Grand Forks has enjoyed what will most likely go down as the city's warmest September on record, but like all good things, that streak must come to an end.
Strong northwest winds will move into the region this morning, ushering in below-normal temperatures and the coldest air so far this fall.
Pete Speicher, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said all of eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota will have a windy day. But the worst of it will happen in the Devils Lake basin and the Valley City, N.D., area, where winds could gust to 45 mph.
A cold front passing through the region is to blame, he said, because as it passes through the region, it will bring in the cold air behind the front.
Today's high temperature in Grand Forks should be about 62 degrees. Rain showers are likely to accompany the cold front, especially near the Canadian border, but Speicher said Grand Forks will likely get a little rain, as well.
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High temperatures today will likely hover around the low 60s all across the region. The Fargo area could hit the mid-60s, but the Devils Lake basin and the Cavalier, N.D., area might not even break 60 degrees.
Tonight's lows will be about 40 degrees in the region. That number is about even with the regional average low temperature for the date.
Monday will be even cooler -- Grand Forks' high is predicted at 55 degrees, and more northerly winds will continue to roar through the region from 22 mph to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.
The low temperature could get near the frost point, and thermometers are expected to drop to about 35 degrees during Monday night.
The remainder of the week should see highs near 60 degrees, with lows in the mid- to low-40s.
It's time
The return to more average fall temperatures might seem like a rude awakening, especially after the potentially record-breaking month so far. As of Sept. 25, Grand Forks' average temperature for the month was 66.3 degrees -- 8.4 degrees above normal.
"Everybody's been used to a very warm September," Speicher said. "If you're talking what it was a few weeks ago, it's getting cool. But it's fall, so it should be."
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It's a fairly safe bet that Grand Forks won't enjoy the sunny, mid-70s days that frequented the region earlier this month -- at least not until next year. But residents can take comfort in the fact that the city will almost assuredly set a record for September.
The warmest-ever daily average for September was set at 62.6 degrees in 1948. Considering that the city has seen average temperatures of almost 4 degrees warmer than that so far, even the colder-than-average readings this week probably won't be enough to ruin this month.
"With only six days left, it's going to be hard to cool down enough to get there," Speicher said.
Reach Johnson at (701) 780-1105; (800) 477-6572, ext. 105; or send e-mail to rjohnson@gfherald.com .
