BLIZZARD WARNING: Snow slowly ends this morning as difficult travel persists

Thursday, February 23, 7:30 p.m.: That's about it for this blizzard. Wind will continue to drop away under clearing skies for a frigid night in the -20s. snow was about an inch here in Fargo Moorhead, depending on who measured it. Not much snowfall at all to the north but it got heavier to the south.

Thursday, Feb. 23, 12:30 p.m.: The worst of the wind is over with for this storm. The winds peaked Thursday morning near 40 mph in the windiest locations. The wind will continue to calm through the day today, and roads will slowly be improving as the wind settles down and plows can get out to do their job to clear the streets from the drifts that have accumulated on roadways.

Thursday, Feb. 23, 8:40 a.m.: The storm is slowly winding down, but travel will still be difficult. Many roads are under no travel advised. Check out the DOT maps for North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota if you have travel plans today. Winds will still be gusty this afternoon, but not as strong as what we had in the region this morning.

Weather conditions will improve tonight and into tomorrow as high pressure slides into the region. This will lead to stable weather, but very frigid temperatures. Many will reach into the -20s by Friday morning and stay subzero throughout the day.

I've been asked "When should I shovel?" after this storm. Well, if you don't want any of this storm's snow to potentially blow back in the driveway and sidewalks, I'd wait until tomorrow when our winds will be lacking for most of the day.

Thursday, Feb. 23, 5:46 a.m.:

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 10:35 p.m.: Just a minor downward adjustment on the snow totals. Open country blizzard conditions. Not as bad in town. Winds stay about the same tonight through mid morning then gradually diminish. Cold temps make getting stuck somewhere out there very dangerous.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 7:10 p.m.: This storm will reach its peak intensity tonight and Thursday morning as snow moves northward into the area. Numerous roads are closed already across eastern South Dakota and southeastern North Dakota. Although the heaviest snow will fall to our south across South Dakota and central/southern Minnesota, any snow that falls in our region will cause low visibility and heavy drifting.

The timing and snow amounts look about the same. Snow reaching Fargo mid to late evening with 1-3" tonight and maybe another inch Thursday. Not much snow at all north of U.S. Highway 2, but plenty of blowing snow anyway.

Thursday, many roads will remain closed. Expect widespread blowing and drifting snow, especially in open areas and less so in towns and cities. Conditions will slowly improve in the afternoon. Clearing and frigid Thursday night with temperatures falling into the -20s.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 11:00 a.m.: The lull in the snowfall will continue into this afternoon, but it'll stay chilly and breezy while we wait. Snow is expected to start falling in the far south by about suppertime, then slowly move northward as the evening progresses. Highway 2 likely won't see snow until the early morning hours of Thursday, around 2-3a.m. The system remains on track to our forecast.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 7:40 a.m.: We've started off the day on a very cold note. Snow is down in South Dakota and the southern half of Minnesota to start off the day. Our winds are breezy this morning, but I'm seeing more wind increase throughout the day with gusts reaching into the 20s and 30s by this afternoon and evening. This will lead to some blowing and drifting snow out in open areas.

Snow moves in this evening with the heaviest snow staying in South Dakota and southern Minnesota during this time. Expect the blizzard conditions to rev up during the evening, overnight, and into tomorrow morning. Again, open areas will experience the toughest conditions with this last wave of snow this week. Snow amounts still look to stay on track with the highest amounts for our area being in the southern Red River Valley and not much at all near the International Border.

Strongest winds on Thursday will occur in the morning. The morning commute will be slow and a far from nice drive. Expect more blowing and drifting snow throughout the first half of Thursday.

High pressure will be build into the region on Friday. Friday will be one of those "not too bad" days as we say when it is bitter cold, but we don't have much wind. Without the wind Friday, blowing the snow off your driveway and sidewalks will be a little friendlier than having it blow right back in your face. Temperatures on Friday morning may bottom out around -20° to -25°. We stay cold through Sunday morning.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 6:56 a.m.:

FARGO — TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 9:30 p.m.: Weather is quieting down tonight. Travel in the morning should be generally okay with just a few scattered slick spots from the snow this week. Wind may cause a bit of ground drifting during the day, but it will likely be minimal. Just enough to make a little black ice here and there. Storm is still expected to ramp up across our area Wednesday evening and overnight with snow and blowing snow. Wind will not be nearly so fierce as in the Valentine's Night blizzard, but there will be more available snow to blow around. The worst conditions Wednesday night and Thursday will be where the snowfall is heaviest, which means it will be worse further south and better further north.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 4:40 p.m.: Areas of snow will wind down this evening. Wind will gradually increase tonight causing ground drifting of snow and generating wind chills of -25 to -45 overnight. On Wednesday, the blizzard will take shape to our south across South Dakota and central Minnesota with heavy snow and blowing snow. Locally, it will mostly just be a cold and blustery day with ground drifting snow. Falling snow is expected to gradually progress northward, reaching the Fargo area by early evening, and continuing to build northward.

Wednesday night and Thursday will bring snow and blowing snow to the region. The snow will be heavier to the south.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1:30 p.m.: Snow has become widespread mainly along and south of Highway 2 and visibility is lower where it is snowing. Thankfully the wind isn't as strong as Monday so any visibility issues are solely due to the falling snow and not exacerbated by the wind.

Much of the area remains under a Winter Weather Advisory this evening, tonight and through much of Wednesday due to this batch of snow which will exit the area before midnight.

However the wind will begin to increase overnight so blowing snow and reduced visibility may be a concern for the Wednesday morning commute even once the snow has stopped falling.

Wednesday afternoon the main event will ramp up in South Dakota and Minnesota with increasing winds and snow becoming more widespread across southern North Dakota by the evening. The higher snow amounts will be farther south but with the fresh snow from today and the new snow on the way, blizzard conditions are anticipated especially in the southern valley for Wednesday evening through Thursday morning. This has prompted the issuance of a Blizzard Warning from Cooperstown to Fargo and Fergus Falls, stretching down into South Dakota and southwest Minnesota.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 8:35 a.m.: Snow will track across North Dakota today and make it to the Red River Valley midday and into the afternoon. Most will see less than 2", but more will fall from Bismarck down into northeastern South Dakota.

Winds won't be as strong later today like we had to deal with Monday afternoon and evening. More wind is in our forecast Wednesday and into Thursday as our third round of snow slides through the region. Winds Wednesday could gust into the 20s and 30s over the area which could create some blowing snow for open country side areas. Expect roads to stay icy and snow covered the next few days.

FARGO — MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 8:45 p.m.: Two more winter storms will bring significant impacts to our region this week. A smaller weather system will deliver measurable snow to southern North Dakota, northern South Dakota, and central Minnesota Tuesday into Tuesday night. This, coming right after a snowstorm Monday, will add to the travel difficulties across the region.

Then a major winter storm will cross the Northern Plains into the Upper Midwest Wednesday and Thursday, bringing a swath of heavy snow and strong wind. The temperature will be very cold with this late-week system, with temperatures near or below zero across North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota during the storm. The heaviest snow is expected across South Dakota into central and southern Minnesota, with blowing and drifting snow a big problem even outside the path of heaviest snow.

The forecast for heavy snow Wednesday and Thursday is based on the potential for ideal snow growth conditions in the clouds and a long duration of steady snow. Most of North Dakota and Northern Minnesota is expected to miss the heaviest snow, but travel will still likely be severely impacted.

Near or subzero cold is expected to last throughout both storms and into Saturday. Moderating temperatures are expected Sunday.