Warmer-than-Normal Temperatures Continue, But With Windy Conditions

Temperatures in Winnipeg will climb into the upper teens over the next couple days before dropping back towards seasonal values on Sunday. The wind will put a bit of a hamper on enjoyment, though, as both today and Sunday will feature fairly prominent winds.

A surge of warmth is on the way to Winnipeg. The warm air will be drawn northwards by a developing low pressure system over Saskatchewan that will track eastwards through the Interlake on Saturday.

But first, today will be mild with a high temperature near 16°C coming in well above the seasonal average of 7°C. Skies will be a bit mixed as a combination of mid- and upper-level cloud moves through the Red River Valley. That said, the most prominent feature will be the southerly winds that pick up later this morning and strengthen to 40-50 km/h for the afternoon. The winds will then taper off fairly quickly in the evening as temperatures head to a low near 7°C under partly cloudy skies.

Saturday will be a nicer, albeit slightly cloudier day, than Friday. Temperatures will climb to a high near 17°C with much lighter southerly winds shifting to westerly in the afternoon. It looks like it will be a fairly cloudy day, but not completely without some sunshine. If there manages to be a little more sunshine than expected, it’s possible that the daytime high could reach up to 18 or 19°C. Rain-wise, there only appears to be a very slight chance of some showers in the afternoon, but it seems pretty insubstantial at this point.

While a slight chance of showers exists over the Red River Valley on Saturday, by a vast majority of the precipitation associated with the system will fall across northern Manitoba.
While a slight chance of showers exists over the Red River Valley on Saturday, by a vast majority of the precipitation associated with the system will fall across northern Manitoba.

Once the sun goes down, Winnipeg will be headed towards an overnight low near 3°C as the winds shift to northerly under partly cloudy to mixed skies.

Sunday will bring increasing cloudiness to Winnipeg as gusty northerly winds increase to around 30 km/h. Temperatures will be much cooler with a seasonal high near 8°C. Temperatures will dip down to around -3°C on Sunday night with mixed skies.

Long Range

As mentioned in the beginning, it had appeared that there would be a chance for a series of low pressure systems to impact the region beginning Sunday night and bring a mix of rain and snow to the region. Fortunately for us, that no longer appears to be the case as widespread support has emerged that places this system well to our south in South Dakota, the southern portions of North Dakota, and into Minnesota. This leaves us with just breezy northerly winds and cooling temperatures.

Much of next week looks to bring seasonal to slightly above-seasonal temperatures to the region, with dry conditions through the first half of the week and more organized chances for rainfall into the latter half of the week.

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently 7°C while the seasonal overnight low is -4°C.

Mild Weather Continues, But Sunshine Will Be Scarce

More mild weather lies ahead for Winnipeg, but unfortunately the sun will be in short supply as plenty of cloud stick around for the next few days.

Today will bring plenty of cloud cover to Winnipeg as a disturbance in the Northern Plains spreads cloud cover eastwards across Southern Manitoba. Temperatures will climb to a high near 8°C with winds picking up out of the north to around 20 km/h. A chance for light rain will develop for the afternoon and evening as the disturbance slowly moves by. Temperatures will dip to a low near 0°C tonight. Winds will remain out of the north with cloudy skies.

Models depict a small area of rain spreading across southern Manitoba on Friday ngiht.

Saturday will be a bit more pleasant with a high once again near 8°C, but the cloud cover will break up and give Winnipeg more of a mix of sun and cloud. Winds will remain light. On Saturday night the skies will cloud back up as the temperature drops to a low near 5°C.

Sunday will bring cloudy skies back to Winnipeg as a low pressure system tracks across Central Manitoba. Winds will strengthen out of the south to 30-40 km/h ahead of the low with temperatures climbing to a high near 11°C.

GDPS 12hr. QPF valid 00Z Monday April 3, 2017
There looks to be a fairly good chance for showers midday and into the afternoon as a weak cold front pushes through the region. Expect temperatures to drop to a low near +2°C on Sunday night under clearing skies. Winds will diminish and back to westerly.

Long Range


The long-range forecast looks great with nothing but above-normal temperatures and mainly dry conditions for next week.

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently 5°C while the seasonal overnight low is -6°C.

Mild & Unsettled Weather Ahead

As advertised earlier in the week, milder weather arrives to the Red River Valley today, however unlike earlier in the week, conditions have trended towards being more unsettled with several chances for rain.

Today will be mild with temperatures climbing to a high near 11°C, but that warmth comes ahead of a disturbance that will bring a chance of showers to the the Red River Valley later today. Winds will be out of the southeast at around 30 km/h, and both the chance of showers and the wind will persist into the evening. Expect a low near 3°C tonight.

The chance for showers will come in two batches, the first very early this morning as overnight development slides through, and the second builds over southwest Manitoba this afternoon and then slides eastwards into the Red River Valley late in the afternoon and into the evening. This second band may persist for a while and feature some moderate rainfall rates, although widespread accumulations will likely remain under the 5-10 mm range.

Much of Manitoba will see showers or light rain from the system moving through.

Thursday will see a similar high to today, but a bit of sunshine should help it feel a bit nicer. Temperatures will reach a high near 11°C as winds taper off in the afternoon. Thursday night will bring increasing cloud as temperatures dip to a low near 4°C.

Friday will be a bit cooler with a high near 8°C under mainly cloudy skies. Winds will gradually increase out of the north to around 20 km/h as a weak ridge of high pressure approaches from the northern Prairies. There looks to be a fairly good chance of some light rain on Friday night as temperatures drop to a low near 2°C.

Long Range

The weekend looks to be a bit of a mixed bag; temperatures will continue mild with highs near the 10°C mark, but skies will bring variable cloudiness and some of Friday night’s light rain may stick around for portions of Saturday morning.

CPC 6-10 Day Temperature Anomaly Outlook valid April 3-7, 2017

Looking further ahead into next week, there’s a very high chance that we’ll continue to see above-normal temperatures in southern Manitoba. No significant precipitation is expected next week either, so we should see a continued, gradual melt across the region.

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently 4°C while the seasonal overnight low is -7°C.

Variable Cloudiness with Above-Normal Temperatures

The weekend will bring a mixed bag to Winnipeg with temperatures climbing into above-seasonal values, but a fair amount of cloud will remain in place over the next few days, dampening the spring-like feeling.

Cooler temperatures will be in place over the Red River Valley today as a result of northerly winds to 20-30 km/h that moved in behind a cold frontal passage overnight. Temperatures are expected to reach high near +2°C in Winnipeg today as those winds diminish by midday. Skies will become a mix in the morning and remain that way through much of the remainder of the day.

Skies should clear up tonight as temperatures drop to a low near -5°C.

Milder temperatures are expected across southern Manitoba on Saturday.

Saturday will bring slightly milder temperatures to the region, but alongside the warmth will come breezy southerly winds to around 30 gusting 50 km/h. Temperatures will climb to a high near 4 or 5°C with skies clouding over. Saturday night will bring diminishing winds, cloudy skies and a seasonally mild overnight low near 0°C.

Sunday will be similar temperature-wise to Saturday with a high temperature near 5°C, but a trough of low pressure moving into the Red River Valley will bring lighter winds and the chance for some rain showers. Skies will clear a bit overnight as temperatures head to a low near 0°C once again.

Long Range

As mentioned in our last post, the forecast for a continued trend of gradual warming continues. Little has changed from our outlook earlier in the week, with above-normal temperatures expected in most places over the coming couple weeks.

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently 2°C while the seasonal overnight low is -8°C.