Finally: Snow Brings A Break From The Cold

Winnipeg will see a much-welcome return to seasonal temperatures as snow moves into the region.

A developing disturbance called an inverted trough will move into Manitoba today, bringing cloud, light snow, and much warmer temperatures. Winnipeg will see sunshine this morning replaced by increasing cloudiness in the afternoon. As the cloud pushes in, temperatures will climb to a high around -10°C. Light snow will spread across the Red River Valley this evening and continue through the night. The city should see close to 5 cm of snow by Tuesday morning. With the cloudy skies and inverted trough moving through, temperatures should stay steady near -11°C through the night.

The city will see light snow through much of Tuesday with another 2 to 4 cm likely. Temperatures will climb to a high near -9°C as the inverted trough continues through the province. Snow will taper off sometime late in the afternoon or early evening leaving behind mostly cloudy skies with a chance of flurries. Temperatures will head back to a low near -20°C on Tuesday night.

Much of southern Manitoba will see 4-8 cm of snow over the coming 48 hours, although note that this forecast snowfall map is likely producing slightly higher amounts along the Manitoba-U.S. border than expected.
Much of southern Manitoba will see 4-8 cm of snow over the coming 48 hours, although note that this forecast snowfall map is likely producing slightly higher amounts along the Manitoba-U.S. border than expected.

Another disturbance tracking along the U.S. border will bring more cloud and a chance of light snow to the region on Wednesday. Winnipeg will have cooler high near -15°C. After this disturbance passes, another Arctic high will slowly begin building back into the region. Overnight lows will dip down to around -22°C on Wednesday night.

Long Range Outlook

The rest of the week will bring variable cloudiness and below-seasonal temperatures. The cool conditions won’t be as extreme as the last cold snap, though, with daytime highs in the minus teens and overnight lows dipping into the -20s.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -9°C while the seasonal overnight low is -19°C.

Light Snow Can’t Beat The Cold

Winnipeg will see cold conditions right through weekend, punctuated by light snow midweek.

Winnipeg will continue to see periods of light snow and seasonably cool conditions this week. Today, light snow will gradually taper off over the city this morning leaving behind cloudy skies with some occasional flurries. Temperatures will top out around -18°C today, but a breezy northerly wind of 20 to 30 km/h will keep it feeling cold. The chance for flurries or light snow will continue tonight with a low near -25°C.

Thursday will be a cold day in Winnipeg. Temperatures will only climb to a high near -21°C while a northerly wind near 30 km/h produces wind chill values in the -30 to -35 range. The upper trough moving through will continue to produce a chance of flurries or some organized light snow. The isn’t forecast to receive much snow; one will likely need to head into south-eastern Manitoba to see more than 2 cm fall on Thursday. Skies will begin to clear out on Thursday evening with temperatures plummeting back down into the -30s overnight. Winds will continue at 20 to 30 km/h for much of the night before diminishing early Friday morning.

Southern Manitoba will be grazed by more snow overnight Wednesday into Thursday.
Southern Manitoba will be grazed by more snow overnight Wednesday into Thursday.

Friday will be a fairly sunny and cold day through the Red River Vally as an Arctic ridge moves through. Under light winds, the temperature will climb to only around -23°C. The city may see some cloud push in overnight, but not before temperatures dip down to around -30°C again.

Long Range Outlook

Cloudy skies return to the city on Saturday while below seasonal temperatures stay right through the weekend. Forecasts show a moderation in temperature to only slightly below seasonal values to start next week, but no significant warming trend is on the horizon.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -10°C while the seasonal overnight low is -21°C.

Snowy Weekend Ahead

A significant change in the weather is on tap for Winnipeg this weekend as temperatures return to near-seasonal values alongside plenty of cloud and light snow.

It’s a milder, cloudy weekend ahead for Winnipeg. A series of disturbances will push eastwards over the coming days, bringing unsettled conditions to southern Manitoba. Starting with today, Winnipeg will see cloudy skies with about 2 cm of light snow that will taper off later this afternoon. Temperatures will climb to a near-seasonal high of -13°C with 30 km/h southerly winds in the morning tapering off and shifting to the north. The city will likely see periods of light snow overnight as temperatures dip to a low near -20°C.

Saturday will see Winnipeg dodging a fairly substantial winter storm. A broad area of moderate to heavy snow will pass north of the city, beginning over western Manitoba and spreading across the Interlake into eastern Manitoba through the day. Snowfall totals over western Manitoba could reach 30 cm with 10 to 15 cm likely for the Interlake and areas east. The city will likely see cloudy skies and periods of light snow, but accumulations of only 2 to 4 cm.1 Temperatures will climb to a high near -15°C and winds will be out of the northeast near 20 km/h. The snow will taper off Saturday evening followed by some breaks in the cloud and a low near -20°C.

A large swath of the Prairies will see up to 30 cm of snow over the next 2 days, but Winnipeg is forecast to miss out on most of it.
A large swath of the Prairies will see up to 30 cm of snow over the next 2 days, but Winnipeg is forecast to miss out on most of it.

Winnipeg will see mainly cloudy skies on Sunday ahead of the next system developing that will move through the region. Most forecast models show a significant Colorado Low developing Sunday into Sunday night. There’s some uncertainty as to where the main snow for this system will set up; some models push it across southern Saskatchewan into southern Manitoba while others keep it primarily south of the border with southern Manitoba just seeing a glancing blow. Ultimately, the details won’t become clear until a bit closer to the event. If it is going to snow, it’s likely that snow wouldn’t push into the region until a bit later in the day on Sunday. The city will see a high near -14°C with northeasterly winds continuing. Temperatures will head to a low near -24°C with a chance of snow on Sunday night.

Long Range Outlook

Next week will start with any remaining snow moving out of the region, followed by a prolonged stretch of below seasonal temperatures. It won’t be as cold as the last cold snap, but it does look like much of the week will see daytime highs near -20°C with overnight lows near -30°C.

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

  1. If this system ends up tracking a bit further south, however, Winnipeg could easily see 5 to 10 cm of snow.

Bitter Cold Gradually Eases

Winnipeg will slowly emerge from the bitter cold with a climb back towards seasonal temperatures.

Winnipeg will see yet another day in the deep freeze today. With the Arctic high still working its way across the province, the temperature will struggle to a high near -30°C in the city today. Fortunately, winds will remain light through the day, making the cold slightly more tolerable. Temperatures will dip to a low near -36°C tonight before some cloud cover begins building into the region.

Thursday will bring milder temperatures as Winnipeg climbs to a high near -25°C. Winds will be out of the southeast in the 20 to 30 km/h range, producing wind chills in the -35 to -40 range. The city will see a slight chance of flurries with little to no accumulation. Temperatures will slowly increase overnight to around -23°C by Friday morning.

Markedly warmer temepratures will spread across the southern Prairies on Friday.
Markedly warmer temepratures will spread across the southern Prairies on Friday.

A series of disturbances will track across the province on Friday. These systems will bring plenty of cloud alongside near-seasonal temperatures to the region with highs near -11°C. The first is forecast to pass through on Friday morning, followed by the second one on Friday night into Saturday morning. These systems will bring a swath of 5 to 10 cm of snow western Manitoba and the Interlake, but here in Winnipeg there will just be a chance for a bit of light snow. Winds will once again be out of the south at 20 to 30 kn/h for much of the day. Skies will remain cloudy on Friday night as temperatures dip to a low near -13°C.

Long Range Outlook

Temperatures should remain for much of the weekend with highs near -10°C and overnight lows in the minus teens. A major pattern change is possible on Sunday as a long-wave trough moves into the region. Current forecasts indicate the development of a Colorado Low that would lift northeastwards into Minnesota on Sunday night, spreading a large area of snow across the region late Sunday into Monday, followed by breezy northerly winds and falling temperatures. Early indications are that this system could produce as much as 15 to 20 cm of snow. This leaves the city with a the chance that we may be starting off the next work week with the aftermath of a notable snow storm!

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently -11°C while the seasonal overnight low is -22°C.