Grand Forks, ND – The northern plains wake under a pale blue sky and air so cold it stings to breathe. Frost curls along fence lines and every exhale turns to mist — a clear sign North Dakota’s deep freeze has arrived.
Temperatures hover near 4°F this morning, and forecasters warn the cold will tighten its grip through the weekend as another round of snow develops Monday into Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Grand Forks reports a 50% chance of accumulating snow Monday, increasing to 80% Tuesday, when up to 4–6 inches could fall across eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota.
Travel along I-29 and Highway 2 may be affected by low visibility and drifting snow as north-northwest winds strengthen Tuesday night. With highs near 24°F and lows plunging toward 1°F, any snow that melts briefly will refreeze, leading to slick conditions and potential black ice.
Sunday will bring brief sunshine and a high near 5°F, but the calm won’t last. By midweek, the region settles into a colder, unsettled pattern with persistent snow chances and single-digit highs, part of a broader Arctic air mass spilling into the Upper Midwest.
Five-Day Outlook (Grand Forks, ND)
Sunday: Mostly sunny, high 5°F, low 0°F.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, high 24°F, low 9°F.
Tuesday: Snow likely, high 24°F, low 1°F.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, high 9°F, low -4°F.
Thursday: Snow chance, high 8°F, low -7°F.
