Deep Freeze Blasts Back Into Southern Manitoba

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After a break that seems all too short, Winnipeg will plunge into the deep freeze tonight. A reinforced surge of Arctic air will spread back into southern Manitoba in the wake of an Alberta clipper moving through the province today.

Winnipeg will see cloudy skies with a mild high near -9°C today. By mid-afternoon, the city will likely see some light snow push into the region with 1-2 cm accumulation possible. The big change in the weather will come this evening as a cold front surges southwards through the Red River Valley behind this clipper system. Winds will pick up out of the northwest to 40 gusting 60 km/h and begin ushering in a much colder air mass. These winds will produce areas of blowing snow, however the worst conditions will occur in the lee of Lake Manitoba. In this area, roughly along a line from Lake Manitoba SSE to Emerson, white-out conditions in blowing snow will be possible. Skies will gradually clear overnight as temperatures plummet to a low near -28°C. The wind will ease overnight to 30 gusting 50 km/h by Thursday morning.

Moderate north-northwest winds will bring widespread blowing snow to much of the Red River Valley on Wednesday evening.
Moderate north-northwest winds will bring widespread blowing snow to much of the Red River Valley on Wednesday evening.

The rest of the week? Cold. A potent Arctic ridge will settle over the province for the next couple days, bringing temperatures well below seasonal back to the region. Winnipeg will see a high of just -24°C today with partly cloudy skies. Temperatures will drop to a low near -33°C tonight with light winds. Friday will see temperatures climb to -24°C again under clear skies. Temperatures will dip to a low near -28°C on Friday night.

Long Range Outlook

Temperatures will moderate just slightly this weekend with daytime highs reaching just above -20°C. A low pressure system may bring some snow to the city on Sunday, then will usher in another shot of potent Arctic air. Next week will bring a prolonged period of cold with daytime highs below -20°C expected through the week.

Looks like “Winterpeg” wants to end January by living up to its name!

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently -12°C while the seasonal overnight low is -23°C.

The Deep Freeze Eases in Winnipeg

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The deep freeze that gripped Winnipeg through the weekend will finally ease to start the new work week. Near-seasonal temperatures and cloudier conditions will move in for the next few days.

Temperatures will finally climb to a near-seasonal high of -13°C today, but will be offset by a moderate southerly wind. Unfortunately, 30 to 40 km/h winds will keep wind chills in the -25 to -30 range for much of the day. Conditions will improve later this afternoon as the winds diminish to light. The region will see cloudy skies through the day and there will be chance of flurries. Temperatures will remain seasonably mild tonight with a low near -16°C as a trough of low pressure moves through.

Mixed skies will return to Winnipeg on Tuesday as a weak ridge of high pressure moves into the region. Northwesterly winds near 20 km/h will diminish to light in the afternoon with temperatures will climb only just a bit to around -14°C. Winnipeg should see clear skies to start night, allowing temperatures to dip to a low near -21°C. Some cloud cover will begin to work into the region towards Wednesday morning as the next low pressure system approaches from Saskatchewan.

A low pressure system will track through the Red River Valley on Wednesday.
A low pressure system will track through the Red River Valley on Wednesday.

Wednesday will bring mainly cloudy skies back to Winnipeg as a low pressure system moves through the region. Temperatures will climb to a high near -8°C with a chance for some light snow, particularly late in the day. A strong cold front will push through the Red River Valley on Wednesday night behind this low. Winds will pick up out of the northwest to 40 gusting 60 km/h as skies clear and the temperature plummets to around -27°C

Long Range Outlook

The remainder of the week sends Winnipeg back into the deep freeze with highs in the -20s and lows in under -25°C. Moderation is possible this weekend, but the trend of below-seasonal temperatures is forecast to continue through the weekend into next week.

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently -13°C while the seasonal overnight low is -23°C.

Winnipeg Locked In Winter’s Icy Grip

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Winnipeg will endure the coldest weather so far this winter over the next couple days.

A potent Arctic ridge entrenched over the region will keep Winnipeg locked in bitterly cold Arctic air today and tomorrow. Temperatures will remain well below normal with daytime highs in the low minus 20s. Overnight lows dipping into the minus thirties, likely resulting in the continuation of extreme cold warnings from ECCC.

Winnipeg will see increasing cloud cover on Saturday evening as a more seasonal air mass pushes eastwards towards the province. Temperatures will dip into the -30s early in the evening, then slowly rise overnight. Sunday will bring mixed skies to the region with a chance of flurries. Winnipeg will finally escape the deep freeze as temperatures rise to a high near -16°C, however winds will be breezy out of the south near 30 km/h. More cloud will build into the region on Sunday night as temperatures continue to climb to around -13°C by Monday morning. It’s likely that Winnipeg will see periods of light snow on Sunday night, but it shouldn’t accumulate to much more than a dusting.

Long Range Outlook

Winnipeg will see near-seasonal temperatures to start next week with cloudy conditions and a continued chance of flurries. The region will see variable cloudiness heading into mid-week, then a cold front is forecast bring slightly cooler than seasonal temperatures back to the region. At this point, next week’s cool-down doesn’t look as extreme as the current deep freeze gripping the city.

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently -13°C while the seasonal overnight low is -23°C.

Winter Returns with Prolonged Cold Snap

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Winnipeg will endure the first major cold snap of 2019 as the Red River Valley remains entrenched under an Arctic high right into the weekend.

Get the long johns out and plug in the heaters, bitter Arctic cold has arrived in Winnipeg. Conditions over the next few days will be stagnant as an Arctic ridge remains entrenched over the region. Daytime highs will climb to around -20°C over the next couple days, but a surge of even colder air will cause Friday’s high to dip towards the mid-minus twenties. Overnight lows will hover close to -30°C through the remainder of the work week.

Winnipeg will see plenty of sunshine over the next few days. The only exception will be a bit of cloud that will move through on Thursday morning, bringing with it a chance of flurries. Winds will remain light right through the remainder of the week, up to around 15 km/h.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 12Z Thursday January 17, 2019
Overnight lows near -30°C will be commonplace through the remainder of the week.

Wind chill values will generally dip into the -30 to -40 range over the next few nights, but the weak winds make extreme wind chills below -40 a bit uncertain. There is a potential for extreme cold warnings on Thursday and Friday nights.

Long Range Outlook

The cold weather continues this weekend with daytime highs in the mid-minus twenties on Saturday and near -20°C on Sunday. The city will continue to see a fair amount of sunshine. Looking into next week, forecasts show the polar vortex breaking down and shifting northwards. This would bring a return to near-seasonal conditions, however more cold outbreaks will be possible through the remainder of the month.

It’s taken a while, but it seems like winter has finally arrived in full force. Bundle up, plug the car in, and keep warm!

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently -13°C while the seasonal overnight low is -24°C.