Blake Rafferty

Meteorologist | UND Class ‘24 | NWS WFO FGF | find me outside when possible | opinions are my own

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

@wxkylegillett Thanks for the report yesterday - let’s see what happens today 😎

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

All told - a very interesting day across the Northern Plains and southern Canadian Prairies. Very interesting to see several climatological favorable setups for blowing dust on the same day. Unfortunately a lot of newly planted crops are likely paying the price.

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

1/? Today’s blowing dust has sparked a lot of conversation among people in town and in agriculture. Many off the cuff statements such as “it’s like the dirty 30s” have been uttered due to the start brown/gray sky. Below is a map from 1934 showing “critical” crop conditions…

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

But then off to the west, a cold front bringing even more blowing dust. This is the classic “northwest duster” the older generation talks about. With no till farming over Saskatchewan and the high plains now compared to the 1930s, today is probably about as dusty as we can get.

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

Blowing dust in parts of SW ND, some falling snow in the north, wind pretty much everywhere. Checks out for April in ND. As is typical this time of year, the past two weeks have been a “wait a day or take a drive” to find the weather you prefer.

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

Winter returns …. Days like today are fun. Forecasting this stuff never gets old. Prettier than an artists painting.

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

@wxkylegillett These are diabolical

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

@Wx_Jones Bingo. Working at a nursery when in college, trees can snap and make loud noises when it gets cold, but “exploding” is over the top. And from what I remember, very rarely when a tree experiences this does it cause any sort of long term consequences for the trees health.

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

“Improved” is a loose term. When a plume goes overhead its total whiteout, and in many areas visibility is below a quarter mile. However, if you are out of a plume and downwind of a bare field (which there are a fair amount of in the valley), visibility can be up to almost a mile

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

Make that two blizzards in 3 days. A ground blizzard for part two. ✅

Taken near Grand Forks Air Force Base.

One can tell the lack of a deeper snowpack is playing a role - there are areas where conditions have improved along Highway 2.

#NDwx #blizzard

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

@vladivalz Yes you can use it! I took it, just south of Grand Forks on the evening of Jan 16th

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

Blizzardy south of Grand Forks this evening….the event that just won’t quit. Been doing this all day seemingly continuing to get worse…. #NDwx #MNwx

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

Even the Grand Forks Airport has decided to get in on the 6-7 action with this blizzard based on the latest wind gust. #NDwx

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

Literally how a meteorologist knows a blizzard is coming tomorrow:

I will say, even text messages know in 2025 to fill up to only 6-7 or whatever the kids say.

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

@NWSGrandForks siding damage in Grand Forks. Power outages north of Menards earlier but they have been restored. #NDwx

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

@wxkylegillett Today was one of the more fun forecasts in awhile……these tricky situations are the best. Snow to drizzle then the system tomorrow. Can’t beat the fun of a good challenge 😎

[Blake Rafferty @BlakeRafferty1]

@wxkylegillett Exciting times 😎