Mesoscale Discussion 0185
   NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
   1101 AM CST Sun Mar 03 2024

   Areas affected...North Dakota

   Concerning...Heavy snow 

   Valid 031701Z - 032100Z

   SUMMARY...Heavy snowfall rates between 1-2 inches/hour should
   continue through late morning/mid afternoon across portions of
   central to northern North Dakota.

   DISCUSSION...Over the past hour, surface observations have reported
   visibility reductions down to 1/2 to at times 1/4 mile with
   corroborating observations from regional web cams. These visibility
   reductions are most likely attributable to heavy snowfall rates
   rather than blowing snow given the weak winds (generally less than
   10 knots) and warm temperatures in the upper 20s to low 30s. Ascent
   through a deep layer is evident over central/northern ND owing to
   upper-level diffluence ahead of an upper trough axis overlaid with a
   plume of isentropic ascent within the 850-700 mb layer. This
   combination of synoptic and more focused mesoscale ascent should
   continue to promote widespread moderate snowfall across
   central/northern ND over the next several hours with heavier rates
   up to 1-2 in/hour within more organized snow bands. Lightning
   flashes and cooling cloud-top temperatures have been observed over
   the past hour within this zone of strong ascent, indicating that
   weak convection may locally augment snowfall rates as well.

   ..Moore.. 03/03/2024

   ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product...

   ATTN...WFO...FGF...BIS...

   LAT...LON   47299952 46959961 46680002 46470065 46500123 47200227
               47900292 48620336 48890344 49060339 49090296 49070213
               49070065 49070029 48760014 48419997 47859972 47299952