991 FXUS63 KBIS 200222 AFDBISArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 922 PM CDT Fri Sep 19 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Slight chance of showers remain in the James River Valley through tonight.
- Temperatures warm back into the 70s and low 80s through the weekend, then remain in the 70s next week.
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.UPDATE... Issued at 920 PM CDT Fri Sep 19 2025
Some patchy fog is beginning to form across the region. Added fog to the grids to match current trends from the CAMs. Rain continues to diminish across the James River Valley. No other updates are needed at this time as the forecast remains on track.
UPDATE Issued at 631 PM CDT Fri Sep 19 2025
Rain bands continue across the James River Valley slowly progressing eastward. Low stratus continues to progress slowly eastward and will likely linger across the much of the state tonight into tomorrow morning. No updates are needed at this time as the forecast remains on track.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 250 PM CDT Fri Sep 19 2025
Currently the upper level low sits on the South Dakota and Nebraska border. A weaker upper level low sits just north of North Dakota in southern Canada. Very weak flow over the Northern Plains is a result of sitting between two low pressure systems. To the west a flat ridge is through Montana, pushing the southern low east. The southern low is stacked, so at the surface the low is in southeast South Dakota. Rain bands wrapping around the low continue from this morning. As the low pressure slowly slides east, so will the rain this evening. The NBM is holding onto the chance of rain in the James River Valley and east until tonight. Scattered rain showers could then continue from Valley City east through Saturday when the low pressure reaches Wisconsin.
With the ridge building in from the west, this weekend will be dry weather. Over the last week, areas of the south central have received over 8 inches of rain, so it might be good to get a break from rainfall. Temperatures will warm back into the 70s and low 80s (far west) through Sunday with a thermal ridge. Currently the ridge is on the western edge of North Dakota and already eroding clouds across the west with the sinking air.
Early Monday another low pressure dives in from Canada, leading to a quickshot of southwest flow. The NBM is still carrying a slight chance of showers Monday, but is trending down from a few days ago. As that low dives into the southeast CONUS, a Pacific trough with a low could move on shore. This could lead to a Omega blocking pattern across the Northern and Central Plains mid next week. Above average temperatures are forecast through the end of October both by the CPC and long range models.
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.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 631 PM CDT Fri Sep 19 2025
Low ceilings will continue across central and eastern North Dakota tonight impacting KMOT, KBIS, and KJMS. Low ceilings will continue into tomorrow morning likely clearing by the afternoon west to east. Winds are forecast to be light and variable or out of the north across the state. There are some showers that will linger across the James River Valley and eastern North Dakota tonight.
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.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
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UPDATE...Johnson DISCUSSION...Smith AVIATION...Johnson
NWS BIS Office Area Forecast Discussion