Dec. 16—GRAND FORKS — Midweek snow accumulations could impact travel conditions on Wednesday into Thursday, forecasters report.
There is a 70% chance for minor winter impacts and a 20% chance of moderate impacts across the region Wednesday and Thursday. During this time, blowing snow could lead to difficult travel, according to a weather briefing issued Monday afternoon by the National Weather Service.
The briefing reports a 66% chance of 4 inches or more of snow in Grand Forks.
Snow is expected to fall across the area late Wednesday and into Thursday, according to the NWS. Winds are not expected to pick up until snowfall is ending. However, due to several inches of new snow, the blowing snow could linger well into Thursday. Both morning and evening commutes on Thursday are expected to be impacted.
Robert Poynter, of the WDAY StormTracker team, urged residents to keep an eye on the forecasts over the coming days.
“We’re still a couple days out from the finer details, but we could be looking at some rounds of snow moving on through,” he said. “We’ll obviously keep an eye on that.”
After blowing snow ends Thursday, “cold really strikes” on Friday, Poynter said, and single-digit temperatures can be expected heading into the weekend.
During winter weather, the NWS urges drivers to drive slower than normal and leave extra room around surrounding vehicles. Do not use cruise control, brake quickly or take sharp turns. Give plows plenty of room to work, and only pass them when it is safe to do so. Also, make sure you keep your gas tank more than half full, and closely monitor road conditions, which can change rapidly. On road trips, take breaks often.
