Major Pattern Change Brings Arctic Chill Back to Winnipeg

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An Alberta clipper will move through the region on Tuesday, ushering in a blast of frigid Arctic air.

Warm weather continues in Winnipeg today and tomorrow with daytime highs in the low minus single digits. The city will see some sunshine today, but cloudy skies will return for Tuesday as an Alberta clipper moves through the province. This system will bring a major change in the overall weather pattern over western Canada and usher in an outbreak of potent Arctic air. The city will see a chance of some light snow tonight and Tuesday as the low moves by followed by a strong cold front. Amounts are forecast to remain light with the accumulating snow remaining further north across central portions of the province. Winds will be light today the pick up out of the south into the 20 to 30 km/h range tonight.

The snowfall associated with the Alberta clipper will fall mainly through northern Saskatchewan and central Manitoba.
The snowfall associated with the Alberta clipper will fall mainly through northern Saskatchewan and central Manitoba.

A potent cold front will sweep through the Red River Valley early Tuesday morning, ushering in strong northerly winds of 40 gusting 60 km/h. These winds will bring colder air in through the day, resulting in temperatures falling to around -18°C by the evening. The winds will ease late in the day as the Arctic ridge builds into the region. Temperatures will fall to a low near -29°C on Tuesday night with clearing skies.

Temperatures will be near 10°C below seasonal in Winnipeg on Wednesday.
Temperatures will be near 10°C below seasonal in Winnipeg on Wednesday.

Wednesday will bring a few clouds and cold temperatures to Winnipeg. Winds will remain light with temperatures recovering to a seasonably cold -20°C. Temperatures are a bit tricky for Wednesday night; if the city continues to see variable cloudiness, temperatures will remain in the -20 to -25°C range. If skies clear, though, it could be another night with a low near -30°C.

Long Range Outlook

The remainder of the week will be cold with highs in the low minus teens or minus 20s and overnight lows near -30°C. Winnipeg will see plenty of sunshine through the latter half of the week. Brrrr.

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

Seasonably Mild Conditions Continue

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Winnipeg will continue to see mild temperatures right through the weekend with variable cloudiness.

Mild weather will continue in Winnipeg today despite a weak cold front slumping southwards through the province. Temperatures will reach a high near -8°C today with light northerly winds of 15 to 25 km/h. Skies will remain cloudy through the day with just a slight chance of flurries.1 Temperatures will dip to a low near -14°C with the cloud cover breaking up a bit overnight.

On Saturday, a ridge of high pressure will move across southern Manitoba, bringing mixed skies and light winds. Temperatures will remain seasonably warm with a high near -8°C and winds will be light. Temperatures will dip to a low near -12°C as cloud cover increases as a warm front pushes through the region.

Sunday will bring cloudy skies to the region with temperatures in Winnipeg reaching a high near -6°C. Southerly winds near 20 km/h in place through the morning will diminish for the afternoon. Temperatures will remain mild through the night with a low near -11°C.

Long Range Outlook

Next week will begin warm, however forecasts suggest than a powerful cold front will push through mid-week. Its passage would usher in an outbreak of Arctic air, sending temperatures back down to typical “January in Winterpeg” values. Some weather models suggest that daytime highs will fall into the -20s by the end of the week. Forecasts show no snowfall over the next week.

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

  1. In our previous forecast we had mentioned periods of light snow, but made a note that the dry air outflow from the departing ridge could hold the snow off a little bit. Well…it’s turned out to be a lot of a bit as the snow that has attempted to fall over the city has not be able to overcome the dry low levels and has evaporated before reaching the ground. ↩

Milder Temperatures and Light Snow Return To The Red River Valley

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A warm front pushing across the Red River Valley on Wednesday night will usher in milder temperatures with periods of light snow to end the week.

Winnipeg will see mainly sunny skies and near-seasonal temperatures today as an Arctic high moves through the region. Temperatures should reach a high near -15°C with light winds. Temperatures will drop into the -20s tonight, then rise to around -15°C with increasing cloud by Thursday morning as a warm front approaches. Some light snow may develop overnight, but dry air coming out of the Arctic high may hold off the snow until later Thursday morning.

On Thursday, a warm front pushing eastwards across the region will warm temperatures to a high near -9°C with southeasterly winds increasing to 30 gusting 50 km/h. Winnipeg & areas south will see some periods of light snow through the day, but most areas will see limited accumulations of less than 2 cm. The main area of accumulating snow with this system will be much further north, with a band of 5 to 10 cm moving out of central Saskatchewan and across the northern Interlake. Winds will ease Thursday night as a weak low pressure centre moves into the Red River Valely. Temperatures will keep steady near -10°C with cloudy skies and periods of light snow. 1 to 3 cm accumulation is possible by morning.

A low pressure system will bring accumulating snow to portions of central Manitoba and light snow to Winnipeg and the Red River Valley through the second half of the week.
A low pressure system will bring accumulating snow to portions of central Manitoba and light snow to Winnipeg and the Red River Valley through the second half of the week.

On Friday, the low centre will slowly exit the region. Temperatures will be seasonably mild with a high near -8°C in Winnipeg. Cloudy skies will continue with periods of light snow through the day. Accumulations will once again be minimal. Behind the low, light northerly winds will develop as a weak Arctic ridge begins building into the region. Winnipeg should see a low near -16°C on Friday night with as the cloud cover begins to break up.

Long Range Outlook

Forecasts show conditions remaining seasonably warm for Winnipeg over the weekend and into next week. The city should see some sun through the weekend, but cloudier conditions are forecast to return next week. The next chance for accumulating snow is Monday night or Tuesday when an Alberta Clipper may move through the province. Colder temperatures are forecast to move into the region behind this system for the second half of next week.

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

Blustery Return to Colder Conditions

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Winnipeg will see mild temperatures near the freezing mark today, but a cold front moving through tonight will send temperatures plummeting.

Following last night’s dump of snow, conditions today will be pleasant. With temperatures hovering near 0°C through the day, skies will clear with west-southwesterly winds picking up into the 20 to 30 km/h range. It will be short-lived, though: a cold front moving through this evening will bring deteriorating conditions to the Red River Valley. The front will pass through early this evening with winds strengthening to 40 gusting 60 km/h behind it. Cloud cover and flurries will move back into the region and temperatures will head towards a low near -11°C.

The combination of significant cooling, some additional light snow, and strong winds will produce poor driving conditions. Wet roads, some snow-covered, will likely re-freeze in the late evening or shortly after midnight as temperatures cool into the low single digits. The flurries and strong winds will produce widespread drifting and blowing snow. Drivers should prepare for the potential of icy roads and/or poor visibility if travel plans extend into the evening.1

The city will see cloudy conditions on Tuesday with falling temperatures as an Arctic high builds into the region. Moderate northwesterly winds of 30 to 40 km/h will persist as temperatures fall to around -15°C. The entire region will see a chance of scattered flurries through the day alongside localized areas of blowing snow. The wind will begin to ease on Tuesday night, bringing an end to the blowing snow. Unfortunately, the diminishing winds marks the arrival of the Arctic high; temperatures will dip to a low near -24°C on Tuesday night under clearing skies.

Moderate winds on Tuesday will usher in colder temperatures and support areas of blowing snow.
Moderate winds on Tuesday will usher in colder temperatures and support areas of blowing snow.

On Wednesday, Winnipeg will find itself entrenched in the Arctic air. Temperatures will climb to a high of just -17°C with light winds. Skies will likely begin the day clear, but a few clouds will work into the region in the afternoon. More cloud will build in overnight as a warm front pushes eastwards across the southern Prairies. This will help prevent overnight lows from dropping too much, only to around -21°C before climbing to about -18°C by Thursday morning. There will be a chance of snow late overnight.

Long Range Outlook

Forecasts show another disturbance tracking through the Red River Valley on Thursday that could bring another couple centimetres of snow to the region. Once it passes, the region will see a return to milder temperatures for the weekend with variable cloudiness. By Sunday, Winnipeg may see daytime highs near -5°C with overnight lows near -10°C, much warmer than seasonal for mid-January.

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

  1. In a somewhat rare change of pace, the strong winds will be generally westerly, meaning it will be north-south running highways that see the greatest potential impact from blowing snow. ↩