Hillsboro, ND Weather

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota.

Day one: Today and Tonight

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

Days two through seven: Wednesday through Monday

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

Spotter information statement

Spotter activation is not anticipated today.

Key messages

- Lingering areas of light rain and drizzle this morning. Chances for rain showers Wednesday, highest chances west central Minnesota. Threat for any snow has ended.

- Temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal late week and weekend.

.UPDATE Issued at 532 AM CDT Tue Oct 27 2026

As anticipated that area of precipitation that moves northward as weakened significantly to areas of light rain and drizzle in the Red River valley into Minnesota. A bit more moderate rain yet though to move thru Wadena, Park Rapids on west side of heavier rain moving toward Duluth at 1030z. 925 mb temps warmer in MN and with less intensity in the precipitation, any snow chance is now gone. So updated grids for drizzle/rain this morning and east. Lingering drizzle may continue this afternoon in some areas and that can be looked at later.

UPDATE Issued at 1117 PM CDT Mon Oct 26 2026

Precip is becoming more widespread across the southern forecast area with sleet and rain being the main ptypes over the past 2 hours. A transition to snow along and north of a line can be expected from Ransom to Steele county with the Red River Valley likely remaining too warm for snow (very wet/melted dendrites if it does occur) east into the valley expect Sleet to continue for another hour or two with warming southerly winds pushing us back to rain by 2-3am. Snow accumulations look to be minimal especially on pavement where surfaces are still well above freezing per DOT sensors but on grassy/elevated surfaces a quick dusting near Cooperstown/Valley City to maybe on inch in south central North Dakota remains feasible.

Discussion

Issued at 254 PM CDT Mon Oct 26 2026

: Synopsis:

A deep trough is in place across the Great Basin, with southeast flow building across the central High Plains. Our area is still under the influence of westerly flow aloft, with an embedded shortwave in SW flow to the south. After a more organized system moves through the region through Tuesday, southwest flow develops and persists at least through the end of the week and potentially beyond the weekend (some variance remains in clusters between ridging and SW by this weekend). The general trend should be for seasonal temperatures to warm slightly from seasonal highs in the 40s-lower 50s to slightly above average highs in the mid 50s-lower 60s. SW flow aloft inherently brings the potential for additional chances for precipitation. However, due to the weak nature of the upper flow in the Plains and variance in guidance resolving any embedded waves, confidence in measurable precipitation/impacts is low beyond Wednesday. Another progressive shortwave passes through Wednesday, bringing likely chances for another wetting rain over west central Minnesota. Otherwise, a mostly dry pattern with slight warming trend through Friday.

: Rain Tonight into Tuesday:

A stronger mid level wave is organizing into a hybrid type system with large scale ascent increasing across our CWA south to north late this afternoon through Tuesday. Initially drier air in northeast boundary layer flow will delay measurable rainfall, deeper moisture will support 700mb deformation banding of rainfall across the southern zones tonight. Stronger areas of frontogenesis will tend to be transient making coverage of higher totals 0.5"+ limited. Better coverage of rain will tend to initially be along and south of US Highway 200, though the track of the mid/upper low will eventually allow rain to overspread northwest/north central MN. Moderate to high probabilities (50-80%) for 0.25" or more rainfall are shown by NBM/HREF across southeast ND and west central MN, with a 30-50% chance in similar areas for greater than 0.5" of rainfall. Temperatures and precipitation rates tonight overall do not support any accumulating snowfall, just novelty flakes mixing in. If sufficient banding and dynamic cooling occurs, a light dusting on grassy/elevated surfaces cannot be ruled out (especially west of the Red River Valley).

Aviation

Issued at 643 AM CDT Tue Oct 27 2026

Low level moisture continues to spread north and anticipate ceilings to drop into the IFR range at KGFK and KTVF by 14z. Otherwise IFR ceilings for areas along and south of Hwy 2 and likely to linger most of the day. Some improvment should be noted this afternoon and evening so indicated ceilings rising into the 1000-1500 ft agl range, but not guaranteed. Winds today east turning southeast then south overnight hovering 5-10 kts. Some pockets of drizzle and fog lowering vsbys this morning esp in parts of eastern ND west of the Red River valley.

Watches, warnings and advisories

ND: None. MN: None.