414 FXUS63 KBIS 090554 AFDBISArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 1254 AM CDT Thu Oct 9 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Patchy to areas of fog possible across western and central North Dakota later tonight into Thursday morning.
- Mild temperatures remain into the weekend.
- Chances for showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms return this weekend.
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.UPDATE... Issued at 1254 AM CDT Thu Oct 9 2025
Fog is beginning to develop in southwest North Dakota, with Hettinger reporting quarter mile visibility. Satellite and surrounding observations show no other evidence of fog yet. Will continue to monitor for any need of enhanced messaging for fog.
UPDATE Issued at 1012 PM CDT Wed Oct 8 2025
Quiet weather continues across the region. There are some clouds forming around James River Valley and the north central around 5000 ft. Temperatures continue to cool across the region into the mid 40s to 50s. No updates are need at this time as the forecast remains on track.
UPDATE Issued at 634 PM CDT Wed Oct 8 2025
Breezy to windy conditions continue to decrease across the central and eastern North Dakota this evening. Gusty winds are forecast to subside after sunset. Quiet weather continues across the state. Therefore, no updates are needed at this time as the forecast remains on track.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 259 PM CDT Wed Oct 8 2025
Exiting high pressure will continue to bring breezy and mild conditions through this evening. A weak and mainly dry surface trough then moves through tonight, lessening the winds. These lessening of winds combined with cooler temperatures in the 40s could bring some patchy to areas of fog tonight into Thursday morning, especially in the west and some central portions. Another weak yet mainly dry wave then moves through on Thursday. This could bring some cloud cover to the east, with mainly clear conditions elsewhere. Temperatures will remain mild and in the mid 60s to mid 70s. Surface high then moves through Thursday night through Friday. Cooler temperatures may be found for Friday morning, with lows in the 30s to lower 40s. Perhaps some Freeze products will be needed if these temperatures trend colder. Cooler highs in the 60s will then be found on Friday. Some breezy southerly winds may then be found in the west as this high pulls away later in the day Friday. These breezy winds may then linger Friday night. Bringing more mild overnight lows in the 40s to lower 50s. Mainly dry conditions are forecast to continue.
An approaching trough will bring southwest flow aloft, with breezy to perhaps windy southerly flow lingering at the surface. The result will be warming temperatures on Saturday back into the mid 60s to mid 70s for most areas, along with breezy winds. A surface warm front could also be the focus for some showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms Saturday afternoon through Saturday night. Shear and instability still look limited, thus the chances for severe weather remain very low. The main trough and cold front then looks to move through sometime Saturday night through the day Sunday. Along the initial passage of this cold front cold be a few thunderstorms with chances for severe weather looking very low. Breezy to perhaps windy conditions may also be found with this front on Sunday. Front then moves east and the upper low moves northward into Canada Sunday night. Perhaps some lingering precipitation could be found in the north Sunday night. If this precipitation lingers then perhaps some snow may mix in with rain across the north. Most clusters now showing this more northern shift to the upper level wave, making chances for snow in North Dakota low this weekend. This northern shift has also lowered QPF chances. The current NBM chance for over an inch in 48 hours over the weekend is 5 to 20 percent with the higher chances coming in the north. Looking ahead into next week, cooler yet more normal like temperatures look to be in store. A general trough pattern could also linger chances for precipitation at times. NBM mainly has rain chances for now, although perhaps some snow may mix in if precipitation chances shift to the cooler nights.
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.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1254 AM CDT Thu Oct 9 2025
Patchy fog is possible across western parts of the state tonight through early Thursday morning. Otherwise, VFR conditions are expected through the forecast period. Expect southerly winds for the rest of tonight, strongest at KJMS and surrounding areas where low level wind shear is also expected. On Thursday, winds will become northwesterly around 10 kts, with some higher gusts possible across the north.
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.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
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UPDATE...Hollan DISCUSSION...Anglin AVIATION...Hollan
NWS BIS Office Area Forecast Discussion