Warm And Windy Wednesday, Then Cold Again

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A potent low pressure system diving through the eastern Prairies will bring warm and windy weather to Winnipeg today. In its wake, cooler weather will slump back into the region from the north.

Temperatures will rocket back above freezing in Winnipeg today as strong westerly winds usher in a Pacific air mass. Temperatures will climb to a high near +1 °C as southerly winds of 40 gusting 60 km/h shift westerly midday and strengthen to 50 gusting 70 km/h. Stronger winds will move through to the southwest of Winnipeg where gusts in excess of 90 km/h will be possible. A rogue gust closer to 80 km/h can’t be ruled out for Winnipeg today.

Most of the precipitation associated with this system will stay north of the Red River Valley, tracking with the low centre and to its north. Areas along the Trans-Canada Highway will still likely see a bit of light snow or even a rain shower as this system moves through. The best chance for precipitation will be in the morning as the warm front pushes across the region. While skies will be mostly cloudy through the day, a sunny break or two is possible in the afternoon.

RDPS 10m Wind Forecast valid 18Z Wednesday January 20, 2021
Strong westerly winds will move through southern Manitoba today.

The winds will ease to 30 gusting 50 km/h this evening, then shift to the northwest overnight as a cold front slumps through. This will bring more cloud to the region and a chance for some light snow. Temperatures will plummet to a low near -16 °C by Thursday morning.

The cold weather will be back in force on Thursday as a ridge moves through the province. Temperatures will barely recover to a high near -15 °C as northerly winds near 30 km/h continue to funnel Arctic air into the region. Cloud will likely stick around through the morning hours, but some sunny breaks should develop in the afternoon. The clouds will clear out in the evening. Temperatures will drop to a low near -25 °C on Thursday night with light winds. A trough will begin rotating into southern Manitoba overnight, likely bringing cloud back into the region by Friday morning.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Thursday January 21, 2021
Much colder air will surge back into southern Manitoba for Thursday.

Winnipeg will see mixed skies again on Friday as that weak trough rotates across the region. Temperatures will return to seasonal values with a high near -13 °C and there’s a slight chance for some scattered flurries. Skies will stay mainly cloudy on Friday night with a low near -19 °C.

Long Range Outlook

Some more cloud and snow is likely on the way for Winnipeg on Saturday with near-seasonal temperatures. Following that, temperatures will shift to seasonably cool with partly cloudy skies. Temperatures may moderate in the second half of next week.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -13 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -23 °C.

Typical Winter Weather Finally Arrives

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Colder winter conditions have finally arrived in southern Manitoba, bringing an end to an extended period of unseasonable warmth. The plunge won’t last long, though, with more mild weather arriving mid-week.

An arctic ridge has moved into southern Manitoba overnight, sending temperatures to more typical January values. With the Arctic air entrenched over the region, don’t expect too much recovery today. Temperatures will rise a bit to a high near -16 °C, but colder air continues to push southwards into the province. The the city should see partly cloudy skies today, followed by mixed skies overnight. The wind will be a bit chilly today out of the north at 15–20 km/h.

The Red River Valley will see mixed skies on Tuesday in the wake of a weak low that slumps from Saskatchewan into North Dakota on Monday night. Temperatures will rebound to a high near -15 °C with a chance of morning flurries. By late in the day, a potent low will begin diving southeast into the Prairies. This will push much milder air into the eastern Prairies. A strong warm front will push into southern Manitoba through the night, strengthening southerly winds into the 30–40 km/h range. Temperatures will climb to around -8 °C by Wednesday morning with a chance of snow late overnight.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 06Z Wednesday January 20, 2021
A potent warm front will push eastwards across southern Manitoba on Tuesday night, ushering in much warmer temperatures.

Wednesday will bring mostly cloudy conditions to Winnipeg with moderate westerly winds up to 40 gusting 60 km/h. It will be the warmer temperatures this low is bringing that’s supporting those strong winds and the city will see highs back above freezing near +2 °C. There will be a chance for some light snow, or possibly rain showers, through the day but most of the precipitation is forecast to stay north of Winnipeg. The winds will keep up on Wednesday night, shifting more northerly overnight as a cold front slumps southwards. Temperatures will dip to a low near -11 °C.

Long Range Outlook

The rest of the work week will bring a cool-down back to seasonal temperatures alongside cloudier conditions. The sun should return for the end of the week with near-seasonal temperatures for the weekend.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -13 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -23 °C.

Cooler, Cloudy Weather Ahead

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Winnipeg will see plenty of cloud over the coming days as Thursday’s low pressure system clears out and a weaker one arrives.

The city will see mainly cloudy skies today with slight snow tapering off as the influence from yesterday’s low wanes. A cold front will sweep through the region this morning, keeping things windy as temperatures fall towards -9 °C by the end of the afternoon. The winds will taper off in the evening as a ridge slides southeastwards into the Red River Valley. Skies will stay mainly cloudy through the night with a low near -14 °C.

RDPS 10m AGL Wind Forecast valid 18Z Friday January 15, 2021
Moderate northerly winds near 40 gusting 60 km/h will gradually taper off through Friday afternoon.

On Saturday, the city will stay under the ridge for most of day with light winds. While a bit of snow is possible, the ridge should keep most of it suppressed through the day. Temperatures will rebound to a high near -6 °C. On Saturday night, a low pressure system will move into northern Manitoba and drag an occluding frontal wave into the province. Winnipeg will see a low near -10 °C with a chance for some light snow overnight.

On Sunday, Winnipeg will see more cloud cover and some light snow as the frontal wave collapses through the region. Temperatures will warm a bit with a high near -4 °C with light northwest winds. Another ridge will push into the region overnight, sending temperatures to a low near -15 °C under mostly cloudy skies.

Long Range Outlook

Near-seasonal temperatures will arrive to start next week with daytime highs finally dipping into the -10 to -15 °C range. A mid-week low pressure system will bring mild conditions and a chance for some more snow to the city, then near-seasonal temperatures will push back into the region with highs dipping into the mid-minus teens.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -13 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -24 °C.

A Blustery Storm Ushers In Colder Conditions

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One more warm day, then a blustery storm system moving through will shift Winnipeg into a cooler weather pattern.

A low pressure system moving into the province tonight will usher in a change for Winnipeg’s general weather pattern. Today will still be mild with temperatures climbing up to around -1 °C with mixed skies becoming cloudy this evening. The wind will be a little more noticeable today, picking up out of the south into the 20–30 km/h range for the afternoon and evening.

The low will arrive this evening, bringing warm air that will send temperatures up above 0 °C overnight. There will be a chance for a wintery mix overnight (snow, freezing rain, rain), but what exactly falls is highly dependent on the track of the low and how warm it ends up being. The temperature will drop below freezing to around -1 °C by Thursday morning.

RDPS Precipitation Type/Rate Forecast valid 09Z Thursday January 14, 2021
A low pressure system crossing the province will bring a wintery mix to the region on Wednesday night, followed by snow on Thursday.

Moderate northwest winds will move in on Thursday, strengthening to 30–40 km/h with gusts up to 60 km/h. Much of the region will see periods of light snow with widespread accumulations of 2–4 cm. A cold front passing through on Thursday night will reinforce the winds and bring more light snow to the region. This snow and wind will likely produce some areas of poor visibility in blowing snow on Thursday night. Temperatures will head to a low near -8 °C.

By Friday, it’s all cold air advection. Temperatures will struggle to move much from their starting point in the morning as the moderate northwest winds continue. Temperatures will only climb a degree or two above the day’s starting point for a high near -7 °C. The snow should taper off through the day, but skies will stay cloudy. The winds will ease Friday night with temperatures heading to a low near -13 °C under mostly cloudy skies.

Long Range Outlook

Cooler temperatures will persist right through next week with daytime highs generally in the -5 to -10 °C range and overnight lows dipping into the minus teens. Skies will stay on the cloudier side, and with the expected temperatures there will be a chance for some non-accumulating light snow on many days.

By the end of next week, it looks increasingly like the polar vortex will shift southwards and begin to flood central and eastern Canada with much colder polar air. This will likely mark the start of an extended period of generally below-seasonal temperatures with the potential for outbreaks of extreme cold.

Winter had to arrive at some point…enjoy the pleasant conditions while they last!

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -13 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -24 °C.