328 FXUS63 KBIS 021954 AFDBISArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 254 PM CDT Thu Oct 2 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- High temperatures around 15 to 20 degrees above normal temperatures are expected today, with a larger spread likely on Friday.
- Low probability of isolated severe weather Friday into Saturday.
- Periods of moderate to heavy rainfall are likely this weekend.
- Cooler temperatures return Saturday in the north and west, with temperatures dipping slightly below normal across the state early next week.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 244 PM CDT Thu Oct 2 2025
An upper level ridge across Eastern CONUS has lead to increased heights over the Northern Plains. Therefore, warm above normal temperatures continue across the region today. High temperatures are forecast to sit in the 80s this afternoon. Overnight temperatures are forecast to drop down into the 50s.
Friday will also be a very warm day as the top of low level thermal ridge passes across the southern half of the state. Thus, high temperatures Friday across the south are forecast to be in the mid to upper 80s while the north will see temperatures in upper 70s. Southerly return flow Friday will bring forth breezy conditions across the southeast and south central.
The upper level ridge will continue progress eastward toward the end of the week, while a broad upper level trough deepens out over Western CONUS progressing into the Central Plains. The CSU machine learning program has low probabilities for isolated severe weather Friday and Saturday. Forecast soundings Friday show increased instability around 1000-1500 j/kg of MUCAPE and 30 to 40 kts of 0-6 km shear. However, there is a pretty impress cap that will likely hinder storm development Friday. We will have to see if the forcing mechanism, the upper level trough, reaches the area to align with the greatest instability. If convection does form it will likely be elevated with damaging winds and large hail being the main threats.
The aforementioned upper level trough is forecast to move across the Northern Plains this Saturday through Sunday bringing widespread precipitation to North Dakota. Moderate to heavy rain could lead to localized street flooding. The NBM has around 50 percent of 1 inch of rain in the south central up to Devils Lake Basin. The NBM probabilities have increased from the last two runs increasing the size of the area that could see up to an inch of rain. Heavy rain is certainly possible with this system as PWATs are around 1 to 1.3 inches. The NBM even has some low probabilities around 15 percent for 2 inches of rain. This system will bring in slightly below normal temperatures back to the region Sunday and Monday before warming back up to near normal by the middle of next week.
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1225 PM CDT Thu Oct 2 2025
VFR conditions will continue across the region for the next 24 hours. Light winds will generally veer out of the south by this evening. Skies will remain relatively clear with a few high clouds.
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.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
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DISCUSSION...Johnson AVIATION...Johnson
NWS BIS Office Area Forecast Discussion