Grand Forks, ND – A widespread Winter Storm Watch has been issued for nearly all of North Dakota and northwest Minnesota from Monday evening through Tuesday night, with heavy snow, gusty winds, and dangerous travel conditions expected, according to the National Weather Service offices in Grand Forks and Bismarck.
Forecasters warn that 3 to 8 inches of snow could fall across the region, with wind gusts up to 45 mph leading to areas of blowing and drifting snow. The storm is expected to begin late Monday night in western and central North Dakota—including Williston, Minot, and Bismarck—before spreading east through Fargo, Grand Forks, Bemidji, and Detroit Lakes by Tuesday morning.
Travel is expected to become slippery and hazardous, especially during the Tuesday morning and evening commutes. The NWS cautions that visibility could drop sharply in open areas due to wind-blown snow, and drivers should consider delaying non-essential travel.
The advisory includes much of the Devils Lake Basin, the Red River Valley, and parts of central and southern Minnesota, making this a major concern for Thanksgiving travelers.
Residents are urged to prepare winter emergency kits, check road conditions before heading out, and monitor forecast updates as the system approaches.
