Winnipeg will see a chance for some thunderstorm activity this afternoon with the passage of a weak cold front late today, but today’s unsettled weather will lead into a beautiful August weekend.
Thunderstorms Possible in Muggy Airmass
Today will be a hot and muggy day. Temperatures will climb to the 30°C mark by the afternoon with dewpoint values topping out around 20°C, making it feel like the upper 30’s. Winds will be light out of the south.
Things will change as a cold front slumping southwards through the Interlake pushes into the Red River Valley late in the day. Scattered thunderstorms are likely along the front late in the day into the evening; in general the storms will be non-severe, however an isolated severe storm with strong winds or large hail may be possible.
A pleasant night will follow the passage of the cold front; the temperature will drop to around 14°C with clear skies.
Beautiful Weekend Ahead
Saturday and Sunday will be beautiful days for late August with dry weather and warm temperatures in store. Things might take a turn towards the unsettled late in the day on Sunday, although there’s some disagreement on the timing of when the next significant system impacts Winnipeg.
Saturday will be partly cloudy with light northeasterly winds as a ridge of high pressure moves across southern Manitoba. Temperatures will top out around 27°C and drop into the low teens – around 12°C – on Saturday night. Humidity levels will be more comfortable as drier air moves into the province behind Friday’s cold front.
Sunday will be another partly cloudy day with a high near 28°C. More cloud will likely work its way into Winnipeg later in the day ahead of the next low pressure system trundling our way.
There’s fair disagreement on the timing of this next system; the US models bring it through the Red River Valley on Sunday evening, while Canadian models move the system slower and don’t bring it into our region until Monday afternoon. Either way, there’s fairly good agreement that this system will bring a broad area of showers and thunderstorms with it. Depending on the timing and evolution of the system, we may end up with the potential for some severe thunderstorm activity.
Sunday’s weather will be something we’ll keep monitoring and provide an update later in the weekend looking at how this upcoming system is evolving.
