wbPM4CSi Weather…

BLIZZARD WARNING EXTENDED NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST WEDNESDAY…

MOUNTAINS INTO THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY…

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…BOTTINEAU…ROLLA…DUNSEITH…

ROLETTE…SHELL VALLEY…ST. JOHN…VELVA…TOWNER…DRAKE…

RUGBY…MCCLUSKY…GOODRICH…HARVEY…FESSENDEN…CARRINGTON…

STEELE…TAPPEN…JAMESTOWN…LAMOURE…EDGELEY…KULM…OAKES…

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…GUSTS TO 55 MPH WITH NEAR ZERO VISIBILITIES

IN BLOWING SNOW. VISIBILITIES WILL BE WORST IN RURAL AREAS.

* IMPACTS…DANGEROUS…IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TRAVEL.

* WIND CHILLS…TO 20 BELOW ZERO.

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE

EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS

AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT

CONDITIONS…MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF

YOU MUST TRAVEL…HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET

STRANDED…STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

INCLUDING THE CITY OF…VALLEY CITY

…BLIZZARD WARNING EXTENDED UNTIL  9-A.M. WEDNESDAY…

TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING.

ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…1 TO 3 INCHES.

WINDS…NORTHWEST 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

*VISIBILITIES…NEAR ZERO AT TIMES WITH WHITE OUT CONDITIONS

ESPECIALLY IN OPEN COUNTRY.

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE

EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS

AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT

CONDITIONS…MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF

YOU MUST TRAVEL…HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET

STRANDED…STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

 

FORECAST…

BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT TUESDAY EVENING…IN THE JAMESTOWN AREA...EXTENDED TO 9-A.M.,WEDNESDAY IN THE VALLEY CITY AREA.

 

Forecast…

.TONIGHT…CLOUDY. A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE EVENING IN THE JAMESTOWN AREA, 50 PERCENT IN THE VALLEY CITY AREA.

BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN THE EVENING…THEN AREAS OF BLOWING

AND DRIFTING SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT. WINDY. LOWS 5 TO 10 ABOVE.

NORTHWEST WINDS 30 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 50 MPH.

.WEDNESDAY…CLOUDY. A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE

AFTERNOON IN THE JAMESTOWN AREA, 40 PERCENT IN THE VALLEY CITY AREA. PATCHY BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON.

WINDY. HIGHS AROUND 10. NORTHWEST WINDS 25 TO 30 MPH.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY. A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE

EVENING. PATCHY BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN THE EVENING. BREEZY.

LOWS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE. NORTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 25 MPH.

.THURSDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 5 TO 10 ABOVE. NORTHWEST WINDS

15 TO 20 MPH.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 5 BELOW.

.FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW AFTER

MIDNIGHT. LOWS NEAR ZERO.

.SATURDAY…CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. HIGHS 10 TO

15.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW IN

THE EVENING. LOWS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE.

.SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 5 TO 10 ABOVE. LOWS

ZERO TO 5 BELOW.

WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS OF 20 TO 25 BELOW ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. ACCUMULATING SNOW IS POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY.

 

WEATHER RELATED ANNOUNCEMENTS.

 

The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) and the North Dakota Highway Patrol have CLOSED I-94 eastbound and westbound lanes from Dickinson to Fargo with the exception of the Bismarck/Mandan Metro Area due to the roadway becoming blocked with heavy snow drifts at overhead structures and vehicles blocking the roadway. In addition conditions include extreme ice, compacted snow and blowing and drifting snow causing long stretches of icy roads and near zero visibility at times creating hazardous driving conditions.

I-29 is closed from Fargo to the Canadian Border.

Motorists are not allowed to travel on a closed road due to life threatening conditions. The road may be impassible or blocked. Motorists who drive past a road closure device may be fined up to $250

Motorists should be aware the following advisories are still in effect:

I-94 CLOSED from Dickinson to Valley City with the exception of the Bismarck/Mandan Metro Area due to the roadway becoming blocked with heavy snow drifts at overhead structures and vehicles blocking the roadway. In addition conditions include extreme ice, compacted snow and blowing and drifting snow causing long stretches of icy roads and near zero visibility at times creating hazardous driving conditions.

No Travel Advisories are in effect for Bismarck/Mandan, Williston, Jamestown, Minot, Devils Lake, and surrounding areas. Motorists should take NO TRAVEL ADVISED seriously as those motorists who choose to travel at their own risk may become stranded and emergency responders may not be able to reach them safely

 A Travel Alert is in effect for western North Dakota including Dickinson and surrounding areas, as well as for eastern North Dakota including Grand Forks and surrounding areas. Conditions are such that motorists can still travel in these areas, but should be advised of rapidly changing conditions. Motorists are encouraged to reduce speeds and drive according to the conditions.

The three categories are as follows:

1. TRAVEL ALERT – Motorists can still travel but may encounter areas of challenging winter weather driving conditions on roadways. Motorists should allow extra time to reach their destination and be alert to conditions that may make travel difficult, change rapidly, or cause travel delays. A TRAVEL ALERT has the potential to change to a NO TRAVEL ADVISED if conditions deteriorate.

2. NO TRAVEL ADVISED – Motorists should not travel due to hazardous conditions which may make it unsafe to travel. Snowplows may be pulled from the roads during severe conditions. Motorists should take NO TRAVEL ADVISED seriously as those motorists who choose to travel at their own risk may become stranded and emergency responders may not be able to reach them

Transportation and highway safety officials continue to close major roads in North Dakota as December blizzard bears down on the state.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation and the Highway Patrol say Highway 2 from Lakota to the Grand Forks Airport is closing at 3 p.m. Tuesday due to strong winds, areas of zero visibility with blowing and drifting snow. That’s about a 60-mile stretch. Portions of Interstate 94 and 29 closed earlier.

Officials say motorists who drive past a road closure barrier could be fined up to $250.

The Minot International Airport canceled all flights because of low visibility.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)   The  City of Jamestown  Street Department, began thee full snow removal program  Tuesday, December 6th at 5 AM. Snow removal in residential areas was set to start at 11 AM the same day.

City crews will begin approximately 11 PM Tuesday and continue through the night. Downtown merchants and all public and private schools are asked to have their sidewalks shoveled by 9 PM Tuesday.

All information is contingent upon changing weather conditions and snow accumulation totals.

 

Valley City (CSi)  The Valley City Commission meeting for Tuesday evening has been postponed until Wednesday evening at 6-p.m., at City Hall.

The Finance Committee Meeting will start at 5-p.m.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) —  Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault (AR’-sham-boh) is renewing a call for Dakota Access oil pipeline opponents to leave a camp in southern North Dakota.

A blizzard hitting the region has brought snow, wind gusts up to 55 mph and wind chills as low as minus 15 degrees.

Archambault says there’s no reason for people in the camp to put their lives at risk. And he says emergency shelters on the nearby reservation are all full.

Some people at the camp spent the night at shelters that Morton County set up in Flasher and Mandan. Others stayed at the tribe’s casino, about 4 miles from the camp.

Pipeline opponents have vowed to maintain the camp through the winter. They believe the pipeline threatens the tribe’s drinking water, and cultural sites.

 

In sports…

Tuesday Night…Jamestown High School…Blue Jays Boys JV hockey game against Wahpeton, the girls hockey game against Aberdeen and the girls basketball game against Mandan ppd…. Make up dates TBA

Valley City  (CSi)  The 2016 Barnes County Girls Basketball Tournament has been postponed due to weather considerations.

The Tournament will now be played Thursday, Friday and Saturday at  W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse in Valley City.

Thursday, Dec. 8 – Quarterfinals

3 p.m. – (1) LaMoure/Litchville-Marion vs. (8) Griggs County Central

4:30 p.m. – (4) Oakes vs. (5) Enderlin

6 p.m. – (2) Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page vs. (7) Maple Valley

7:30 p.m. – (3) Barnes County North vs. (6) Sargent Central

Friday, Dec. 9

Consolation: 10 a.m.

Consolation: 11:30 a.m.

Semifinal: 1 p.m.

Semifinal: 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 10

7th place: 11 a.m.

5th place: 12:30 p.m.

3rd place: 2 p.m.

Championship: 3:30 p.m.

In world and national news…

NEW YORK (AP) — There are renewed questions about a possible conflict-of-interest involving Donald Trump’s new hotel in Washington, DC. Vice President-elect Mike Pence is speaking to a conservative group at the hotel night. Government ethics experts are worried that foreign governments, lobbyists and others will book rooms and events at the hotel in order to curry favor with the new president.

NEW YORK (AP) — After meeting with Donald Trump Tuesday, a Japanese billionaire is vowing to invest $50 billion in the United States — and to “commit” to creating 50,000 new jobs. Masayoshi Son said he “came to celebrate” Trump’s new job, and said, “The U.S. will become great again.” As the founder and chief executive of Softbank, Son controls the U.S. telecom company Sprint. Shares in Sprint spiked after the announcement was made.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alaska Airlines has won government approval to buy rival Virgin America after agreeing to reduce its flight-selling partnership with American Airlines. Parent company Alaska Air Group says it expects to close the $2.6 billion deal soon. Alaska is the nation’s sixth-biggest airline, and California-based Virgin is eighth. Together, they will become the fifth-biggest.

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is slated to attend the annual Army-Navy football game this Saturday in Baltimore. Transition officials say Trump will sit on Navy’s side of the field for one half of the game, and on Army’s side for the other. The game between the two military academies has often drawn commanders in chief. President Barack Obama attended the game in 2011. President George W. Bush also attended the game while in office.

DENVER (AP) — Surveys show a small but growing number of older adults are using marijuana. And it’s a trend that worries researchers who say not enough information exists about how pot affects older users. People over 50 are still far less likely to use marijuana than younger people. Researchers at New York University say pot could pose distinctive health challenges to older users — from memory loss to risk of falling.