Spring Melt Continues in Southern Manitoba

Daytime highs will continue to hover above freezing across southern Manitoba, continuing the gradual spring melt across the region.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Saturday March 19, 2022
Daytime highs will climb a few degrees above freezing over the Prairie snowpack the next few days, and into the teens over the snow-free terrain of the southwestern Prairies.

Winnipeg will see several days of benign weather ahead. Temperatures will climb above freezing each day with lows dipping back below 0 °C. Dew points will stay below freezing, which will help ensure a more gradual snow melt across the region. The continued spring melt will produce variable cloudiness over the next few days with a continued chance for morning fog patches. Wind-wise, breezy southerlies will give way to lither westerlies later today, followed by lighter winds gradually shifting easterly through the weekend.

Long Range Outlook

The next disturbance to impact the area will move through later Monday into Tuesday. An upper trough will move into central North America, producing an area of rain extending from the Gulf Coast northwards into the central American Plains. That rain will be sheared northwards along a deformation zone into a secondary shortwave tracking through the Prairies. This will bring rain/snow mix to southern Manitoba; depending on the speed of the system, it could result in notable rainfall through the Red River Valley.

Otherwise, the forecast is much of the same. Daytime highs continuing to sit above freezing with a refreeze overnight. Dew points below freezing should moderate the rate of snow melt, helping with the flooding risk. Enjoy the gradual return to spring!

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 0 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -10 °C.

Cool Mid-Week, Otherwise Comparatively Mild

Although temperatures will sit below seasonal normals over the coming days, the warming March sun and relief from the bitterly cold temperatures of January and February will make it feel comparatively pleasant outside.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Tuesday March 1, 2022
With the coldest temperatures bottled back up in northern Manitoba, the stronger March sunshine will make it feel comparatively pleasant over southern regions.

It will be a beautiful day in the Red River Valley today with plenty of sunshine, light winds, and a high near -10 °C. A cold front will slump southwards tonight, bringing some cloud and another batch of light snow to the region. A couple centimetres of snow are possible overnight, followed by clearing skies for Wednesday morning.

Temperatures will be a bit cooler mid-week behind the cold front. Both Wednesday and Thursday will bring highs in the -10 to -15 °C range, but Wednesday night will be cold with lows approaching -30 °C. Lows will moderate towards -20 °C on Thursday evening as more cloud cover moves into the region ahead of a push of warmer air.

Winnipeg and area will see cloudier skies for the end of the week and the weekend. Highs will warm into the -5 to -10 °C range with overnight lows in the mid-minus teens. A bit of snow is possible over the weekend, with anywhere from 2–5 cm falling in a couple waves as disturbances pass to the north and south.

Long Range Outlook

Conditions look more settled next week with highs in the -5 to -10 °C range and lows in the -15 to -20 °C range. The region will see variable cloudiness and, although cool, it will continue to feel better and better as the sun gains strength.

Prolonged periods of cool(-ish) conditions and sunshine in March will help alleviate some of the flooding risk the region faces given substantial snow pack over the region. The strengthening sun can sublimate water out of the snow on ground, reducing it’s overall load and easing meltwater quantities. This may be a helpful couple weeks when it comes to the flood risk the region faces.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -5 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -15 °C.

Arctic Grip Finally Loosens in Southern Manitoba

Temperatures will finally ease back towards seasonal values in southern Manitoba, bringing an end to the latest round of bitterly cold temperatures.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Saturday February 26, 2022
Southern Manitoba will finally see relief from the cold on Saturday with the return of seasonal temperatures.

The relentless cold is finally coming to an end over southern Manitoba today! The lobe of the polar vortex that has entrenched extremely cold temperatures over the region is finally weakening, cutting off the source of the coldest air in the region.

Warmer air will begin to build into the region today, with Winnipeg’s cold morning warming up to a high in the -10 to -15 °C range. Skies should stay mostly sunny through the day with southerly winds picking up into the 30 km/h range. A warm front will push through tonight, bringing a bit more cloud to the region as winds shift to the west. Tonight’s low in the mid-teens will be warmer than the daytime highs of most days this week.

The weekend will bring more cloud to Winnipeg, but a passing low will bring even warmer weather back to the region on Saturday. Highs will reach around -5 °C with cloudier skies and a chance for some light snow as the low passes in the afternoon. A bit of cooler air will filter into the region behind the low, sending temperatures back towards -20 °C on Saturday night and dropping highs into the mid-minus teens for Sunday. Winds will be breezy out of the

Long Range Outlook

Next week will bring seasonably cool conditions to the region with the occasional chance for snow. Daytime highs will likely hover within a couple degrees of -10 °C with overnight lows in the -15 to -20 °C range.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -6 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -16 °C.

Bitter Cold Continues Across Southern Manitoba

Winnipeg will stay locked in the grip of a deep freeze as a slow-moving Arctic air mass sits entrenched over the region.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 12Z Wednesday February 23, 2022
Very cold temperatures will stay entrenched over Manitoba this week.

Temperatures in Winnipeg will sink over 15 °C below seasonal values this week with highs struggling to reach -20 °C. A bitterly cold Arctic air mass has settled over the region behind the train of storms that brought several waves of snow to the region last week. Unfortunately, this air mass is in no hurry and this week will bring little relief will from the cold.

Skies will continue to be mixed today as the region is grazed by a system moving through the United States. Skies will clear tonight, leaving sunny skies for the rest of the week. Daytime highs will sit below -20 °C through much of the week, only breaking into the mid-minus teens on Friday. Overnight lows will be, editorially speaking, terrible; lows will dip below -30 the next couple nights and climb into the low -20s on Thursday night.

Wind chill will be a notable danger today. Northerly winds of 20–30 km/h continue through the day and produce morning wind chills of -45 to -50 easing to the mid-minus 30s in the afternoon. Wind chills will dip back into the -40 to -50 range tonight.

Long Range Outlook

The Arctic grip will begin to break at the end of the week with highs near the -15 to -10 °C range returning to the region. A system moving through will bring a chance for some snow on Saturday, followed by cooler temperatures on Sunday. All indications are that near-seasonal temperatures will return through the first half of next week.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -6 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -17 °C.