Two major winter storms appear to be descending on the Red River Valley and Devils Lake Basin as the year comes to an end, according to the National Weather Service.
The agency reported Tuesday that it expects "significant accumulations" of snow and near blizzard conditions to the region through New Year's Day.
The first of the two systems is expected to arrive late tonight, with snow falling in the basin and moving east into the valley overnight. Northerly winds will increase, causing considerable blowing snow and near-blizzard conditions by Thursday night.
This system could bring a freezing mix of rain and snow to the southern valley and west-central Minnesota.
After a brief respite Friday morning, a second round of snow is expected to arrive Friday afternoon.
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Geoffrey Grochocinski, a meteorologist with the weather service, said the second storm also will bring significant snow accumulation but totals are difficult to predict until the storm draws closer to the region.
Both storms will bring "near blizzard-like conditions," with snow and winds between 20 to 35 mph, he said.
"This is going to create a lot of trouble for people who were expecting to travel New Year's Eve," Grochocinski said.
The second storm is expected to move into the region Friday afternoon and stay through New Year's Day. The weather service says this storm will bring much colder air and dangerous wind chills to 35 below.
Currently, the weather service has issued a winter storm watch, but Grochocinski said forecasters are monitoring conditions closely to determine whether to issue a winter storm warning.
North Dakota counties under a winter storm watch: Towner, Cavalier, Pembina, Benson, Ramsey, Walsh, Eddy, Nelson, Grand Forks, Griggs, Steele, Traill, Barnes, Cass, Ransom, Sargent and Richland.
Counties in Minnesota: Polk, Norman, Clay, Kittson, Roseau, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Beltrami, Pennington, Red Lake, Clearwater, Beltrami, Mahnomen, Hubbard, Becker, Wilkin, Otter Tail, Wadena and Grant.
The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead contributed to this report.
