Bismarck, North Dakota – The Dakotas are heading into a prolonged stretch of elevated winter weather concern as lingering Arctic cold keeps the potential for additional snowstorms firmly in play through mid-February, following one of the most expansive winter systems of the season.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, temperatures across North Dakota and South Dakota are expected to remain well below normal through the Feb. 7–20 period. With cold air locked in place, forecasters indicate there is roughly a 50–50 chance that one or more strong storm systems could track through the northern Plains during this window, bringing the potential for heavy snow and blowing snow.
The renewed concern follows Winter Storm Fern, a massive system that swept from Texas to Maine and impacted more than two dozen states. While Fern’s heaviest snow fell farther east and south, the storm reinforced a broad, cold-dominated pattern across the Plains that is expected to persist. That same setup increases the likelihood that future systems crossing the Rockies could strengthen as they move into the Dakotas.
If additional storms develop, communities from Bismarck and Minot to Fargo, Grand Forks, Aberdeen, and Pierre could face renewed travel disruptions. Open stretches of Interstates 29, 90, and 94 are especially vulnerable to whiteout conditions when strong winds combine with falling or blowing snow, even during moderate accumulation events.
State transportation and emergency management officials are urging residents to prepare now by reviewing winter travel plans, keeping vehicles stocked with cold-weather supplies, and monitoring forecasts closely. While no single storm is guaranteed, forecasters stress that the overall pattern supports continued winter threats. Additional advisories and warnings may be issued as confidence increases, with cold air and the potential for heavy snow remaining a persistent concern across the Dakotas through mid-February.
