Areas of blowing and drifting snow through the night. Snow after midnight. Colder. Snow accumulation around 2 inches. Lows zero to 5 above. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Lowest wind chills around 20 below.
Thursday
Snow. Areas of blowing and drifting snow. Snow accumulation up to 1 inch. Total snow accumulation 4 to 6 inches. Highs 5 to 10 above. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph. Lowest wind chills around 20 below.
Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Areas of blowing and drifting snow. Breezy. Lows around 5 below. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph.
Christmas Day
Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow. Areas of blowing and drifting snow. Breezy. Highs around 10. Northwest winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts to around 40 mph.
Friday Night
Cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow. Areas of blowing and drifting snow. Breezy. Lows near zero.
Saturday
Partly sunny. Windy. Highs 15 to 20.
Saturday Night through Monday
Partly cloudy. Breezy. Lows 5 to 10 above. Highs 15 to 20.
... Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 6 am CST /5 am MST/ this morning to 6 am CST /5 am MST/ Friday... ... Blizzard watch in effect from Friday morning through Saturday afternoon...
The National Weather Service in Bismarck has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for snow and blowing snow... which is in effect from 6 am CST /5 am MST/ this morning to 6 am CST /5 am MST/ Friday. A blizzard watch has also been issued. This blizzard watch is in effect from Friday morning through Saturday afternoon. The Winter Storm Watch is no longer in effect.
* Snow will develop across western North Dakota Wednesday morning with snowfall intensity increasing Wednesday afternoon and evening.
* Snowfall amounts will range from 3 to 6 inches across western and northwestern North Dakota through Friday.
* Northwesterly winds of 15 to 25 mph at times will create areas of blowing and drifting snow through Thursday night... reducing visibility to one half mile or less. Gusts of 35 to 40 mph are likely to develop Friday into Saturday possibly bringing blizzard conditions.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A Winter Storm Warning for snow and blowing snow means that visibilities will be limited due to a combination of falling and blowing snow. Use caution when traveling... especially in open areas.
A blizzard watch means there is a potential for falling and/or blowing snow with strong winds and extremely poor visibilities. This can lead to whiteout conditions and make travel very dangerous.
Public Information Statement
Statement as of 3:20 am CST on December 23, 2009
... Safety rules for winter storm warnings...
A Winter Storm Warning has been issued by your National Weather Service in North Dakota. The following safety rules should insure your survival.
A brief reminder... a warning means the storm is actually occurring or is imminent.
Do not venture out into the storm unless absolutely necessary. Most winter storm fatalities involved people who left a place of safety while the storm was in progress.
If you must go out... dress warmly. It is very important to keep your head... hands and feet protected. Most of the bodys heat is lost through the outer extremities... especially the head.
On the Road... you should have winter survival gear in your vehicle. If stranded in the storm... stay in your vehicle. Run the engine sparingly to conserve fuel.
Circulate fresh air in the car by opening one of the windows slightly. Turn on the dome light at night. Maintain a continuous watch and do not let everyone in the vehicle sleep at the same time.
Monitor the latest weather reports... if possible... and wait patiently for the storm to subside.