Arctic Chill Grips Winnipeg

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Seasonably cold weather will stay entrenched over southern Manitoba for the next few days.

Cold Arctic air will continue to pour southwards across the eastern Prairies this week. The Polar Vortex will sit over Hudson Bay for much of the week, maintaining a strong cross-polar flow. This will keep a steady stream of cold air streaming from the High Arctic down to the eastern Prairies that then curls off to the southeast across the northern United States.

This will keep temperatures cold, but nowhere near record values. Winnipeg will see a high near -17°C today with light winds. Skies will be mainly sunny through the day, but cloud will spread in tonight alongside a weak low moving into the region. Winnipeg will see clouds with flurries through the first half of the night with winds increasing out of the northwest to 30 km/h. Skies will clear out for the second half of the night as temperatures drop to a low near -27°C. Wind chill values will dip into the mid-minus 30s.

GDPS 500mb Wind Speed Forecast valid 21Z Tuesday December 10, 2019
The Polar Vortex will support a cross-polar flow for the next few days, bringing below-seasonal temperatures to the eastern Prairies.

Skies will clear on Tuesday bringing plenty of sun to the city, but it will be downright cold with a daytime high near -20°C. Winds will be light out of the west. Temperatures will drop to a low near -28°C on Tuesday night with light northwest winds. Winnipeg will see sunny skies with a high near -20°C on Wednesday as an Arctic high moves across the region. Winds will be out of the west-southwest near 20 km/h.

Some cloud will push into the region on Wednesday night as more seasonal temperatures begin working into the region. The city should see a low near -25°C.

Long Range Outlook

The second half of the work week will see temperatures returning to seasonal values with plenty of cloud cover. Light snow is possible later Thursday into Friday morning. The weekend should bring mixed skies with highs of -15 to -10°C and overnight lows in the mid-minus teens.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -9°C while the seasonal overnight low is -18°C.

Major Pattern Change Sends Arctic Blast Southwards

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Winnipeg will see a major shift in temperatures this weekend that will mark the start of a long stretch of colder weather.

A series of passing lows will keep Winnipeg cloudy heading into the weekend with a couple of chances for flurries. A brisk southerly wind will develop this morning, increasing into the 20 to 30 km/h range. This cool outflow from a departing ridge will keep temperatures slightly cooler again today with a high eventually reaching -6°C. An approaching shortwave will bring a chance of flurries to the region later this afternoon into the evening. Skies will stay cloudy overnight with a chance of flurries as temperatures dip to a low near -10°C. The winds will ease in the evening.

Winds will pick up out of the south again on Saturday as an organized clipper system arrives. The city will see a chance for some light snow as a warm front moves through in the morning. Winds will pick up out of the south into the 30 to 40 km/h range in the morning as temperatures head to a high near -1°C. The wind will ease late in the day.

The major pattern shift begins on Saturday evening as a cold front sweeps southeastwards across the province. It will push through, bringing a bit of light snow and then ushering in northwesterly winds of 30 to 40 km/h. There northwest winds will be pushing in much colder air sourced from a large Arctic high moving into the Prairies. Temperatures will dip to a low near -17°C on Saturday night.

GDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 18Z Sunday December 8, 2019
Bitterly cold air will begin building into Manitoba on Sunday as a potent Arctic high pushes into the region.

Temperatures will barely recover on Sunday as skies clear out and winds gradually ease through the day. The Arctic high will push into the southern half of the province on Sunday night, sending temperatures into the low minus 20’s overnight.

Long Range Outlook

Unfortunately, there is little improvement for Winnipeg in the medium-range forecast. Cold weather will continue to persist for several more days.

GDPS 850mb Temperature Anomaly Forecast valid 00Z Tuesday December 10, 2019
The forecast 850mb temperature anomalies show Winnipeg embedded within a large outbreak of below-normal temperatures to start next week.

The city will spend much of the week with daytime highs near -20°C and overnight lows in the mid- to low -20’s. Wind chills will also begin to move into hazardous territory with values in the -30 to -40 range possible during the nights.

Moderation towards seasonal temperatures should occur near the end of the week.

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

Cold Front Brings Seasonal Temperatures Back to Winnipeg

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Winnipeg will get one more seasonably mild day before a cold front brings cooler temperatures back to the region.

Mild temperatures will stick around for one more day in Winnipeg with the city seeing variable cloudiness and light westerlies. A cloudy morning will give way to mixed skies with a high near -1°C. A cold front pushing into the region this evening will bring more clouds and a chance of flurries. Winds will shift to the northwest behind the front overnight as temperatures dip to a low near -9°C.

Thursday will bring north-northwest winds of 30 gusting 50 km/h to Winnipeg as an Arctic ridge builds in from the northern Prairies. This push of cooler air will keep temperatures steady through the day around -9°C. Skies will be cloudy through the morning and some clearing will gradually push towards the region through the afternoon.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 15Z Thursday December 5, 2019
A large Arctic ridge will push into Manitoba on Thursday, bringing breezy northwest winds and cooler temperatures to the region.

The city will see a chance of flurries through the day but little to no accumulation. Winnipeg will see mainly clear skies for a bit on Thursday night, allowing temperatures to drop to a low near -16°C. More cloud will push back into the Red River Valley overnight.

Winnipeg will again see mostly cloudy skies on Friday with a stiff southerly wind increasing into the 30 to 40 km/h range. The cloud and southerly wind coming out of the Arctic ridge will keep temperatures seasonal with a high near -7°C. Winds will ease on Friday night with temperatures dropping a degree or two.

Long Range Outlook

A more organized low pushing into the region on Saturday will bring warmer temperatures to the region with daytime highs climbing back to around -2°C. As it crosses on Saturday afternoon there will be a good chance for some snow, then a potent shot of cold air follows.

By Monday, daytime highs will dip into the -15 to -20°C range, with daytime highs of -20°C possible on Tuesday and Wednesday. Yikes! These cold temperatures will stick around at least until the end of the week.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -7°C while the seasonal overnight low is -16°C.

NAM 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Monday December 2, 2019

December Off To A Great Start

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Winnipeg will be able to enjoy some beautiful weather to start December!

Winnipeg will see a pleasant stretch of weather in the week ahead as an upper-level ridge builds across the Prairies. Over the coming days, the city will see highs just below freezing and lows in the -6 to -8°C range. Winds will be breezy today out of the south near 30 km/h, but lighter westerlies will develop for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The city will see variable cloudiness over the next couple days. Between left-over low cloud clearing out of the region today and some cloud from an upper trough passing through, the city will likely see periods of sun, mixed, and cloudy skies. That said, we should see some sun each day, and the most organized cloud will push in through the day on Wednesday.

No snow is in the forecast over the coming days.

Long Range Outlook

The second half of the week will see slightly cooler conditions move in behind a cold front that moves through Wednesday night. This front won’t produce any notable snowfall with its passage and temperatures are forecast to slump back to seasonal values. Warmer weather will likely return Saturday, alongside cloudy conditions, as a low crosses through the region. A push of colder air will then follow to start next week.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -7°C while the seasonal overnight low is -16°C.