Associated Press

An Alberta clipper moved into western and central North Dakota on Friday, replacing days of bitter cold with wind and snow and creating hazardous travel conditions across the western two-thirds of the state. But forecasters predicted a warmup next week.

The National Weather Service said the system began with freezing rain Thursday night and Friday morning, turning to snow. Roads were icy, and at least one traffic death was reported.

The Highway Patrol said Robert E. Gross, 76, of Max, was killed when the pickup he was driving overturned along U.S. 83 near Minot, where the road had patches of snow and ice.

Forecasters said Hettinger reported a 46 mph wind gust Friday morning with visibility down to a half mile at times. Dickinson and Bismarck each reported about 2 inches of snow.

Meteorologist Rich Leblang said the center of the low pressure system had moved out of the state by early Friday afternoon, and the worst conditions were expected to improve by nightfall.

"They move very fast," he said of Alberta clippers, which are low pressure systems that form just east of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada, and move east.

"Winds are coming down," National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Abeling said Friday night. "We expect a general warmup - especially Sunday. We're expecting considerable sunshine across the west half of the state. Highs could reach the lower 40s across the southwest."

Leblang said winter is far from over, however. "March and April are our snowiest months," he said.