Cold Weekend Ahead

While we often try to be optimistic about the forecast, there’s no getting around it. This weekend’s weather will be lousy.

A persistent vortex over eastern Canada combined with a stationary upper ridge over the west coast will keep Manitoba locked into a regime of cool temperatures.

Today will be the “nicest” day of the next few with sunny skies and a high near 9°C. This is almost 10°C below seasonal averages and it’s going to get even cooler yet. Winds will be out of the north at just 10 to 20 km/h. A low moving through Saskatchewan will spread cloud into southern Manitoba tonight as Winnipeg’s low dips to around -2°C.

Saturday will be a cloudy day in Winnipeg with northerly winds strengthening to 30 gusting 50 km/h. Conditions should stay dry in the Red River Valley with any rain showers or snow associated with the low moving out of Saskatchewan remaining over southwestern Manitoba. Temperatures in Winnipeg will climb to around 9°C, then to near -2°C tonight as the cloud begins to break up. The winds will ease this evening.

GDPS 850mb Temperature Anomaly Forecast valid 00Z Monday May 11, 2020
This forecast map of 850 mb temperature departures from normal show the huge extent of the below-seasonal temperatures (blue/purple) expected this weekend in the northerly flow west of the Eastern Canada vortex.

Sunday will bring mixed skies to Winnipeg with north winds increasing back to 30 gusting 50 km/h and a high near 6°C. Skies will clear out on Sunday night with a low near -6°C.

Long Range Outlook

Anyone hoping to see more seasonal, spring-like weather is going to need patience. The cool conditions will persist through much of next week. Temperatures should return to the teens by mid-week, then continue warming to seasonal values by the end of the week. No major precipitation events are in the forecast.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 18°C while the seasonal overnight low is 4°C.

Brad

Brad lives in Winnipeg with his wife and two children and is the founder of A Weather Moment. He has loved weather from a very young age and has followed that passion through his life so far. He received a B.Sc. in Earth Sciences with Specialization in Atmospheric Sciences and is currently employed in the field of meteorology. You can find the author as WeatherInThePeg on Mastodon.