Warmer-than-Normal Temperatures Continue, But With Windy Conditions

Temperatures in Winnipeg will climb into the upper teens over the next couple days before dropping back towards seasonal values on Sunday. The wind will put a bit of a hamper on enjoyment, though, as both today and Sunday will feature fairly prominent winds.

A surge of warmth is on the way to Winnipeg. The warm air will be drawn northwards by a developing low pressure system over Saskatchewan that will track eastwards through the Interlake on Saturday.

But first, today will be mild with a high temperature near 16°C coming in well above the seasonal average of 7°C. Skies will be a bit mixed as a combination of mid- and upper-level cloud moves through the Red River Valley. That said, the most prominent feature will be the southerly winds that pick up later this morning and strengthen to 40-50 km/h for the afternoon. The winds will then taper off fairly quickly in the evening as temperatures head to a low near 7°C under partly cloudy skies.

Saturday will be a nicer, albeit slightly cloudier day, than Friday. Temperatures will climb to a high near 17°C with much lighter southerly winds shifting to westerly in the afternoon. It looks like it will be a fairly cloudy day, but not completely without some sunshine. If there manages to be a little more sunshine than expected, it’s possible that the daytime high could reach up to 18 or 19°C. Rain-wise, there only appears to be a very slight chance of some showers in the afternoon, but it seems pretty insubstantial at this point.

While a slight chance of showers exists over the Red River Valley on Saturday, by a vast majority of the precipitation associated with the system will fall across northern Manitoba.
While a slight chance of showers exists over the Red River Valley on Saturday, by a vast majority of the precipitation associated with the system will fall across northern Manitoba.

Once the sun goes down, Winnipeg will be headed towards an overnight low near 3°C as the winds shift to northerly under partly cloudy to mixed skies.

Sunday will bring increasing cloudiness to Winnipeg as gusty northerly winds increase to around 30 km/h. Temperatures will be much cooler with a seasonal high near 8°C. Temperatures will dip down to around -3°C on Sunday night with mixed skies.

Long Range

As mentioned in the beginning, it had appeared that there would be a chance for a series of low pressure systems to impact the region beginning Sunday night and bring a mix of rain and snow to the region. Fortunately for us, that no longer appears to be the case as widespread support has emerged that places this system well to our south in South Dakota, the southern portions of North Dakota, and into Minnesota. This leaves us with just breezy northerly winds and cooling temperatures.

Much of next week looks to bring seasonal to slightly above-seasonal temperatures to the region, with dry conditions through the first half of the week and more organized chances for rainfall into the latter half of the week.

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

Warmth Rebounds Into Southern Manitoba

While the past few days have been pleasant with above-normal temperatures, more significant warmth will be moving back into Southern Manitoba over the coming days as an upper-level ridge builds into the region.

Today will echo yesterday weather-wise, with high temperatures near 8°C and partly cloudy skies. A ridge of high pressure centred over southern Manitoba will ensure that winds remain light, making for a fairly nice day overall. Skies will be mainly clear tonight as temperatures dip to a low near -4°C.

Thursday will be bring the push towards warmer temperatures as the upper-level ridge starts building into the province and a light southerly flow develops. Daytime highs will reach around 11°C with continuing sunny skies. With mainly clear skies, temperatures will dip down to about +2°C on Thursday night.

Temperatures will climb well above normal across much of the eastern Prairies on Friday.
Temperatures will climb well above normal across much of the eastern Prairies on Friday.

Southerly winds will ramp up on Friday to 30-40 km/h, ushering in a much warmer air mass that is being pulled northeastwards by a develop low pressure system moving across Saskatchewan. Skies will remain mainly sunny for much of the day as temperatures climb to a high near 16 or 17°C. Late in the day, cloud cover will begin working into the region from the west as a warm front moves eastwards across the province. With even warmer air on the way into the region, temperatures will remain quite mild on Friday night with lows dropping to only about 7°C.

Long Range

The weekend is looking quite nice with temperatures soaring into the upper teens on Saturday with lighter winds than Friday shifting from southerly to westerly through the day. Some weather models give a chance for some showers on Saturday, but the general consensus [at the moment] is that we’ll see mixed to cloudy skies, but remain dry. The warm weather continues on Sunday, but not quite to the same extent.

The GFS is forecasting that a complex low pressure system will begin impacting Manitoba on Sunday night.
The GFS is forecasting that a complex low pressure system will begin impacting Manitoba on Sunday night.

Heading into Sunday night, a couplet of low pressure systems, will move into the region, spreading precipitation northwards into southern Manitoba through the night. As it stands currently, it appears Winnipeg will only see a few mm of rain before things switch over to snow. It’s still very early for details, however. In general, it seems likely that many places in the Red River Valley could see up to 5 mm and then anywhere from 5 to 15 cm of snow. This system will likely also carry with it a brisk northeasterly wind, which will produce [potentially significantly] higher amounts near the western escarpment of the Red River Valley.

That said, there is some uncertainty as to whether or not this will actually materialize. We’ll be keeping a close eye on things as they develop and have more details heading into the weekend. Until then, enjoy the warmth!

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

Sunshine Returns to Winnipeg

Above-normal temperatures will continue throughout Winnipeg & the Red River Valley, but with a difference: sunshine.

A nice change in the forecast today: it’s fairly simple! The coming few days will continue to bring above-normal temperatures across southern Manitoba, with daytime highs near 12°C today sliding towards highs of 6 or 7°C for Tuesday & Wednesday. There will be plenty of sunshine today with skies then giving way to more mixed conditions for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Above-normal temperatures continue across southern Manitoba today.

The weather also looks fairly dry over the next few days. There will be a slight chance of an isolated light rain shower or two on Tuesday afternoon as a weak disturbance moves through the southwestern portion of the province.

Long Range

The remainder of the week looks beautiful with an upper-level ridge building into the region, bringing another surge of well above-normal temperature to the region. It appears that daytime highs will climb back into the low teens with sunny to mixed skies and no rain expected.

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently 6°C while the seasonal overnight low is -5°C.

Mild Weather Continues, But Sunshine Will Be Scarce

More mild weather lies ahead for Winnipeg, but unfortunately the sun will be in short supply as plenty of cloud stick around for the next few days.

Today will bring plenty of cloud cover to Winnipeg as a disturbance in the Northern Plains spreads cloud cover eastwards across Southern Manitoba. Temperatures will climb to a high near 8°C with winds picking up out of the north to around 20 km/h. A chance for light rain will develop for the afternoon and evening as the disturbance slowly moves by. Temperatures will dip to a low near 0°C tonight. Winds will remain out of the north with cloudy skies.

Models depict a small area of rain spreading across southern Manitoba on Friday ngiht.

Saturday will be a bit more pleasant with a high once again near 8°C, but the cloud cover will break up and give Winnipeg more of a mix of sun and cloud. Winds will remain light. On Saturday night the skies will cloud back up as the temperature drops to a low near 5°C.

Sunday will bring cloudy skies back to Winnipeg as a low pressure system tracks across Central Manitoba. Winds will strengthen out of the south to 30-40 km/h ahead of the low with temperatures climbing to a high near 11°C.

GDPS 12hr. QPF valid 00Z Monday April 3, 2017
There looks to be a fairly good chance for showers midday and into the afternoon as a weak cold front pushes through the region. Expect temperatures to drop to a low near +2°C on Sunday night under clearing skies. Winds will diminish and back to westerly.

Long Range


The long-range forecast looks great with nothing but above-normal temperatures and mainly dry conditions for next week.

Winnipeg’s seasonal daytime high is currently 5°C while the seasonal overnight low is -6°C.