Jamestown Faces Weekend Snow Threat Ahead of Runnin' O' the Green

Runners lacing up for Jamestown's annual Runnin' O' the Green on Saturday faced a cold complication: light-to-moderate accumulating snow was expected to arrive by Saturday afternoon, with blustery conditions and a high of only 31 degrees forecast for the city.

A large low-pressure system tracking across the Central Plains drove the threat, though Jamestown remained outside the most severe weather zone as of Friday morning. A Winter Storm Watch was in effect for much of southern North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, but Jamestown was excluded from the watch area.

The National Weather Service was closely monitoring the system's track. Any northward shift could push more significant snowfall into Stutsman County, adding uncertainty to an already unsettled forecast. Snow was expected to begin Saturday afternoon and continue into Saturday night, though no specific accumulation totals were available in early forecasts.

Wind was also a factor heading into the weekend. Conditions were described as somewhat windy Friday, though forecasters noted that was considerably calmer than overnight gusts that had already moved through the region. Blowing snow remained a concern given the combination of fresh accumulation and persistent winds.

Elsewhere across the region, the weather picture was considerably darker. A separate system prompted warnings of 70-mph gusts and the possibility of blizzard conditions in parts of North Dakota, underscoring how volatile the broader Plains weather pattern had become for mid-March.

For Runnin' O' the Green participants, the forecast meant planning for cold, snow-covered streets rather than a clear St. Patrick's Day weekend send-off. Whether the system's track held or drifted north would determine just how much snow greeted them at the starting line.