The Arctic High that brought the bitterly cold temperatures to the region this weekend is now centered over Missouri. To the northwest of that high is an area of low pressure in Montana that will will be working to the southeast during the day and is expected to be in central Indiana by early Tuesday morning.
Behind that low will be another area of Arctic high pressure that will move into the northern plains. That will reinforce the cold air already in place and also create a pressure gradient that will great a stiff northwest wind on Tuesday.
The “clipper” that will will move from Montana this morning to Indiana tomorrow will drop a band of snow along the northern edge of the track. The snow in North Dakota will fall from near Williston to Bismarck to Aberdeen and points to the south of that line. Most locations will probably record 2 to 4 inches of snow from this event.
Because of that snow and the corresponding wind, there is a winter weather advisory in the counties shaded in purple below. Where the clipper picks up a bit more moisture winter storm warning from Sioux Falls across Iowa into the Quad Cities area along the Mississippi River. Much of northern and eastern North Dakota will record little if any snowfall today as these types of systems tend to have a very sharp edge of accumulating snow.
Post today’s clipper will come a dry and cold pattern with temperatures well below seasonal averages. There may be a dusting of snow or some flurries on Thursday as a weak disturbance passes overhead, but minimum moisture is foreseen, just a persistent cold spell through at least the upcoming weekend.
Daryl Ritchison