Warmer Weather Moves Into Southern Manitoba

Springtime is on the way to southern Manitoba, but will also bring a wintry mix of precipitation on Tuesday evening.

RDPS Forecast Precipitation Type valid 06Z Wednesday March 16, 2022
A mix of rain, freezing rain, and snow will move east across southern Manitoba on Tuesday night.

The the polar vortex retreating into the High Arctic, milder Pacific air has begun to flood across the Prairies. Temperatures climbed above freezing across southern Alberta and Saskatchewan yesterday, and will continue into southern Manitoba today.

Temperatures will warm across southern Manitoba today, but the snowpack will limit highs to within a couple degrees above freezing. An approaching low pressure system will provide more cloud to the region today, followed by precipitation this evening.

Southern Manitoba will see a wintery mix of precipitation tonight. Rain is likely along and south of the Trans-Canada Highway corridor. North of that, freezing rain will fall through the Parkland and southern Interlake areas. And north of that, snow will cross through Swan River and the northern Interlake. Precipitation types will also mix along the boundaries, making for a bit of a mess in some areas.

In Winnipeg, 3–5 mm of rain seems most likely. When combined with the above-zero temperatures, this will work towards beginning to chip away at the snowpack in the area.

The precipitation will move out of the region early Wednesday, leaving behind cloudy skies, light winds, and temperatures hovering a degree or two above freezing. A cool front will sweep through on Wednesday evening bringing a few flurries to the region.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Thursday March 17, 2022
Temperatures will struggle to climb much above 0 °C over the deep snowpack over the south-central and southeastern Prairies.

Mixed to cloudy skies will stick around for the rest of the work week. Daytime highs will climb a couple degrees above freezing while overnight lows dip below.

Long Range Outlook

Warm weather will continue through the weekend with highs above freezing and variable cloudiness. This week should provide conditions favourable for a gradual snowmelt with dew point temperatures largely staying below the freezing mark and temperatures largely hovering just a bit above freezing.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -1 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -11 °C.

Warm Week Ahead For Winnipeg To Bring A Wintery Mix

Early-season winter warmth will continue in Winnipeg, bringing pleasant conditions along with a mid-week wintery mix.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Tuesday November 30, 2021
More early-winter warmth will spread across the southern Prairies this week.

A series of low pressure systems will cross the Prairies this week, spreading more mild air into the region. As a result, Winnipeg will continue to see seasonably warm this week. Daytime highs will sit in the -5 to 0 °C range, but Wednesday will bring temperatures above zero into the low to mid-single digits. Lows will also follow suit, staying several well above the seasonal normals.

The first low pressure system will begin moving into Alberta later today, pushing a warm front eastwards into southern Manitoba. This will spread an area of light snow into western Manitoba this afternoon that will move into the Red River Valley this evening. This system will produce a couple centimetres of snow as it moves through the region.

Alongside this, though, will come another risk of freezing rain. The risk will begin Tuesday afternoon in western and southwestern Manitoba. It will then spread into the Red River Valley overnight into Wednesday morning. The greatest threat for ice accumulation is over southwestern Manitoba, but slippery conditions will be possible throughout the risk area.

NAM Total Accumulated Freezing Rain Forecast valid 18Z Wednesday December 1, 2021
Although forecast models are outlining two areas of freezing rain on Tuesday/Wednesday, the risk will extend across much of southern and southwestern Manitoba.

Sunshine will be a relatively rare commodity over the coming week. Today will start off with plenty of sun, but once the cloud arrives later in the day, it’ll stick around through Thursday. A few sunny breaks are possible then, but no widespread clearing trend is likely until the end of the week.

Winds will be variable through the first half of the week, but a cold front passing through the region on Wednesday evening will usher in northwesterly winds near 40 km/h that should ease to light by Thursday morning.

A few more flurries will be possible Thursday night into Friday as another low pressure system crosses the province.

Long Range Outlook

Cooler air will filter into the region this weekend and send daytime highs into the -5 to -10 °C range. This shift in temperatures is forecast to persist into next week with near-seasonal overnight lows. Some more light snow is possible Saturday evening into Sunday, then again on Monday night.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -6 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -15 °C.

More Warm Weather On The Way

Temperatures will soar well above seasonal values in Winnipeg as a flood of mild Pacific air washes over the southern Prairies.

A warm front pushing eastwards across the Red River Valley this morning will bring above-seasonal temperatures back to Winnipeg today. To start the day, Winnipeg may see a few flurries as the warm front pushes into the region. Once the front leaves, Winnipeg will see mixed skies with light southerly winds. Temperatures will climb to around -10°C by lunch and then inch towards a high of -8°C in the afternoon. Skies will cloud back over tonight as another warm front pushes into the region. This front will bring a chance of some light snow – and a risk of freezing rain – to the region late overnight into early Thursday morning. Temperatures will continue to rise overnight to around -2°C by morning.

Thursday will bring mainly cloudy skies to Winnipeg and the Red River Valley as a mild Pacific air mass spreads over the region. Temperatures will continue to climb to a high near 0°C with southwesterly winds of 20 to 30 km/h. Thursday night will bring mixed skies with a low near -5°C.

Temperatures will climb to near- or above-freezing across much of southern Manitoba on Thursday
Temperatures will climb to near- or above-freezing across much of southern Manitoba on Thursday

On Friday, the region should see plenty more cloud as temperatures once again climb to around 0°C. A low pressure system moving through the Interlake will bring southwesterly winds of 20 to 30 km/h to the Red River Valley on Friday afternoon. Winds will shift northwesterly on Friday night as temperatures dip to a low near -5°C.

Long Range Outlook

Temperatures will remain mild this weekend with daytime highs in mid-minus single digits. Sunday and Monday may bring a chance for some light snow as a larger low pressure system develops and moves through the region. Slightly above-seasonal temperatures will continue into the middle of next week with variable cloudiness.

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently -13°C while the seasonal overnight low is -23°C.

Weather Turning More Unsettled

After a stretch of relatively benign weather, things will be getting slightly more active in Winnipeg through the remainder of the week.

Kicking off the trend towards unsettled weather, Winnipeg will see a mild but potentially messy day today. The culprit for our weather will be a low pressure system tracking through the Interlake today. It brings with it the chance for light precipitation through much of the day, but what exactly falls from the sky will vary as the day moves on. There will be a slight chance of rain or freezing rain showers, [freezing] drizzle, and/or flurries in Winnipeg today. The overall amounts of precipitation will remain low, but it will be a generally damp day. Temperatures will climb to a high near +1°C with winds picking up to northwest 30 gusting 50 km/h this afternoon. Any leftover flurries will clear out this evening. Winds will ease overnight with a few clear patches developing as temperatures head to a low near -11°C.

Freezing rain is possible over the Red River Valley early this morning.
Freezing rain is possible over the Red River Valley early this morning.

A ridge of high pressure move over the region on Thursday. Winnipeg will see mixed skies, light winds, rand a high near -6°C. Clouds will thicken up on Thursday night as temperatures head to a low near -10°C.

On Friday, the city will see southerly winds of 30 to 40 km/h develop ahead of an Alberta Clipper tracking across Saskatchewan. Skies will stay cloudy through the day as temperatures head to a high near -5°C. Some light snow will likely push into the Red River Valley in the evening with accumulations near 5 cm possible by Saturday morning. Temperatures will keep steady near -4°C on Friday night as winds slowly ease.

A broad area of snow will develop across Manitoba on Friday night.
A broad area of snow will develop across Manitoba on Friday night.

Long Range Outlook

Winnipeg may see more snow on Saturday as the clipper system slows, blocked to the east by a major winter storm on the east coast. Temperatures will head back towards seasonal for Christmas with variable cloudiness. One thing to keep an eye on will be a second clipper system that is forecast to track through SE Saskatchewan into North Dakota on Christmas Eve. If its track ends up just a tad further north, then it may impact travel conditions in the Red River Valley for Christmas Eve.

Overall, though, the forecast continues to be relatively pleasant for December.

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently -11°C while the seasonal overnight low is -21°C.