After A Mostly Dry Week, An Unsettled Pattern Returns

Conditions will turn unsettled over southern Manitoba as a deep upper trough develops over western North America this weekend.

RDPS 500 mb Wind & Height Forecast valid 00Z Monday May 30, 2022
A deep upper trough will develop over western North America in the coming days, sending Manitoba into a wet and unsettled stretch of weather.

The weather will change over the next few days as an upper low off the west coast moves onshore. As it moves into British Columbia, an upper trough will dig southwards over the Rockies. As it does, it will turn a relatively benign pattern over the Prairies into something much more unsettled.

After a beautiful Friday with temperatures climbing into the mid-20s, cloud will push into the Red River Valley this evening. A shortwave tracking eastwards along the U.S. border will support area of showers or thunderstorms through the night. They will develop this afternoon in southern Saskatchewan and drift into southwest Manitoba tonight. The showers will reach Winnipeg through the second half of the night, but also be weakening as they approach. It’s unlikely that there’s enough “oomph” left by morning for there to be any thunderstorms; the Winnipeg area will see a few showers taper off early Saturday.

Skies will stay cloudy most of Saturday with a few sunny breaks possible in the afternoon. Temperatures will climb to around 20 °C, perhaps warmer if a bit more sun is able to peek out. More cloud will push in on Saturday evening as temperatures dip into the low teens.

The next disturbance will begin lifting northwards through the Dakotas on Saturday night. A broad area of showers and/or thunderstorms will develop across North Dakota on Saturday night and lift northwards. They’ll move into Manitoba early Sunday, and continue northwards through the day. Much of southern Manitoba will see showery conditions through Sunday with increasing humidity as the day progresses. While rainfall will be highly variable, it’s likely that much of the southern Manitoba will see 10–25 mm of rain through Sunday. Locally, depending on the strength of the convection, rainfall totals could reach 25–50 mm.

Temperatures will stay mild, though, with highs near 20 °C and a low on Sunday night in the mid-teens. Cloudy weather will continue on Monday with a chance for a few showers. Another disturbance is forecast to move through on Monday night which may bring more showers and thunderstorms to the region. With humid air in place, rainfall could be quite heavy. This will be a concern given the flood concerns that continue in parts of the province.

Long Range Outlook

Some more showers are possible Tuesday into Wednesday as yet another disturbance moves through the region. Cooler weather with with isolated to scattered showers will move in mid-week. The weather will finally stabilize for the end of the work week.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 22 °C while the seasonal overnight low is 8 °C.

More Unsettled Weather Ahead For Winnipeg

Southern Manitoba will see a mix of weather this week with more rain on Thursday.

NAM 24hr. Accumulated Precipitation Forecast valid 12Z Friday May 13, 2022
Southern Manitoba will see another soaking on Thursday with a widespread 15–30 mm of rain across many areas and some locally higher accumulations.

The region will get a bit of a chance to dry out today, a welcome change after the 15–25 mm of rain seen across most of the region yesterday. Sunnier skies will send highs near 20 °C, but it will be windy this afternoon. Southwest winds will pick up into the 40–50 km/h range this afternoon.

The winds will taper off this evening as a ridge moves across the region. Lows will dip into the upper single digits. More cloud will push into the region early Wednesday morning as a push of warmer air begins moving in aloft from the Dakotas.

Wednesday will bring cloudy skies to the region with a chance of showers a warm front slowly continues northwards towards southern Manitoba. Temperatures should climb into the upper teens with northeast winds picking up to 20–30 km/h through the afternoon. A few sunny breaks might materialize later in the day, but skies will cloud back over in the evening.

The next storm system to impact the region will begin its approach on Thursday night. It will spread showers and thunderstorms into the Dakotas as it moves northwards, reaching the Manitoba border by Thursday morning. A broad area of rain will move through the region on Thursday, bringing another 15–30 mm of rain to the Red River Valley. A few embedded thunderstorms will be possible and could result in locally higher rainfall accumulations. A more organized thunderstorm threat will develop late in the day, but will highly likely be for southeastern Manitoba into MN/ND. The rain will taper off by Thursday evening with just a few lingering showers hanging around until Friday morning. Temperatures will sit in the mid-teens on Thursday with breezy northeast winds.

Some sunshine will poke through later on Friday with temperatures climbing back towards the 20 °C mark. Moderate southwesterlies will develop through the day, climbing into the 40–50 km/h range.

Long Range Outlook

Cooler temperatures will build into the region for the weekend in the wake of this next storm system. Highs will fall into the 10–15 °C range with mixed skies over the weekend. Warmer weather will begin building back into the region near the middle of next week. Fortunately, it doesn’t look like any frost is in the forecast; overnight lows should drop only to the mid-single digits.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 18 °C while the seasonal overnight low is 4 °C.

Mild Spring Conditions Continue; Windy with Showers Possible This Weekend

Temperatures will stay mild in Winnipeg through the weekend, but sunshine will give way to more chances for showers.

RDPS 2m Temperature Forecast valid 21Z Saturday May 7, 2022
Summer-like warmth will spread through southern Manitoba on Saturday.

Warmer weather will continue to push into the Red River Valley over the coming days. Daytime highs will stay in teh 20s, reaching close to the mid-20s on Saturday. This push of warmer weather is thanks to a stubborn low pressure system over the northern Prairies. It will support a southerly flow over the southeastern Prairies, drawing a consistent stream of milder air northwards. With that, though, will also come several disturbances that will also move north in the flow.

After a plenty of sunshine day today, a broken line of showers will push across the Red River Valley. Supported only by a weakening trowal, the showers won’t likely amount to much. Skies will clear out overnight as temperatures dip into the low teens.

Saturday will be a slightly more interesting weather day across the region. Off to a sunny start, the day will warm up quickly. Winnipeg should reach 20 °C by noon, and climb close to 25 °C in the afternoon. Of note will be that it will become quite windy in the afternoon with strong southerly winds of 50–60 km/h. This will be particularly concerning as the winds will generate significant wave action on the flood waters through the valley. This will produce stress on flooded roads and flood barriers in place; consult local EMOs on whether you might need to take any additional action to reinforce any personal flood protection structures.

Later in the day, cloud will push into the region as a low pressure system lifts from eastern Montana into western Manitoba. This low will support an area of rain that moves through southeast Saskatchewan into western Manitoba through the day.

For our region, showers will likely develop late in the day as a cold front starts pushing eastwards towards the Red River Valley. By evening, the forcing of the cold front will combine with a strengthening low-level jet, triggering a line of showers and thunderstorms. The storm environment is even relatively supportive for this time of year. As long as the forecasted moisture advection from the American Plains is able to materialize, the storms will have a moderate amount of energy to work with and ample wind shear to organize it.

The storms will likely trigger close to the Saskatchewan border, then move east-southeast. Some of these storms may be severe with the potential for damaging hail and strong wind gusts. As the line approaches the Red River Valley, it will dig into the low-level jet, developing southwards. As a result, the storms in Manitoba will weaken as they head into the Red River Valley, making it more likely that our area sees some collapsing showers or weak thundershowers, although stronger storms could linger closer to the U.S. border.

3km NAM Simulated RADAR Reflectivity Forecast valid 01Z Sunday May 8, 2022
Thunderstorms are likely over southwestern Manitoba on Saturday afternoon, pushing towards the Red River Vally into the evening hours.

Temperatures will drop down to around 10 °C on Saturday night. Showers will be possible through the night.

On Sunday, the region could see some morning showers but its highly dependent on the evolution of this system. The rest of the day will bring mixed skies to the region as we sit on the edge of a system passing to the east. Temperatures will still be mild with highs in the upper teens.

Long Range Outlook

On Monday, another disturbance will move into the province bringing more showers and a risk of thunderstorms to the region. After that, a couple nice days are in store, then another chance of showers or thunderstorms will develop later in the week.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 17 °C while the seasonal overnight low is 3 °C.

Another Hot Day; Seasonably Warm Temperatures Continue

Summer-like weather will persist through the end of the week, sending September 2021 off with beautiful conditions.

A potent upper-level ridge will bring another hot day to southern Manitoba today. Temperatures will climb up to the 30 °C mark again today with breezy southerly winds near 30 gusting 50 km/h. The region will see plenty of sunshine today despite a bit of cloud building in through the day.

It will be a mild night with a low near 15 °C as the winds ease. A cold front will gradually slide across the Red River Valley overnight, bringing a chance of showers or thunderstorms to the region with it. Most of the activity will likely stay over the western portion of the valley, but a few showers may push eastwards early Thursday. By Thursday morning, Winnipeg will see mostly cloudy skies with a light northwest wind.

HRRR Simulated Reflectivity valid 04Z Thursday September 30, 2021
Scattered showers and/or thunderstorms will lift northwards through the western Red River Valley along an advancing cold front on Wednesday evening.

The system bringing the unsettled conditions will be tracking eastwards slowly on Thursday, bringing mainly cloudy skies to the region. There will be just a slight chance of an isolated shower or two through the day. Temperatures will be cooler but still well above seasonal averages with a high near 20 °C. The cloud cover should break up on Thursday night as temperatures head to a low near 8 °C.

A ridge of high pressure will bring sun back to the region on Friday. Winnipeg will see light northerly winds and a high near 22 °C. Temperatures will dip to a low near 6 °C on Friday night under mainly clear skies.

Long Range Outlook

The region will see beautiful weather this weekend with highs in the low 20s, partly cloudy skies, and light winds. Lows will sit in the upper single digits. The mild weather will continue into next week.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 15 °C while the seasonal overnight low is 4 °C.