Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Bismarck, ND
Issued by NWS Bismarck, ND
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050 FXUS63 KBIS 160507 AFDBIS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 1207 AM CDT Sun Aug 16 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Mainly dry today through Sunday, although low chances (20-30%) for thunderstorms return to the southwest Sunday afternoon. - Low to medium chances (20-60%) for showers and isolated thunderstorms Sunday night. - Near daily low to medium chances (20-60%) chances for rain expected through the week. - Below normal temperatures this weekend, followed by a brief warm up on Monday. Cooler Tuesday and Wednesday, then warming later in the week. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1155 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026 Mostly clear skies across western and central ND for the early overnight update. No changes needed to the going forecast. UPDATE Issued at 1010 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026 Quiet weather continues. No changes needed at this time. UPDATE Issued at 702 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026 Quiet weather continues over the area with some low clouds over the east gradually dissipating. No changes needed at this time. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 239 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026 Zonal flow aloft continues across the Northern Plains as the surface low over northern Minnesota move eastward. Satellite imagery shows clouds continuing to clear across the west as temperatures warm into the 70s. There is a chance that some of the low clouds hang on a little longer in central and eastern North Dakota then what models have forecast. Tonight, overnight lows are forecast to drop down around the mid 40s out west as surface high pressure moves into the region with 50s elsewhere. Sunday, high temperatures are forecast to warm into the 70s and 80s across the area as surface high pressure will clear skies before a weak ridge moves across the High Plains. There is some marginal instability possible across the southwest tomorrow afternoon which could result in a low chance of strong storms. The CSU ML program is pegging a low chance for severe weather tomorrow afternoon. An upper level wave could kick storms off in the afternoon and evening continuing precipitation into the over night hours mainly across the southern half of the state. Overnight low Sunday are forecast to drop down into the 50s. Monday, temperatures will continue to warm into the 80s as the ridge out west strengthens. There is another low chance of strong to severe storms in the southeastern half of the state extending into the James River Valley Monday afternoon. This will bring a front to the region which will slightly cool temperatures Tuesday afternoon. Another wave could move through the region Tuesday bringing forth low to medium chances of rain across the state. Low chances for precipitation will continue on through the week tapering off by the weekend as an upper level ridge builds over the region which will lead to warmer weather. This ridge could push temperatures back into the upper 80s to lower 90s next weekend. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1155 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026 VFR conditions to begin the 06Z TAF period and mainly VFR conditions expected through the forecast period. With high pressure over the forecast area Sunday morning, light winds and mostly clear skies are expected. Patchy fog will be a possibility across the area. Guidance is not indicating much for fog at this time so confidence is too low to add to any TAF site. There will be a low chance for thunderstorms in the southwest this afternoon, then tonight, low chances (20-30%) for showers and thunderstorms track east across the forecast area. At this time, may add a PROB30 to western TAF sites, but again, confidence is too low for anything more at this time. Light surface flow tonight. During the day Sunday expect winds generally 12kts or less from the northwest over central and from the south over western ND. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ UPDATE...TWH DISCUSSION...Johnson AVIATION...TWH