Blake Rafferty

Winter returns …. Days like today are fun. Forecasting this stuff never gets old. Prettier than an artists painting.

@wxkylegillett These are diabolical

3 profiles showing the remarkable extent of low-level CAA and WAA aloft along the east coast.

@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.

10 years forecasting weather in this region - never have heard of this happening. Maybe I missed something. This region gets -20s every winter. Nothing new. Hate to be ‘that guy’ but this is click bait. #ndwx #mnwx #sdwx

“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

@vladivalz Yes you can use it! I took it, just south of Grand Forks on the evening of Jan 16th

Hi Blake! I'm with VBear media. Wow, that blizzard south of Grand Forks looks intense! We'd love to share this video with our media partners under a non-exclusive license, giving you full credit. Could you let us know the date and exact location of the video? Thanks! vbear.media/permission

Blizzardy south of Grand Forks this evening….the event that just won’t quit. Been doing this all day seemingly continuing to get worse…. #NDwx #MNwx

Even the Grand Forks Airport has decided to get in on the 6-7 action with this blizzard based on the latest wind gust. #NDwx

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.

@NWSGrandForks siding damage in Grand Forks. Power outages north of Menards earlier but they have been restored. #NDwx

@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 😎

This afternoon: clipper snow. Now: freezing drizzle. Tomorrow: clipper snow. #NDwx

@wxkylegillett Exciting times 😎

@BlakeRafferty1 dude 😍😍😍

HRRR profile valid 03z corrected with Great Falls sfc obs -- pretty clear freezing drizzle environment here: cool and saturated at the surface below a drier(ish) layer aloft. Winter ptypes making their way south and east! #MTwx

When life gets crazy, just head back west for a few days. Big blue skies, cool mornings and warm but short afternoons. Fall harvest is underway across ND, with cooperative weather at least for now. The mad dash before winter sets in has begun.

@Wx_Jones I have no doubt people took more action than usual because of the tag.

Phrases like “Confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado” “Particularly Dangerous Situation” “Life-threatening situation” were key phrases that drove action. 5/

Personal experience as warning met for the Enderlin EF-5.. When this scan came in, I was initially in disbelief. Velocity prior to this was noisy and hard to decipher. 1/

@SpenderWx Oh come on, you know you will miss it just a teeny tiny bit.

THESE are the mornings we live for. Beyond ready for fall/winter. Time to replace thunderstorms with blowing snow.

The story of the summer continued again tonight. An overnight line of storms, sig severe gusts, and for some North Dakotans, they yet again woke up to no power. Busy summer for linemen. #NDwx

Crops have made quite the turn around after what was looking like a disappointing start with blowing dust in May. Hopefully this active weather pattern the next few weeks stays on the tamer side. Storms ahead of harvest is never fun.

@wxkylegillett The last time we planned a fishing trip we had a derecho ….. so we definitely have to soon to make up for it😎

@BlakeRafferty1 ok so when are we doing this

North Dakota summer evenings after work when the weather is quiet >>>>> Can’t beat back roads on the prairie.