Grand Forks, ND – The quiet start to the week is about to unravel across the Upper Midwest, as a major winter storm targets eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota beginning Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the region, warning of heavy snow, blowing snow, and gusts near 45 mph from Tuesday morning through late Tuesday night.
Forecasters say snow will push in early Tuesday, with a brief window of freezing rain possible before temperatures drop. The mix will quickly change to all snow, with 4–8 inches likely in many areas and locally higher totals near the Red River Valley. Winds up to 45 mph will create whiteout conditions across open country, especially along I-94, I-29, and Highway 2.
By Tuesday evening, visibility may fall under a quarter mile at times, and drifting snow will continue into the night. Rural routes and farm roads will be the hardest hit, where snowpack and high winds combine to make driving treacherous. Travelers should delay non-essential trips and keep emergency kits in their vehicles.
The storm will pull east by Wednesday morning, but frigid air lingers — highs only near 20°F with biting northwest winds. Looking ahead, lake-effect snow could develop later in the week across northern Minnesota as the Arctic air mass deepens heading into Dec 11–17, continuing the region’s harsh early-December pattern.
