703
FXUS63 KFGF 152104
AFDFGF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
404 PM CDT Wed Jul 15 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Heat impacts are expected to continue across portions of the
  area through the remainder of this week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 345 PM CDT Wed Jul 15 2026

...Synopsis...

Anomalously strong upper ridge remains firmly in place over the
Northern Plains today through Friday. At the surface, stationary
front remains draped west-east across generally the I-94
corridor. South of this front, higher dew points and
temperatures reside, whereas north of the front offers a
reprieve from recent heat aided by lower temperatures and dew
points along with some cloud cover. Heat impacts remain in
southeast ND and west-central MN today.

Back aloft, two or more low amplitude and weak shortwave
impulses moving through the crest of the ridge will bring low
chance for showers tonight near the international border, as
well as a medium chance for showers and thunderstorms late
Thursday into early Friday, again near the international
border. A few storms may be strong to severe late Thursday into
early Friday capable of producing hail and gusty winds. While
not overly confident in this severe potential, there is enough
instability and shear that could help organize storms for hail
potential, along with dry air in the lower levels for strong
downdrafts leading to gusty winds. While most locations will
likely not see rainfall, those that do can anticipate a wetting
rain, with locally soaking rainfall of at least 1 inch possible,
too - again, favored to occur within northeast ND into northwest
MN.

This will also help draw back north the higher dew points and
temperatures, continuing heat impacts in at least southeast ND
and west-central MN, perhaps further north depending on how far
north the front makes it.

Near the front is easterly flow, which will effectively draw in
more wildfire smoke toward our region. Added smoke into the
forecast, with confidence high enough in degraded air quality
starting as early as today, lasting through at least Friday.
Westerly low level flow by Saturday may help push smoke back
out of our area, so this bout of smoke is likely to be shorter
duration in the near term.

Into the weekend, the strong upper ridge will build westward
into the Four Corners region by this weekend. This will allow
another yet bout of hot temperatures to spread into the Dakotas,
with high temperatures well into the 90s. This along with likely
higher dew points will continue potential for heat impacts
within our region through Sunday. Confidence is not high in
exact location of this potential, but areas that have been
experiencing current wave of heat impacts within southeast ND
and west-central MN hold relatively higher chances at seeing
these impacts. If this occurs, this would be one of the longest
stretches of at least 90F temperatures in southeast ND and
west-central MN.

Ensemble guidance strongly favors a (not-weak) cold front to
move through Monday or Tuesday. This would effectively end the
current heat wave impacting our region. This also would offer
chance for showers and storms, although details on strength and
coverage remain uncertain.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 138 PM CDT Wed Jul 15 2026

There is potential for wildfire smoke to move into portions of
west-central and northwest Minnesota this afternoon, tonight,
into Thursday. Included a 6SM FU at KBJI to annotate when smoke
could start to impact the site, although confidence was not high
in timing of this - smoke could arrive as early as 06Z, or as
late as beyond 12Z. Confidence in smoke impacting other TAF
sites like KFAR, KTVF, and KGFK is too low to include this
issuance.

Otherwise, high confidence in ceilings remaining VFR throughout
the TAF period. Winds will be out of the east generally between
6-15kt, with the exception of KDVL where winds will gust 20-29kt
this afternoon before lessening late this afternoon.

&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...Heat Advisory until 10 PM CDT Thursday for NDZ024-028>030-038-
     039-049-052-053.
MN...Heat Advisory until 10 PM CDT Thursday for MNZ002-003-029>032-
     040.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...CJ
AVIATION...CJ