“Brace for Impact: Severe Winds Give Way to Arctic Chill and Treacherous Travel Conditions”

BISMARCK — Strong winds are causing perilous travel conditions throughout North Dakota, with dangerously frigid temperatures expected to follow, as stated by the National Weather Service.

A winter weather warning remains active until 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, due to intermittent snow and blowing snow, winds gusting up to 60 mph, and treacherous roadways.

This advisory covers southeast North Dakota as well as sections of northwest and west-central Minnesota.

A high-wind alert is in effect in northeast North Dakota, where the Transportation Department and the Highway Patrol shut down Interstate 29 between Grand Forks and the Canadian border for part of Friday as a result of blowing snow creating snowdrifts and zero visibility. The interstate reopened Friday afternoon.

WDAY Chief Meteorologist John Wheeler stated that the blowing snow and intense winds will continue into the evening but gradually improve.

Furthermore, the National Weather Service has released an extreme cold warning that will be in effect from 6 p.m. Saturday until noon Tuesday.

Hazardously cold wind chills as low as 50 degrees below zero are anticipated for northeast and southeast North Dakota and some areas of central, north-central, northwest, and west-central Minnesota.

Overnight low temperatures might reach near 20 degrees below zero during this warning period.

Prior to that, a cold weather advisory is in place from 9 p.m. Friday until 6 p.m. Saturday.

Wheeler mentioned that these advisories resemble the “wind chill advisory” previously employed by the National Weather Service. The criteria is a feels-like temperature of 30 below zero for a cold weather advisory and 40 below zero for a cold weather warning.

“It’s just representative of our typical coldest weather in winter; that’s really all there is to it. It’s nothing we’ve not encountered before,” Wheeler expressed.

Simultaneously, high winds preceding the severe cold are leading to restrictions on high-profile, long-load, and authorized over-dimensional vehicles, as per a statement from Lt. Luke Hendrickson, Motor Carrier Operations Commander.

State regulations limit movement for these vehicles when winds could cause them to veer, whip, or sway.

According to federal rules, operators of commercial motor vehicles are mandated to decrease speeds when conditions such as snow, ice, and sleet impair visibility or traction.

These drivers are also instructed to halt operations entirely if conditions become sufficiently hazardous, Hendrickson noted in the statement.

Motorists can find road and weather updates

by visiting NDRoads.

Huebner possesses over 35 years of experience in broadcast and print journalism within Fargo-Moorhead.