Cool Conditions Ahead for Winnipeg

The broad pattern change that began this week will establish itself by the weekend, bringing a prolonged period of seasonably cool conditions to the region.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Saturday October 28, 2023
Seasonably cool temperatures will flood the Prairies this weekend with daytime highs below freezing in most places.

The weather pattern across southern Manitoba will be dominated by a slow-moving upper trough extending from an Arctic vortex over Canada’s eastern Arctic. This will ensure a pipeline of cooler air sourced from the Arctic sits pointed at the region right into next week, delivery seasonably cool temperatures to the area.

It will be mainly cloudy in Winnipeg today with some morning snow tapering off as a disturbance tracks off the the east. In its wake, northerly winds up to 30 gusting 50 km/h will pump cooler air southwards, supporting bands of lake-effect flurries off of both Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg. This will result in a few flurries lingering through the day, as well as some more concentrated bands of snow in the lee of the lakes. Temperatures will climb to around the freezing mark, then dip down into the -5 to -10 °C overnight as skies clear.

Sunnier skies will return for Saturday with highs in the -5 to 0 °C range with southwesterly winds in the 20 to 30 km/h range. A bit of cloud will push back into the region on Saturday night, but lows will still dip down close to -10 °C.

On Sunday, there will likely be a bit more cloud around with just a slight chance of some flurries. Temperatures will again climb into the -5 to 0 °C range with westerly winds again near 20 km/h.

Long Range Outlook

Highs will likely bounce back to the freezing mark on Monday with a passing disturbance that will also bring some light snow to the region, then cooler weather returns for the rest of the week with highs in the -5 to 0 °C range and overnight lows closer to -10 °C.

For Halloween, it’s looking like it will be a partly cloudy day with a cool high near -5 °C. By the time kids start heading out in the evening, temperatures will likely have dipped into the -5 to -10 °C range with southwest winds near 15 km/h.

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

Sunshine Returns as Seasonal Fall Weather Settles In

Sunshine will gradually return to Winnipeg over the coming days as cooler fall weather settles into the region.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Sunday October 8, 2023
Cooler temperatures will descend into the eastern Prairies for the weekend while warmth builds in the west.

The Red River Valley will see mixed skies today as an unsettled air mass moves through the region. Cool temperatures combined with north-northwest winds will result in some persistent lake-effect rain bands. These could be a bit intense at times, and will shift eastwards and weaken as the day progresses. This will result in a chance of showers for many areas in the Red River Valley this morning, then tapering off into the afternoon.

It will be a cool day across the region; highs will reach around 10 °C with northwest winds around 30 gusting 50 km/h. The showers and cloud will clear out this evening as a ridge of high pressure builds in. Temperatures overnight will bring a good chance of some frost to the region as the winds taper off and temperatures dip to around 0 °C.

A weak disturbance rippling along in the flow could bring a few showers to southern Manitoba on Saturday morning, but it looks like the precipitation will likely stay north of the Red River Valley.

A ridge of high pressure will keep things on the sunnier side through the weekend with seasonal highs in the low teens and overnight lows dipping close to the freezing mark.

Long Range Outlook

Through the weekend, an upper ridge will build in the west and some warmer weather will move into Alberta and Saskatchewan. For Manitoba, a deep upper trough is forecast to shift east and mature in to a broad vortex that stalls out over eastern Canada, perhaps even retrograding a bit into next week.

As a result, the warm air will be shunted northwards into the Northwest Territories and Nunavut while cooler near-seasonal temperatures likely remain entrenched over Manitoba through next week.

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

Seasonably Cool and Wet Weather Continues

A series of slow-moving low pressure systems will continue to bring cool conditions and periods of wet weather to southern Manitoba.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Saturday October 15, 2022
A persistent northwesterly wind over the next few days will continue to funnel cool, Arctic air southwards over Manitoba.

We’re back from our break over the long weekend and, well, we hope you enjoyed the beautiful Thanksgiving weather. Now a distant memory, a series of low pressure systems are bringing much colder weather to the region.

A band of lake-effect precipitation from Lake Winnipeg will shift across the region today as winds shift to the north. This will bring a chance of flurries or showers to Winnipeg through the morning. Skies will stay cloudy most of the day, but the chance for any more precipitation should diminish into the afternoon. Temperatures will climb into the mid-single digits with easing winds.

The reprieve will be short lived, though. Another low pressure system will begin dropping southwards into central Manitoba tonight, spreading more rain southwards for Saturday. Most of the precipitation will fall east of Winnipeg, but the city will see a chance of seeing some rain. If the main area of rain from the system doesn’t affect the city, lake-effect squalls developing it its wake could. Temperatures will be warmer on Saturday with a high of 7 or 8 °C even though skies stay cloudy. Northwest winds of 20 to 30 km/h will persist through the day.

This entire complex of systems will finally begin to shift out of the region on Sunday. Unfortunately, that will also come with an Arctic high pushing into the region. Moderate northwest winds ahead of the high will usher cooler air into the region on Sunday, keeping daytime highs in the low single digits. The cloud cover will gradually break up, allowing temperatures to fall well below freezing on Sunday night.

Long Range Outlook

The cool weather will continue on Monday with highs in the low single digits, but the winds will be much lighter. Cool conditions will continue for Tuesday, then a return to more seasonal temperatures will arrive midweek. Drier weather should also return with the seasonal temperatures.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 11 °C while the seasonal overnight low is 0 °C.

Southern Manitoba Soaking Marks Arrival of Cooler Weather

A Colorado Low will bring widespread rain to southern Manitoba today and usher in cooler temperatures for the rest of the week.

Winnipeg will see cloudy skies today with rain beginning midday as it spread northwards out of North Dakota. Rain will move into all of southern Manitoba today and gradually lift northwards through the night. The organized rain should taper off by Thursday morning across much of southern Manitoba.

Rainfall totals in Winnipeg will likely sit in the 20–30 mm range with slightly higher amounts to the west along the Red River Valley escarpment. Much of southwestern Manitoba will likely get a good soaking with 25–40 mm possible throughout that region. Rain will also fall to the east of the Red River Valley, but accumulations should be a bit less in the 15–25 mm range.

RDPS 24hr. Accumulated Precipitation Forecast valid 18Z Thursday October 14, 2021
A Colorado Low will bring a proper soaking to southern Manitoba on Wednesday.

Temperatures will climb to around 10 °C today in Winnipeg with brisk northeast winds strengthening to 40 gusting 60 km/h. Temperatures will keep rising through to around 12 °C overnight as the low centre moves approaches this evening. Once it passes, it will cool back to around 10 °C by Thursday morning. The winds will ease as the low moves through overnight.

On Thursday, Winnipeg and area will continue to see cloudy skies with scattered showers wrapping around the rear flank of the low. With cooler temperatures filtering into the region, some lake-enhanced showers or drizzle will also be possible off the Manitoba Lakes. Temperatures will stay steady around 9 °C with westerly winds up to 30 km/h. Precipitation will taper off Thursday evening, then winds will ease and temperatures will dip to a low near +3 °C.

Friday will bring westerly winds of 20–30 km/h to Winnipeg with temperatures climbing to a high near 9 °C again. Much of the day will bring cloudy skies, but clearing will be working into the Red River Valley through the afternoon and evening hours. Temperatures will be cool on Friday night with a low near 1 °C and light winds under clearing skies.

Long Range Outlook

Temperatures will warm a bit this weekend as a push of mild Pacific spills eastwards across the Prairies. This will set up another low to start off next week that may bring another batch of showers to the region.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 11 °C while the seasonal overnight low is 0 °C.