A Brief Cold Snap Followed By A Warmer Weekend

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.

Warmer Weather Ahead

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.

Cold Snap Eases; Milder Weather Ahead

After the first hard freeze of the season, Winnipeg will see temperatures moderate back to seasonal values this weekend.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Friday October 7, 2022
Although it will be a cool day with a high near 10 °C in the Winnipeg area, warmer temperatures are already beginning to build back into the region from the west.

Winnipeg will see daytime highs gradually recover over the next few days as an Arctic high exits the region. Milder air will gradually push into the region, sending daytime highs from close to 10 °C today into the low to mid-teens this weekend. Overnight lows will also recover, climbing back above here freezing mark for the weekend.

The region will see southwesterly winds pick up today into the 20 to 30 km/h range today, but lighter winds will return for the weekend. The region will see mainly sunny skies today give way to mixed skies on Saturday. More sun will return on Sunday with partly cloudy conditions.

Long Range Outlook

A push of warmer weather will arrive to start next week with daytime highs climbing into the 15 to 20 °C range. Cooler weather will return with a system moving through Tuesday night into Wednesday; this disturbance will also bring cloud and a chance of showers to for the region mid-week. After it passes, the region should see variable cloudiness and near-seasonal temperatures.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 13 °C while the seasonal overnight low is +2 °C.

Pleasant Fall Weather Ahead for Southern Manitoba

A broad upper ridge will keep the jet stream well to the north over the next 5 to 7 days, keeping the frost away as seasonably mild temperatures stay across the region.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Friday September 30, 2022
Mild temperatures in the low 20s will develop across much of the southern Prairies on Friday.

The weather will be quiet across southern Manitoba over the next several days as an upper ridge continues to sit over the region. Most areas will see a bit of cloud this weekend as an upper low passes through the Northern Plains of the United States, but almost all the rain associated with the system will stay south of the international border.

There will be slight chance of some light showers Saturday night into Sunday, but any amounts will be light and scattered. The upper low will begin to shift out of the region at the beginning of next week, taking the cloud with it, leaving behind mild temperatures to start the week.

Through this mild period, Winnipeg will see daytime highs in the upper teens or low twenties with overnight lows in the upper single digits.

Long Range Outlook

A cold front will push through the region mid-week, ushering cooler conditions. Daytime highs will drop towards the 10 °C mark with frost likely at least a couple times in the second half of the week. No hard freeze is in the forecast, but lows will likely dip just below freezing a couple times.

Before then, though, the weather will be quite pleasant. With the long weekend ahead, we hope you’re able to get out and enjoy some of that fall warmth before it disappears!

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 15 °C while the seasonal overnight low is 3 °C.