Northwest Flow Brings Near-Seasonal Temperatures And Flurries

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A persistent northwesterly flow will bring near-seasonal temperatures to Winnipeg for the weekend along with a couple chances for flurries.

Winnipeg will start off today with cloudy skies and some flurries moving though the region. This unsettled weather is the result of a low pressure system called a “Mackenzie Low” moving through the region.1 Winnipeg won’t see much more than some flurries; most of the snow is falling through central Manitoba. A cold front will swing through midday, ushering in northerly winds up to 40 gusting 60 km/h. The cloud cover will break up and clear out through the afternoon behind the cold front. The daytime high will be a near-seasonal +2°C, but temperatures will slowly fall behind the cold front to around -2°C by the evening. Temperatures will drop to a low near -10°C under mainly clear skies tonight. Those northwesterly winds will gradually ease through the evening.

The Mackenzie Low crossing the province today will bring flurires to Winnipeg, but central Manitoba will see accumulating snow.
The Mackenzie Low crossing the province today will bring flurires to Winnipeg, but central Manitoba will see accumulating snow.

On Saturday, Winnipeg will see partly cloudy to mixed skies as a ridge of high pressure moves through. Winds will pick back up out of the northwest to around 20 km/h as temperatures climb to a high near +1°C. On Saturday evening, more cloud will begin working into the region as another Mackenzie Low approaches. This one will be much weaker than the last, bringing just a few flurries or light snow to the region. Temperatures will dip to a low near -4°C.

The city should see mixed skies on Sunday with a continued chance of flurries through the morning. Winds will pick up from the northwest at 20 km/h and temperatures should climb to a high near +3°C. Temperatures will dip to a low near -4°C on Sunday night under mixed to cloudy skies.

Long Range Outlook

Seasonal temperatures will gradually increase to above-seasonal temperatures next week as the northwesterly flow aloft breaks down, giving way to a more westerly flow. This pattern change will result in a constant stream of quick-moving disturbances, though, likely bringing variable cloudiness and occasional chances for precipitation.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is +4°C while the seasonal overnight low is -7°C.

  1. A Mackenzie Low is a compact but moderately strong low pressure systems that develop over the Mackenzie region of the Northwest Territories and then typically progress southeastwards, embedded within a broad northwesterly flow. ↩

Warm Wednesday Followed By Seasonal Spring Weather

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Winnipeg will see a mild Wednesday return to more seasonal temperatures after the passage of a windy cold front on Wednesday afternoon.

A low pressure system crossing the province today will bring mild temperatures to Winnipeg. The city will see mixed skies with temperatures climbing to a high near 7°C. The wind will start light out of the south, but a cold front pushing through in the afternoon will usher in northwesterly winds near 30 gusting 50 km/h. More cloud will move through overnight with a slight chance of flurries.

A cold front will usher moderate northwesterly winds into the Red River Valley on Wednesday afternoon.
A cold front will usher moderate northwesterly winds into the Red River Valley on Wednesday afternoon.

On Thursday, a weak ridge of high pressure will gradually build into southern Manitoba. It will bring partly cloudy skies to Winnipeg with persistent northerly winds at 20 to 30 km/h. Temperatures will be right near seasonal with a high of +1°C. The wind will ease on Thursday night with a low near -4°C.

On Friday, a compact low pressure system from the Mackenzie will slump southeastwards across the province. Temperatures will climb to a high near 4°C, but a cold front will sweep through in the afternoon. As it moves through the region, it will bring a chance of showers or flurries and usher in northerly winds up to 40 km/h. Skies will clear out for Friday night with a low near -8°C.

Long Range Outlook

The weekend continues to look pleasant for the city. Both Saturday and Sunday should bring highs in the mid-single digits with overnight lows just below freezing. The city will see variable cloudiness as a disturbance is forecast to move through on Saturday night. It may bring some precipitation to the region as it passes by.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is +3°C while the seasonal overnight low is -8°C.

Temperatures Set To Rebound After Weekend Cool-Down

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A cold front brought slightly cooler temperatures to Winnipeg on Sunday, but more mild spring weather is on the way this week.

Temperatures are on their way back up as warmer Pacific air spreads eastwards across the Prairies again. The Red River Valley, though, will still be under the influence of a departing Arctic ridge. This will give Winnipeg a near-seasonal high of +1°C with sunny skies. Winds will be light, making for a pleasant spring day all around. A warm front will push into the region tonight, bringing cloudier skies as temperatures dip to a low near -6°C.

Winnipeg will see mostly cloudy skies on Tuesday as the warm front pushes through. There may be a brief morning snow flurry, but the rest of the day looks dry. The wind will be a bit of a bother out of the south at 30 to 40 km/h for much of the day. Winnipeg should see temperatures rise to a high near 5°C. Skies will stay cloudy on Tuesday night as the winds ease and temperatures dip to a low near 0°C.

Wednesday will bring what will likely be the warmest temperatures of the week to Winnipeg. A low pressure system is forecast to track across the Province, drawing even milder air into the Red River Valley. The wind will shift west-northwesterly in the afternoon, breaking up the clouds. With a bit of sunshine, Winnipeg should see temperatures climb to a high near 7°C. A weak cold front is forecast to push through on Wednesday evening, bringing more cloud and slightly cooler temperatures.

Long Range Outlook

The rest of the week looks to bring light to moderate northwesterly winds with variable cloudiness. High temperatures will likely hover in the mid-single digits with overnight lows dipping below freezing. No significant precipitation is in the forecast. For the weekend, early indications are that Winnipeg will see increasing cloudiness and another push of warmer weather!

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is +2°C while the seasonal overnight low is -8°C.

Mild Start To The Weekend, Cooler Sunday

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Winnipeg will continue to see seasonably mild temperatures until a cold front moves through on Saturday evening.

Winnipeg will continue to see seasonably warm temperatures today with light southerly winds. There may be a few fog patches around this morning, but those will burn off as the sun rises. The city should see a high near +5°C, but like the past couple days, temperatures may climb several degrees higher than that in areas where more of the snow has melted away. After any morning fog burns off, the city will see mainly sunny skies. Temperatures will cool down to around -7°C tonight with another chance for a few overnight clouds or fog patches.

More warm weather is on the way for Saturday, too! More warm air will spread across the province by a powerful storm system moving across Hudson Bay. Winnipeg will see highs climb up to around 6 or 7°C but – broken record here – areas of the city with less snow could see temperatures climb into the double digits. Winds will be a bit more noticeable, though, out of the south-southwest at 20 km/h. Skies should start out mainly sunny, but the city may see partly cloudy skies develop in the afternoon.

A slight cool-down arrives on Saturday evening as a cold front slumps southwards through the region. It will bring some cloud, a chance of flurries, and northeasterly winds of 30 to 40 km/h. Temperatures will cool to a low near -6°C on Saturday night.

Sunday will bring sub-zero daytime highs back to the city…but just barely. Under clearing skies, Winnipeg will see temperatures climb to a high near -2°C with those northeasterly winds persisting into the afternoon. The wind will ease in the evening followed by temperatures cooling to a low near -11°C.

Long Range Outlook

Warm weather returns next week with another surge of mild Pacific air. Unlike the upper ridge which dominated the region this week and kept skies clear, a more unsettled pattern is forecast. This will result in variable cloudiness with a few chances for precipitation through the week. That said, no major precipitation events look to be on tap for the region, so favourable melt conditions look like they’ll continue.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is +1°C while the seasonal overnight low is -9°C.