Tag: Windy

Northwest Flow Brings Near-Seasonal Temperatures And Flurries

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A persistent northwesterly flow will bring near-seasonal temperatures to Winnipeg for the weekend along with a couple chances for flurries.

Winnipeg will start off today with cloudy skies and some flurries moving though the region. This unsettled weather is the result of a low pressure system called a “Mackenzie Low” moving through the region.1 Winnipeg won’t see much more than some flurries; most of the snow is falling through central Manitoba. A cold front will swing through midday, ushering in northerly winds up to 40 gusting 60 km/h. The cloud cover will break up and clear out through the afternoon behind the cold front. The daytime high will be a near-seasonal +2°C, but temperatures will slowly fall behind the cold front to around -2°C by the evening. Temperatures will drop to a low near -10°C under mainly clear skies tonight. Those northwesterly winds will gradually ease through the evening.

The Mackenzie Low crossing the province today will bring flurires to Winnipeg, but central Manitoba will see accumulating snow.
The Mackenzie Low crossing the province today will bring flurires to Winnipeg, but central Manitoba will see accumulating snow.

On Saturday, Winnipeg will see partly cloudy to mixed skies as a ridge of high pressure moves through. Winds will pick back up out of the northwest to around 20 km/h as temperatures climb to a high near +1°C. On Saturday evening, more cloud will begin working into the region as another Mackenzie Low approaches. This one will be much weaker than the last, bringing just a few flurries or light snow to the region. Temperatures will dip to a low near -4°C.

The city should see mixed skies on Sunday with a continued chance of flurries through the morning. Winds will pick up from the northwest at 20 km/h and temperatures should climb to a high near +3°C. Temperatures will dip to a low near -4°C on Sunday night under mixed to cloudy skies.

Long Range Outlook

Seasonal temperatures will gradually increase to above-seasonal temperatures next week as the northwesterly flow aloft breaks down, giving way to a more westerly flow. This pattern change will result in a constant stream of quick-moving disturbances, though, likely bringing variable cloudiness and occasional chances for precipitation.

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

  1. A Mackenzie Low is a compact but moderately strong low pressure systems that develop over the Mackenzie region of the Northwest Territories and then typically progress southeastwards, embedded within a broad northwesterly flow. ↩

Warm Wednesday Followed By Seasonal Spring Weather

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Winnipeg will see a mild Wednesday return to more seasonal temperatures after the passage of a windy cold front on Wednesday afternoon.

A low pressure system crossing the province today will bring mild temperatures to Winnipeg. The city will see mixed skies with temperatures climbing to a high near 7°C. The wind will start light out of the south, but a cold front pushing through in the afternoon will usher in northwesterly winds near 30 gusting 50 km/h. More cloud will move through overnight with a slight chance of flurries.

A cold front will usher moderate northwesterly winds into the Red River Valley on Wednesday afternoon.
A cold front will usher moderate northwesterly winds into the Red River Valley on Wednesday afternoon.

On Thursday, a weak ridge of high pressure will gradually build into southern Manitoba. It will bring partly cloudy skies to Winnipeg with persistent northerly winds at 20 to 30 km/h. Temperatures will be right near seasonal with a high of +1°C. The wind will ease on Thursday night with a low near -4°C.

On Friday, a compact low pressure system from the Mackenzie will slump southeastwards across the province. Temperatures will climb to a high near 4°C, but a cold front will sweep through in the afternoon. As it moves through the region, it will bring a chance of showers or flurries and usher in northerly winds up to 40 km/h. Skies will clear out for Friday night with a low near -8°C.

Long Range Outlook

The weekend continues to look pleasant for the city. Both Saturday and Sunday should bring highs in the mid-single digits with overnight lows just below freezing. The city will see variable cloudiness as a disturbance is forecast to move through on Saturday night. It may bring some precipitation to the region as it passes by.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is +3°C while the seasonal overnight low is -8°C.

Another Colorado Low To Bring More Snow, Wind to Southern Manitoba

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Snowy and windy conditions will develop tonight across parts of southern Manitoba as a potent winter storm pushes northeastwards through the American Plains.

Winnipeg will start the day today with cloudy skies and a few fog patches. It won’t last too long though; skies will clear early this morning and temperatures will climb to a high near 0°C. More cloud will push in later this afternoon as the Colorado Low lifts northwards through the United States. By evening, snow will begin lifting through the Red River Valley into the southeastern corner of the province. As this happens, winds will strengthen out of the north, reaching 40 gusting 60 km/h by Thursday morning.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, snowfall amounts will be tricky as once again as snow will quickly taper off on the northwestern side of this system. Right now it looks like that line will run roughly through Winnipeg, with amounts quickly dropping off to nothing northwest of the city and increasing to ≥ 10 cm to the southeast. That said, if this line shifts in either direction by even 20-30 km, that could be the difference between no snow or 10 cm of snow. Right now it appears that the city will get around 2-5 cm of snow by the time it tapers off, but we’ll keep an eye on things in case this system trends westwards.

  • NAM 24hr. Accumulated Snowfall Forecast valid 00Z Friday March 15, 2019
    The American NAM model keeps almost all of the snow southeast of Winnipeg.
  • RDPS 24hr. Accumulated Snowfall Forecast valid 00Z Friday March 15, 2019
    The Canadian RDPS model brings almost 10 cm of snow to Winnipeg.

Temperatures will remain steady near -2°C on Thursday with northerly winds continuing at 40 to 50 km/h. Blowing snow shouldn’t be too much of an issue, except for the southeastern Red River Valley. In that area, moderate snow will combine with the strong winds to produce poor visibilities in snow and blowing snow. In Winnipeg, any remaining snow should taper off mid-morning but skies will remain cloudy through the day. The wind will ease through the evening to around 20 km/h. The clouds should break up a bit overnight as temperatures head to a low near -8°C.

Friday will bring mixed to mostly cloudy skies as some morning sunshine gives way to afternoon cloud. Temperatures should reach a high near -4°C and winds will remain out of the northwest at about 20 km/h. Cloudy skies should remain in place Friday night with a low near -13°C.

Long Range Outlook

The weekend looks pleasant with temperatures returning 0°C, variable cloudiness, and light winds. Daytime highs will continue to climb into the low single digits next week.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -1°C while the seasonal overnight low is -11°C.

A Windy Climb to Warmer Weather

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Winnipeg will see windy conditions develop later today as warmer temperatures push in from the west.

The prolonged stretch of below-seasonal temperatures in Winnipeg that began on February 3rd is finally coming to an end. A developing westerly flow aloft will spread milder Pacific air eastwards across the Prairies today. Unfortunately for Winnipeg, there will be a bit of a transition day before we shift into the warmer temperatures. Under a few clouds today, winds will remain light until later this afternoon. Southerly winds will increase to around 30 km/h by evening, persisting at 30 to 40 km/h through the night. These southerly winds will keep temperatures a bit cooler with a high near -7°C. Temperatures will remain fairly steady overnight, dipping to a low near -8°C with increasing cloudiness.

3km NAM Forecast 10m Wind valid 06Z Tuesday March 12, 2019
The Red River Valley will see moderate southerly wind on Monday night.

For Tuesday into Wednesday, a potent Colorado Low developing in the US will be the controlling force of the weather. While at one point it seemed the Red River Valley might see a major storm, forecasts continue to trend the system southeastwards. Now, it looks that southeastern Manitoba may see some snow, but that most of the province will escape it. Instead, the region will see plenty of low cloud and mild temperatures near the freezing mark.

The wind will diminish Tuesday and then remain calm until it begins picking up out of the north on Wednesday night.

We’ll be keeping an eye on the Colorado Low as it develops.

Long Range Outlook

Temperatures will cool to just a tad below seasonal values in the wake of the Colorado Low, but by the weekend temperatures are forecast to bounce right back to around the freezing mark. Combined with the increasingly strong sunshine, Winnipeg may just find itself entering the beginning of the spring melt!

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -2°C while the seasonal overnight low is -13°C.