Storm begins to subside in Grand Forks region; school two hours late in Grand Forks, East Grand Forks
Dec. 16—GRAND FORKS — The winter storm that has gripped the region throughout the work week has lessened, but it still is having an adverse effect on schools and travel on Friday.
Public schools in East Grand Forks and Grand Forks will open two hours late on Friday. Meanwhile, a number of roads in North Dakota were closed early Friday, although they began re-opening later in the day.
The Red River Valley and generally all of the counties on both sides of the North Dakota-Minnesota border are in a winter storm warning as of early Friday morning, including Langdon, Devils Lake, Grafton, Grand Forks, Fargo in North Dakota and Hallock, Thief River falls and Fosston in Minnesota. A blizzard warning is still in effect in central and western North Dakota — essentially an area that begins just west of Cando, Devils Lake and Finley.
Early Friday morning, the National Weather Service sent a release to the media that said the blizzard warning will remain in effect for central and western North Dakota through 6 p.m. Friday.
However, the NWS reported, the "storm is winding down and the rate of any new snowfall will be considerably less than the last two days. Winds will remain similar or slightly higher than on Thursday over eastern ND and temperatures over the entire area will slowly fall (Friday)."
Snowfall amounts for the week continue to rise. According to WDAY, the highest amount so far is in Fingal, a small town west of Fargo where 30 inches have accumulated. Valley City has received 20 inches.
Grand Forks has received 15.7 inches of snow, according to WDAY, while Fargo has had 14 inches.
Travel remains hazardous throughout Friday, with visibility reduced to a quarter-mile in the areas under a blizzard warning and a half-mile in the Red River Valley. Winds will be from the northwest, with gusts into the 30s likely in Grand Forks.
I-29 was closed from Fargo to South Dakota, but reopened by mid-morning Friday. I-94 from Fargo to Dickinson also was closed Friday morning.
Another inch or two of snow is possible Friday in the region.
Over the weekend, the Grand Forks region should expect a high temperature of 10 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday, according to the WDAY forecast. It'll be colder next week, with highs not rising above zero through next weekend. The one exception could be Wednesday, when the high temperature will sneak above zero and possibly reach 2.
Other weather notes for Friday, copied from press releases and announcements sent to the Herald or from staff reports:
* North Dakota Health and Human Services offices in Fargo, Grafton and Grand Forks will have a delayed opening at 10 a.m. on Dec. 16. HHS offices in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Jamestown, Minot, Rolla, Valley City and Williston that directly serve clients will remain closed Friday, Dec. 16, due to ongoing hazardous weather and travel conditions. Affected offices include six of the agency's regional human service centers and some satellite and outreach offices, and the agency's vocational rehabilitation and child support offices in the affected regions.
* The North Dakota Capitol and other state facilities in the Bismarck area will be closed Friday. As of 6:30 a.m., no travel was advised across all of North Dakota, with road closures affecting several major highways. State government agency operations continue, and state team members are asked to work with their agency leaders to ensure continuity of government, including their ability to work remotely, with safety being the top priority.
