GRAND FORKS — Blizzard conditions are possible in northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota, with the National Weather Service reporting that winds could gust to 60 mph.
The NWS, in a packet distributed to the media Sunday, Jan. 30, said the front will likely hit the area Monday evening through midday Tuesday.
"Light snow may combine with strong northwest winds, leading to sharply reduced visibility in the north," the NWS said in the packet. "Where new snow doesn't fall, strong winds to 60 mph may still result in ground blizzard conditions if the older snow breaks loose."
As a result, according to the NWS, "blizzard conditions are possible starting late Monday evening, persisting through midday Tuesday."
A winter storm watch has been issued for a number of counties in the region. Communities included in the watch are Grand Forks, Fargo, Devils Lake, Langdon, Hallock, Grafton, Cando, Finley, Valley City and Wahpeton in North Dakota and Hallock, Roseau, Baudette, Thief River Falls and Ada in Minnesota.
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Snow greater than 1 inch is most likely in the Hallock, Roseau, Thief River Falls and Baudette areas, the NWS predicts. Roseau has an 88% chance of receiving more than an inch, while the chance in Grand Forks is around 73%. The chances decrease farther west and south.
Strong winds are more likely to impact the region. The NWS reports that there likely will be northwest winds of 25 mph to 40 mph throughout most of the region, and the "strongest gusts of up to 60 mph are possible from the Red River Valley and locations west."
It could lead to significant travel impacts due to whiteout conditions, with the worst of it possibly coming Tuesday morning.
