627
FXUS63 KBIS 180856
AFDBIS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
356 AM CDT WED MAR 18 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- WELL ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK,
WITH HIGHS IN THE 40S AND 50S IN THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS AREA,
AND 50S TO 70S ACROSS THE REST OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA.
- MOSTLY DRY CONDITIONS THROUGH THE REST OF THE WORKWEEK, WITH
LOW CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION RETURNING OVER THE WEEKEND.
DISCUSSION
ISSUED AT 356 AM CDT WED MAR 18 2026
PATCHY FOG HAS DEVELOPED IN THE VICINITY OF THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS
AND SHOULD DISSIPATE BY MID TO LATE MORNING. OTHERWISE,
GENERALLY QUIET WEATHER AND UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES ARE
EXPECTED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WORKWEEK AS A WEST CONUS
RIDGE GRADUALLY SLIDES EASTWARD. DESPITE GENERALLY DRY
CONDITIONS, WEAK EMBEDDED SHORTWAVE ENERGY COULD BRING A LITTLE
LIGHT RAIN TO THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS AREA LATER THIS AFTERNOON OR
EVENING. WESTERLY WINDS, BREEZY MAINLY IN WESTERN ND, ARE
EXPECTED TO PREVAIL TODAY AND THURSDAY AS A COUPLE WEAK SURFACE
LOWS PASS FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS SOUTHERN CANADA. THESE
DOWNSLOPE WINDS WILL HELP PRODUCE UNSEASONABLY WARM
TEMPERATURES WITH HIGHS TODAY IN THE 50S AND 60 FOR MOST
LOCATIONS, AND HIGHS ON THURSDAY RANGING FROM THE UPPER 50S TO
LOW 70S. THE MAIN EXCEPTION IS IN THE VICINITY OF THE TURTLE
MOUNTAINS WHERE THINGS WILL REMAIN COOLER AND IN THE 40S TO LOW
50S. FOR FRIDAY, WINDS WILL TAKE ON A MORE NORTHWESTERLY
COMPONENT WITH BREEZY CONDITIONS ACROSS MOST OF THE FORECAST
AREA, THOUGH HIGHS WILL REMAIN SIMILAR TO THURSDAY.
FOR THIS WEEKEND, A TROUGH LOOKS TO BREAK DOWN THE RIDGE WHICH
BRINGS LOW CHANCES FOR LIGHT RAIN MIXED WITH SNOW FRIDAY NIGHT
THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. MORE NOTEWORTHY AT THIS TIME IS THE
RETURN TO MORE SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES ON SUNDAY. NEAR AVERAGE
TO SEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES ARE THEN FAVORED TO START THE
NEXT WORKWEEK. WHILE THE NBM KEEPS SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY DRY,
THERE ARE HINTS THAT LOW MENTIONABLE POPS WILL LIKELY ENTER THE
FORECAST AT SOME POINT.
AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/
ISSUED AT 1226 AM CDT WED MAR 18 2026
PATCHY FOG COULD DEVELOP IN THE VICINITY OF THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS
OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, WHILE LOW-LEVEL STRATUS MAY IMPACT THE NORTH
CENTRAL AND THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY TOWARDS THE END OF THE TAF
PERIOD. OTHERWISE, VFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY ARE EXPECTED
THROUGH THE PERIOD. ONE OTHER NOTE IS THAT LLWS APPEARS TO BE
IMPACTING PARTS OF THE SOUTHWEST AT THIS TIME, INCLUDING KDIK,
THOUGH SHOULD DIMINISH OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS.
BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
NONE.
DISCUSSION...TELKEN
AVIATION...TELKEN
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
Main Text Page