Bismarck (BIS) — the National Weather Service forecast in plain English · Plaincast

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Temperatures near to a little below normal for the next several days.

Mostly dry through the weekend, then chances for rain and snow Monday through Wednesday.

Update

Skies have cleared across most of the forecast area, except for parts of the south central, including the James River Valley. Winds have also been steadily diminishing this morning, though localized gusty conditions remain mainly in parts of north central North Dakota. With the overall downward trend expected to continue through the remainder of this morning, allowed the Wind Advisory to expire on time.

UPDATE Issued at 606 AM CDT Sat Oct 24 2026

Cold front has made it through North Dakota. There is enough moisture and elevated instability just behind the front to produce some showers over the James River Valley. There have even been a few lightning strikes. Didn't add any thunder but did throw in a slight chance of showers through 15 UTC for the far south central into the James River valley. Winds are still gusting into the 35 to 40 mph range across the area, with an occasional gust over 40 mph. No changes to the current wind advisory. Updated text products will be transmitted shortly.

Discussion

A cold front has pushed through western and most of central ND as of just before 4AM CDT. Behind the cold front, winds have been gusting to 35 to 45 mph, with an occasional gust to 45-50 mph. The fall-rise couplet has passed but pressure rises, strong gradient winds and cold advection will continue through 12-15 UTC before dropping off late morning and through the afternoon. May have to monitor the winds over eastern portions of the forecast area this morning to see if we would possibly need to extend the advisory for a while, if so, think it would be in the north central rather than the JRV.

Light post-frontal precipitation in northeast Montana is quickly drying up as it pushes east. If there is any measurable precipitation in the northwest it will be done by 12 UTC. Strong subsidence behind the front will also continue to erode the lower cloud deck behind the cold front. Considerable clouds early this morning will be on the decrease with mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies expected by this afternoon. Highs are expected to range from the mid 40s to mid 50s.

High pressure will build over the forecast area tonight with lows mainly in the 20s, with some readings in the teens possible.

On Sunday, a closed upper low over the Desert Southwest begins lifting northward. Mid and upper level moisture with this low approaches southern ND by late in the day, but precipitation is expected to stay shunted south of the forecast area. There could be some light precipitation slipping into the far south Sunday night, but most if not all should remain south of the border. Another cool day is expected Sunday with highs in the lower 40s to lower 50s. Lows Sunday night will be mainly in the 20s to lower 30s.

The aforementioned closed upper low finally lifts through the central and into the northern Plains Monday through Tuesday. On Monday, light precipitation should remain along and south of the I-94 corridor through the morning, with precipitation lifting northward through the forecast area Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning.

Medium range guidance has been going back and forth as whether to lift this system into ND or keep it south. Currently there is relatively good agreement on the upper level system lifting into North Dakota Monday night. Although qpf amounts are not overly impressive, and they do diminish as they lift northward into blocking high pressure situated over Canada, there is a decent signal for some beneficial liquid with this system.