Wahpeton, North Dakota 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

088
FXUS63 KFGF 191140
AFDFGF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
640 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Well above average temperatures are forecast this week,
  including well above freezing. While a significant degradation
  in current snowpack is expected, flooding from snowmelt is not
  anticipated at this time.

- There is a medium to high chance for dense fog during the
  evening into morning hours for the next several days. However,
  confidence in location and duration of fog is low.

- A quick moving system this weekend brings a 20% chance for
  advisory level impacts.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 634 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Fog area in the south RRV expanding north-northwest last 2 hours
and moving into Fargo area. It may expand further north-
northwest thru 14z....but skies are clear above the fog layer so
should burn off typical mid morning period.

UPDATE
Issued at 418 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Main fog area is a small area from Wahpeton ND to Fergus Falls
MN then southeast to Willmar MN. Fog within our forecast area is
dense in spots but webcams show not widespread. Did SPS for this
area for patchy dense fog. Rest of the area light fog is
reported by automated weather stations with vsbys 2-5SM, and
could see lowering in vsbys yet for a few hours toward sunrise
so wouldnt be suprised to see other locally dense fog patches
form.

I didnt change the key messages. Though for the weekend,
chance of winter advisory level impacts look less.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 206 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026

...Synopsis...

Expansive and strong upper ridging is building over the West.
There still remains a stout upper jet over the crest of this
ridge nosing out of the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies
into the Northern Plains, southern tier Canada, and Upper
Midwest. Upper troughing still remains over the eastern third of
the CONUS. This synoptic set up places our region generally
under northwest flow aloft, with growing influence of the upper
ridge into our area through the work week.

Our proximity to the stout upper jet will allow two or more
transient, shallow and weak mid/upper waves to traverse southern
MB into eastern ND and northwest/west-central MN this afternoon,
evening, and possibly into Thursday morning. These will bring
quick moving showers of wintry mix. Potential impacts from
wintry mix is limited due to dry air under precipitation
evaporating some precip before it reaches the ground, as well as
the brevity of precip over any particular location.

However, should surface temperatures dip below freezing tonight
with liquid precipitation falling, there may be some areas that
turn slick. This is a low confidence scenario, holding around a
10% chance for advisory-level impacts tonight/early tomorrow
morning.

Into the weekend, the upper ridge flattens into next week. The
flattening ridge will allow more potential for mid/upper level
waves and Pacific-sourced moisture to traverse our region. This
may bring more organized winter precipitation into our area,
possibly bringing advisory-level impacts. More details on this
below.

...Well above average temperatures and implications on flood
potential...

Well above average temperatures are building within the West upper
ridge, including record-setting heat in portions of the
Southwest and Southern Plains. Some of this heat will bleed into
our area this week, but more of a "glancing influence" compared
to other locations firmly entrenched within its grasp. This
will drive well above freezing temperatures into our region,
working at the current snowpack.

There is even a medium chance for exceeding 60 F in some areas,
mainly within southeast ND and west-central MN, Friday and
possibly Saturday.

Temperatures this high will drastically erode the current
snowpack. While this is expected, the current snowpack is not
expected to contain sufficient liquid equivalent to induce
riverine/overland flooding.

This may change as we see exactly how SWE works its way into the
riverine system, possibly allowing more susceptible tributaries
to near minor flood stage late this week into next week.

...Dense fog potential...

With today starting the melt process of our current snowpack,
diurnal cooling at night will harness excess near surface
moisture to develop fog. While confidence is high that there
will be fog within the region, confidence is very low in
where/when dense fog will occur.

With continued well above temperatures continuing to melt the
snowpack through at least Friday, dense fog within the region
can be expected, but with low confidence in location and
duration.

...Weekend winter impact potential...

Ensemble guidance indicates high likelihood in a more organized
but shallow and fast moving hybrid-type wave to traverse the
Dakotas into Minnesota this weekend. While this brings the
potential to bring accumulating snowfall between 1-3 inches
and/or light icing, confidence is low in this occuring within
our area. This is due to spread in ensemble guidance on synoptic
evolution, as well as the likely presence of mesoscale forcing.
Additionally, questions on temperatures either above or below
freezing add addition uncertainty. Ultimately, there is
currently a 20% chance for advisory level impacts.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 634 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Fog and low clouds to start the day is the usual issue this time
of year and its the same today. The extent of fog overnight was
not as much as thought, but there is an expanding area of fog
and low clouds (VLIFR) that has been Wahpeton and Fergus Falls
moving north-northwest into Fargo-Moorhead at 12z. Initially
more of a very low cloud deck but some vsby reductions too under
3SM. Anticipate burn off 14/15z period. Mid clouds otherwise,
but this fog area may spread north the next 2 hours before
dissipating. I see no reason for it not to dissipate on
schedule, but stranger things have happened. South wind will
increase into the 10 to 15 kts sustained range today with
evidence of a low level jet this evening with an area of 30 kt
northwest winds at 2000 ft agl moves through.

&&

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

&&

$$

UPDATE...Riddle
DISCUSSION...CJ
AVIATION...Riddle