Fargo, ND – North Dakota will experience some of the most extreme conditions in the nation as a powerful Arctic Blast settles over the Northern Plains from Monday, Dec. 1 through Friday, Dec. 5, launching the region into a brutally cold Cold December pattern with frequent snow showers, well-below-zero temperatures, and dangerous double-digit subzero wind chills.
According to the National Weather Service, early-week disturbances will bring snow showers and areas of blowing snow, particularly Monday night through Wednesday. Light to moderate accumulations are possible in spots, but the primary hazard will be low visibility and icy roads caused by blowing and drifting snow under strong northwest winds.
Temperatures will fall below zero throughout much of the week, with morning lows potentially reaching the –5°F to –15°F range in parts of eastern and central North Dakota. Wind chills may plunge between –20°F and –40°F, posing risks for frostbite within minutes for anyone outdoors without proper protection.
NOAA’s 6–10 Day Temperature Outlook places North Dakota squarely under one of the strongest below-normal temperature anomalies in the U.S. for Dec. 1–5, consistent with the depth of Arctic air spilling across the Plains.
While a major organized winter storm is not currently forecast, forecasters warn that the combination of steady snow showers, blowing snow, and dangerous wind chills may cause hazardous travel conditions across the region.
Residents should prepare for extreme cold, limit outdoor exposure, and monitor NWS advisories closely as the Arctic outbreak intensifies.
