We have snow in the forecast for much of North Dakota this weekend.

Some areas could see 7 inches or more.  Winter Storm Watches are posted for just about all counties in North Dakota along or north of Highway 2.  I would expect this watch will turn into a Winter Storm Warning sometime this afternoon or evening.

In the Bismarck Mandan area, we are expecting only a glancing blow of snow (1 to 2 inches)  However, winds are expected to increase to over 30 miles per hour on Saturday that could cause some blowing snow and driving difficulties.  Colder temps are expected after the system moves out on Sunday.  Single-digit lows and highs in the teens with more snow expected on Monday night into Tuesday.

With the expected snow and the fact, it's finally going to feel a little bit like winter around here, I decided to see how North Dakota cities rank as the snowiest towns in America.  Our friends at Niche just did a study on that very subject.  The 25 snowiest cities in the United States of America.

Their data was based on cities with 50,000 people or more.

That only leaves three cities in North Dakota that qualify.  Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks.  Minot just missed out at 48,000 plus people.  The ranking is based on the last 30 years of average monthly snowfall totals as reported by NOAA.

Now, according to the National Weather Service, Bismarck, North Dakota averages 46.2 inches of snowfall a year.  We haven't been close to average the last few years.  In fact, we're having a hard time getting 20 inches a winter.  So, things certainly seem to have shifted for now.

Getting back to the 25 Snowiest Cities In America, only ONE North Dakota city made the list.  Fargo came in at #18.  No other North Dakota cities made it.  Kind of surprised that Grand Forks didn't make it after living there most of my life.

Other notable cities that made the list. 

Minneapolis, Minnesota was number 24, and Duluth, Minnesota was number 7.

I say "Let it snow", we sure need the moisture.


 

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