Cool Weather Continues in Winnipeg

Seasonably cool conditions will continue for a couple more days in Winnipeg as Arctic air spills southwards.

A strong northerly flow aloft will continue over the Prairies for another couple more days. Supported by a strong upper ridge over British Columbia and a stalled vortex over Hudson Bay. This will push an Arctic high southwards through the Prairies over the next 48 hours and bring well below-seasonal temperatures.

In Winnipeg, the city will see a sunny start to the day, then temperatures will climb to a high near +3 °C with northerly winds picking up to around 30 km/h. A disturbance slumping southwards will bring cloud into the region this afternoon, bringing mostly cloudy conditions and a slight chance of flurries. The cloud cover will break up tonight with temperatures heading to a low near -6 °C with light northerly winds.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Tuesday April 20, 2021
Cooler temperatures will linger over the eastern Prairies on Tuesday.

The city will see mixed skies on Tuesday as the Arctic high moves from the southern Prairies into the United States. It will be another cool day with a high near +2 °C and again there might be a few isolated flurries with the cloud cover. The northerly winds won’t be as strong as Monday as they pick up to around 20 km/h. The cloud cover will clear out overnight with a low near -5 °C with light winds.

With the Arctic well to the south for Wednesday, westerly winds will move back into the region. This will spread seasonal temperatures back into the Red River Valley with highs reaching 11 or 12 °C. Winnipeg should see plenty of sun with those westerly winds in the 20–30 km/h range. Skies will clear for Wednesday night with a low near +1 °C.

Long Range Outlook

Mild temperatures will move into the region on Thursday as an area of low pressure moves through the province. Highs will climb into the upper teens with breezy westerly winds. A cold front will sweep through the region on Thursday night, bringing cloud, a chance of showers or flurries, and below-seasonal temperatures back to the region for Friday. The sun should reappear for the weekend with temperatures gradually climbing back towards seasonal values.

Next week looks to be on the cloudier side as more unsettled conditions develop across the eastern Prairies.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 12 °C while the seasonal overnight low is 0 °C.

Cool Conditions To Bring Gradual Melt

Cooler conditions will linger in Winnipeg through the rest of the week, bringing a gradual melt to the pile of snow that fell over the last 48 hours.

The upper vortex responsible for 23 cm of snow in Winnipeg over the past 48 hours — the biggest snow event of this winter/spring season — is now trundling off towards eastern Canada. A few flurries will linger in its trail through the day. The snow cover and a cool north wind near 20 km/h bring a cool high near 0 °C. Skies will stay mostly cloudy tonight with light winds and a low near -4 °C.

On Thursday, a trough of cooler air aloft will move into southern Manitoba. It will bring a mix of sun and cloud and northerly winds up to around 20 km/h again. Any snow associated with this system will likely stay over southwestern Manitoba with light amounts. Temperatures will climb to a high around 3 °C in Winnipeg. Warmer highs are likely over the western Red River Valley where slight downsloping from the escarpment helps temperatures into the upper single digits. Mixed skies will stay for the night with temperatures dipping to a low near -5 °C.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Thursday April 15, 2021
Southern Manitoba will see cool temperatures on Thursday, save for the western Red River Valley where downslope winds near the escarpment bring near-seasonal warmth.

A broad area of high pressure will build into the region on Friday, bringing a bit more sun. Winds will pick up out of the north into the 20–30 km/h range with a high near 3 °C. Note that it could get warmer than that, highly depending on how quickly the snow pack over the region melts. Given the discrepancy in snow depth, some areas may see highs a few degrees warmer than others on Friday. Skies will clear out on Friday night with temperatures heading to a low near -7 °C.

Long Range Outlook

Temperatures will return closer to seasonal values on Saturday, then another low pressure system is forecast to move through on Sunday. This disturbance will bring more cloud and a chance for some rain or snow. Cooler and cloudier weather starts next week, followed by a gradual return to seasonal temperatures and generally sunny conditions.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 10 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -2 °C.

Mixed Bag of Weather Ahead

Winnipeg will see mild temperatures turn seasonal mid-week with variable cloudiness over the next few days.

A mild Pacific flow aloft will keep seasonably mild temperatures in Winnipeg for a couple more days. Temperatures will stay cool through the first half of the day as a high quickly slides across the province. Winds will pick up out of the southeast to 15–25 km/h later today with temperatures popping up to around 7 °C. The city will see a low near +1 °C tonight with increasing cloud.

Tuesday will bring mostly cloudy skies to the region as cloud streams northwards from a potent low crossing the northern Plains. Temperatures will climb up to a high near 10 °C with light winds. None of the organized rain from this system will reach southern Manitoba, but a few light rain showers or flurries may be possible in the evening as a cold front pushes southeastwards. That cold front will bring northwest winds up to 30 gusting 50 km/h on Tuesday night with a low down to around -6 °C.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Tuesday March 23, 2021
The Red River Valley will see mild temperatures on Tuesday, but a cold front pushing through late in the day will usher seasonal temperatures back into the region.

Wednesday will bring gradual clearing to the region as that strong low pushes off into eastern Canada. The northwest winds will persist through the day and keep temperatures cooler. Winnipeg will see a high near +1 °C with some sun showing up later in the day. The region should see a few clouds through Wednesday night as winds ease. Temperatures will head to a low near -6 °C again.

Long Range Outlook

Much of the second half of the week will see variable cloudiness with seasonably mild highs of +4–8 °C. Some precipitation may be possible Friday night into Saturday morning, with near-seasonal conditions on Sunday. A warmer push is forecast for next week, with several days of highs above 10 °C possible.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 2 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -9 °C.

Sunny and Warm Weather Ahead

Winnipeg will see plenty of sunshine over the coming days as spring warmth builds into the region.

A building upper ridge over the coming days will support seasonably mild weather in Winnipeg over the coming days. Skies will clear in Winnipeg this morning, leaving the city with sunshine as winds pick up out of the northwest to around 20 km/h. Temperatures will climb to a high near 8 °C. The wind will ease tonight with a low near -6 °C.

500mb Wind Forecast valid 18Z Thursday March 18, 2021
A broad upper ridge will extend from the western United States northwards over the Canadian Prairies through the second half of the week.

The next couple days will bring plenty of sun to the city with highs near 10 °C on Thursday and near 13 °C on Friday. Overnight lows will also climb; Winnipeg will dip to around freezing on Thursday night, and to +3 °C on Friday night. Winds will be light on Thursday, but a moderate southerly wind will develop on Friday as the warm air moves in. The wind will strengthen out of the south on Thursday night into the 20–30 km/h range, then up to 40–50 km/h on Friday. Wind will ease into the 20–30 km/h range on Friday night with partly cloudy skies.

Long Range Outlook

Winnipeg will see warm weather this weekend with highs in the 10–15 °C range and increasing cloud. Generally unsettled conditions will move through Saturday night through Monday, bringing the chance of showers to the region. Once that passes, temperatures will stay seasonably mild with variable cloudiness.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 0 °C while the seasonal overnight low is -11 °C.