FXUS63 KFGF 091732 AFDFGF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 1132 AM CST Fri Feb 9 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Due to falling temperatures last night, icy roads will bring hazardous travel to most areas this morning. Especially true on untreated roads. - Lingering light snow today in the Red River valley into northwest Minnesota but additional accumulations less than 0.5 inch. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1132 AM CST Fri Feb 9 2024 Still getting some reports of light snow/flurries across the northern Red River Valley into western MN, but visibility is 3SM at the worst and most of the impacts are left over from the rain freezing last night. Thus, let the SPS expire as conditions should continue to slowly improve through the early afternoon. Light snow should taper off this evening. UPDATE... Issued at 939 AM CST Fri Feb 9 2024 Some lingering light snow showers and reduced visibility down into the 3-6SM range in the northern Red River Valley with blowing/drifting snow. Overall the accumulating snow is winding down with only a extra tenth or so expected, but with the lingering snow showers reducing visibility and icy roads from overnight, will keep the SPS going as there will still be slick conditions. Diminishing winds and snow showers tapering off will see impacts end by afternoon. UPDATE... Issued at 631 AM CST Fri Feb 9 2024 Radar and observations show the light snow had greatly diminished. So did back off on the high pops we had thru mid morning. Some patchy very light snow now. Webcams show blowing snow not really an issue and with loss of any falling snow chances any potential blowing snow ends so did end that around 18z. Reports coming in at 12z indicate storm snowfall in the 0.5 to 1.5 inch range. Highest 1.5 inch from Fargo co-op with 1.1 inch here at NWS office. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 322 AM CST Fri Feb 9 2024 Area radars and observations indicate light snow in all but the Devils Lake basin at 09z. Looking at AWOS obs via web and Winnipeg obs and webcams it would suggest a fine light snow to continue within the Red River valley into much of NW MN til mid morning. The snow itself is very fine and not really accumulating much more than what is already on the ground, but it is being blowing across the road and acting to polish the already very icy roadways. Snowfall from this system is in the 0.5 to 1.5 inch range based on reports so far. Winter weather advisory was cancelled as conditions such as the rapid freeze in NE ND that brought about the issuance has already occurred. all areas are below freezing. With continued very fine light snow in many areas of the RRV and NW MN did a high pop/low QPF scenario thru mid morning, then lowered pops thereafter into the aftn. Additional snow accumulations trace to 0.2 inch RRV and east. Kept patchy blowing snow in the grids within the RRV and parts of NW MN, mainly to highlight more low level snow moving across the road. Not enough snow occurred to caused reduced vsbys in blowing snow itself. Cloudy tonight with gradual diminishing wind and no precipitation is mentioned. Looking into the weekend, some possibility of partial clearing but lack of any strong high or very dry cold airmass moving in leaves doubts. Temps will warm a tad with highs mid 20s north to low-mid 30s south. There is a short wave trough passing thru Sat night but at this time no precipitation is mentioned. Next week shows a general west-northwest flow aloft with intermittent 500 mb short waves moving thru. One Tuesday and a stronger one Thu-Fri. GFS/Global Canadian along with Grand Ensemble in DESI indicate a bit more moisture than 00z ECWMF does with ensemble output from Grand Ensemble showing 90 pct chc of more than 1 inch of snow 12z Thu-12z Fri in east central ND into MN. This is considerably higher than NBM probs for more than 1 inch of snow which are in the 25-30 percent range. The good news is there is 0 pct chance for freezing rain of 0.01 inch or more. This system Thu-Fri is a fast moving west- northeast to east-southeast moving wave and sfc low coming off the Pacific ocean off British Columbia. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 1132 AM CST Fri Feb 9 2024 MVFR conditions at all TAF sites and that should continue for much of the period. Some light snow or flurries still reported at KGFK and the MN airports a bit longer, but will taper off by late afternoon or evening. Winds that have been gusting up above 25 kts in some places will slowly come down this afternoon. Overnight hours into Saturday morning should be MVFR ceilings and northwest winds in the 10 to 15 kt range. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...None. MN...None. && $$ UPDATE...JR DISCUSSION...Riddle AVIATION...JR