The skies over Fargo-Moorhead may be busier this weekend than AirSho planners intended.
The National Weather Service Thursday forecast possible thunderstorms for Fargo-Moorhead for Saturday and Sunday.
The thousands of people expected to attend outdoor events may have to deal with a little rain, but mosquitoes are not in the weekend forecast.
Dry conditions and an unseasonably late freeze about two weeks ago have kept the area relatively free of mosquitoes, said Darwin Hinrichs, Cass County's weed and vector control director.
The late freeze killed adult mosquitoes and the lack of standing water has delayed eggs from hatching, Hinrichs said.
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County workers are treating area ponds to kill mosquito eggs, he said.
"We're treating all the water we can find, but they will hatch after we get some significant rainfall," he said.
There's a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms developing over Fargo-Moorhead Saturday afternoon and a 60 percent chance throughout Sunday, said Priscilla Bribenstien, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Forks.
Still, promoters and tourism officials are optimistic the AirSho, Rib Fest, soccer tournament, music festival and other outdoor events will get their chance to shine.
"If something is delayed, it will probably be just for a passing thunderstorm," said Cole Carley, executive director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Fargo-Moorhead. "We don't expect any cancellations."
The busy weekend could draw as many as 50,000 people to town, Carley said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Zent at (701) 241-5526
