needs the mixing height, the fire danger or the swell.

ElementFriSatSunMonTueWedThuFri
HeatRisk max0 · Little0 · Little0 · Little0 · Little1 · Minor1 · Minor0 · Little0 · Little
Wet bulb globe temperature max52°58°56°63°64°61°60°61°
Heat index max72°
Wind chill min32°45°36°37°47°44°43°
Chance of thunder max3%3%0%0%0%1%1%0%
Cloud ceiling min7,300 ft13,900 ft
Visibility min10 mi10 mi
Mixing height max2,800 ft4,900 ft4,800 ft2,300 ft3,800 ft3,500 ft3,900 ft1,900 ft
Transport wind max26 mph26 mph13 mph21 mph22 mph14 mph16 mph17 mph

Against the record

NOAA GHCN · Minot_intl (MOT) · 15 mi away

Each forecast day against the same calendar date at the nearest long-record station: the 1991 to 2020 normal, and the record high and low with the year they were set.

DayForecastNormalRecord highRecord low
Fri Oct 260° / 47°64° / 39°92° (1997)20° (1999)
Sat Oct 365° / 40°58° / 38°86° (2025)19° (1989)
Sun Oct 462° / 42°59° / 37°94° (1963)22° (2004)
Mon Oct 570° / 52°58° / 38°91° (2021)24° (2000)
Tue Oct 673° / 49°59° / 37°90° (2021)17° (1954)
Wed Oct 769° / 47°61° / 38°85° (2003)17° (1976)
Thu Oct 867° / 46°60° / 38°82° (2024)18° (1993)
Fri Oct 969° / 48°60° / 35°86° (2003)13° (1985)

Sun and moon

DayCivil twilightSunriseSunsetCivil twilightDaylightMoon
Fri7:15 AM7:46 AM7:22 PM7:53 PM11 h 36 min Waning gibbous · 64% lit
Sat7:17 AM7:48 AM7:20 PM7:51 PM11 h 32 min Last quarter · 53% lit
Sun7:18 AM7:49 AM7:18 PM7:49 PM11 h 29 min Last quarter · 43% lit
Mon7:20 AM7:51 AM7:16 PM7:47 PM11 h 25 min Waning crescent · 32% lit
Tue7:21 AM7:52 AM7:14 PM7:45 PM11 h 22 min Waning crescent · 23% lit
Wed7:22 AM7:54 AM7:12 PM7:43 PM11 h 18 min Waning crescent · 15% lit
Thu7:24 AM7:55 AM7:10 PM7:41 PM11 h 15 min Waning crescent · 8% lit
Fri7:25 AM7:56 AM7:08 PM7:39 PM11 h 12 min Waning crescent · 3% lit

Forecast from the National Weather Service forecast grid at api.weather.gov, updated by the local office through the day; the written periods and hourly digest are the NWS’s own. Outlooks from the Storm Prediction Center, the Weather Prediction Center and the Climate Prediction Center via NOAA’s map services. Records and normals from NOAA’s Global Historical Climatology Network. Sun and moon computed here. Place names from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).

What is here

Seven days
The high, the low, the chance and amount of rain and snow, the wind and the forecaster’s words for each day and night, from the National Weather Service grid for the exact cell your town sits in.
Hour by hour
Temperature, what it feels like, dew point, humidity, chance and amount of precipitation, wind and gusts, sky cover, the chance of thunder, pressure, visibility and ceiling, as a chart and as a table, with nights shaded.
Everything else on the grid
The office edits about sixty fields for every cell. The ones the mainstream forecast pages leave out are here as a daily table: HeatRisk, wet bulb globe temperature, lightning activity, mixing height, transport wind, the fire weather indices, and at the coast the waves and swell.
The discussion
The Area Forecast Discussion the forecaster wrote to explain the forecast, in their own words, with the specialist annexes folded away. Also the office’s hazardous weather outlook.
Beyond the week
The Storm Prediction Center’s severe weather category for each of the next eight days, the Weather Prediction Center’s rainfall forecast to day seven and its winter storm severity, and the Climate Prediction Center’s odds for days six to fourteen, all read at your coordinate.
Against the record
Each forecast day beside the same date at the nearest long-record station: the thirty-year normal and the record high and low with their years, so a forecast high that would break a record says so.
The next 90 days
The forecast as far as the grid, the National Blend and the global models reach, and the calendar after that: the normal and the record for every date, with the Climate Prediction Center’s lean for the weeks, the month and the season drawn over them. No made-up highs for a date three months out.

Common questions

Where does this forecast come from?

From the National Weather Service forecast grid published at api.weather.gov, the same grid the local forecast office edits through the day and the source of every forecast on weather.gov. The written periods, the hourly digest and the forecaster’s discussion are the NWS’s own products, shown as issued. Nothing here is a blend a website made.

How far ahead does it go?

The grid runs seven days ahead, hour by hour for the first days and in three to six hour steps after that. The National Blend of Models carries the days to eleven and the global models to sixteen. Beyond that the page carries the national centers’ outlooks, severe weather to day eight, rainfall to day seven, and the Climate Prediction Center’s odds for the coming weeks, month and season, over a ninety-day calendar of the normal and the record for each date. No forecast has skill day by day past about two weeks, and this page does not print one.

Why is this different from the app on my phone?

Most forecast apps show a blend of models chosen by the company that makes the app. This page shows the forecast the local National Weather Service office issues, edited by the forecasters who will also issue the warnings, and it shows all of it rather than the six numbers that fit on a phone. The discussion explains the reasoning, which no app carries.

What is a place’s address here?

Every town has its own page, such as /forecast/us/oklahoma/oklahoma-city/, and every day at a town has one too. A ZIP code typed into the search goes to the town it belongs to. Any coordinate at all can be looked up, and the page names the nearest town.

What the weather actually was · Open the live radar · Where the data comes from