Prairie Weather (Rural Roots Canada) – Active weather – and snow – return to the prairies

The stagnant weather pattern that has dominated the prairies in recent days and weeks finally broke down somewhat on the weekend.  An Alberta Clipper generated both wind and snow for Alberta Sunday, and will do so in Saskatchewan and Manitoba as it moves across the prairies on Monday.    The early part of this week will be quite eventful, with heavy snow leaving 20-40 cm on the ground in the mountains and foothills by Monday morning, and strong wind and snow across the southern prairies.

More snow is expected Wednesday in central Alberta,  Thursday in southern Saskatchewan, and Friday over southern Manitoba.   Friday and Saturday could be quite concerning for Manitoba, with the threat of freezing rain mixing with snow on Friday, and blowing snow for Manitoba on Saturday.

Total snowfall amounts look promising, especially for central Manitoba and Saskatchewan.   And, in central Alberta,  we expect significant snow this week in areas that have remained in drought for many months.   The map below shows accumulated snow up to Sunday evening:

 

 

 

 

Monday

Here is Environment Canada’s significant weather chart for Monday.  There’s a lot going on.

Alberta

An Alberta clipper that formed Sunday will move across the province quickly early Monday morning, reaching southern Saskatchewan by sunrise.   Behind that, a band of snow will cross southern Alberta from north to south, with snow falling through the morning, until the early afternoon.   The Monday morning snow will be accompanied by a strong wind, so expect a deterioration of highway driving conditions across southern Alberta in the early part of the day.   As the map above, and the chart below show, the heaviest snow is expected in the central foothills.

As one might expect with snow and a strong wind, it will be somewhat cooler on Monday, with temperatures climbing after the snow ends in the afternoon.   Because of the late start to the warming, highs are only expected to reach 0 to 5 at best through most of the province, with a chance for 5–10 degree highs from Pincher Creek through Fort Macleod to Lethbridge.  Far northern Alberta will be quite cold, with highs below -10.

Saskatchewan

As the clipper barrels through southern Saskatchewan during the day,  It will bring a strong wind and afternoon snow to southern Saskatchewan.   The heaviest snow will fall in the morning, roughly along the Yellowhead Highway.   As the band of snow moves south in the afternoon, it will lighten.   Nonetheless, afternoon highway travel on the Trans Canada may become difficult, particularly east of Regina.  Initially, the wind will be from the west, but switches to the north in the morning as the clipper passes by, dragging a cold front behind it.   The map below shows the greatest snowfall accumulations will be in south central Saskatchewan.   Most areas will get only a few cm, but the wind could cause additional trouble with blowing and drifting.

 

In southern and central Saskatchewan Monday, high temperatures are likely to range between -5 and -10, with much colder weather in the northern forests, where it’ll struggle to get any warmer than -15.

Manitoba

As the maps above show, Manitoba’s interlake is in for a spell of rough weather Monday.  Significant snow is expected in Manitoba north of the Trans Canada Highway on Monday, with the heaviest amounts (10-15 cm) falling over Lake Winnipegosis, and central Lake Winnipeg.    It will be dry to the north, and very cold.   In southern Manitoba, light snow or flurries can’t be ruled out south of Highway 1, though accumulations will be minor.    Across the province, it will be a wintry day, with a north wind, and temperatures across most of Manitoba remaining below -10.

Tuesday

Alberta

Another Alberta Clipper forms Tuesday morning north of Banff.   And, like the previous clipper, the snow will fall mainly to the north.   Tuesday’s snow will start in the northern half of Alberta, with an easterly wind circulating around the Banff low.   To the south, the wind will blow from west to east, and the air mass will be dry.   By the afternoon, the clipper will be centered near Rolling Hills, but there will be little movement in the snow field, as the precipitation remains well to the north.

This will bring a return to warmer weather for southern Alberta, especially east of Vulcan, where temperatures could return to double digits.  Highs above the melting point are expected across most of the province, except for the far north, where Arctic cold continues to prevail.

Saskatchewan

As the system that brought the snow and wind to southern and central Saskatchewan on Monday moves out, making room for the next clipper,  we’ll get into a period of warmer weather in Saskatchewan on Tuesday.   Highs from Moose Jaw to the Alberta boundary, will rise above 5 degrees, though it will be slightly cooler over the higher elevations of the Cypress Hills.   East of Moose Jaw, it will be a bit cooler with highs near zero.    The cooler weather in this region is due to an area of snow which will intensify in the afternoon east of Regina.   It won’t last long.

By midnight, almost all of that snow will have moved into Manitoba.   The snow is coming in due to the southeasterly circulation from the arriving clipper, which will be centered near Maple Creek by midnight.   That same circulation will also push light snow into north central Saskatchewan.

Manitoba

It’ll be a dry day across Manitoba on Tuesday, at least until the late afternoon an evening, when light to moderate snow will arrive from the south, into western Manitoba, reaching the Red River Valley by midnight.   At the surface, the wind will come up from the south.  Across southern Manitoba, expect highs near 0.  North of the lakes, it will be much colder, especially north of Gillam, where highs will remain below -15.

 

Wednesday

Alberta

A Low pressure system will form over southern BC on Wednesday, generating widespread snow across southern BC, and into west central Alberta.   Moderate amounts of snow are expected in the foothills west of Edmonton, but an easterly wind will cause upslope enhancement, so there is a possibility of locally heavier amounts.    Motorists along the Yellowhead west of Edmonton may face adverse weather conditions int he afternoon,, with snow,  blowing snow, and drifting snow.  The snow is in a fairly narrow band in central Alberta.   To the north of Athabasca, and south of Lacombe, it should stay dry Wednesday.

In the south, with the dry weather, temperatures will reach double digits.   Highs from 0 to -5 can be expected in the snowier regions of central Alberta.   The sun’s presence in the north,  help temperatures rise somewhat.  Highs of -5 to -15 are forecast for northern regions.   The further north you go, the colder it will be.

Saskatchewan

Southwestern Saskatchewan will again have a warm day with highs reaching double digits, west of Chaplin.  East of there, through Moose Jaw and Regina, highs will rise to 0 to +5.  It’ll be about five degrees cooler in central Saskatchewan, and in the north, the bitterly cold weather refuses to go away.   Expect a partly cloudy day across most of the province, with a band of snow crossing central Saskatchewan north of Saskatoon during the late morning and afternoon.   No significant moisture is expected in the south.

Manitoba

Other than yet another band of snow crossing the northern Interlake, it will be a dry day in Manitoba Wednesday.  A Low pressure system over Hudson Bay will draw  a westerly wind into northern Manitoba, while in the south, the wind should be light.   And, from Gimli south, high temperatures should climb above zero.   The relative warmth will extend north into central Manitoba, but in the far northern reaches of the province, wit remains very cold, with highs around Churchill reaching -15 to -20.

 

Thursday

Alberta

Active weather returns to Alberta, with a trough of low pressure forming along the foothills.    If there was a High in southeastern BC, this would put us into chinook conditions.  But…there is  instead a Low over Cranbrook.  that Low will generate precipitation that will cross into central Alberta early in the morning,  descending into southern Alberta in the afternoon.   This could be a significant snow producer, especially east of Edmonton.    But wait, there’s more!   A second blast of snow will hit central Alberta later in the afternoon.   Snowfall warnings are expected from Edmonton north, as a Low pressure system cranks up just southeast of the city.  Some parts of central and north central Alberta can expect 20 cm of snow from this second system this afternoon, with even more snow in the mountain parks.   In south central Alberta, there will be minimal amounts of snow, but with a stronger afternoon wind, even small amounts of snow could create enough blowing snow to reduce visibility in open areas, especially northeast of Calgary.

In the snow, temperatures will peak just below zero.    South of Calgary, no snow is expected, with a westerly wind allowing temperatures to climb to the double digits between Highway 2 and the Saskatchewan boundary.

 

 

Saskatchewan

The map above shows a band of significant snow through central Saskatchewan, while to the south and to the north, it remains dry.   Accumulations of 20 cm or more can’t be ruled out, and travel in the area will be disrupted.  On the southern edge of the snow, a narrow band of freezing rain is possible.   Temperatures will hover near -10 in the snowy region though the day.  It will remain much colder to the north, and in the south, it will be much warmer, with a chance of double digit high temperatures southwest of Regina.

Manitoba

As shown on the map above, significant snow is expected in the Flin Flon region.   The north will remain dry and very cold, with highs below -10, and to the south, it will be warmer with areas south of the Interlake reaching highs above the melting point.   Double digit highs are possible south of Portage La Prairie.   Anyone with plans to travel in western Manitoba will need to monitor weather reports closely.  There is a chance of freezing rain between Portage and the Saskatchewan boundary on Thursday afternoon.

Friday

Alberta

In most of Alberta, with the exception of the foothills and mountain parks, snow is expected to taper off before sunrise, though there may be a few lingering flurries in south central and northwestern Alberta.    Elsewhere in northern Alberta, it will remain mainly cloudy, while partly cloudy conditions will prevail in the south.    It will be quite cold first thing in the morning, with temperatures below -10.    And the afternoon will be chilly, with highs only near or slightly below 0 across southern and central regions.   Afternoon temperatures in the north will remain below -10.

Saskatchewan

The wintry week continues in southern and central Saskatchewan.  South of Saskatoon, a widespread area of rain is expected to develop in the early morning, which will change to snow well before noon, as a strong northwesterly wind chills the air.  The snow, across most of Saskatchewan, will continue through the day.  In the afternoon, blowing snow is expected in southeastern Saskatchewan with gusts of the northwest wind reaching 60 km/hr or higher.  A northerly wind will keep temperatures low,  with subfreezing temperatures all day across the province.    Bitterly cold weather remains in the north.   Elsewhere, highs could reach only -5 to -10 south of the Yellowhead, and -10 to -15 north of the Yellowhead.

Manitoba

While the far north remains sunny and very cold, a disturbance south and east of Manitoba will push plenty of moisture into the region.   The wind will come from the north.   In the morning, freezing rain may develop in the Brandon/Dauphin regions, with snow north of Dauphin.   As the system moves into Manitoba in the afternoon, the precipitation will change to snow in western Manitoba, as it pushes the freezing rain east to Portage la Prairie and toward the Red River Valley.   This has the potential to be dangerous weather, and it’s expected warnings will be issued for the region through the day Friday.  Travel plans in southern Manitoba Friday afternoon should be put on hold. , It will be cold, and will likely cause widespread snow and blowing snow across the southern half of the province.  The heaviest snow is expected in the evening west of Winnipeg, and across central and northern Manitoba.   East of Winnipeg, it will be warm enough for evening rain,  which will change to snow overnight.  There is the potential for very heavy snow east of the Red River Valley Friday night into Saturday morning.

 

Saturday

Alberta

Saturday will be a fairly uneventful day in Alberta, with a partly cloudy sky across the province.  There is a chance for a few flurries across central regions, but accumulations will be minor, and the weather won’t be disruptive.   Temperatures will remain near or below zero across most of the province; a few degrees below average.   The exception is the Lethbridge area, where a warming westerly wind could bring temperatures up to between 5 and 10 degrees.

Saskatchewan

A big break from the stormy, wintry, weather happens on Saturday, when high pressure prevails over the province.   Though the north may be cloudy with some snow, the southern two-thirds of the province will clear out.   Snow on the ground may inhibit the typical afternoon temperature increase,  so highs in agricultural regions may only reach -5 to -10.    It will be even colder in the northern forests.

Manitoba

Friday night’s ugly storm will continue into Saturday morning with heavy snow and freezing rain across southern Manitoba, especially east of the Red River Valley.   This will continue to be a powerful storm on Saturday, with warnings and disruptions to travel expected.   Travel plans in southern Manitoba, particularly east of Winnipeg, should be postponed or cancelled.  It’s likely the storm east of Winnipeg will not begin to taper off until late evening.   Temperatures could climb to near zero, but the wind and snow will make it feel much colder.

Sunday

By Sunday, all the stormy weather is gone, and in many areas, the sky will clear out, and there will be sunshine for those in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, who need to clean up after the Friday and Saturday storms.    Alberta will also have a fairly quiet weather day with a few flurries in central and northern regions, generated by a weak Low over the central foothills.   In southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan,  temperatures will rise above the melting point, but elsewhere, expect highs to remain below zero.

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