Temperatures are set to soar way above seasonal values in Southern Manitoba over the next couple days as a dry & unseasonably warm air mass over Alberta pushes into the province. Temperatures will soar on Thursday above 30°C, likely breaking several record high temperatures for that day across the province.

The heat is on as warmer weather begins pushing eastwards out of the western Prairies and spreading into Manitoba. Temperatures in Winnipeg today will climb to a mild 21°C with relatively light winds out of the south and a few clouds through the afternoon hours. Through the remainder of the Red River Valley, temperatures will be in the 18-22°C range with light winds as well. It will be milder over southwestern Manitoba with a slight southwesterly breeze and highs in the 23-26°C range.

Winds will begin picking up out of the southwest to 20-30km/h tonight as even warmer air begins moving into the region. This will keep overnight lows quite mild at just 13-14°C over the central & eastern Red River Valley. Over the western Red River Valley, overnight lows will be even milder at 15-16°C, bolstered by the down-sloping winds off the western escarpment.

Thursday will be a scorcher as the core of the warm air moves over the region. Temperatures will soar into the low 30’s with winds out of the west at 20-30km/h. The breezy winds, hot temperatures and low humidity will present an elevated fire risk, so it will be important to follow the latest fire guidelines issued by the province. Skies will be mainly sunny. Temperatures will remain mild on Thursday night with overnight lows dipping to just the mid-teens. With a high near 32°C, Winnipeg will challenge its record high temperature for May 5, which currently is 31.7°C set in 1926.

A cold front will sweep through the province on Friday, ushering in strong northwesterly winds and cooler temperatures. A few showers are possible, but with such limited moisture available and the poor timing of the frontal passage, I don’t expect Winnipeg to see any precipitation. Temperatures will reach a daytime high near 19-21°C before the cooler air begins moving in. Winds will strengthen to 40 gusting 60 km/h out of the northwest by midday. Winds will taper off on Friday night as temperatures head to a low near 8°C.

Long Range

Warm weather will return for the weekend with temperatures climbing back into the low- to mid-twenties under mostly sunny skies. A more southerly feed will mean that it won’t be quite as dry as this week’s warm weather, but the lack of rain continues.

Temperatures will continue mild into the beginning of next week. Some cooler weather is possible into mid-week as alongside the potential for some precipitation across the region, but at this point, it’s far to early to address that potential.

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently 17°C while the seasonal overnight low is 3°C.