ROADS AND WEATHER: Highs near 36, wind advisory

Today, the first day of spring (officially starting at 7:07 p.m.), it will be mostly cloudy with highs near 36 and south winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts as high as 45 mph in Grand Forks and surrounding communities according to the National Weather Service.

A wind advisory is in effect from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Winds this strong can make travel difficult especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

Tonight there is a 20 percent chance of isolated showers after 1 a.m. It will be mostly cloudy with lows near 33 and south winds 25 to 28 mph decreasing to between 13 and 16 mph. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph.

Wednesday there is a 40 percent chance of scattered showers after 7 a.m. It will be cloudy with highs near 43 and south winds 6 to 13 mph becoming west northwest. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday night there is a 40 percent chance of scattered rain and snow showers from 7 to 10 p.m. then a slight chance of snow between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. It will be cloudy becoming partly cloudy with lows near 27 and northwest winds 8 to 10 mph.

Road conditions

Driving conditions in northeastern North Dakota are reported to be in good condition. In northwestern Minnesota roads are reported to be in good condition.

North Dakota highways

-- I-29 Good.

-- US-2 Good.

-- US-81 Good.

-- US-281 Good.

-- ND-5 Good.

-- ND-200 Good.

Minnesota highways

-- Northwestern counties of Minnesota report that road conditions are in good condition.

Road construction/delays

Weather info

The following is a list of contact points for weather information in North Dakota and Minnesota:

IN NORTH DAKOTA

-- Call 511, a telephone number developed by Meridian Environmental Technologies of Grand Forks that gives comprehensive weather and road information for the state and beyond.

-- Call (866) 696-3511 if your cell phone provider won't allow you to use the 511 system.

-- Call STAR 2121 or (701) 328-8100 with your cell phone to reach North Dakota State Radio, another option to notify authorities of mishaps.

Weather information also can be found online at:

-- www.discovernd.com

-- www.nd.gov/des/

-- www.intellicast.com

-- http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fgf

-- www.dot.nd.gov/road-map/travel.html

IN MINNESOTA

-- Call 511

And online at:

-- www.511mn.org

-- http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/mn/mn.html

-- www.intellicast.com

Road information

-- North Dakota road information telephone numbers: Call 511, a telephone number developed by Meridian Environmental Technologies of Grand Forks that gives comprehensive weather and road information for the state and beyond. Call (866) 696-3511 if your cell phone provider won't allow you to use the 511 system.

-- Minnesota State Road Information: Dial 511 from any phone in the state, or (800) 542-0220 statewide.

-- National Weather Service in Grand Forks: Web page at www.crh.noaa.gov/fgf offers continuously updated observations, forecasts and warnings.

-- National Weather Service in Chanhassen, Minn.: Web page at www.crh.noaa.gov/mpx/ provides Minnesota weather.