After a long, largely snow-less early and mid-fall around Grand Forks, winter seems to want to vanquish any notion that autumn still exists. Part of the region is in a winter weather advisory until 9 p.m., with three to five inches of snow possible today in the advisory area. Grand Forks and East Grand Forks are in the advisory area.
A more powerful storm system - with four to six more inches of snow, stronger winds and worsened travel problems, is expected Wednesday and continuing into Thanksgiving Day.
With stronger winds of 25 mph or more starting Wednesday night, travel problems are likely, the weather service says.
Matters are even more wintery to the south and east. A winter storm warning in effect tonight until either 9 p.m. or midnight - later if you live farther north and east - for eastern Polk County and Clearwater, Beltrami, Mahnomen and Norman counties, stretching through the Fargo-Moorhead area and continuing southwest through Lisbon, N.D., all the way to the Ashley, N.D., area.
Grand Forks and East Grand Forks are not in the winter storm warning area.
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That winter weather advisory for that area was upgraded late this morning to a winter storm warning.
A winter storm warning for heavy snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring that, with heavy snow, will make travel dangerous. Only travel in an emergency, and if you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food.
It all came together quickly.
That snow's expected to taper off and end late this afternoon or early tonight, but not before winds become north at 10 to 20 mph this afternoon and night, causing some blowing and drifting snow. Expect snow-covered roads and limited visibility at times in parts of the region.
As for extreme northwest Minnesota and the rest of northeast North Dakota, there is no winter weather advisory today.
The updated National Weather Service forecast for Grand Forks:
This afternoon: Snow. High near 13. North wind between 15 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
Tonight: Snow likely, mainly before 9 p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 5. North northwest wind between 9 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
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Tuesday: Cloudy, with a high near 15. North northwest wind between 6 and 8 mph.
Tuesday Night: Cloudy, with a low around 10. East southeast wind between 7 and 13 mph.
Wednesday: Snow, mainly after noon. High near 22. East wind between 10 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.
Wednesday Night: Snow likely and widespread blowing snow. Cloudy and blustery, with a low around 6. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
Thanksgiving Day: Widespread blowing snow and a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy and blustery, with a high near 14. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy and blustery, with a low around -1.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 16.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 10.
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Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 19.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27.
