Unpleasant Blast of Winter Weather Arrives

Strong northwest winds will send temperatures plummeting in Winnipeg today.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 12Z Saturday December 3, 2022
A very cold air mass will move over the entire Prairies today with temperatures ranging from -20 to -35 °C across the region by Saturday morning.

A disturbance that brought snow to parts of western Manitoba will bring about quite a pattern chance for Winnipeg today. As the system tracks off to the east, moderate to strong northwest winds will develop and draw colder Arctic air into the region.

In Winnipeg, winds will increase to around 40 gusting 60 km/h midday, while to the west and south of the city the winds will be stronger, reaching as high as 50 gusting 70 km/h. These winds will send temperatures falling from around -11 °C this morning to around -18 °C by the evening. Wind chill values will become an issue later in the day, falling into the -30s by late afternoon.

The winds will also produce blowing snow through the Red River Valley, but the worst hit area will likely be the Trans-Canada Highway corridor between Elie and Portage la Prairie. If travelling through that area today, be prepared for the potential for road closures due to poor driving conditions this afternoon.

The wind will ease this evening with clearing skies. Temperatures will dip to a low around -23 °C.

A ridge of high pressure will move across the region on Saturday, keeping skies clear and temperatures cold. Winnipeg will see temperatures climb to a high near -15 °C with a southwest wind near 20 km/h. Temperatures will dip to a low near -20 °C tonight with increasing cloud towards Sunday morning.

On Sunday, a low pressure system will move through the region, dropping from northern Saskatchewan into the Interlake. It will bring warmer temperatures back to the region with highs into the -5 to -10 °C range along with some light snow. The north winds will return on Sunday night, sending temperatures downwards through the day on Monday.

Long Range Outlook

Arctic air returns early next week, bringing some of the coldest temperatures Winnipeg’s seen so far this winter. Temperatures will likely drop towards the -20 °C mark on Monday, then continue into the mid-minus twenties on Monday night. Tuesday could be the first day of the season with a daytime high colder than -20 °C, but temperatures then look to gradually moderate through the remainder of the week.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -6 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -13 °C.

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A Few Flurries Usher in Cooler Weather

The Winnipeg area will see mixed skies with some occasional light snow over the coming days as cooler weather slumps into the region.

RDPS 10m Wind Forecast valid 00Z Wednesday November 30, 2022
Moderate to strong northwesterly winds will begin to usher in a colder air mass later today.

Cooler temperatures will filter southwards into Manitoba this week behind a departing low pressure system. This low will track from the Interlake eastwards into Ontario today with strengthening northerly winds developing in its wake. In Winnipeg, northwest winds will strengthen up to 40 gusting 60 km/h by the evening as skies cloud over. Once the cloud moves in, flurries will be likely across the region, and there may be some localized blowing snow in the area by evening. Temperatures will reach a high near -3 °C today, then dip down below -10 °C overnight tonight.

On Wednesday, the wind and flurries will taper off through the day, but the clouds might not break up until later in the afternoon. Temperatures will be much cooler with a high near -9 °C. With some clear breaks overnight, temperatures will fall into the mid-minus teens for a low overnight.

On Thursday, another low pressure system will begin approaching from the west, spreading more cloud cover into the region. Winds will pick up out of the south to around 30 km/h with highs a tad warmer, closer to -7 °C or so. With the thickening cloud cover, temperatures will stay a bit warmer on Thursday night, only dipping to around -10 °C. This approaching low will spread snow into southern Manitoba with the first flakes likely falling by early Friday morning.

Long Range Outlook

Snow will taper off later Friday with northerly winds picking up through the day. The region could see anywhere from 2–5 cm of snow, and temperatures will fall into the minus teens by the end of the day.

The cloud cover will break up on Friday night as a colder air mass moves into the region. Beginning on the weekend, daytime highs will dip below -10 °C while overnight lows head toward the -20s, bringing the first real shot of winter cold to southern Manitoba. While there will be some ups and downs, temperatures look like they’ll continue to drop next week with daytime highs possibly falling into the low minus teens by midweek.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -6 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -15 °C.

Mild Weather Continues Into the Weekend

Beautiful late-November weather will continue in Winnipeg for a few more days with daytime highs climbing above freezing.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Friday November 25, 2022
The southern Prairies will see very mild daytime highs on Friday, though existing snow pack could limit some of the warmest temperatures if the winds can’t mix out all of the cool air near the snow-covered surface.

An upper ridge over the Prairies continues to bring seasonably mild temperatures to the region. Across southern Manitoba, daytime highs climbed above freezing yesterday and will stay there for another couple days yet. With Pacific air continuing to wash over the Prairies, daytime highs in Winnipeg will climb above 0 °C into the low single digits both today and tomorrow.

The wind strengthen out of south-southwest today to around 30 km/h and then ease tonight. A weak cold front will go through, bringing some cloud overnight, and then the winds will pick up out of the northwest Saturday into the 20 to 30 km/h range.

The pattern across the Prairies will begin to change on Sunday as the upper ridge collapses and a low pressure system begins to drop southeastwards across the Prairies. As it approaches, the wind will pick back up out of the southeast through the Red River Valley, but the warmer air will have slumped a bit south and more cloud will build into the region. Temperatures climb to a high near freezing, but with cloud building through the day and breezy southeasterlies, it will feel much cooler than the prior days.

As the low pushes into the region on Sunday night, light snow will blossom across the region.

Long Range Outlook

A bit of a complex setup will develop next week as energy collapses southwards from the low over southern Manitoba to a developing Colorado Low. While the Colorado Low will likely impact Ontario, the interaction of these two systems could support some periods of light snow across the region for a couple days.

By the middle of next week, cooler temperatures will begin slumping into the Prairies, sending daytime highs down below -10 °C with overnight lows dipping into the low teens.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -5 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -13 °C.

Mild Week Ahead for Winnipeg

A westerly flow aloft will bring seasonably mild temperatures to Winnipeg this week.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Thursday November 24, 2022
Mild temperatures will move into southern Manitoba this week with daytime highs climbing to near or above freezing.

The Red River Valley will get a late-November treat of mild temperatures this week as daytime highs climb back above freezing. A series of low pressure systems tracking along the northern borders of the Prairie provinces will help shunt the Polar Vortex back into the High Arctic. As it retreats, that will allow for a sustained flow of milder Pacific air to spill across the Rockies and into the Prairies.

As a result, the region will see more sun than has been around in a while with mild temperatures. Daytime highs will sit around the freezing mark or just a bit warmer with lows warming from the -5 to -10 °C range mid-week to close to freezing by the end of the week.

There won’t be much chance of snow this week; the only notable possibility looks to be on Wednesday night as a weak cold front moves through. It may bring a brief band of snow through the region with it, but accumulations look like they’d be low.

Long Range Outlook

The stretch of warmer weather will come to an end this weekend as a series of weak disturbances begin to move through, bringing cloud and light snow. Each successive impulse will gradually bring temperatures back to near-seasonal values to start next week and into seasonably cool conditions later next week.

With the cooling trend will come more cloud cover and plenty of chances for light snow.

So for now, enjoy the beautiful late-November week ahead!

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -4 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -13 °C.