049 FXUS63 KBIS 201132 AFDBISArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 632 AM CDT Sat Sep 20 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Areas of fog, along with patchy dense fog, this morning.
- Temperatures warm back into the 70s and low 80s through the weekend, then remain mostly in the 70s next week.
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.UPDATE... Issued at 632 AM CDT Sat Sep 20 2025
Areas of fog are present across most of western through central ND. However, patchy dense fog remains limited mainly to locations west of Highway 83. Therefore, issued another SPS until 9 am CDT/8 am MDT for areas where patchy dense fog is present. Fog may linger through the morning, but visibility from dense fog will likely improve by mid to late morning. Otherwise, the forecast remains on track.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 347 AM CDT Sat Sep 20 2025
After an active period, much quieter weather is expected through the next week. Still, there`s almost always something going on. As such, fog has developed this morning mainly in areas west of the low-level stratus deck that also received wetting rains. Issued an SPS for patchy dense fog until 5 am CDT for much of western and parts of central ND, mainly west of Highway 83. As the stratus deck continues eroding eastward early this morning, fog may simultaneously continue to expand eastward. Will re-evaluate when the SPS expires at 5 am CDT. Fog should dissipate by late morning.
Aforementioned low-level stratus will continue to erode from west to east through the day today as surface low pressure over the eastern Dakotas/western Minnesota very slowly lifts to the northeast, and the mid-levels dry out. Encroaching lowly amplified ridge will lead to a slight warming trend to finish out the weekend. For today, that means highs will range from the mid 60s east to mid 70s west, while highs will be mostly in the 70s east to low 80s west on Sunday as surface flow becomes southerly.
Progged shortwave energy Monday keeps slowing down and looks more disorganized as it approaches western ND. As a result, NBM continues to maintain mentionable PoPs only in the far southwestern corner of the state. Still, with low non-mentionable PoPs, a few showers could really occur anywhere in western ND.
Another lowly amplified ridge looks to pass through during the middle of the week, otherwise zonal flow with occasional northwesterly flow aloft is favored. This all translates to fairly high confidence in near average to slightly above average high temperatures through the workweek, with highs mostly in the 70s and a few 80 degrees readings possible. NBM then favors a cooling trend to finish out the week. The NBM 50th percentile (highs mostly in the low 70s) is the warmer solution next weekend, so there is more room for error on the cooler (60s) versus higher (low 80s) side. Lows will be mostly in the mid 40s to mid 50s this week.
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.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 632 AM CDT Sat Sep 20 2025
Areas of fog have developed this morning and are impacting much of the state, with patchy dense fog confined mainly to areas west of Highway 83. In addition to fog, low-level MVFR/IFR stratus persists over most areas along and east of Highway 83. Fog is expected to dissipate by late morning, while skies will clear from west to east through the day today. VFR conditions will prevail across most of western through central ND this afternoon and evening before additional fog development is possible tonight.
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.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
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UPDATE...Telken DISCUSSION...Telken AVIATION...Telken
NWS BIS Office Area Forecast Discussion