From the Kx News Dakota Storm Center
This is the last day of strong winds and drifting snow continues to be a problem on the roadways. Winds will slowly decrease tonight and skies will remain partly cloudy. High pressure will build over the Plains for the weekend, but then quickly move out as another low pressure system will move over North Dakota by Sunday. A dip in the jet stream will start to take place as the low comes closer. This will enable much colder temperatures for the first week of the new year. Highs will likely be around zero degrees and lows below zero degrees. There is high certainty with the cold temperatures, but uncertainty does remain with a chance of snow on Monday. High chances of snow does increase for the southern part of the state. Several models are illustrating different outcomes. It is too far out to provide any snow totals. The big story is the cold temperatures coming within the next few days.
With bitter cold temperatures and wind chills 30 degrees below zero making a return to North Dakota, it is important to be prepared when traveling. It will take less than 30 minutes for frost bite to occur.
Friday night, partly cloudy skies and winds will calm down throughout the night. Winds start northwest/north at 20-30 mph and gusts up to 40 mph and then decreasing to 5-15 mph. Lows near 15 degrees.
New Years Eve, skies will be partly cloudy, more clouds in the North than South, with winds west/southwest at 5-15 mph. Highs in the lower 20s.
New Years Eve night, more clouds in the north than the south and winds will be light, southwest/west at 1-8 mph. Lows around 10 degrees. Some snow possible for the northern areas.
New Years Day, highs near 15 degrees and increasing clouds throughout the day. Winds mainly light at northwest/north at 1-8 mph.
Sunday night, cloudy to start and then snow is possible in the late night hours. Lows in the single digits. Chance of snow 40%
~Heidi Werosta, KX News
