A low pressure system will move into Manitoba today and spread snow throughout the province that will last through the weekend.

A rather potent low pressure system over western Saskatchewan will move into Manitoba later today, spreading a broad area of snow across the province. This system will stall out, resulting in periods of light snow that will persist right through the weekend.

Winnipeg will see cloudy skies today with a few flurries. Breezy southeasterly winds will increase in the 30 to 40 km/h range as temperatures climb to a high near -6°C. Light snow will move into the city late this afternoon and persist right through the night. By Saturday morning, Winnipeg will likely have around 5 cm of fresh snow on the ground. Those breezy southeasterly winds will diminish late overnight. Temperatures will rise through the night in Winnipeg, reaching around -3°C by morning.

Saturday will bring periods of light snow to the city. Winds will remain fairly light with temperatures steady near -4°C. The light snow will continue right through the evening and into the night. Winds will pick up out of the northwest to around 20 km/h in the evening, sending temperatures to a low near -8°C.

Winnipeg will continue to see cloudy skies on Sunday, but much of the organized snow will be over. A few flurries will stick around through the region with diminishing winds. Winnipeg will see temperatures hover near -8°C through the day before dipping to a low near -16°C Sunday night. By the time the snow comes to an end, Winnipeg will likely accumulate close to 10 cm of snow.

Long Range Outlook

Looking ahead to the Christmas holidays, it looks like Winnipeg will be seeing close to seasonal temperatures and a fair amount of cloud. Daytime highs are forecast to drop into the mid-minus teens to start next week with overnight lows close to -20°C. No significant snow is in the forecast. Overall, it looks like a fairly seasonable white Christmas with good travel conditions!

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

Winnipeg will see temperatures plummet well below seasonal for Thursday, but the cold conditions won’t last long.

An advancing cold front will bring cloudy skies with periods of light snow to Winnipeg today. Accumulations will be minimal but don’t let that fool you: this system will pack a punch. Temperatures will reach a high near -9°C this morning, but midday the cold front will slide through and shift the winds northwesterly. Winds will strengthen through the afternoon to around 30 gusting 50 km/h, ushering in a markedly colder air mass. Temperatures will fall to around -11°C by the evening, and then continue to a low near -25 or -26°C. While this is unseasonably cold, it won’t be anywhere near the record low which sits in the -30s. Skies will clear out in the evening alongside diminishing winds.

Fortunately, the cold will be short-lived. Thursday will see a daytime high colder than the seasonal overnight low as temperatures climb back to around -17°C. Winds will remain light and gradually shift to southerly as an Arctic high passes through the region into the Dakotas. The core of the cold air will already be to our east by Thursday night, with warmer air quickly moving in behind it. As a result, the city will see some cloudiness on Thursday night with temperatures remaining fairly steady near -17 or -18°C.

Friday will bring more sunshine as temperatures continue to climb back towards seasonal. Winnipeg will see a high near -11°C with light southerly winds continuing. Temperatures will dip to a low near -15°C on Friday night with a few clouds.

Long Range Outlook

The city should see near-seasonal temperatures through the weekend with a fair amount of sunshine. Seasonal to above-seasonal temperatures look likely to start next week, but cloud and the chance for more flurries or light snow may return midweek into the weekend.

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently -8°C while the seasonal overnight low is -17°C.