Prairie Weather (Rural Roots Canada) – Another (too) dry week across the prairies, but very warm!
A warm weather pattern will dominate across the Canadian Prairies this week. The animated temperature anomaly map below highlights how conditions are expected to trend through Sunday evening.
Throughout the week, Alberta and Saskatchewan will experience temperatures that are above, and at times well above, seasonal averages, reinforcing an extended stretch of mild Prairie weather. ,Manitoba will also see warmer-than-normal temperatures, although conditions may briefly trend closer to average on Wednesday and again during the latter half of the weekend.
It’s important to note that the values shown on the map do not represent actual air temperatures. Instead, they illustrate temperature anomalies, indicating how much warmer or cooler conditions are expected to be compared to long-term averages.
This pattern supports continued mild conditions across much of the Prairie Provinces, with implications for travel, agriculture, and outdoor activity planning.
Much of the Canadian Prairies have received little to no meaningful precipitation over the past several weeks, with many regions reporting only a few millimetres of moisture. A persistent ridge of high pressure remains anchored over western Canada, effectively blocking Pacific moisture from reaching Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Without a significant winter snowpack developing, soil moisture reserves will be increasingly stressed heading into spring, particularly in areas already affected by long-term drought. While a gradual transition from La Niña toward El Niño later this winter may eventually lead to more active weather patterns, drought-stricken regions of the Prairies will remain dry for now.
Monday
Alberta
A Pacific system will brush Alberta on Monday, bringing very strong winds to the southern foothills and southwest, where gusts could approach 100 km/h. In northern Alberta, particularly near High Level and Fort McMurray, expect a messy mix of freezing rain and light snow, with 2 to 4 cm of accumulation possible.
Central and southern Alberta will stay dry and unusually mild, with a brisk west wind. Afternoon highs will range from 4 to 7 across central and north-central Alberta.
South of the Trans-Canada Highway, temperatures will climb into the double digits, driven by strong downslope winds and a lack of snow cover. Near the U.S. border, highs in the low to mid-teens are expected. That’s nearly 20° above seasonal averages.
Saskatchewan
A weak low pressure system will track from northwest to southeast across northern Saskatchewan, bringing the risk of patchy freezing rain to the northern grain belt and areas near the Alberta boundary. By late afternoon, precipitation will transition to light snow, with a narrow southern fringe possibly seeing liquid rain.
Central and southern Saskatchewan will remain mostly quiet as temperatures edge above freezing. West of Regina and south of the Trans-Canada Highway, conditions will be exceptionally warm for January. In areas with existing snow cover, highs may reach 6 to 9 degrees.
Manitoba
A system sliding through central Manitoba and the Interlake may bring freezing rain, with weather warnings likely during the morning hours. Northern Manitoba could receive 5–10 cm of snowfall.
South of the lakes, skies will remain cloudy but dry, with a southwest wind. Temperatures will continue to rise, with highs west of the Red River Valley reaching 0 to 4 degrees by afternoon. Winnipeg and areas north and east will be slightly cooler, with temperatures ranging from –5 to 0; still 10 to 15 degrees above normal.
Tuesday
Alberta
The January thaw intensifies. Under a strengthening ridge of high pressure, southern Alberta will see plenty of sunshine, with afternoon highs climbing into the low teens south of the Trans-Canada Highway. Farther north, temperatures will rise above freezing all the way to High Level and Wood Buffalo. No significant weather systems are expected.
Parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba can expect snow on Tuesday. The map below highlights 24-hour snowfall accumulations through early evening, with localized impacts possible depending on track and intensity.
Saskatchewan
The warming trend continues across Saskatchewan, with sunny to partly cloudy conditions dominating much of the province. Daytime highs will range from 0 to 4 in southern and central regions. In contrast, the northern forested areas will remain colder, with highs between –10 and –15, much closer to seasonal norms.
Within this colder air mass, snow will persist from the previous day, forming a northwest-to-southeast band across northern Saskatchewan. Along the southern edge of the precipitation band, roughly from north of Yorkton to Prince Albert, liquid rain is possible.
Though freezing rain is not likely, it’s also not impossible, so it would be wise to check road conditions and updated weather forecasts before driving through the wet weather.
Manitoba
A fast-moving clipper system will cross central Manitoba early in the morning, bringing significant snowfall to central regions, rain to west-central Manitoba, and the risk of freezing rain along a corridor from Grand Beach to Kenora.
After sunrise, precipitation will gradually taper but will not fully end. By afternoon, snow will continue along a band from Turtle Mountain to The Pas. As high pressure builds into northern Manitoba during the evening, this snow band will shift westward into Saskatchewan by early Wednesday morning.
Tuesday afternoon temperatures will sit near –10 across most of Manitoba, except in the far southwest, where readings may briefly rise just above freezing.
Wednesday
Alberta
A mild and quietweather pattern remains locked in place — good news for livestock operations and travel. Highs will stay well above average, with mid-single-digit temperatures in Calgary and Edmonton.
South of the Trans-Canada Highway, conditions will once again be exceptionally warm, with afternoon highs reaching 14 to 16. The absence of snow cover continues to amplify warming, allowing solar energy to be absorbed rather than reflected. No precipitation is expected, as a strong upper-level ridge remains firmly in control.
Saskatchewan
Under the same ridge warming Alberta, western Saskatchewan will see temperatures climb above freezing. Meanwhile, eastern Saskatchewan will remain under a northerly flow, keeping temperatures below zero but still above seasonal averages.
This northerly flow will also transport significant snowfall from northern Saskatchewan southward along the Manitoba border, primarily affecting forested regions, with snow reaching as far south as Dauphin. On the western edge of the snow band, narrow zones of rain or freezing rain are possible. Strong winds and reduced visibility are likely, and travelers north of Prince Albert should check highway and weather conditions before departure.
Southern Saskatchewan will remain dry and mostly sunny.
Manitoba
A surface ridge of high pressure will slide south from northern Manitoba to Emerson by late afternoon, maintaining clear skies across most of the province. As the ridge moves south, snow will develop along the Saskatchewan border, extending south to Dauphin by afternoon.
Strong winds are expected in northern Manitoba and west of Lake Winnipegosis. With the onset of a northerly flow, temperatures will drop sharply. Highs near –10 will occur early in the day, falling to near –20 by evening across central and southern Manitoba. Northern regions will remain in the –20s throughout the day.
Thursday
Alberta
After a few isolated flurries or light showers in northeastern Alberta early Thursday, skies will clear as another high-pressure system builds in. Most of Alberta will enjoy a sunny, dry day with a northwest wind.
Slightly cooler air moves in, but temperatures will remain above average, with highs ranging from 0 to –5 across much of the province. South of the Trans-Canada Highway, readings will be milder, reaching 2 to 4 degrees.
Saskatchewan
Central and southern Saskatchewan will continue to run warmer than normal, with afternoon highs between 0 and –5. The far north will be roughly 10 degrees colder.
The warmest and wettest part of the day will occur in the morning. Just before sunrise, temperatures will range from 0 to 5 degrees, allowing for rain near the centre of the province, particularly north of Saskatoon. As cooler air moves in, rain will transition to snow while pushing east into Manitoba later in the day.
Manitoba
As shown on the map below, Thursday will be a snowy day across much of Manitoba, with accumulating snowfall expected and travel conditions likely to deteriorate, particularly in central and eastern regions.
Significant snowfall is expected across much of Manitoba, except in the southwestern corner of the province, where rain will fall instead of snow as temperatures rise above the freezing mark.
The warmest part of the day will occur around midday, particularly in western Manitoba, where temperatures will range from 0 to 5 degrees. Eastern Manitoba will be slightly cooler, with highs near –5. Temperatures will begin to fall through the afternoon, leading to deteriorating travel conditions as precipitation continues.
Friday
Alberta
Friday will bring another dry and sunny day across Alberta, as a strong high-pressure system north of Jasper drives a persistent westerly flow, effectively suppressing precipitation.
Temperatures will climb above freezing along the foothills and throughout southern Alberta, reaching the mid-single digits. Farther north, including areas north of Red Deer, conditions will be cooler but still above seasonal averages, with highs ranging from –2 to –6.
Saskatchewan
Above average temperatures continue across Saskatchewan on Friday. Southern and central regions will see highs between 0 and –7, while the boreal forest of northern Saskatchewan remains colder, with temperatures closer to seasonal norms in the –15 to –25 range.
This colder air is tied to an Arctic high pressure system building along the Northwest Territories boundary. A few morning flurries are possible in the far north, but as the ridge strengthens, snow will be pushed southward, reaching areas near Yorkton and Dauphin by late afternoon, then southwestern Manitoba by evening.
Manitoba
Friday will begin with light snow lingering from Thursday’s system, gradually shifting eastward into northwestern Ontario by late day. Partial clearing will follow.
By evening, another weak disturbance will bring light snow to southwestern Manitoba, though accumulations are expected to remain minimal. Despite limited snowfall, it will be a cold day, with most of Manitoba seeing temperatures remain below –15.
Saturday and Sunday
Agricultural regions of Alberta and Saskatchewan will stay dry through the weekend, with a northwest wind dominating.
On Saturday, a low pressure system will move southeast into Manitoba, spreading snow across much of the province Saturday night and Sunday morning. By Sunday afternoon, skies will clear, returning Manitoba to sunny but cold conditions.
No significant precipitation is expected in Alberta or Saskatchewan on Sunday, although cloud cover will increase across Saskatchewan. Temperatures will climb above freezing in southern Alberta both Saturday and Sunday. Saskatchewan will remain warmer than average, with highs near 0, while Manitoba stays cold, with temperatures once again falling into the negative double digits.
COMPARE: Prairie Weather This Week – Jan 5
