Mild Friday Followed by Winter Storm With Snow, Blowing Snow

A developing winter storm system will bring mild temperatures today followed by snow, blowing snow, and colder temperatures on Saturday.

Winnipeg will see mostly cloudy conditions today as temperatures climb to a seasonably warm -8°C. The warmer weather is moving into the region ahead of a potent low pressure system set to track across the Northern Plains later today. Much of the day will bring winds out of the southeast near 30 gusting 50 km/h, but they will diminish through the afternoon as a trough of low pressure moves into the Red River Valley.

Light snow will move into the region in the afternoon, then intensify through the evening and persist overnight. The wind will pick back up out of the northwest overnight to 30 gusting 50 km/h, combining with the snow to produce areas of reduced visibility in blowing snow. Winnipeg will see close to 10 cm of snow by Saturday morning with higher amounts expected to the southeast.

NAM 1km Reflectivity with Precipitation Type Forecast valid 03Z Saturday January 18, 2020
Moderate to heavy snow will develop over southern Manitoba on Friday evening.

Winnipeg will see temperatures remain steady near -17°C on Saturday with light snow continuing through much of the day. The wind will strengthen even more to 40 gusting 60 km/h, producing widespread blowing snow through the Red River Valley. Localized blizzard conditions may even develop, particularly through the western Red River Valley. The region will see about 2 cm of additional snow through the day. Winds will ease slightly to 30 gusting 50 km/h on Saturday night, bringing some improvement to the blowing snow across the region. Temperatures will dip to a low near -20°C on Saturday night.

RDPS 10m Wind Speed Forecast valid 15Z Saturday January 18, 2020
Moderate to strong northwest winds will be in place over southern Manitoba on Saturday.

Everything will move out of the region on Sunday with diminishing winds and clearing skies. Temperatures will climb to a high near -16°C. Winds will shift to the west through the day as an Arctic high passes by to the southwest. Skies should be clear on Sunday night with a low near -26°C.

Long Range Outlook

For those tired of the cold, the long-range forecast is looking pretty good. Cooler weather will stick around for Monday, but then a large-scale pattern shift will allow milder Pacific air to spread across the Prairies. Much of next week should see daytime highs in the -5 to -10°C range with overnight lows dipping into the minus teens. No major snow events are in the forecast. So if you’re cold adverse, just make it through one more cold snap and you’ll have plenty to look forward to!

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -13°C while the seasonal overnight low is -24°C.

Friday Snow Gives Way to Cold Weekend

An inverted trough bringing snow to Winnipeg today will usher colder weather back into the region for the weekend.

An inverted trough crossing the province this morning will continue to bring snow to Winnipeg. Accumulating snow will continue through the morning then taper off through the afternoon. Much of the region will see 5 to 10 cm of fairly fluffy snow. Brisk northerly winds near 30 gusting 50 km/h will develop in the afternoon which will usher in cooler temperatures ahead of an approaching Arctic high. The combination of new fluffy snow, some lingering flurries, and moderate winds will likely produce areas of blowing snow in rural areas. Skies will clear overnight with winds of 20 to 30 km/h and temperatures dipping to a low near -25°C. Wind chill values are forecast to dip into the -35 to -40 range.

RDPS 24 hr. Snow Accumulation Forecast (Kuchera Ratio) valid 00Z Saturday December 14, 2019
Much of southern Manitoba will see 5 to 10 cm of snow today; amounts will be closer to 5 cm along the U.S. border and increase to almost 10 cm across WestMan and the Interlake.

An Arctic high moving into the province on Saturday will bring sunny skies and cold temperatures. The wind will taper off through the morning and temperatures will climb to a high around -20°C. Skies will stay clear with light winds on Saturday night as temperatures dip to a low near -28°C.

Winnipeg will see some cloudy periods on Sunday as the Arctic high exits the region and cloud and warmer air begins pushing in from the west. Winds will gradually pick up out of the south to around 20 km/h by the end of the day. This cool southerly outflow from the high will keep temperatures cooler again with a high only around -17°C. A few flurries are possible through the day with mixed skies and a low near -22°C.

Long Range Outlook

Next week looks to bring variable temperatures with highs generally in the -10 to -20°C range with overnight lows in the low to mid-minus 20s. No significant snowfall is in the forecast and the city will likely see a fair amount of sunshine.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -10°C while the seasonal overnight low is -19°C.

Deep Freeze Blasts Back Into Southern Manitoba

After a break that seems all too short, Winnipeg will plunge into the deep freeze tonight. A reinforced surge of Arctic air will spread back into southern Manitoba in the wake of an Alberta clipper moving through the province today.

Winnipeg will see cloudy skies with a mild high near -9°C today. By mid-afternoon, the city will likely see some light snow push into the region with 1-2 cm accumulation possible. The big change in the weather will come this evening as a cold front surges southwards through the Red River Valley behind this clipper system. Winds will pick up out of the northwest to 40 gusting 60 km/h and begin ushering in a much colder air mass. These winds will produce areas of blowing snow, however the worst conditions will occur in the lee of Lake Manitoba. In this area, roughly along a line from Lake Manitoba SSE to Emerson, white-out conditions in blowing snow will be possible. Skies will gradually clear overnight as temperatures plummet to a low near -28°C. The wind will ease overnight to 30 gusting 50 km/h by Thursday morning.

Moderate north-northwest winds will bring widespread blowing snow to much of the Red River Valley on Wednesday evening.
Moderate north-northwest winds will bring widespread blowing snow to much of the Red River Valley on Wednesday evening.

The rest of the week? Cold. A potent Arctic ridge will settle over the province for the next couple days, bringing temperatures well below seasonal back to the region. Winnipeg will see a high of just -24°C today with partly cloudy skies. Temperatures will drop to a low near -33°C tonight with light winds. Friday will see temperatures climb to -24°C again under clear skies. Temperatures will dip to a low near -28°C on Friday night.

Long Range Outlook

Temperatures will moderate just slightly this weekend with daytime highs reaching just above -20°C. A low pressure system may bring some snow to the city on Sunday, then will usher in another shot of potent Arctic air. Next week will bring a prolonged period of cold with daytime highs below -20°C expected through the week.

Looks like “Winterpeg” wants to end January by living up to its name!

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently -12°C while the seasonal overnight low is -23°C.

Winnipeg Sets Off On A Temperature Roller Coaster

Winnipeg will see temperatures swing from the deep freeze back to seasonably mild by the end of the weekend as an Alberta clipper pushes out an Arctic high.

Temperatures will be cold in Winnipeg today as an Arctic high settles over the region. Temperatures today will be seasonably cold in the Red River Valley at around -20°C. Breezy northerly winds this morning of 20 to 30 km/h will ease through the day. Then, attention turns to a potent Pacific system making landfall. As it moves onshore, it will push a warm front eastwards across the Prairies. That surge of warm air pushing across the Prairies will keep temperatures from dropping too much tonight. Winnipeg should see a low near -24 or -25°C before temperatures begin to moderate early Saturday morning. Skies will start the night clear, but should see cloudiness increase early Saturday morning.

Saturday will bring mainly cloudy skies to Winnipeg. Snow isn’t too likely, but a few flakes may fall through the day. Temperatures will return to seasonal values with a high near -11°C. Winds will become an issue in the afternoon, though, increasing out of the south to into the 30 to 40 km/h range. This will result in some blowing snow through the Red River Valley. Expect locally poor travel conditions on west-east highways in the area. Those breezy winds will continue into the night and keep temperatures mild. Winnipeg will see temperatures remain steady near -11°C under cloudy skies with a chance of light snow.

Total snowfall is forecast to be near 2-4cm in WInnipeg with this weekend's clipper system.
Total snowfall is forecast to be near 2-4cm in WInnipeg with this weekend’s clipper system.

By Sunday, that Pacific system will have developed into a punchy Alberta Clipper. It will move from central Saskatchewan into southwestern Manitoba on Sunday morning, dragging an area of snow southwards from the central Prairies. Winnipeg will see periods of snow through Sunday with light winds. While it will snow all day, accumulations should remain relatively low in the Red River Valley. Winnipeg may see 2 to 4 cm with decreasing amounts south of the city. Temperatures will be mild with a high near -7°C, but things will take a turn on Sunday night as a cold front surges southwards behind the clipper system. Winnipeg will see a low near -19°C with even colder temperatures on the way to start next week.

Long Range Outlook

Some snow may linger into Monday morning, but by the end of the day things should clear out. Then, another outbreak of Arctic air will move into the region. Daytime highs will plummet back into the low minus teens or minus twenties to start the week. Tuesday morning may even bring the first -30°C overnight low of the season!

Many long-range models are forecasting temperatures near -30°C bright and early on to kick off January 1, 2019.
Many long-range models are forecasting temperatures near -30°C bright and early on to kick off January 1, 2019.

The cold outbreak will be short-lived with seasonal temperatures returning mid-week. The end of next week should bring seasonably mild conditions with little to no chance for any accumulating snowfall.

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently -12°C while the seasonal overnight low is -22°C.