Windy Weather Ahead

Brad Leave a comment

Winnipeg’s first effort at milder temperatures will come with plenty of cloud and wind, but sunnier and warmer conditions are likely next week.

Warmer weather will build into the region today ahead of a low pressure system forming over Alberta. Skies should stay mostly cloudy today as the low gathers steam and pushes into Saskatchewan. Temperatures in the city will climb to a high near +2 °C this afternoon. As the low begins moving towards the province this evening, southerly winds will strengthen up to 40 gusting 60 km/h and persist through the night. With cloud cover and moderate southerly winds, temperatures will stay fairly steady with a low near +1 °C.

On Saturday, the low will cross through the province, bringing the warmest air with it. Th wind will ease for the morning with temperatures reaching a high near +4 °C. A potent cold front will sweep through the region midday, ushering in strong northwest winds up to 50 gusting 70 km/h. A chance for midday rain will quickly change to a chance of snow as temperatures drop in the afternoon. The chance of light snow will continue into the evening, then end as a ridge moves into the area. Skies will clear out overnight with temperatures heading to a low near -8 °C.

RDPS 10m Wind Forecast valid 21Z Saturday October 31, 2020
Strong northwest winds will develop over southern Manitoba on Saturday.

Warmer air will already be pushing back into the area on Sunday as a broad upper ridge begins building across the Prairies. The city should see a high near +2 °C with partly cloudy skies. South-southwest winds will pick up through the day into the 20–30 km/h range, then gradually ease overnight. Temperatures will fall to a low near -2 °C on Sunday night under partly cloudy skies.

Long Range Outlook

The upper ridge will continue building across the Prairies through early next week, ushering in a warmer air mass. It looks likely that daily highs may climb up into the 8–12 °C range for a few days, but one unknown is how much low-level cloud the snowpack may generate as the warmer air arrives. In some cases, extensive stratus development can keep temperatures near the surface hovering close to the freezing mark.

We’ll have to wait and see, though, how much of an impact this has. If the winds are able to keep enough of a westerly component to them, they should stay dry enough to scour out any moisture from melting and keep the sun shining through.

Near-seasonal temperatures are forecast to return near the end of the week.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 4 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -5 °C.

Temperatures Trending Milder in Winnipeg

Brad Leave a comment

Milder weather will gradually build into the region over the coming days, but cloud cover will limit potential warmth.

The tail end of the weather system that brought snow to the region yesterday will move through the Red River Valley this morning, bringing with it a good chance of some rain showers or flurries. The precipitation should end by mid-morning followed by northerly winds of 20–30 km/h and a high of +1 °C. Skies will become mixed in the afternoon, then mainly clear in the evening. The winds will ease tonight with temperatures heading to a low near -11 °C as an Arctic ridge slides through.

On Thursday, skies will become increasingly cloudy with a light southerly wind. Temperatures will still be a bit cooler with a high near 0 °C as Arctic air lingers a bit longer in the region. Temperatures will head to a low near -5 °C on Thursday night with mixed skies.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 12Z Saturday October 31, 2020
A strong low pressure system is forecast to push warmer temperatures into the region on Friday night.

A strong low pressure system will begin moving across the Prairies on Friday, pushing a warmer air mass across the southern Prairies. Unfortunately, an expansive area of cloud moving through the region will limit temperatures. Winnipeg will see a high of only 2 or 3 °C with southerly winds increasing to 30 gusting 50 km/h by the evening. These moderate southerlies will continue through the night as the low approaches. The region will see a chance of rain showers overnight with a low near +1 °C.

Long Range Outlook

Saturday will bring more cloud cover as the low continues moving through the region, along with another chance for some rain or snow. Temperatures will reach a high near +4 °C, but then a cold front will sweep through and usher in brisk northwesterly winds and a brief return to cooler temperatures. Sunday should bring mixed skies with a high in the low single digits.

Another push of warm air is forecast for the beginning of next week and the region could see daytime highs in the 7 to 10 °C range for the first half of the week.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 6 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -4 °C.

Warm Front Brings Chance of Snow, Release From Arctic Grip

Brad Leave a comment

A low pressure system will bring another chance of snow to Winnipeg on Tuesday. This system will also usher in a Pacific air mass that will finally bring an end to the persistent below-seasonal temperatures.

The Arctic air still wins today, though, and will keep Winnipeg’s high to a seasonably cool -2 °C. The wind will pick up out of the SSW this afternoon into the 30–40 km/h range, making it feel colder with wind chills close to -10. Skies will stay mostly sunny through the day, likely a welcome sight to those feeling the cloudy weather blues.

An approaching low pressure system will spread some cloud into the region by evening, giving partly cloudy skies to the city tonight. The winds will ease to around 20 km/h with temperatures dipping to a low near -8 °C.

On Tuesday, a low pressure system crossing the Prairies will move into Manitoba. Skies will stay cloudy ahead of the low with southerly winds picking back up to 30 gusting 50 km/h. Temperatures will climb through the afternoon to +1 or +2 °C by the evening. Snow will spread into southern Manitoba from the northwest through the day. Winnipeg will see the best chance for any snow mid- to late-afternoon into the evening. Once the chance for snow passes, winds will shift southwesterly and ease to around 20 km/h. Temperatures will hover near or just above freezing through the night under cloudy skies. Relief from the Arctic chill arrives.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 03Z Wednesday October 28, 2020
A warm front will push across southern Manitoba on Tuesday evening, finally bringing an end to the Arctic grip that’s been over the region for the past 12 days.

On Wednesday, Winnipeg will see mainly cloudy skies with a high near 4 °C. Westerly winds near 20 km/h will turn northwest later in the day as a cold front slumps southwards through the region. Skies should stay mixed on Wednesday night with temperatures dipping to a low near -6 °C.

Long Range Outlook

Looking ahead to the second half of the week, Winnipeg will see a continued return to more seasonal conditions. Little to no precipitation is in the forecast with daily highs returning to 7–10 °C by the end of the work week. These warmer temperatures will continue right through the weekend!

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 6 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -3 °C.

More Cloud and Cool Weather Ahead

Brad Leave a comment

Winnipeg will see more cloud with a chance of flurries over the next few days as northwest winds stream lake-effect cloud into the Red River Valley.

Cool weather continues in Winnipeg and will persist right through the weekend. Daytime highs over the coming days of 0 to -2 °C will be some 7 to 10 °C below seasonal values. These cool temperatures will combine with west-northwest winds to generate a fair amount of lake-effect cloud. Overnight lows will also dip well below seasonal values, generally into the -5 to -10 °C range.

Today, the west-northwest wind will pick up into the 20–30 km/h range this morning. This wind will support lake-effect cloud and snow that will move off Lake Manitoba and towards Winnipeg. The wind will ease off tonight and turn more westwards, which will weaken the lake effect snow and bring some clear patches into the city.

On Saturday, winds will turn back northwesterly, but be lighter than Friday. As a result, Winnipeg will likely see a mix of sun and cloud, but flurries are unlikely for the day. Skies will stay mixed to mostly cloudy on Saturday night.

RDPS Total Accumulated Snowfall Forecast (at 10:1 SLR) valid 00Z Friday October 23 to 06Z Monday October 26, 2020
The Manitoba lakes will produce plenty of snow through the weekend as cool west-northwest winds power several bouts of lake-effect squalls.

On Sunday, Winnipeg will see mostly cloudy skies with another chance of flurries off Lake Manitoba as west-northwest winds once again pick up into the 15–25 km/h range. Winds will shift west-southwest on Sunday night and clear things out.

Long Range Outlook

Monday should bring sunshine to the region, but then cloudier conditions will return as a much more unsettled pattern develops over the region. While temperatures will continue with highs near the freezing mark, there will likely be several chances of widespread snow events through the week.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 7 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -2 °C.