Connor Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Bismarck, said the NWS hasn’t received firm numbers from observers in the area, but based on pictures captured by NDAWN cameras in the Turtle Mountains, it looked like the region had about 0.25-0.5 inches of snow on the ground at 8 a.m.

The snowfall was reported to be especially heavy at the International Peace Garden, whose famous flowers were spared as they are currently being potted in their greenhouse in anticipation of June planting.

Austin Kraklau with the North Central Research and Extension Center, south of Minot, recorded 1.26 inches of moisture at 8 a.m. Friday.

The latest weather forecast shows clear skies on Saturday, but more rain is expected on Sunday and Memorial Day.

Rugby was blanketed by smattering of snow Friday morning, heralding what seems to be a colder Memorial Day weekend than usual. Photo by Leanne Pfeifer.

Smith said Memorial Day weekend is expected to be cooler than average, with temps around 65 degrees today, Sunday and Monday. Sunday is forecasted to have a 50% chance of rain that Smith said should taper off by Monday. There’s a forecast of 15% chance of rain the morning of Memorial Day that will increase to 25% in the afternoon.

Bottineau Winter Park looked ready for an extended ski season Friday after unexpected snowfall in the region. Photo by the Bottineau Winter Park.