North Dakota’s First Winter Storm Possible This Week

For the first time this season, the National Weather Service in Bismarck is using the word "storm" in their long-range forecast for North Dakota this week.

The brunt of this storm is expected to affect southern North Dakota starting Wednesday evening.  Heavy snow is possible across southern North Dakota including Bismarck Mandan lasting into early Thursday evening.

You can expect watches and warnings likely to be issued for this system today or tomorrow.  Strong northerly winds are expected with this system that could cause blowing and drifting snow.  This could make travel hazardous.

The coldest air of the season will follow this storm system on Veterans Day as high temperatures on Friday will only be in the upper teens to the lower 20s.  Overnight lows will be in the single digits to around zero.

Get out your ice fishing gear because the next week from Monday, November 14th to Sunday, November 20th will bring more of the same below-average temperatures.  High temps will struggle to reach 20 and overnight lows around zero to single digits.

The snow that was forecasted for Monday has been downgraded to very light.  Expect accumulations from a coating to an inch.

So, if you haven't taken care of winter preparation for your home and backyard, this is your early warning to get it done the next couple of days before winter really sets in possibly for good in Bismarck Mandan.  We certainly need the precipitation across the entire state, so even though I hate to see winter settle in this early, I guess we will take it.  It doesn't mean we have to like it right?