Warm Weekend Ahead; Halloween Looks Great

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There are no complaints here about the upcoming weather in Winnipeg: plenty of sunshine and mild temperatures!

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Monday October 31, 2022
It continues to look like Winnipeg will see a beautiful Halloween this year with highs in the mid-teens dropping to around 10 °C in the evening.

A series of strong low pressure systems moving through the Canadian Arctic will sustain a westerly flow aloft over the Prairies this week. That will keep western Canada under the influence of milder Pacific air and keep the colder Arctic air locked up in the north.

As a result, Winnipeg will see nothing but seasonably mild conditions ahead with daytime highs in the 10 to 15 °C range and overnight lows hovering near or just above freezing. Skies will be fairly sunny as dry conditions persist across the region, but some cloud cover is possible on tonight into Saturday morning before clearing out. Winds will be a bit breezy out o the southwest today, then calmer conditions will move in for Saturday and Sunday.

Long Range Outlook

The warm weather will stick around into the start of next week, but it will get a bit windier out of the west. For Halloween evening, it still looks like it will be close to 10 °C around trick or treat time and cool off gradually through the evening.

By mid-week, the weather pattern will begin to shift, bringing in cloudier conditions and a return towards seasonal temperatures. Long-range forecasts show the next notable chance for precipitation arriving at the end of next week. What it falls at is anyone’s guess right now, but signs point towards a bit of a wintery mix that could end with a bit of snow finally sticking. Hopefully not, though, and we can keep the snow away for as long as possible!

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 7 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -3 °C.

A Brief Cold Snap Followed By A Warmer Weekend

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Winnipeg will see a few cold days in the wake of yesterday’s Colorado Low, followed by a return to milder conditions on the weekend.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 12Z Wednesday October 26, 2022
The Prairies will be flooded with colder air behind the departing Colorado Low. Overnight lows will drop below freezing almost everywhere in the region, with some fairly cold temperatures over far northern Manitoba.

A push of colder air will settle over southern Manitoba in the wake of yesterday’s Colorado Low that moved through the province. With light west-northwest winds, daytime highs will only climb into the low single digits today and tomorrow. Skies will stay on the cloudier side as well, making for a rather chilly couple days. It should stay dry, but some lake-effect snow will be possible in the lee of both Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg. The city will likely miss out on this activity, but some persistent flurries will definitely be possible to the north.

The cloud cover over the region will help keep it from getting too cold at night with lows close to -5 °C on both Tuesday night and Wednesday night. If some clear patches open up, then temperatures could dip closer to -10 °C.

Later this week, a zonal flow aloft will develop over the Prairies, cutting off the pipeline of Arctic air and allowing milder Pacific air into the region. On Thursday, that should allow highs to climb back to seasonal values in the upper single digits with more sunshine. It may get a bit windier out of the south, but that will help keep lows above freezing into Friday.

Long Range Outlook

By Friday, it looks like Winnipeg and area could be enjoying daytime highs in the low to mid-teens with mainly sunny skies. This pleasant and dry pattern will persist right through the weekend with highs continuing in the low teens. Long-range forecasts show a disturbance moving through the region on Tuesday, bringing some showers and a return to seasonal temperatures.

That said, aside from the next couple days, it looks like Winnipeg will be closing out October with beautiful weather. If early indications hold, Halloween could be one of the better ones this year with temperatures near 10 °C through the evening!

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 7 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -3 °C.

Mild Friday, Then Colorado Low Looms

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It will be another relatively mild day in Winnipeg today, but a developing Colorado Low will begin to impact the region this weekend.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Sunday October 23, 2022
A potent Colorado Low system will develop over the course of the weekend and begin moving into the province later on Sunday.

A sunny start to the day will give way to increasing cloud this afternoon in Winnipeg today. Temperatures will stay mild with a high in the low to mid-teens and westerly winds around 20 km/h.

As cloud continues to thicken up this evening, it will mark the low arrival of a developing Colorado Low. With a low down to the mid-single digits, rain showers will begin to blossom across southern Manitoba late Friday night. Driven by a warm front lifting through North Dakota, these showers will push northeast through Saturday morning. Rainfall accumulations won’t be too significant at just a couple millimetres as the showers taper off in the afternoon.

Temperatures on Saturday will climb into the low teens with a wind picking up out of the northeast into the 15 to 25 km/h range. Temperatures will head down to a low in the mid-single digits again on Saturday night under cloudy skies.

On Sunday, skies will stay cloudy as a warm front surges northwards across the American Plains. By late afternoon, this front will arc from the Dakotas across northern Minnesota and Lake Superior. This will strengthen the northeasterly winds in southern Manitoba into the 30 to 40 km/h range for the day. It will also help to support a band of precipitation stretching from southeastern Saskatchewan across Western Manitoba. This will fall as a mix of rain and snow over Saskatchewan, trending toward snow as Sunday evening wears on and the precipitation moves into Manitoba.

On Sunday night, the brunt of this system will begin to impact Manitoba . Temperatures will remain warm in the Red River Valley as the low lifts northwards; Winnipeg will only dip into the mid- to upper single digits overnight. Rain will likely develop across the region Sunday night, but west of Brandon the precipitation will transition to snow. Here in the Red River Valley, rain could be heavy at times depending on how the system develops.

Long Range Outlook

Rain or drizzle will continue across the Red River Valley on Monday as the low centre passes through the province. Once the low is by, strong northwest winds will develop and usher in much cooler temperatures. Some snow may mix into the precipitation later in the day. Temperatures will dip back below freezing on Monday night. A bit of rain or snow is also possible on Tuesday before things finally settle down.

Much cooler conditions are in store for the rest of the week with daytime highs only reaching the mid-single digits. It will likely stay on the cloudier side, so overnight lows won’t be too bad, dipping just a couple degrees below zero or so. If we end up with a clear night next week, we could see overnight lows dip back into the -5 to -10 °C range.

So…enjoy the weather out there today; it’ll only get less pleasant as the weekend progresses!

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

Warmer Weather Ahead

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The Arctic ridge bringing seasonably cold temperatures to southern Mantioba will head out later this week. In its wake? Much warmer weather will return as temperatures climb back above seasonal values.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Tuesday October 18, 2022
The colder weather will hang on for one more day in southern Manitoba, then warmer air will push into the region from the west.

Today will bring more cold weather; the Arctic high hasn’t quite left the region yet and will keep highs in the low single digits. Winds will be light and skies will be mostly sunny, so it shouldn’t be a bad day overall.

Beginning Wednesday, the Arctic high will start moving out of the region and the broader long-wave pattern will begin to break down. This will cut off the pipeline of Arctic air that’s been entrenched over the region and begin to allow milder air from the west to build in.

Wednesday will bring near-seasonal highs back to Winnipeg with a high near 10 °C. The winds won’t even be too much of an issue with light southerlies of 15 to 25 km/h. There will be a bit more cloud than Tuesday, so expected partly cloudy to mixed skies. Temperatures will still likely fall below zero again on Wednesday night.

On Thursday, a weak disturbance will drop southeastwards through the province. Temperatures will be similar to Wednesday, but most areas will see a mainly cloudy day. The cloud cover will keep it warmer on Thursday night with a low in the mid-single digits. 

Long Range Outlook

The sun will reappear on Friday across southern Manitoba while a potent low pressure system begins to develop in Alberta. As it tracks eastwards over the weekend, it will draw warmer air into southern Manitoba. Daytime highs will likely climb into the upper teens by Sunday with increasing southeasterly winds.

It should stay dry through the weekend, but as the system passes on Sunday night, the weather will turn more unsettled. Rain and/or snow will be possible to start off next week as cooler temperatures once again push back into the region.

The timing of this system could change a bit in the days ahead given how far out it is, but the general trend of warming into the weekend, then a notable cool-down by the middle of next week looks fairly reliable.

Enjoy nicer late-fall weather ahead!

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