Saturday Snow Ushers In Bitter Cold

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Temperatures will rebound in Winnipeg on Saturday as a low brings light snow to the region. Things will take a turn for Sunday, though, as bitterly cold Arctic air plunges into the region as the low exits the area.

It will be a pleasant winter day in Winnipeg today with a bit of morning snow followed by mixed skies. Temperatures will sit near seasonal values with a high near -11 °C and light winds as a trough weakens over the region.

A compact low pressure system will head slide through northern Alberta today and across central Saskatchewan tonight. As it approaches Manitoba tonight, it will spread more cloud cover into the region and strengthen southerly winds into the 20–30 km/h range. Temperatures will dip to a low around -15 °C.

The low will cross Manitoba on Saturday, bringing a bit of snow to the region and milder temperatures. Winnipeg will see a high around -7 °C as the southerly winds ease into the 15–25 km/h midday and shift towards the northwest through the afternoon. This will also be the best chance for snow; once the warm-sector trough passes, snow is more likely as colder air starts pushing into the region. There’s a bit of disagreement amongst forecast models on how much snow will fall, but 2–4 cm is most likely with a chance of it ending up a bit outside of that range on either end depending on the exact track of the system.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 15Z Sunday January 24, 2021
Bitterly cold Arctic air will pour into the southern Prairies behind a low pressure system. This cold air will reach southern Manitoba by Sunday morning.

On Saturday evening, after this system passes, the wind will strengthen out of the northwest into the 30–40 km/h range. These northwesterly winds will tap into a rather cold Arctic air mass and begin dragging it into southern Manitoba. Temperatures will plummet to a low near -25 °C with clearing skies and gradually easing winds.

An Arctic ridge moving into the region on Sunday will keep things cold and sunny with winds easing to light. Temperatures in Winnipeg will recover only slightly to a high near -21 °C, then head awfully close to (if not below) -30 on Sunday night.

Long Range Outlook

The first half of next week will bring cloudier conditions as the coldest air gradually leaves the region. By mid-week, forecasts show temperatures returning to seasonably mild conditions that persist through next weekend. No major snowfalls are in the forecast.

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

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.