608
FXUS63 KFGF 302020
AFDFGF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
320 PM CDT Wed Jul 30 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Impacts to air quality are expected to continue through the
  remainder of the week due to wildfire smoke.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 319 PM CDT Wed Jul 30 2025

...Synopsis...

Northwest H5 flow prevails today into Thursday with surface high
pressure filling into the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Weak
ridging builds into the area from west to east on Friday; however,
temperatures will likely remain near average due to a combination of
weak surface flow as well as short residence time. H7 troughing
works eastward into the Northern Plains on Saturday, bringing
precipitation chances back into the forecast this weekend.
Instability will be quite low, with the probability for 1000 J/Kg of
CAPE roughly 10-20 percent west of the Red River Valley. Instability
is expected to slowly increase each day, however, with Sunday and
Monday bringing chances of 30 percent and 50 percent respectively.
From Tuesday onward, a more active pattern is supported as H7
shortwaves traverse zonal to slightly southwesterly flow Wednesday
through Friday.

...Wildfire Smoke Continues to Impact Air Quality...

Northwest H5 flow, combined with weak surface winds, has contributed
to continued wildfire smoke across the area. While advective
patterns show less support for additional smoke, existing smoke will
not scour out very quickly due to weak surface flow under high
pressure. This is expected to be the case through much of the week,
with only slight improvements possible Thursday. Surface winds pick
up out of the south on Friday, which should allow smoke to mix and
eventually clear slowly from south to north.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1218 PM CDT Wed Jul 30 2025

MVFR conditions prevail at KBJI, with VFR conditions elsewhere.
Look for periodic visibility reductions due to near-surface
wildfire smoke through the remainder of the afternoon and into
this evening. A favorable flow pattern exists for continued
smoke impacts to visibility through the overnight period and
possibly Thursday morning. Otherwise, impacts are expected to be
minimal as high pressure settles in across the area.

&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...None.
MN...None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Lynch
AVIATION...Lynch