Much Needed Rainfall is Finally on its Way for Most of Saskatchewan This Weekend

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Model image showing total rain from friday morning until monday morning, courtesy of weatherbell

Good news Saskatchewan: there's finally rain in the forecast! The bad news is that not everyone will see the rain and strong winds could still be an issue.

To start, we've already seen some scattered showers across Northern Saskatchewan this morning. The rain is expected to continue through the day and into tomorrow, with some pushing into Central Saskatchewan this evening.

This precipitation will be associated with non-severe thunderstorms, like we've seen for most of the week, which could bring strong wind gusts up to 70km/h and possibly small hail. Luckily though, these storms will finally bring a decent amount of precipitation.

Environment Canada forecast for friday afternoon

Early tomorrow morning, light rain will cross through Southern Saskatchewan. Then, in the afternoon, the rain from the north will push southeastward as it wraps around a low pressure system moving south from the Territories.

The rain is expected to fall in in Eastern Saskatchewan through Sunday morning and afternoon, dissipating in the evening and leading to much less rainfall in the Southwest than in the rest of the province. Aside from this region, widespread 10-50mm is expected by the end of Sunday. Luckily, the areas with the worst fires can expect a decent amount of rain this weekend.

Unfortunately, strong wind gusts up to 70km/h are expected to persist through the weekend and this could still pose a challenge for firefighting efforts despite the precipitation and cooler temperatures.

Up to 75mm of Rain for Parts of Southern Saskatchewan & Manitoba, Along with Worsening Air Quality, Expected to End the Work Week

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It is certainly shaping up to be a roller coaster of a week, weather-wise, across Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The week began with record-breaking heat and relentless winds, which made things feel exceptionally dry and were the catalyst for the spread of multiple wildfires across both provinces. Now, cool Arctic air has flooded south and a low pressure system is pushing its way northward from the Dakotas, which will bring significant rain to parts of Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba on Thursday and Friday.

Pockets of rain on the leading edge of this system have been pushing northward into Southeast Saskatchewan and Westman already Wednesday evening. This will be followed by a large area of steady, heavier rain moving into this region shortly after midnight and continuing through most of the day Thursday.

The rain will gradually spread further northward Thursday morning and by the afternoon, it should also start to cross the border into the rest of Southern Manitoba. This delay in the start of the precipitation will lead to slightly less rain falling overall, but it’ll be fairly steady for the remainder of the event so a widespread 25-50mm can be expected.

In Southeast Saskatchewan and Westman, the earlier start to the precipitation will lead to this area receiving upwards of 75mm of rain. Considering this region already received a fair bit of rain Wednesday morning, this much additional rainfall could very easily lead to some localized flooding.

The center of this system will stay south of the border and will start making its way eastward early Friday morning. The rain will start to taper off, from west to east, beginning Friday morning, before it completely exits the region Saturday morning.

As far as the wildfire situation is concerned, this rain will definitely help containment and suppression efforts in some areas, but it likely won’t be enough to completely douse the flames. In Southeast Manitoba, where several out-of-control fires are burning as of Wednesday evening, 10-25mm is expected to fall with this system, which will be welcomed support.

In Saskatchewan though, the rain will unfortunately not push deep enough into the province to impact the fires that have been burning near Narrow Hills Provincial Park, to the north of Nipawin, so hopefully the cooler temperatures will be enough to help crews in this area.

The arrival of this low pressure system will also have a negative impact, mostly in Southern Manitoba, but also in Western Saskatchewan. As the low approaches, the wind direction will shift, causing wildfire smoke to start moving westward in Manitoba and southward through Saskatchewan.

But why does this happen? To explain, we need to dig a bit deeper into the science of meteorology.

Modelled low-level Wildfire Smoke Concentration at 12pm CT on Thursday, May 15th. Note: this particular model only extends so far into Canada, but it shows the movement of smoke in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

One of the fundamental rules in meteorology is that air will always want to flow from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. This is actually the main driver behind wind.

Air doesn’t take a straight path from high pressure to low pressure, though. Thanks to the Coriolis Effect, caused by the spinning of the planet, air travels towards a low pressure center in a more counter-clockwise fashion, as shown below.

diagram showing how air moves around both high pressure and low pressure centers, courtesy of NOAA.

Putting this all together, as the low pressure center gets closer to us, air will naturally travel towards it and this will pull the wildfire smoke along with it. With where the low will be positioned over North Dakota, this means that smoke will travel westward from the fires burning in Southeast Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario and southward from the fires in Northern Saskatchewan.

This is expected to begin early Thursday morning in Manitoba and after sunrise in Saskatchewan, continuing through the day. On Friday morning, as the low pressure center begins its trek eastward, the wind will start to shift direction. This will be much more noticeable in Manitoba, being closer to the low, with the smoke travelling southwestard during Friday morning and then southward by the afternoon.

Given the number of nearby active fires and their sizes, especially the Nopiming Fire, there is already more smoke in the air in Southern Manitoba than in Northern Saskatchewan. This means that greater concentrations of smoke will move into Winnipeg and the Interlake Region on Thursday and it will diffuse along its path southwestward as it curves towards the low. Then, as the winds shift direction, the thickest smoke will still be found closest to the fires and becoming more diffuse the further away.

In Saskatchewan, the smoke from the two fires near Narrow Hills Provincial Park will travel south-southwestward, into Prince Albert and Saskatoon. Given the distance from the low pressure center, the wind shift is expected to be minimal on Friday.

If the wildfire smoke moves into your area, especially at higher concentrations, try to limit your time spent outside, if possible. We certainly hope that with the arrival of the cooler air and the rain in some areas, that firefighter crews will be able to make considerable progress battling these fires and we will soon have some reprieve from the smoke.

First Slight Severe Thunderstorm Risk of the Year for the Prairies Monday Afternoon Through Tuesday Morning

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While we saw some severe storms eventually develop in Southeast Saskatchewan and Southwest Manitoba yesterday, the severe threat for today and into the overnight hours is heightened, resulting in our first Slight Risk of the season.

We’ve already seen heavy rain falling in parts of Central and Southern Alberta today, but thunderstorms have begun to develop and will continue as we progress later through the afternoon and into the evening At this point, it’s possible that these storms may become severe, with the main threat being strong wind gusts and heavy rain. The environment today is also conducive for the development of landspout (non-supercell) tornadoes around Calgary and to the east of the city so we will be watching this situation closely.

It’s further east, in Southern and Central Saskatchewan and Manitoba, that we’re seeing the greatest severe thunderstorm threat. Isolated storms are expected to start developing in the early evening, around 5-6pm and possibly a bit sooner in the afternoon, and models are once again suggesting that the environment could be favourable for the development of supercells.

A bit later in the evening, closer to 7-8pm, we could see some additional storm development in Southwest Saskatchewan as a multicellular line. This complex of storms would travel northeastward across the province and move into Central Manitoba in the early morning hours of Tuesday. It’s during these early morning hours that we could also see more isolated storms develop in Southwest Manitoba.

Large hail, damaging winds, and torrential downpours are all concerns with today’s storms. The possibility of tornadoes is low, but the development of one or two can not be completely ruled out.

Second Day of Temperatures Above 30°C Will Continue to Bake Southern Saskatchewan & Manitoba

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Monday will mark the second day of our heatwave in Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. We will once again have a large area expecting temperatures above 30°C, and above 35°C temperatures are possible in a small pocket of Southern Manitoba that includes Winnipeg. Extreme Heat Warnings remain in place from Environment Canada for parts of Southern Manitoba for daytime highs up to the mid 30s and overnight lows only dropping down to the mid teens.

With extreme heat, it’s important to limit strenuous outdoor activities, if possible, or take multiple breaks and drink water often to protect yourself from heat exhaustion and stroke. Early signs of heat exhaustion include: headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine and intense fatigue. In the presence of these symptoms, stop all activities and hydrate. Heat stroke, on the other hand, is much more serious. Heat stroke is most identified by confusion and loss of consciousness so make sure to seek immediate medical condition if someone is showing these symptoms.

Marginal Risk for Thunderstorms in Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba Beginning Sunday Evening

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With the arrival of the first heat wave of the year to Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba this weekend, we’re also looking at our first real threat of severe thunderstorms for the season.

Isolated storms are expected to develop along the American border in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba this evening, starting around 5-7pm. The storms will travel northeastward into both provinces throughout the evening and into the overnight hours.

Models are suggesting that the environment could be favourable for the development of supercells, but further analysis puts the development of severe storms in question and storms could remain sub-severe. One particular area of interest for possible severe storm development will be in Southeastern Saskatchewan and through the Westman and Interlake Regions.

If severe storms end up developing this evening, the overall threats are expected to be limited. These storms could produce small hail and strong wind gusts, while the possibility of a tornado is unlikely.

Post-Easter Storm Could Bring Up to 20cm of Snow to Parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba

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As we get later into the month of April, there have already been tastes of warm weather across the Prairies, with temperatures climbing into the upper teens and low 20s across parts of all three provinces. Don’t let that fool you because it is still spring in the region and that means the continued possibility of heavy snowfall events. This will be the case beginning Tuesday morning and continuing into Wednesday for parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Model Image showing the location and intensity of snow (Blue) and Rain (Green) at 5AM cT Tuesday

Steady light snow is expected to continue in West Central Saskatchewan overnight Monday and into Tuesday morning. Early Tuesday morning, a low pressure system will push northward from North Dakota, bringing precipitation to Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southern Manitoba. The two areas of snow will merge before sunrise, creating a wide band of continuous snowfall.

As the morning progresses, the system will stall and the light snow in Western Saskatchewan will taper off. On the other hand, the snowfall will intensify along the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border. Further eastward, into the Central Plains and across to the Ontario border, above-freezing temperatures will result in the precipitation from this system falling as rain.

Model Image showing the location and intensity of snow (Blue) and Rain (Green) at 7pM cT Tuesday

Most of the snow will clear in Saskatchewan through Tuesday afternoon, leaving only the area of heavier snow on both sides of the Manitoba border by the evening. The snowfall will persist over this area overnight and it will gradually dissipate throughout the early morning hours.

In this area of constant snowfall, which includes Melville, Moosomin, and Yorkton in Saskatchewan, as well as Dauphin, Roblin, and Russell in Manitoba, residents can expect up to 20cm of snow accumulation by mid Wednesday morning. Depending on how much intensification we see Tuesday morning, it’s possible that up to 25cm could fall locally.

This much snow over a brief period will definitely make travel tricky throughout the day Tuesday so make sure to take extra caution when out on the roads.

Significant Spring Storm Expected to Dump up to 20cm and Possibly Locally Higher Amounts Across the Prairies

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It’s simply not spring in the Prairies without at least one major snowstorm and this year will be no different! A low pressure system will track across the region over the next couple of days, bringing widespread 10-20cm to all three Prairie provinces by the end of the work week. What makes this storm more interesting is that while some areas could see up to 20cm of snow, others could see temperatures approaching 20°C, particularly in Southern Alberta and Southwest Saskatchewan!

The precipitation will begin Wednesday evening as rain across parts of Central Alberta. As the temperatures fall later in the evening, the rain will transition to snow, which will then spread both southward and eastward overnight and into early Thursday morning. A bit of rain will persist along the southern edge of precipitation into the morning, but it will eventually also transition over to snow, with a chance for some brief freezing rain in between.

Model Image showing the location and intensity of snow (Blue), Rain (Green), and Freezing rain (Pink) at 4AM MT Thursday

It’s during the early morning hours of Thursday that the snow will push into Saskatchewan while also starting to intensify across Central Alberta. As the morning continues, the heavy snow will cross into Saskatchewan, spreading southeastward across the province throughout the remainder of the morning and into the early afternoon. The snow will then spread into Southern Manitoba Thursday afternoon with the heavier snow beginning in the evening.

The heavy snow will fall for several hours, leading to rapid accumulation of up to 20cm across the region, with the possibility of pockets where up to 25cm could fall. The band of heavy snow will start to taper off early Friday morning, but light snow is expected to continue throughout the day, with the possibility of periods of heavier snow in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Model Image showing the location and intensity of snow (Blue), Rain (Green), and Freezing rain (Pink) at 6PM CT Thursday

Wind gusts are expected to be up to 60km/h throughout the event and along with the heavy snow, travel may be difficult at times due to blowing snow. This could result in some isolated road closures in the hardest hit areas so make sure to check your local road conditions before going out over the next few days.

Mid-March Snowfall Will Help Build Back Some Snowpack With 10-20cm Expected Across a Wide Stretch of Alberta & Saskatchewan

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While we’re a little over a week away from the official start of spring, a majority of the snowpack is already gone across parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. However, winter is still hanging on with more snow incoming over the next couple of days.

This will help to add some much-needed moisture to part of the region, especially since we have seen well below average snowfall since November. Unfortunately for Southern Alberta, the driest part of the Prairies, can expect little to none of this incoming moisture.

The snow will cross through the Rockies and into Alberta at around sunrise on Thursday and spread northeastward deeper into the province throughout the morning and into the afternoon. The snow will intensify starting in the early afternoon and this heavier snowfall will continue straight through overnight. This will lead to a large stretch of Central and Northern Alberta receiving 10-20cm of snow and up to 25cm possible to the north of Lake La Biche and Cold Lake through Friday morning.

Model Image showing the location and intensity of snow (Blue) and Rain (Green) at 4PM MT on Thursday

Light snow will make its way into Northern Saskatchewan early Thursday afternoon, followed by the more intense snowfall beginning in the early evening. This area of heavier snow will cross through Saskatchewan in an almost due easterly path and similar to in Alberta, it will dump 10-20cm across a large stretch of the province and up to 30cm from the Alberta border to almost La Ronge by Friday afternoon.

The arrival of additional moisture from a separate low-pressure system in the US on Friday morning makes the forecast in Central and Southern Saskatchewan a bit more complicated. This appears to be bringing a combination of rain, freezing rain, ice pellets, and snow to most of the southern half of the province throughout the morning as it merges with the system from the west.

There is still some uncertainty regarding the precipitation type and the area that could be impacted by the arrival of the secondary system. Therefore, for this forecast, we are only focusing on the snow coming from Alberta and we will cover this additional precipitation in a separate forecast that will be issued later in the day on Thursday

Model Image showing the location and intensity of snow (Blue), Rain (Green), Freezing rain (pink), and ice pellets (orange) at 2aM MT on Friday

Quick Blast of Intense Snowfall Could Bring Over 20cm to Parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba

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February has been a quiet month across the Prairies, as far as active weather is concerned. That has changed though, with the arrival of warmer air in the past few days, which has also brought heavier snowfall back to the region. Now, we are looking at that heavy snow across Saskatchewan and Manitoba for Thursday and Friday.

The snow will begin early Thursday in Northern Saskatchewan and surge southeastward throughout most of the morning, crossing into Manitoba at around 8-9am. The snow will be steady and fairly light for most of the day, falling at up to 2cm/hr, leading to a large swath of over 10cm across both provinces.

In the late afternoon and early evening, the snow will begin to taper off in Saskatchewan while at the same time, intensifying in Central Manitoba. The heavier snow is expected to cross the province throughout the evening and will bring snowfall totals to the higher end of the 10-20cm range, with a strong likelihood of localized pockets of over 20cm, particularly around Flin Flon, The Pas and Norway House. The intensified snowfall will also be associated with some stronger wind gusts of up to 70km/h, which could result in isolated whiteouts due to blowing snow.

As the short-lived system exits the region, the snow will finally taper off in Saskatchewan shortly after midnight on Friday and in Manitoba just before sunrise. The winds are also expected to weaken Friday morning, therefore reducing the blowing snow risk.

Last Year Was a Record-Breaking Tornado Season in Canada, According to Northern Tornadoes Project

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The Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP), based out of Western University in London, Ontario, has just released their annual report on the 2024 tornado season. In it, the organization highlights that last year was a record-breaking year in terms of the length of the season.

Canada’s first tornado of the year was recorded in Malden Centre, Ontario on March 16th, coincidentally tying a tornado that hit Clifford, Ontario on March 16th, 2016 as the earliest recorded Ontario tornado. There were then a series of several late-season tornadoes that the NTP recorded: three individual twisters in New Brunswick on November 1st and the final tornado of the year near Fergus, Ontario on November 10th.

All told, this makes the 2024 tornado season 240 days long, over a span of nine different months. This is considerably longer than the typical season, which usually only has tornadoes in six separate months, from April to September. At this length, 2024 was the longest tornado season since at least 1980.

Another substantial finding in the report is that the 2024 tornado season was marked by the second-most tornadoes verified by the organization in a single season since their inception in 2017, with 129 tornadoes confirmed nationwide. A large spike in the total number came after the completion of the season, when the team could conduct further investigation and satellite review, which subsequently included an additional 16 tornadoes to the tally!

Most of the year’s tornadoes were rated as weak EF0s and EF1s, but the NTP did record 12 EF2 tornadoes. While this is double the amount from 2023, it is well below the 30+ recorded in both 2021 and 2022, both very active tornado seasons. Of these EF2 tornadoes, all but one (the Wolverton-Ayr tornado in Southern Ontario) occurred in forested areas of Northern Ontario and Quebec.

The Locations of all Tornadoes from 2024 and their corresponding EF-Scale Ratings, Courtesy of the Northern Tornadoes Project.

Geographically, Ontario was the province which was home to the most tornadoes this past season, with 50 tornadoes on land and 10 over water, which makes up almost half of all recorded tornadoes for the year. Out of the 50 tornadoes on land, 14 of them spawned during outbreaks on two individual days: June 29th had six and July 28th had eight. Quebec was the second-most active province, with 21 total tornadoes (four of which occurred over water), followed by Saskatchewan with 19.

At Instant Weather, we are a proud partner of the Northern Tornadoes Project. We developed our custom radar suite, Instant Weather Pro, in conjunction with the organization and the many weather reports from you, our community, help them in their mission.

For the upcoming 2025 season, the Northern Tornadoes Project team sounds excited to continue their work alongside the Northern Hail Project and the newly-founded Northern Mesonet Project. You can learn more about them at the Northern Tornadoes Project homepage and for more information regarding the report, you can find it here.

Bitter Arctic Air and Southern Moisture Will Bring up to 30cm of Snow to the Southern Prairies This Week

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The pattern of active weather across the Prairies will continue throughout the week with a new system moving in from the United States starting late Monday and continuing until Thursday afternoon.

Arctic air flooded southward following the passage of the storm this past weekend and it will have a significant impact on our incoming system. Very cold temperatures result in much higher snow ratios so what may look like a small amount of moisture actually leads to much greater accumulations of dry snow.

This is the situation we will find ourselves in this week. The incoming system doesn’t contain a great deal of moisture, but the cold temperatures, into the -20°s, will cause a significant amount of lightweight, dry snow to fall. Overall, we’re looking at a possibility of a widespread 20-30cm of snow falling across all three Prairie provinces.

The snow will fall mostly at a fairly light rate, however, the winds are expected to pick up overnight Wednesday in Saskatchewan and spreading into Manitoba through Thursday morning. The winds should peak early Thursday afternoon in Central and Southern Manitoba, gusting at up to 50km/h, before dying down in the evening so there could be a brief period of reduced visibility due to blowing snow.

Model Image showing the total amount of precipitation in millimetres

Alberta

Patches of snow will move into Southern Alberta and Southwest Saskatchewan late Monday night from North Dakota. It will spread northward throughout the morning, reaching the Edmonton area around the lunch hour Tuesday.

Later Tuesday afternoon, the snow in Central Alberta and parts of Southern Alberta will taper off, but it will gradually return throughout Wednesday morning as the system reorganizes and the snow becomes steadier. The snowfall across the southern half of the province will continue into early Wednesday afternoon, at which point it will start to dissipate from west to east and finally ending Thursday morning before sunrise.

Model Image showing the location and intensity of snowfall at 5AM MT/6AM CT Wednesday

Saskatchewan

After moving into Southwest Saskatchewan late Monday night, the patchy snow will spread northward and eastward throughout Tuesday morning and into the early afternoon. At that point, it should reach Lloydminster, as well as into the Saskatoon and Regina areas, but not quite to the Manitoba border.

Similar to what is expected to occur in Alberta, the snow along the leading edge is anticipated to dissipate beginning in the mid-afternoon Tuesday and continuing into the early evening before surging back across the province later in the evening. The reorganized snowfall will be much steadier overnight and through to Wednesday afternoon, possibly becoming heavy at times closer to the American border.

The snow will the begin to taper off in the Southwest early Wednesday afternoon as the system travels eastward, ending in Southern Saskatchewan in the late evening. Steady snow is expected to continue across parts of Central Saskatchewan during this period and will eventually start to dissipate through the pre-dawn hours of Thursday.

Model Image showing the location and intensity of snowfall at 8PM MT/9PM CT Wednesday

Manitoba

Snow will move into the Parkland Region from Saskatchewan early Wednesday morning and cross the width of the province thorough the morning and into the early afternoon. At that point, the snow will begin in the Westman region and spread across Southern Manitoba through the remainder of the afternoon and into the evening.

The snow in Southern Manitoba isn’t expected to last too long, with it dissipating from west to east starting in the late evening until the pre-dawn hours Thursday. Like Saskatchewan, the snow will persist across parts of Central Manitoba in the meantime, until early Thursday morning when it starts to taper off. The snow will finally end in Manitoba by noon on Thursday.

Second Day of Snowfall Expected to Bring Widespread 10-20cm of Snow Across the Prairies on Saturday

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The first day of our multi-day snow event brought light to moderate snow to all three Prairies provinces by Friday evening. Snowfall totals for the entire event are still expected to top 30cm across a significant portion of the region, with Saturday’s snowfall bringing over 10cm of accumulation to many.

Before discussing what is expected on Saturday, we first need to determine the positioning of the system at approximately midnight. As seen in the model image below for that point in time, snow will still be falling across most of Northern Alberta and along the Rockies. It will also continue to extend southeastward across Saskatchewan and into Southwestern Manitoba.

Model Image showing the Location and Intensity of the Snowfall at 11Pm MT Friday/12AM CT Saturday

Alberta

The snow will continue across Northern Alberta and the Rockies through the early morning hours of Saturday as the entire system continues to travel eastward. There’s expected to be a break in the snowfall for a few hours from Grande Prairie to Cold Lake through the early morning, but that will be followed by a secondary wave of heavier snowfall trailing closely behind.

This additional area of snow will stretch southward into Central Alberta, bringing more snow to Edmonton and possibly even some light flurries across Southern Alberta throughout the day. The snow will cross this part of the province during the morning and afternoon and by the evening, the band of snow will be almost entirely in Saskatchewan. Snowfall totals for Central and Southern Alberta won’t be too high, with most receiving less than 5cm by the end of the day and the last of the snow they can expected from this event.

Later in the morning, we’ll start to see the snow tapering off in parts of Northern Alberta from west to east, bringing accumulation for this area to 5-10cm. The snow will continue to fall further north; in areas like Peace River, High Level, and Fort McMurray; straight into the overnight hours, bringing snowfall accumulations here up to 30cm by the end of the day.

As the snow clears behind the second wave of snow, Arctic air will flood southward and the temperatures will start to fall into the -20°s,

Model Image showing the Location and Intensity of the Snowfall at 5Am MT/6AM CT Saturday

Saskatchewan

The snow will gradually end in Southern Saskatchewan, from west to east, throughout the early morning hours as the system continues to travel eastward. The same can be said further north in the province, but beginning a couple hours later, closer to sunrise, due to the northwest to southeast orientation of the large band of snow.

The second wave of snow from Alberta will cross into Saskatchewan several hours later, in the mid-morning, which will add to the earlier snowfall across much of the province. Southwest Saskatchewan can expect little to no snow from this, but isolated flurries can’t be completely ruled out. Snowfall is, however, anticipated in the southeast corner of the province as it appears this secondary line will see some southward development as it crosses the province.

By the end of the day, a majority of Saskatchewan will have received at least 5cm of snow, with a significant portion over 10cm. Snow will still be falling across most of the province overnight and into Sunday morning, which will add to the total amount received from the event and will be covered in the next forecast.

Model Image showing the Location and Intensity of the Snowfall at 11Am MT/12M CT Saturday

Manitoba

The snowfall isolated to Southwestern Manitoba late Friday will spread eastward across the southern portions of the province through Saturday morning. Snow will also gradually begin to fall moving northward along the Saskatchewan border as the main band of snow continues along the same eastward trajectory.

This snow may be heavy at times, leading to quick accumulation. The lightest snow will be along the southern edge, which can expect less than 5cm total by the end of the day.

In the late morning, areas in the southwest will see the snow start to taper off as the initial band of snow exits the region. There will be several hours of calm before the second wave moves in during the evening. This wave will only make it about halfway across the province before midnight, so only a small area can expect over 10cm of snow total for Saturday.

Model Image showing the Location and Intensity of the Snowfall at 11Pm MT Saturday/12AM CT Sunday

Sunday

On Sunday, the entire system starts to exit the Prairies followed by temperatures in the -20°s and -30°s across the entire region. There will still be some decent snowfall across the region throughout the day, which we will cover in the forecast that will be posted Saturday evening.

Active Winter Weather Returns to the Prairies With Widespread Snowfall Exceeding 30cm Beginning Friday

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The month of January has been fairly quiet across the Prairies, with periods of frigid Arctic air and some occasional snowfall as well as much more mild temperatures in the past week. Now, to end the month, we’re bracing for the return of the Arctic air and the most impactful storm since November. This incoming system will bring over 30cm of snowfall to a large swath across all three Prairie provinces by late Monday.

Considering how long the snow is expected to fall across the region, we’ll be breaking the forecast down into daily segments.

Friday

The snow will make its way into Alberta in the Northern Rockies ahead of a warm front early Friday morning, a couple of hours after midnight, as a low-pressure system pushes eastward from British Columbia. Meanwhile, snow will also develop along the front further south, to the east of Calgary.

These two areas of snowfall will merge together after a few hours, before sunrise, as the front surges northeastward. At the same time, snow will continue to develop along the length of the front and start making its way into Southwest Saskatchewan.

Model Image showing the Location and Intensity of the Snowfall at 7pm MT/8PM CT

As the low-pressure center makes its way across Alberta Friday morning and afternoon, the large area of snowfall will expand further northward in Alberta and eastward across Saskatchewan. In the evening, the leading edge of the snow will start to cross into Southwestern Manitoba and the entire line of snow will continue to travel eastward as we move into the overnight hours.

The snow is expected to remain steady over an area that covers Grande Prairie and east to Lac La Biche from the late morning straight through to the end of the day, which will lead to this area receiving the greatest accumulation of 10-20cm for Friday. The snow along the length of the front is anticipated to remain fairly moderate, but it may end up being patchy, resulting in some areas seeing breaks in the snowfall. Despite this, a widespread 5-10cm is expected to fall across Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Saturday

The cold air will wrap around the backside of this storm and that will become noticeable starting in Alberta Saturday morning. The snow will continue in parts of all three Prairie provinces throughout the day Saturday and we’ll have more details of how much to expect in the forecast we will post tomorrow.

Arctic Blast Across Canada With Potentially Coldest Air in Years; Dangerous Wind Chills Near -40°C Possible Next Week

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Get ready for a major Arctic chill as some of the coldest air in over a year is set to spread across much of Canada over the next week.

This icy blast will originate in the Arctic and surge into Central and Eastern Canada, causing temperatures to plummet to dangerously low levels. Wind chills could drop to between -30°C and -40°C—or even lower—in several regions by early next week.

This extensive polar plunge will impact much of Canada and even stretch into parts of the United States. Over the next five to seven days, nearly everyone will feel the chill in some capacity.

The Prairies will be the first to experience this frigid air as it arrives late Friday into Saturday. By early next week, the cold will spread eastward into Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada, blanketing nearly all of the country in sub-zero temperatures. The cold snap is expected to last for a few days, but relief will arrive with more seasonal air by mid to late next week.

SATURDAY

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In Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, the cold will start to settle in Friday night and intensify into Saturday morning. Temperatures will plunge below -20°C and could approach -30°C in some areas, even before factoring in the wind chill.

The coldest conditions will hit northern areas like Fort McMurray and Thompson, where wind chills could make it feel like -40°C to -45°C.

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Most of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, excluding Winnipeg, will see wind chills between -35°C and -40°C. Winnipeg and Edmonton will feel slightly less severe, with wind chills in the low to mid -30s, while Calgary will range from -25°C to -30°C.

Northern Ontario will also begin to feel the chill, with wind chills making it feel close to -30°C in places like Thunder Bay by Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, Southern Ontario will enjoy one last relatively mild day on Saturday, with temperatures near the freezing mark. However, the arrival of the Arctic air could bring a flash freeze late Saturday in Northeastern and Southern Ontario. Rapidly dropping temperatures may lead to icy road conditions, so caution is advised.

SUNDAY

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By Sunday morning, the cold air will deepen across the Prairies, bringing wind chills into the -40s for much of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. This includes locations like Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Saskatoon, Regina, and Thompson.

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Winnipeg and Calgary will be slightly less frigid, with wind chills closer to -30°C to -35°C, though colder temperatures are expected by Monday morning.

Ontario will also see temperatures drop sharply by Sunday morning. Northern Ontario will experience bitterly cold air, with actual temperatures between -20°C and -30°C and wind chills closer to -40°C in the northernmost areas.

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Southern Ontario will see temperatures ranging from -10°C to -20°C, with the coldest air in Central and Eastern Ontario. Wind chills in Northern sections of Southern Ontario could approach -30°C, while Southwestern Ontario and the Golden Horseshoe will feel like -20°C to -25°C.

The arrival of Arctic air could also reignite lake-effect snow squalls early next week. Snowbelt regions around Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Georgian Bay could see heavy snowfall as a result. More details on this will be provided in a separate forecast.

STAYING SAFE IN THE EXTREME COLD

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Extreme cold can pose significant risks to safety and health, especially when wind chill intensifies the freezing temperatures. Even moderate wind speeds can dramatically lower the "feels like" temperature, increasing the risk of frostbite.

When wind chill drops below -27°C, exposed skin can freeze in 30 minutes or less. At extreme levels, such as -40°C or colder, frostbite can occur in as little as 5-10 minutes.

To protect yourself and your loved ones, limit time spent outdoors during these dangerous conditions. If you must go outside, dress in multiple layers of loose-fitting, insulated clothing.

Make sure to cover all exposed skin with hats, scarves, gloves, and insulated boots. A windproof outer layer is essential to reduce the effects of cold winds.

Pay attention to frostbite warning signs, including numbness, tingling, or a loss of colour in fingers, toes, nose, or ears. If you suspect frostbite, immediately move to a warm location and avoid rubbing the affected area, as this can worsen tissue damage.

Hypothermia is another serious concern; symptoms include shivering, confusion, and slurred speech. Seek medical attention if hypothermia or frostbite is suspected.

For those driving during extreme cold, always keep an emergency kit in your vehicle with essentials such as blankets, extra clothing, food, and water.

Ensure your phone is fully charged, and let someone know your travel plans. Avoid leaving pets outdoors for extended periods, as they are equally susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia.

MONDAY

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The worst of the cold will likely occur Monday morning, especially in the west, with Arctic air entrenched across much of Central and Eastern Canada. Temperatures near or below -30°C will stretch from Alberta to Western Quebec.

Wind chills could make it feel like -40°C or colder across Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northern Ontario, and parts of Eastern Alberta and Western Quebec. Calgary and Edmonton will escape the worst, but wind chills will still hover around -35°C.

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In Southern Ontario, most areas will see temperatures near -20°C, with Central and Southwestern Ontario experiencing the coldest air. Wind chills will make it feel like -25°C to -35°C, a pattern also expected in Montreal and Quebec City.

Atlantic Canada will begin to feel the polar plunge by Monday morning. Wind chills will drop to around -25°C in Northern New Brunswick, while Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia will remain slightly milder, with wind chills ranging from -5°C to -15°C.

TUESDAY

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By Tuesday morning, the coldest air will shift further east, bringing some relief to the Prairies. Alberta will see temperatures climb back into the single digits, with wind chills in the teens.

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Eastern Saskatchewan will remain colder, with wind chills near -25°C to -30°C, while western regions warm slightly. Manitoba will also improve, though wind chills will still range from -30°C to -35°C, particularly near the Ontario border.

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Tuesday is likely to be the coldest day for Ontario, as the Arctic air peaks over the province. Northern Ontario will see temperatures between -30°C and -40°C, with wind chills plunging well into the -40s.

Southern Ontario will experience temperatures from -20°C to -30°C, with wind chills making it feel like -35°C to -40°C in Central Ontario and the Ottawa Valley, and -30°C to -35°C elsewhere.

Montreal and Quebec City will endure similarly bitter conditions, with wind chills of -35°C or lower. Central and Western Quebec will feel even colder, with wind chills dropping below -40°C.

Atlantic Canada will also face its coldest morning on Tuesday. Wind chills will range from -35°C in Northern New Brunswick to the -20s in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

WEDNESDAY

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Wednesday morning will bring one final bitterly cold start for much of Eastern Canada, but signs of improvement will begin to appear.

Southwestern Ontario, including Windsor, Sarnia, and London, could see wind chills near -35°C or even -40°C. Northern Ontario will finally climb above -30°C wind chills for the first time in days, marking the beginning of a warming trend.

Quebec will remain very cold, with wind chills near -40°C in some areas, while Montreal and Quebec City will continue to see wind chills of -35°C.

Atlantic Canada will face another cold morning, with wind chills between -20°C and -35°C.

Most of Eastern Canada will see a reprieve from the extreme cold by Thursday morning. However, this may only be temporary, as long-range models suggest another Arctic surge could arrive late next week into the weekend. Stay tuned for updates.

A Brief Skiff of Snow Expected Across Parts of Southern Alberta & Saskatchewan for the First Weekend of the New Year

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It’s been fairly quiet across the Prairies for the past few weeks and that trend has continued so far in the beginning of the new year. As we approach the first weekend of the year, there’s enough snow expected for parts of Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan over the next 24 hours to warrant a forecast.

The snow will begin to fall along the American border in Alberta early this evening and it will gradually spread north and eastward overnight and early Saturday morning. It is only going to reach as far north as Calgary and into Southwest Saskatchewan before the system starts to fall apart before sunrise Saturday morning. The snow will gradually taper off throughout the morning and into the early afternoon.

The snow is expected to be light throughout the duration of the event, leading to most of the area receiving 5-10cm of accumulation. As the system falls apart Saturday morning, the snow is expected to linger over parts of Southeast Alberta and Southwest Saskatchewan, resulting in over 10cm of snowfall here.

A White Christmas is in the Forecast for Most of the Prairies, Odds are Not Good in Southern Alberta

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The second half of November and all through December have been marked by a series of snowstorms and periods of frigid temperatures across the Prairies. With Christmas only four days away, the odds of a White Christmas are becoming clearer.

According to Environment Canada, in order for an area to have a White Christmas, there needs to be at least 2cm of snow on the ground as of 7am on Christmas Day. This is typically an easy threshold to cross in the Prairies and it appears that this year will be no different for most, but not all.

Currently, the snowpack is considerable across the Prairies, at least 10cm deep across a majority of the regions and large swatch where the snow is over 20cm in all three provinces. There are a few pockets where this is the exception, particularly in Southern Alberta where warm temperatures early in the week have resulting in little to no snow on the ground. Looking ahead over the next few days, some warmer air and a mix of rain and freezing rain will decrease the likelihood of a White Christmas for some.

Modelled Snow depths as of Saturday, December 21st at 6am CT.

Manitoba

Northern Manitoba may see some scattered flurries this evening and overnight and again Tuesday morning. Otherwise, there is no other fresh snow expected between now and Wednesday morning. Temperatures will remain below freezing across the province until Christmas morning so no melting of the existing snow is expected. As a result, all of Manitoba can expect a White Christmas.

Saskatchewan

Like Manitoba, Northern Saskatchewan may see scattered flurries over the next few days, but no significant snowfall is expected. There is, however, a threat to White Christmas chances in Southwest Saskatchewan.

Early Sunday morning, temperatures in this area will climb to above freezing and will stay there throughout most of the day. Not only will this melt some of the limited snowpack in the area, a mix of rain and freezing rain will also result in melting. Temperatures are expected to rise once again on both Monday and Tuesday. With no additional snow in the forecast, a White Christmas can not be guaranteed in this area, but it is not completely ruled out.

Alberta

The chances for a White Christmas will vary across Alberta. A large part of Southern Alberta already has less than 5cm of snow on the ground and daily highs in the single digits between now and Christmas significantly impact the chances of a White Christmas here. The relative warmth will also stretch northward, just east of the Rockies over the coming days, but the greater snowpack and temperatures only reaching a degree or two above freezing will keep the hopes for a White Christmas alive.

The only fresh snow in the forecast for the province will be isolated to the Mountains and far Northern Alberta. There’s the chance for some rain to cross through Southern Alberta overnight and through Sunday morning which will further hinder the likelihood of a White Christmas in the area.

Please keep in mind that this is just a preliminary forecast and is based on current data. The forecast will be updated over the coming days, with the final forecast set to be posted on Christmas Eve. Make sure to stay tuned!

Winter Storm Could Dump Over 20cm of Snow on Parts of the Prairies Starting Wednesday

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The latest winter storm set to impact the Prairies will bring heavy snow across a wide stretch of the region, from Grande Prairie into Southwestern Manitoba, over the next two days. The storm will also bring strong wind gusts, particularly in Southern Alberta, and the threat of mixed precipitation in Southwestern Saskatchewan.

Alberta

The storm will cross into Alberta through the Rockies early Wednesday morning. The snow will chart a continuous path as it pushes through the Rockies in the north, however to the south it will start to develop further east of the Mountains and while a few centimetres may fall, it will essentially skip over parts of Southern Alberta, including Calgary.

By around sunrise, the snow will spread across Central Alberta and into the Southeast corner of the province, where it will sit throughout the afternoon. The snow will be heavy at times, falling at up to 2cm per hour, which will lead to a widespread 10-20cm of snow falling by the end of the day from Grande Prairie, southeastward through Edmonton, and beyond the Saskatchewan border.

The snow will start to taper off from west to east in the late afternoon as the storm continues to track eastward and eventually ending in the evening, aside from some lingering scattered flurries.

There will be some strong wind gusts associated with this storm, up to 100km/h, but they are expected to be mostly isolated to the Southern Rockies and the Foothills, away from the heavy snow. Gusts of 40-60km/h are likely across the rest of Southern Alberta so blowing snow may be a concern, especially closer to the Saskatchewan border.

Saskatchewan

The leading edge of the snow will push its way into Southwestern Saskatchewan before sunrise Wednesday and it will spread eastward into the province through the morning and early afternoon. At that point, the band of snow will remain relatively stationary for several hours. It will also intensify over parts of Southern and Central Saskatchewan, leading to snowfall rates up 3cm per hour that will result in an area from Kindersley to Estevan seeing over 20cm of snow. Outside of this swath of the heaviest snow, much of the southern half of Saskatchewan can expect at least 5cm of fresh snow.

In the early afternoon, as the backside of the band of snow crosses into the province, some warm air will push in from the south. Temperatures on the ground will remain below freezing, but it will be warm enough aloft to result in freezing rain and/or ice pellets in Southwest Saskatchewan through the afternoon and into the evening.

The wind will also be a concern across Southern Saskatchewan and could result in reduced visibility due to blowing snow in the evening as gusts approach 80km/h. These conditions could very likely lead to highway closures across the region so keep that in mind when travelling in the area. The snow will start to make its way out of Saskatchewan in the evening and gradually diminishing across the province overnight and into the morning.

Manitoba

The storm will reach Manitoba by Wednesday evening, with snow starting in the Westman Region and extending deeper into the province through the rest of the evening and overnight.

Given the storm’s overall southeastward trajectory, the Southwestern portion of Manitoba can expect to be the most impacted. The snow will remain steady across this area overnight and into the morning, resulting in 5-20cm of snowfall. The greatest snowfall is expected in the southwest corner of the province and includes Boissevain, Killarney, and Virden. During the morning, the snow will start to spread further eastward towards the Ontario border, briefly bringing some light snow into the Winnipeg area before the storm completely exists the region by the lunch hour.

Freezing Rain Threatens Icy Sunday Across Saskatchewan & Manitoba

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What previously looked like a possible widespread ice event, according to weather models, has luckily down-scaled and will now only impact a narrow track across parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

A disorganized system will cross into Southeast Saskatchewan from Montana after midnight tonight, travelling northeastward and reaching Manitoba shortly before sunrise. This system will only bring a narrow band of precipitation to the region, but due to the presence of warm air aloft and below freezing temperatures at the surface, this precipitation will fall as freezing rain. The freezing rain will be light and last for several hours, resulting in ice accretion amounts up to 5mm.

Temperature Profiles and Precipitation Types

By around the lunch hour, the freezing rain will start to taper off and transition over to snow. As the entire system pushes eastward, Southern Manitoba will also start to see some snow moving in from North Dakota Sunday afternoon. The system will become more organized throughout the evening and overnight, leading to the development of additional snow in Central and parts of Northern Manitoba. There is still some uncertainty regarding exact snowfall amounts, but it looks like the southern half of the province can expect 5-15cm of fresh snow by the end of Monday.

Widespread Temperatures Below -30°C and Windchills Approaching -45°C Have Prompted More Extreme Cold Warnings

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The extreme cold continues across Saskatchewan and Manitoba overnight tonight and through to tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, it will be colder than this morning, and a much larger area can expect temperatures below -30°C to settle in after midnight and continue until the late morning.

This intense cold poses a risk to everyone, especially young children, the elderly, individuals with chronic illnesses, outdoor workers, and those without adequate shelter. Symptoms of cold exposure, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness, and colour change in fingers and toes, should be monitored closely.

The winds are expected be light again, at around 10-15km/h, as the temperatures reach their lowest point. With the even colder air than this morning, these light winds are going to result in windchills that are approaching -45°C. The coldest windchills are expected in the Westman Region, but windchills below -40°C will still be felt over a significant area. As a result, Environment Canada has issued more widespread Extreme Cold Warnings than last night, stretching from Saskatoon and into Northern Ontario.

At these temperatures, frostbite can occur in as little as 30 minutes, and in some areas close to 10 minutes, so it is crucial to cover up when going out and limiting exposure all together. It’s also wise to keep emergency supplies in your vehicle, including extra blankets and jumper cables, in case of an emergency.

Extreme Cold Makes Its First Appearance of December With Windchills Dipping Below -40°C

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The extreme cold has returned to the Prairies with temperatures dipping below -20°C across a majority of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with the exception of the Southwest Corner of Saskatchewan. Temperatures will be lower than -30°C in parts of Central Saskatchewan and into the Parkland Region of Manitoba. The cold Arctic air pushed south throughout the day today and temperatures will continue to fall overnight before reaching their lowest point in the mid-morning.

This intense cold poses a risk to everyone, especially young children, the elderly, individuals with chronic illnesses, outdoor workers, and those without adequate shelter. Symptoms of cold exposure, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness, and colour change in fingers and toes, should be monitored closely.

Winds overnight tonight are expected be light, at around 10-15km/h. These light winds will easily push the windchill below -40°C, which has prompted Environment Canada to issue Extreme Cold Warnings for parts of both provinces.

At these temperatures, frostbite can occur in as little as 30 minutes so it is crucial to cover up when going out and limiting exposure all together. It’s also wise to keep emergency supplies in your vehicle, including extra blankets and jumper cables, in case of an emergency.