Tag: Windy

Week’s Rainy Start Leads to Much Cooler Weather

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More rain will move through the region today, followed by northwest winds and much cooler conditions.

Rain will move through the region today as a Colorado Low moves into NW Ontario. The rain will spread from southwest to northeast across the Red River Valley and have a sharp edge on the northwestern side. This will result in rainfall accumulations dropping from around 5 mm to nothing over a short distance. Winnipeg should see around 5 mm of rain, although the city could see a bit more if the band ends up shifting a bit west or east.

Generally speaking, the eastern Red River Valley into the southeast corner of the province will see 5 to 10 mm of rain. Narrow convective banding could result in localized accumulations of 10 to 20 mm. The western Red River Valley will see amounts generally around 5 to 10 mm in the southwest diminishing to nothing near Portage la Prairie.

While the NAM rainfall accumulations in the Red River Valley for today might end up a tad on the high side, the areas that will see rain look well-represented.
While the NAM rainfall accumulations in the Red River Valley for today might end up a tad on the high side, the areas that will see rain look well-represented.

Aside from the rain, highs today will be a seasonably cool 7°C in Winnipeg. A brisk northwest wind will develop through the day, picking up to 30 gusting 50 km/h this afternoon. The wind will then increase to 40 gusting 60 km/h this evening. While the rain will taper off later today, the chance for showers (or eventually flurries) will persist overnight. Temperatures will dip to a low near +2°C.

Cloudy skies will continue in Winnipeg on Tuesday with a continued chance for some scattered showers or flurries. The moderate northwest winds will continue and temperatures will cool with a high of only 5°C. Skies will stay cloudy on Tuesday night with winds beginning to ease as temperatures head to a low near 0°C.

The sun might be able to poke out on Wednesday, but Winnipeg will likely continue to see mainly cloudy skies. The cold air will continue to push into the region, keeping highs cool at just +3°C. Winds, while lighter than Tuesday, should still persist out of the northwest at 20 to 30 km/h. The cloud cover will begin to break up a bit on Wednesday night as the winds finally ease. Winnipeg will see a low near -3°C on Wednesday night.

Long Range Outlook

The rest of the week should bring mixed skies to the city and dry conditions. The cool weather will persist on Thursday, but seasonal temperatures may return (alongside some cloud) for the end of the work week into the weekend.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 8°C while the seasonal overnight low is -2°C.

Seasonal Temperatures Return to Winnipeg

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After one more cool day, breezy southerly winds develop and usher seasonal temperatures back into the region.

A ridge of high pressure moving through southern Manitoba today will keep winds light and temperatures cool. In Winnipeg, the high will sit near 5°C. With so much moisture stuck in the region, skies should remain mostly cloudy through the day. A light southeasterly wind will develop tonight with temperatures dipping to a low near 0°C.

A warm front will move across Manitoba on Thursday, bringing breezy southerly winds. Warm air will push eastwards into the region as the wind increases into the 30 to 40 km/h range. Temperatures will climb to a high near 11°C in Winnipeg, continuing to rapidly melt the remaining snowpack. Winnipeg will see a bit of sun through the day as the clouds giving way to mixed skies. On Thursday night, the cloud cover will thicken back up with breezy winds continuing. This combination of cloud and wind will keep temperatures warmer with a low near 6°C in Winnipeg.

Breezy southerly winds will develop over the Red River Valley on Thursday.

On Friday, a broad trough of low pressure will move across the region. With cloudy skies, temperatures will continue at near seasonal values. Winnipeg should see a high near 11°C again with the southerly winds gradually easing. No significant precipitation is expected, but some scattered light rain is possible. Skies will become mixed again on Saturday night as a westerly wind builds into the region behind a weak cold front. Temperatures will dip down to a low near 5°C.

Long Range Outlook

Seasonal conditions will continue into the weekend with highs in the low teens and overnight lows in the low to mid-single digits. The region should see some sun return for Saturday, but another disturbance moving into the region on Sunday will bring more cloud with a chance of light rain, particularly overnight into Monday.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 10°C while the seasonal overnight low is 0°C.

Major Winter Storm Hammers Southern Manitoba

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A Colorado Low is bringing a major early-season winter storm to southern Manitoba that ranges from rain to a crippling blizzard.

Because the storm is ongoing and long-lasting, we are not issuing a standard forecast today. This is a complex and dynamic system that requires constant monitoring as the snow/rain line wiggles around the region. We strongly encourage you check your local weather forecast from ECCC and the weather warnings in your area.

As a general overview, a Colorado Low will gradually move into southeastern Manitoba today. Waves of rain will spread westwards, transitioning into moderate to heavy snow over the Red River Valley and areas west. Storm total snowfall will range from a trace all the way up to in excess of 50 cm. The most snow will fall in upslope areas of the Turtle Mountains, Riding Mountains, and the western escarpment of the Red River Valley. The snow that is falling will be wet, heavy snow, resulting in significant snow loading on trees and infrastructure.

Complicating matters will be strong north-northwest winds with widespread gusts in the 70 to 90 km/h range. These strong winds, combined with the heavy snow, will produce poor visibilities and an elevated risk of damage to trees an infrastructure. Over 23,000 people were without power on Thursday evening and the widespread power outages will likely continue today as well.

Heavy snow will continue over southern Manitoba today with the hardest hit areas extending from the western Red River Valley region southwards into eastern North Dakota.

The storm will gradually ease across the region on Saturday, leaving just a few flurries or showers for Sunday.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 12°C while the seasonal overnight low is +1°C.

Mild Start to Week Turns Unpleasant

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Winnipeg will enjoy two mild days before what may be a significant winter storm moves into the province.

Winnipeg will enjoy seasonable warmth over the next couple days. An upper level ridge moving across the region will usher in southerly winds and warmer weather. Both today and tomorrow will see highs climb towards 20°C with southerly winds of 20 to 30 km/h. The city should see plenty of sunshine both days and seasonably mild overnight lows.

Seasonably mild temperatures will be in place over southern Manitoba on Tuesday while a sharp cold front pushes towards the region.
Seasonably mild temperatures will be in place over southern Manitoba on Tuesday while a sharp cold front pushes towards the region.

Unfortunately, a significant change in the weather is on the way for Wednesday. A potent low pressure system tracking through the Northwest Territories will combine with a deepening long-wave trough to send a cold front surging southeastwards across the Prairies. It will push into southern Manitoba on Wednesday, bringing much cooler temperatures and cloudy skies. Winds will strengthen to 30 gusting 50 km/h out of the north and the entire region will see a chance of showers.

While the Red River Valley may see rain showers on Wednesday, snow will likely push into southwestern Manitoba and the Interlake region.
While the Red River Valley may see rain showers on Wednesday, snow will likely push into southwestern Manitoba and the Interlake region.

The precipitation will organize on Wednesday night with heavier bands lifting northeastwards out of the Dakotas. There’s some uncertainty right now, but it’s possible that the rain mixes or changes over to snow sometime Wednesday night.

Long Range Outlook

Before anything else: there is still significant uncertainty with how the weather will develop later this week. With that said, southern Manitoba may see a multi-day winter storm on Thursday through Saturday. A potent Colorado Low will begin lifting northeastwards on Thursday, spreading moderate to heavy precipitation into the region. While this happens, northerly winds will strengthen and sustain a feed of cold Arctic air into the region. As the low reaches Lake of the Woods on Friday, it is forecast to stall out for 24 to 48 hours. This will result in bands of precipitation back into southern Manitoba, gradually changing to snow.

Exactly how much precipitation the region sees and what it falls at is uncertain; there’s a lot of ways this forecast can change between now and then. If this ends up on the snowier side, it could end up being a fairly major snowfall with at least 20 to 30 cm of the white stuff. Persistent rainfall may reduce snowfall amounts in some areas. But more rain isn’t exactly a desirable thing for a region whose rivers are already swollen with excess rainfall over the past month. This system could easily produce another 25 to 50 mm over the region which, if falling as rain, would quickly find its way into the river and aggravate overland flooding issues that exist in areas of the province.

We’ll be keeping an eye on this system as it develops and have more details in our Wednesday morning forecast.

Today’s seasonal daytime high in Winnipeg is 13°C while the seasonal overnight low is +2°C.