Arctic Blast Brings Bitterly Cold February Temperatures

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The Polar Vortex has dropped southwards out of the High Arctic, once again bringing a surge of bitterly cold temperatures to the Canadian Prairies.

The Polar Vortex has dropped southwards out of the High Arctic, once again bringing a surge of bitterly cold temperatures to the Canadian Prairies.

Temperatures falling into the minus 30s on Wednesday night will combine with light winds to produce wind chill values of -40 or colder across many parts of the southern Prairies on Wednesday morning.

Temperatures will plummet well below seasonal values in Winnipeg this week as cold air from the Polar Vortex spills into the region. Daytime highs will sit several degrees below the seasonal overnight lows through the rest of the work week. A high near -20 °C today will fall into the mid-minus 20s on Wednesday, then gradually recover back towards -20 °C again through Thursday and Friday.

This cold air will be represented at the surface by a potent Arctic High that extends from Yukon Territory southeastwards into the Prairies before turning east through NW Ontario. This feature will also send overnight lows tanking, dipping into the -25 to -30 °C range most nights, with a chance for a couple lows below -30. 

The bitterly cold temperatures combined with light winds will likely result in extreme cold warnings at times over the coming days.

That cold will bring plenty of sunshine to the region. The one exception will be on Thursday when a passing low in the United States spreads some cloud across the region. The cold air over southern Manitoba should keep any snow south of the border, though. The sun will return on Friday.

Long Range Outlook

Fortunately, the batter cold won’t likely stick around for very long. By the weekend, a series of potent low pressure systems moving through the Atlantic will help dislodge the Polar Vortex and pull it eastwards. This will allow a more westerly flow to develop over the Prairies and bring warmer weather back to the region.

This will bring mixed skies to the region as temperatures gradually warm with near-seasonal temperatures back in the region by Sunday.

Next week will bring variable cloudiness to the city with a couple chances of some light snow and mild temperatures.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -7 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -17 °C.

Milder Weather Returns for the Weekend

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Winnipeg will see milder weather return today and near-seasonal conditions this weekend. Conditions will turn next week, though, as bitterly cold Arctic air descends into the Prairies.

RDPS Forecast 2m Temperature valid 21Z Friday February 17, 2022
Relatively mild conditions will move into the Red River Valley today with daytime highs near the freezing mark.

A low pressure system crossing the northern Prairies has brought a stiff southerly wind and warming temperatures to southern Manitoba today. With southerlies up near 40 gusting 60 km/h, temperatures rose through the night and will continue through the morning. The city should see a high near the freezing mark this afternoon as winds ease and turn westerly-northwest.

The region will see mixed skies today and there’s a slight chance of some light snow. Most of the precipitation will likely stay well north of Winnipeg, but some scattered areas of light snow might hang on along the trough as it moves through. Even if any precipitation does make it into the Red River Valley, no notable accumulation is likely.

A lingering chance of flurries will linger into the night as temperatures dip into the -10 to -15 °C range. The cloud cover should break up a bit overnight with easing winds.

On Saturday, more cloud will move back into the region as another weak low pushes into the region. There will be a slight chance of flurries through the day as temperatures rebound back to a high near -5 °C.

A band of light snow will likely work its way across the region on Saturday evening as a cold front sweeps into the region. A couple centimetres is possible as northerly winds pick up through the night. Temperatures will dip into the -10 to -15 °C range by Sunday morning.

To wrap out the weekend, northerly winds will continue as colder air pushes into the region. Some sun should reappear on Sunday with a below-seasonal high near -12 °C or so. More cloud will push into the region on Sunday night as another low approaches the region. Temperatures will be a bit cooler, though, with a low near -20 °C. Some light snow will push towards the region for Monday morning.

Long Range Outlook

Winnipeg will likely see some light snow to start off next week. The high temperature will climb back to around -10 °C, but a cold front sweeping through later in the day will usher in northerly winds that bring a substantial change to the region.

Skies will clear as the system leaves on Monday night, and much colder weather will move into the region in its wake. Lows will dip into the -25 to -30 °C on Monday night. Heading into the rest of the week, daytime highs will drop to close to -20 °C with some -30 °C lows possible much of the week. 

Temperatures will begin to moderate slightly on Friday, with a more marked push towards seasonal values beginning next weekend.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -8 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -18 °C.

More Warm Weather Ahead for Winnipeg

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Winnipeg will continue to see mild conditions with daytime highs close to the freezing mark through the weekend.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 18Z Saturday February 11, 2023
Mild temperatures will move through southern Manitoba on Saturday with highs climbing above freezing in most areas.

A westerly flow aloft will continue to spread mild Pacific air across the Prairies this weekend. This will keep daytime highs seasonably mild in the Red River Valley and keep the storm track just to the north. As a result, Winnipeg and area will see a very pleasant weekend.

Temperatures will climb to around -2 °C in Winnipeg today with a breezy southerly wind near 30 gusting 50 km/h. Although a low pressure system is moving into Manitoba, skies will stay mainly sunny in Winnipeg as most of its cloud stays north of the RRV.

The area will see clear skies tonight as temperatures continue to rise to around +1 °C. The wind will ease overnight and shift to the west by morning.

For Saturday, the day will start off with sunshine and mild weather as temperatures climb a degree or two more. Some cloud will work into the region later in the day as a cold front slumps southwards into the Interlake. No precipitation will fall in Winnipeg, but some light snow or even a rain shower is possible further north.

Temperatures will dip to a low in the -5 to -10 °C range on Saturday night with clear skies.

Sunday will bring more warm weather to the region with a high just a bit cooler than Saturday. The region may see some cloud in the afternoon as a weak push of warmer air moves through.

Skies will clear out on Sunday night with a low again dropping into the -5 to -10 °C range.

Long Range Outlook

More warm weather is on the way for Monday with a light south wind and a high near 0 °C. Cloud will move in on Monday night as the next disturbance to affect southern Manitoba moves into the area.

Tuesday will continue to bring mild temperatures, but some flurries are likely later in the day as a cold front sweeps through the region. Some light snow will continue to be possible on Tuesday night as north winds pick up and usher in a much cooler air mass.

The flurries will taper off mid-week with highs dropping back towards seasonal values. Temperatures will likely stay near seasonal values into the weekend.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -9 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -19 °C.

Fantastic February Weather Ahead

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Winnipeg will see great weather this week with mild temperatures and a mix of sun and cloud.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Tuesday February 7, 2023
Mild temperatures continue to stream across the Canadian Prairies today.

With the Polar Vortex now displaced well away from our region, milder Pacific air continues to wash across the Prairies. This has brought daytime highs up to around the freezing mark where they’ll stay for much of this week!

Daytime highs in Winnipeg will hover around the freezing mark for a couple more days. The region will see some sun today and cloudier skies tomorrow. Overnight lows will also be mild for this time of year and dip down only into the mid-minus single digits.

On Wednesday night, a passing low pressure system will bring som light snow to southern Manitoba as it drags a cold front through the region. Moderate northerly winds with some light snow will move through overnight and taper off early Thursday morning. In the wake of this system it will be a bit cooler with temperatures dropping through Thursday morning close to -10 °C.

With clear skies, it will be a seasonably chilly night on Thursday night with a low near -20 °C.

Long Range Outlook

The cool-down will be short-lived, though! Friday will bring seasonable conditions to the region with a high near -10 °C under mixed skies. An increasing southerly wind will usher in warmer weather again on Friday night with temperatures climbing through the night. Winnipeg will likely warm up to around -5 °C by Saturday morning then climb to a high around freezing in the afternoon. Some cloud will move into the region on Sunday, bringing a chance of some light snow to the region with highs again near freezing.

The warmer weather looks to stick around into the middle of nexts week. After that, a passing low pressure system may bring some accumulating snow to the region and a return to more seasonal conditions.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is -10 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -20 °C.