Prairie Weather (Rural Roots Canada) –  Storms end – Dry and Sunny Weather returns

A storm system associated with a cold front sweeping across the Prairies, that produced severe weather in Alberta Wednesday, crosses the eastern prairies Thursday.  The active pattern brings a final round of heat and storms to Saskatchewan and Manitoba on Thursday before high pressure settles in, bringing drier conditions and good opportunities for early harvesting work by Sunday.

The map below shows dry weather through the weekend in Alberta and much of Saskatchewan’s agricultural territory.   Rainfall totals will be high in Manitoba,  with much of that moisture coming Thursday with the passage of the cold front.

This period of dry weather will be helpful for those who have begun harvest operations.   As the old saying goes, “Make hay while the sun shines”.   It won’t stay dry forever.   If you missed it, we discussed the return of La Nina later in the harvest season here.

Overview

Thursday,  a strong surface low in nothern Ssskatchewan dominates weather all across the prairies.  A cold front from the low will create stormy conditions on the eastern prairies.  A warm front will send some moisture into Ontario, and a trough curving back into northern Alberta will produce heavy rain for the forests of northern Alberta and northern Saskatchewan.   There will also be heavy rain near the centre of the Low itself.   Toward the weekend, the Low will slowly move east, and drier weather returns to the prairies.

Thursday

Alberta

It will be a dry day over Alberta’s agricultural regions, following the severe weather that dumped heavy rain and hail across the southeastern part of the province on Wednesday.   Expect plenty of sunshine,  but not a lot of heat.  The sky cleared behind a cold front, and temperatures wil be near long term averages.   Highs in most of Alberta will be in the upper teens to low 20s, though south of the Trans Canada Highway, highs in the mid 20s are possible.

Saskatchewan

Early showers and storms are possible in southeastern Saskatchewan, as the cold front rapidly moves east.  By the afternoon, expect rapid clearing, and a sunny end to the day.  As mentioned in the overview above,  there will be heavy rian in northern Saskatchewan, with some areas getting 50 mm or more.   This is well north of agricultural territory.  Following the passage of the cold front, highs in southern Saskatchewan should reach the low 20s at best.

Manitoba

Strong storms with heavy rain and hail will sweep across southern Manitoba Thursday, due to the passage of a cold front associated with a low in northern Manitoba.    The Low is centred near Lynn Lake, where more than 50 mm of rain are possible. In the south,  high rain accumulations will be localized.   Expect highs in the low to mid 20s.   Some of the Thursday storms may be severe.  Monitor warnings here.

Friday

Alberta

All of Alberta can expect dry weather Friday, and most of the province will be sunny.   There will be some cloud over the northern forests, but in central and southern regions, high pressure gives us sunshine – good drying conditions for swaths and hay bales.  In the morning, expect cool, single digit low temperatures.  Across the province, afternoon highs will reach the low to mid 20s.

Saskatchewan

As the rain producing Manitoba low moves east, it will pull its rainfall away from northern Saskatchewan.    The south will be dry, and there will be a north wind.  That will mean cooler than average temperatures in most of the province, with highs in the high teens or low 20s.

Manitoba

Still unsettled. Southern Manitoba can expect a mix of sun and cloud with a chance of storms, while northern regions continue to receive steady rain before it tapers off later in the day.  The northern Manitoba low pressure system will move in the general direction of Hudson Bay during the day, and the area of heaviest rain will move slowly from west to east.  This is all well to the north of agricultural regions.  However, the entire province will be affected by a brisk north wind that will keep high temperatures below 20 degrees.

Saturday

Alberta

Saturday’s Alberta weather will be a repeat of Friday, with dry, sunny weather across the province. Most of the south will be wind-free.   Highs will reach the low to mid 20s, except in southeastern Alberta.   South of the Trans Canada Highway and east of Highway 2, highs should make it to the high 20s.

Saskatchewan

Sunshine is expected all day in the south, as rain continues to taper off in the north.   By the end of the day, the entire province returns to dry weather, and the northern sky will also clear out.  Across the province, highs will be pleasantly cool,  near 20 degrees.

Manitoba

The rain in central and northern Manitoba continues its very slow movment east, as the the once-dominant Low moves into Ontario.   Rain will continue Saturday in east central Manitoba, while it stops elsewhere in the province.  West of the Red River, most agricultural areas will see sunshine,  but it will be another cool day with highs below 20 degrees.

Sunday

Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba

Excellent harvest weather continues in Alberta, and takes hold in the other two prairie provinces.   All three provinces will experience a sunny day, as a large surface ridge of high pressure takes hold.   This is the kind of dry, sunny, warm weather system that has so far been absent this summer across the prairies.   Earlier in the summer, we’d expect hot weather with this kind of weather pattern.  But we’re now into late August, so we don’t expect any 30 degree tempratures.  Highs in southern Alberta should reach the high 20s.   In central and northern Alberta, along with Saskathcewan, highs will be in the low 20s, and in Manitoba, it will be cooler, with highs in the high teens to 20 degrees.

It could be quite cold in southeastern Saskatchewan late Sunday night and early Monday morning, with lows between 0 and 5.  Frost is not expected, but it’s getting close!

ALSO:  A terrific chat with Agronomist Steve Larocque about the 2025 growing season.