Spring Storm Brings Windy Temperature Rollercoaster to Southern Manitoba

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A potent spring storm moving through the region will send temperatures soaring on Monday. As quickly as they climb, though, a potent cold front will bring strong winds that send them crashing down.

A strong spring storm will move across southern Manitoba today. This storm will bring heavy snow and blowing snow to the Parkland, Interlake and central Manitoba. Over southern Manitoba, things will stay a bit drier. Most areas along and south of the Trans-Canada Highway will stay dry through the day today. For these areas, including Winnipeg, the story will be the wild swings in temperature and the strong winds that will move into the region.

For Winnipeg, today will start off with moderate southerly winds near 30 gusting 50 km/h. With mixed skies through the day, the temperature will climb to a beautiful 17 °C with winds easing a bit in the afternoon. Conditions will quickly change later in the afternoon, though, as the first of a pair of cold fronts pushes through the region. Winds will strengthen out of the west-southwest into the 40–50 km/h range late in the day with increasing cloud. Temperatures will quickly fall through the evening, reaching freezing by 10 or 11 PM.

RDSP 10m Wind Forecast valid 09Z Tuesday March 30, 2021
Strong to severe northwest winds will move through southern Manitoba on Monday night.

A second cold front will sweep through overnight, shifting the winds to the northwest and strengthening even further into the 50–60 km/h range. This second front will bring some light snow across southern Manitoba with it. Temperatures will continue to fall to a low near -9 °C by Tuesday morning, a whopping 26 °C drop from Monday’s forecast high.

Moderate northwest winds will continue across the Red River Valley on Tuesday near 40 gusting 60 km/h. Much of the day will be cloudy with light snow gradually tapering off. It will be a seasonably cold day with a high in Winnipeg near -6 °C. Skies will clear overnight as a ridge pushes into the region with winds gradually easing and a cold low near -14 °C.

Wednesday will be a cool and sunny day as a ridge moves across the region. Winnipeg will see a high near the freezing mark with light winds. Warmer air will begin moving in on Wednesday night with a low near -5 °C.

Long Range Outlook

Upper ridging will build across the Prairies for the latter half of the week and the weekend. This will bring generally sunny conditions and mild temperatures. Winnipeg will likely see daytime highs around the mid-teens beginning Thursday and persisting into next week. A large upper trough moving onshore to start next week may bring cloudier conditions to the region with a chance of rain.

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

Snowy Start to Friday Leads to Seasonal Weekend

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Winnipeg will wake to snowier conditions on Friday morning, but seasonably mild temperatures will continue through the weekend.

A windy start to the day will bring a brief shot of snow and rain across the Red River Valley. A low pressure system moving through will support a narrow band of moderately intense rain and snow. This will leave a white blanket across many areas this morning. Moderate southerly winds of 40 gusting 60 km/h will accompany the precipitation. The rain and snow will come to an end early in the morning in Winnipeg, followed by easing winds midday. Temperatures will climb to a high near 6 °C with winds picking up out of the northwest to around 20 km/h later in the day. Skies will clear out for the evening with temperatures heading to a low near -5 °C.

Saturday will bring partly cloudy skies to the city as a ridge builds into the province. Temperatures will climb to a high near 6 °C again with northwest winds of 15–25 km/h. Temperatures will head to a low near -7 °C on Saturday night with a few clouds and light winds.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Sunday March 28, 2021
A strong warm front will begin pushing across the Prairies on Sunday.

On Sunday, the ridge will begin moving out of the province while a strong low begins developing over the western Prairies. This will bring increasing cloud to the region through the day with southeasterly winds strengthening into the 30–40 km/h range. Temperatures will climb to a high near 5 °C with a slight chance of late-day showers as a warm front pushes through. Skies will stay cloudier on Sunday night with a low near +2 °C and breezy southerlies.

Long Range Outlook

The Red River Valley will move into the warm sector of the low crossing the Prairies on Monday and see warm temperatures. Winnipeg will likely see a high in the mid-teens, with getting close to 20 °C a possibility. Unfortunately, with strong surges of warmth come strong cold pushes, and a sharp cold front will follow for Tuesday. Temperatures will plummet to below-seasonal highs in the 0 to -5 °C range for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Following that, a more sustained warm-up is forecast with highs regularly climbing into the mid- to upper-teens for the later portions of the week.

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

Mid-Week Sunshine Gives Way to Unsettled Friday

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Near-seasonal temperatures will continue in Winnipeg this week with mid-week sun turning cloudier and unsettled for Friday.

Winnipeg will see clearing skies today as a low pressure system pushes eastwards through Ontario. Those breezy northwest winds that moved in yesterday evening will begin to gradually ease this afternoon. By evening, skies should be clear as the wind tapers off. A ridge moving across the province tonight will keep things calm overnight with a low near -5 °C.

On Thursday, a sunny start will see clouds gradually build in with a southeast wind picking up into the 20–30 km/h range. Winnipeg should see a high near 8 °C. Skies will become overcast with southeast winds continuing near 30 km/h through the night. A low pressure system will push into the province by Friday morning, spreading a wintry mix of precipitation into the region.

RDPS Precipitation Type and Rate Forecast valid 15Z Friday March 26, 2021
A low pressure system will spread a mix of snow and rain across southern Manitoba on Friday.

The weather in Winnipeg will turn on Friday as the next low moves through the province. The city will see mainly cloudy skies with a good chance of morning flurries changing to some rain showers. The winds will continue out of the south near 30 km/h for much of the day. This low will draw some warmer air back into the region, bringing Winnipeg’s high back to around 7 °C.

The wind will ease on Friday night with mixed skies and a low near -3 °C.

Long Range Outlook

Sunshine will return to the region this weekend with near-seasonal temperatures. Some unsettled weather is possible to start the work week. Forecasts show a broad upper ridge developing mid-week, likely bringing a prolonged stretch of seasonably mild weather to the region with daytime highs in the mid-teens likely.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 2 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -9 °C.

Mixed Bag of Weather Ahead

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Winnipeg will see mild temperatures turn seasonal mid-week with variable cloudiness over the next few days.

A mild Pacific flow aloft will keep seasonably mild temperatures in Winnipeg for a couple more days. Temperatures will stay cool through the first half of the day as a high quickly slides across the province. Winds will pick up out of the southeast to 15–25 km/h later today with temperatures popping up to around 7 °C. The city will see a low near +1 °C tonight with increasing cloud.

Tuesday will bring mostly cloudy skies to the region as cloud streams northwards from a potent low crossing the northern Plains. Temperatures will climb up to a high near 10 °C with light winds. None of the organized rain from this system will reach southern Manitoba, but a few light rain showers or flurries may be possible in the evening as a cold front pushes southeastwards. That cold front will bring northwest winds up to 30 gusting 50 km/h on Tuesday night with a low down to around -6 °C.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Tuesday March 23, 2021
The Red River Valley will see mild temperatures on Tuesday, but a cold front pushing through late in the day will usher seasonal temperatures back into the region.

Wednesday will bring gradual clearing to the region as that strong low pushes off into eastern Canada. The northwest winds will persist through the day and keep temperatures cooler. Winnipeg will see a high near +1 °C with some sun showing up later in the day. The region should see a few clouds through Wednesday night as winds ease. Temperatures will head to a low near -6 °C again.

Long Range Outlook

Much of the second half of the week will see variable cloudiness with seasonably mild highs of +4–8 °C. Some precipitation may be possible Friday night into Saturday morning, with near-seasonal conditions on Sunday. A warmer push is forecast for next week, with several days of highs above 10 °C possible.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 2 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -9 °C.