Grand Forks, ND – East Grand Forks, MN – The Red River Valley wakes to 0°F air and gusts topping 30 mph, driving wind chills down to –22°F across the region this morning. Frost coats windshields and exhaust clouds hang low as a biting Arctic air mass settles in.
According to the National Weather Service, the cold will dominate through the weekend with little relief until next week. Today remains cloudy and breezy with a high near 21°F. Winds shift from the south to northwest later, keeping the air dry but painfully cold. Lows tonight dip again to 11°F, while wind chills stay well below zero.
Friday offers a brief reprieve under partly sunny skies and highs in the low 20s, but another hard freeze Saturday night sends temperatures tumbling to –12°F. By Sunday, highs crawl back to just 5°F, with calm air and hazy sun.
Meteorologists are tracking a developing snow system expected to approach by Monday, bringing a 30–40% chance of light accumulation through Tuesday. Winds will likely shift southeast, signaling a potential pattern change that could introduce broader snow coverage and colder follow-up air heading into mid-December — aligning with models calling for Lake Effect and Great Plains snow from Dec. 11–17.
Residents should prepare for continued deep freeze conditions this weekend. Keep travel kits ready, dress in layers, and check on neighbors or elderly residents exposed to the cold.
Five-Day Outlook (Red River Valley Region):
- Friday: Mostly cloudy, high 22°F, low 2°F.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, high 8°F, low –12°F.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, high 5°F, low –3°F.
- Monday: Cloudy, chance of snow, high 19°F.
- Tuesday: Snow likely, high 22°F, low around 8°F.
