BISMARCK, N.D. – Strong winds and a sharp overnight temperature plunge are sweeping across northern and central North Dakota tonight, signaling the season’s first widespread hard freeze. Gusts near 50 mph are rattling roads and power lines this evening, with temperatures expected to tumble into the mid-20s by daybreak Monday.
According to the National Weather Service in Bismarck, a Wind Advisory remains in effect until midnight CDT, followed by a Freeze Warning through 10 a.m. Monday. The affected area stretches from Divide and Williams counties east through Ward, McHenry, and Pierce counties, including Minot, Rugby, and Williston.
Winds from the west around 30 mph are producing difficult driving conditions on open stretches of U.S. 2 and U.S. 52, especially for high-profile vehicles. The gusty conditions will gradually ease after midnight as a cold high settles over the state.
Temperatures are forecast to drop quickly overnight, with widespread frost and freeze conditions threatening unharvested crops and sensitive outdoor vegetation. Residents are urged to bring pets indoors, cover late-season plants, and disconnect outdoor hoses to prevent frozen pipes.
Foster County, including Carrington, remains under the same Wind Advisory through midnight. After the cold start Monday morning, calmer but chilly conditions will linger, with only slow afternoon warming expected.
This marks a decisive shift toward late-fall conditions across the northern Plains, with farmers and travelers alike urged to prepare for a cold, breezy start to the week.
