WINTER STORM WATCH
Issue Date: 344 AM CST TUE DEC 22 2009
Expiration: 600 PM CST FRI DEC 25 2009

...MAJOR WINTER STORM POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...
.AN INTENSIFYING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE FROM THE DESERT
SOUTHWEST TUESDAY INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS TUESDAY NIGHT...THEN
SLOWLY MOVE INTO THE UPPER MIDWEST CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS
DAY. SNOW SHOULD BEGIN ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA LATE TUESDAY
NIGHT AND SPREAD EAST DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY. MODERATE TO HEAVY
SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE OVER WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. IT APPEARS FAR EAST CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA COULD RECEIVE THE HEAVIEST SNOW...AS A PROLONGED PERIOD OF
MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW DEVELOPS FROM THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT.
THE POTENTIAL FOR A FOOT OR MORE OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE EXTENDING ALONG
AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM ASHLEY...TO EDGELEY...AND INTO DICKEY.
6 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE OVER THE REST OF CENTRAL AND
WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA WHICH INCLUDES THE CITIES OF
DICKINSON...WILLISTON...MINOT...AND BISMARCK. IN ADDITION...NORTHWEST
WINDS WILL INCREASE THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WITH SUSTAINED WINDS
BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH AND GUSTS 35 TO 40 MPH. THIS COULD RESULT IN
NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. MOTORISTS AND HOLIDAY TRAVELERS ARE URGED
TO STAY INFORMED WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION AND FORECASTS AT
WEATHER.GOV/BISMARCK.
NDZ001>004-009>012-017>022-031>035-040>046-221800-
/O.NEW.KBIS.WS.A.0009.091223T1200Z-091226T0000Z/
DIVIDE-BURKE-RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-WARD-MCHENRY-
MCKENZIE-DUNN-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-GOLDEN VALLEY-
BILLINGS-STARK-MORTON-BURLEIGH-SLOPE-HETTINGER-GRANT-BOWMAN-ADAMS-
SIOUX-EMMONS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CROSBY...BOWBELLS...MOHALL...
BOTTINEAU...WILLISTON...NEW TOWN...MINOT...TOWNER...
WATFORD CITY...KILLDEER...BEULAH...HAZEN...CENTER...GARRISON...
MCCLUSKY...BEACH...MEDORA...DICKINSON...MANDAN...BISMARCK...
MARMARTH...MOTT...ELGIN...BOWMAN...HETTINGER...FORT YATES...
LINTON
344 AM CST TUE DEC 22 2009 /244 AM MST TUE DEC 22 2009/
...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
FRIDAY AFTERNOON...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BISMARCK HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
* SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA TUESDAY
NIGHT AND THEN SPREAD EAST DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY. SNOWFALL
INTENSITY SHOULD INCREASE WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT
BEFORE SLOWLY DECREASING FRIDAY.
* SNOWFALL AMOUNTS COULD RANGE FROM 6 TO 10 INCHES ACROSS WESTERN
AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA.
* NORTHWESTERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH
ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY. THIS COULD BRING
NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.
$$

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
Issue Date: 441 PM CST MON DEC 21 2009
Expiration: 600 AM CST TUE DEC 22 2009

/341 PM MST MON DEC 21 2009/
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
NORTH DAKOTA...NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA...SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS MOST OF
OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...FROM WEDNESDAY INTO
CHRISTMAS DAY.  NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO CHRISTMAS MORNING.
THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY IN THE EXACT TRACK OF THE
STORM...WHICH WILL IMPACT SNOW AMOUNTS AND LOCATIONS.
HOWEVER...HEAVY SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 6 INCHES OR MORE ARE POSSIBLE
THROUGH CHRISTMAS DAY...AND THE SOUTHEAST THIRD TO HALF OF THE
STATE IS FAVORED FOR THE HIGHEST TOTALS. STAY INFORMED WITH THE
LATEST FORECAST INFORMATION AT WEATHER.GOV/BISMARCK.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
$$

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
Issue Date: 438 PM CST MON DEC 21 2009
Expiration: 600 AM CST TUE DEC 22 2009

/338 PM MST MON DEC 21 2009/
...SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY THROUGH CHRISTMAS
DAY...
A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP IN THE FAR SOUTHERN
PLAINS ON TUESDAY NIGHT AND SLOWLY PUSH INTO THE UPPER MIDWEST BY
CHRISTMAS MORNING. THERE ARE TWO MAIN CONCERNS WITH THIS SYSTEM.
FIRST...THE VAST SIZE OF THE STORM. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT
WINTER WEATHER COULD EXTEND FROM THE GREAT LAKES ALL THE WAY WEST
INTO THE NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS. SECOND...THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF THE
STORM. WITH A STRONG LOW THAT MOVES SLOWLY...THERE IS THE
POTENTIAL FOR HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER TO BE PROLONGED FOR SEVERAL
DAYS AND EXTEND THROUGH CHRISTMAS DAY.
MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS MOST OF
OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...FROM WEDNESDAY INTO
CHRISTMAS DAY. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY INCREASE THROUGH
THE EVENT...SO NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO CHRISTMAS MORNING.
THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY IN THE EXACT TRACK OF THE
STORM...WHICH WILL IMPACT SNOW AMOUNTS AND LOCATIONS.
HOWEVER...HEAVY SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 6 INCHES OR MORE ARE POSSIBLE
THROUGH CHRISTMAS DAY...AND THE SOUTHEAST THIRD TO HALF OF THE
STATE IS FAVORED FOR THE HIGHEST TOTALS. THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS SITUATION CLOSELY. STAY
INFORMED WITH THE LATEST FORECAST INFORMATION AT
WEATHER.GOV/BISMARCK.
$$
JWS/KS/RK