Tag: Snow

Cool Conditions To Bring Gradual Melt

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Cooler conditions will linger in Winnipeg through the rest of the week, bringing a gradual melt to the pile of snow that fell over the last 48 hours.

The upper vortex responsible for 23 cm of snow in Winnipeg over the past 48 hours — the biggest snow event of this winter/spring season — is now trundling off towards eastern Canada. A few flurries will linger in its trail through the day. The snow cover and a cool north wind near 20 km/h bring a cool high near 0 °C. Skies will stay mostly cloudy tonight with light winds and a low near -4 °C.

On Thursday, a trough of cooler air aloft will move into southern Manitoba. It will bring a mix of sun and cloud and northerly winds up to around 20 km/h again. Any snow associated with this system will likely stay over southwestern Manitoba with light amounts. Temperatures will climb to a high around 3 °C in Winnipeg. Warmer highs are likely over the western Red River Valley where slight downsloping from the escarpment helps temperatures into the upper single digits. Mixed skies will stay for the night with temperatures dipping to a low near -5 °C.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Thursday April 15, 2021
Southern Manitoba will see cool temperatures on Thursday, save for the western Red River Valley where downslope winds near the escarpment bring near-seasonal warmth.

A broad area of high pressure will build into the region on Friday, bringing a bit more sun. Winds will pick up out of the north into the 20–30 km/h range with a high near 3 °C. Note that it could get warmer than that, highly depending on how quickly the snow pack over the region melts. Given the discrepancy in snow depth, some areas may see highs a few degrees warmer than others on Friday. Skies will clear out on Friday night with temperatures heading to a low near -7 °C.

Long Range Outlook

Temperatures will return closer to seasonal values on Saturday, then another low pressure system is forecast to move through on Sunday. This disturbance will bring more cloud and a chance for some rain or snow. Cooler and cloudier weather starts next week, followed by a gradual return to seasonal temperatures and generally sunny conditions.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 10 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -2 °C.

Winter Returns to the Red River Valley

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Winnipeg will see a blast of April snow as a spring storm stalls over the region.

A slow-moving upper-level vortex will slump into the northern Plains of the United States today and stall over the area. This feature will support a deep and persistent stream of moisture from eastern North America into southern Manitoba for the next couple days. As a result, Winnipeg and region will see waves of snow spread westwards across the region today and tomorrow.

Winnipeg will see snow through the day today with accumulations of 5–10 cm by the evening. Moderate northerly winds near 40 gusting 60 km/h will accompany the snow, but the relatively warm conditions should limit the severity of any blowing snow that may develop. That said, visibilities may deteriorate rapidly at times in pockets of heavier snow. Temperatures will hover around -1 °C through the day.

The snow will continue tonight with winds of 30–40 km/h. Blowing snow might become a bit more of an issue overnight as temperatures drop a bit more to a low near -5 °C. Another 5–10 cm of snow is possible overnight.

Periods of snow will continue on Tuesday with temperatures climbing back to a high near -1 °C. Another 4–8 cm of snow is possible through the day. The snow will taper off Tuesday night, but skies will stay cloudy. The wind will ease into the 20–30 km/h range by Wednesday morning with temperatures dropping to around -5 °C again.

RDPS Total Snowfall Accumulation Forecast (at 10:1 SLR) valid 00Z Monday April 12, 2021 to 06Z Wednesday April 14, 2021
All of southern Manitoba will see a coating of snow from the spring storm affecting the area.

On Wednesday, the whole vortex will push off into eastern Canada, leaving the region with mostly cloudy skies and a chance of flurries. Temperatures will climb back above freezing with a north wind near 20 km/h.

By the time the snow tapers off, this system will have the potential to produce as much as 15–25 cm of snow for the Winnipeg area. The final total, though, will likely end up less than that; a combination of melting early in the event and compaction as it progresses should reduce the total accumulation somewhat. That said, it will likely still be enough to produce poor travel conditions and bring the region a short return to winter.

Long Range Outlook

The sun will return to the region by the end of the week, but seasonably cool conditions will persist. Winnipeg will see highs of 2–5 °C on Thursday and Friday, then climb into the 5–10 °C on the weekend. To start next week, the region will likely see variable cloudiness with near-seasonal temperatures.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 9 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -3 °C.

Pleasant Weekend Before A Winter Storm

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Winnipeg will see a relatively pleasant weekend after some much-needed rain that fell on Thursday night. Winter isn’t done with the region, though, with a winter storm poised to slam the region by Monday.

A digging trough over western Canada will dominate the upper air pattern over Winnipeg through the coming days. This will bring near-seasonal temperatures and variable cloudiness. Today, the city will see mostly cloudy skies as the system that brought the overnight rain drifts eastwards. A few sunny breaks are likely, though, and should help get the daytime high up to around 10 °C. A brisk north wind will pick up today to around 30 km/h and persist until the evening before tapering off. Skies will clear tonight with a low near -2 °C.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid Saturday April 10, 2021
Saturday will be a sunny and mild day the Red River Valley.

Saturday will be the nicest day of the next few as a weak ridge moves over the province. Winnipeg will see mainly sunny skies, light winds, and a high near 14 °C. There will be a few clouds overnight with a low near the freezing mark.

On Sunday, the region will begin to fall under the influence of a low pressure system moving southeast from Saskatchewan. Winnipeg will see increasing cloud through the day with a northeast wind picking up into the 20–30 km/h range. Temperatures will climb to a high near 10 °C.

Long Range Outlook

A major winter storm will move through Manitoba Sunday night through Tuesday, bringing significant snowfall to the region. Precipitation will spread through the province on Sunday night, and while some areas may see a bit of rain to begin, everything should change to snow by Monday morning. There is still significant disagreement in the forecasts where the heaviest snow will fall, but there is good agreement with some regions seeing up to 15–25 cm of snow. Unfortunately for Winnipeg, the range in forecast solutions is huge right now…from ≤5 cm of snow to over 20 cm. So at this point it’s a matter of waiting and seeing how this begins to shape up closer to the event.

RDPS Precipitation Type and Rate Forecast valid 12Z Monday April 12, 2021
Snow is forecast across most of southern Manitoba by Monday morning.

That said, it will likely impact most of southern Manitoba and provide much-needed moisture to alleviate some of the drought conditions. In the wake of this system, a slow return towards highs around 10 °C by the weekend is forecast with plenty of cloud cover, allowing the snow melt to gradually soak into the ground.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 9 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -3 °C.

Spring Storm Brings Windy Temperature Rollercoaster to Southern Manitoba

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A potent spring storm moving through the region will send temperatures soaring on Monday. As quickly as they climb, though, a potent cold front will bring strong winds that send them crashing down.

A strong spring storm will move across southern Manitoba today. This storm will bring heavy snow and blowing snow to the Parkland, Interlake and central Manitoba. Over southern Manitoba, things will stay a bit drier. Most areas along and south of the Trans-Canada Highway will stay dry through the day today. For these areas, including Winnipeg, the story will be the wild swings in temperature and the strong winds that will move into the region.

For Winnipeg, today will start off with moderate southerly winds near 30 gusting 50 km/h. With mixed skies through the day, the temperature will climb to a beautiful 17 °C with winds easing a bit in the afternoon. Conditions will quickly change later in the afternoon, though, as the first of a pair of cold fronts pushes through the region. Winds will strengthen out of the west-southwest into the 40–50 km/h range late in the day with increasing cloud. Temperatures will quickly fall through the evening, reaching freezing by 10 or 11 PM.

RDSP 10m Wind Forecast valid 09Z Tuesday March 30, 2021
Strong to severe northwest winds will move through southern Manitoba on Monday night.

A second cold front will sweep through overnight, shifting the winds to the northwest and strengthening even further into the 50–60 km/h range. This second front will bring some light snow across southern Manitoba with it. Temperatures will continue to fall to a low near -9 °C by Tuesday morning, a whopping 26 °C drop from Monday’s forecast high.

Moderate northwest winds will continue across the Red River Valley on Tuesday near 40 gusting 60 km/h. Much of the day will be cloudy with light snow gradually tapering off. It will be a seasonably cold day with a high in Winnipeg near -6 °C. Skies will clear overnight as a ridge pushes into the region with winds gradually easing and a cold low near -14 °C.

Wednesday will be a cool and sunny day as a ridge moves across the region. Winnipeg will see a high near the freezing mark with light winds. Warmer air will begin moving in on Wednesday night with a low near -5 °C.

Long Range Outlook

Upper ridging will build across the Prairies for the latter half of the week and the weekend. This will bring generally sunny conditions and mild temperatures. Winnipeg will likely see daytime highs around the mid-teens beginning Thursday and persisting into next week. A large upper trough moving onshore to start next week may bring cloudier conditions to the region with a chance of rain.

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