Winter Weather Alert for North Dakota: Accumulating Snow Expected This Week
Bismarck Tribune Staff
As North Dakota braces for winter weather, the National Weather Service is warning of a medium-to-high probability of accumulating snow across much of the state this week. The Bismarck-Mandan area is likely to escape the worst impacts of the storm, with a forecast predicting only light accumulations. However, the Bottineau region in north central North Dakota faces a high likelihood of receiving over 4 inches of snow and a moderate chance of accumulation reaching or exceeding 8 inches.
A winter storm watch is in effect from Tuesday morning through Wednesday afternoon for the Bottineau, Langdon, and Devils Lake areas. This storm system could also trigger severe thunderstorms in the Southern and Central Plains, as it moves northward into the Upper Midwest. Expect rain showers to spread across parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes while cold air transitions precipitation to snow in northern Minnesota and North Dakota.
Weather forecasts indicate that snowfall will be accompanied by strong winds, potentially causing hazardous travel conditions with significantly reduced visibility. Daytime wind gusts in central and western North Dakota are forecast to range from 35 mph to nearly 60 mph. For Bismarck, winds are projected to be around 40 to 45 mph.
In conjunction with the storm, temperatures are expected to drop considerably, with daytime highs in the Bismarck-Mandan area plummeting from around 50 degrees on Monday to about 30 for the remainder of the week, and overnight lows dipping to around 15 degrees. Normal seasonal averages for this time in Bismarck are generally highs in the upper 30s and lows in the upper teens.
Residents are urged to stay informed and prepare for potentially severe weather conditions in the coming days.
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