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.
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…
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.
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.
@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.
“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
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
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.
@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 😎