With the Polar Vortex well north of its usual end-of-year resting spot, Winnipeg’s mild winter will keep on keepin’ on.
That “deep winter” that Winnipeg so often sees settle into the region by the end of the year will be missing in action this year. Over the next few days, upper ridging building in from the west will continue to bathe the region in comparatively mild temperatures. A few weak disturbances will bring bouts of cooler temperatures, but temperatures will stay above-normal across the region.
There may be fog to start the day, but otherwise it will be mainly sunny with a high near freezing. Winds will pick up out of the northwest to around 20 km/h this afternoon, then strengthen overnight closer to 30 km/h. Skies will cloud over tonight as a weak low pressure system approaches. Expect a low in the -5 to -10 °C range.
Saturday will start with cloudy skies and a chance of flurries as a low centre collapses over southern Manitoba. As its frontal wave drops southwards, flurries will be possible across Southern Manitoba. The flurries will taper off in the afternoon with a high near -5 °C. Winds will hover in the 30 gusting 50 km/h range for the day, then begin to ease in the evening. Winnipeg should see partly cloudy skies with a low dipping into the -10 to -15 °C range as cooler air slumps into the region.
A ridge of high pressure should bring sunshine back to the region on Sunday with a high in the -5 to -10 °C range. Winds will be light. Temperatures will again dip back into the -10 to -15 °C for New Year’s Eve night with a southerly wind picking up to 20 km/h.
Long Range Outlook
2024 will kick off with another wave of mild temperatures. An upper ridge will draw a new surge of Pacific air eastwards to start next week. Daytime highs will climb back to around freezing to start the week, then begin to cool.
By mid-week, mixed to cloudy skies will be more common with above seasonal temperatures stabilizing over the region. Highs will sit in the -5 to -10 °C range with lows in the -10 to -15 °C range. No notable snowfall is in the forecast.
Thanks for reading and we wish everyone a great start to 2024!
Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -13 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -23 °C.
