Prairie Weather (Rural Roots Canada) – Arctic grip! Snow leaves, cold weather stays.
This week’s winter storm provided some beneficial snowfall to the prairies. There is a long way to go, though, before there is a significant recharge of soil moisture. It’s been a long time since we saw the ground in southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan covered by snow.
In Alberta, many two day snow totals were modest, but significant:
As expected, though, some areas got more snow than others. For example, Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, west of Swift Current, still has barely any snow on the ground.
Yet, other parts of Saskatchewan did get snow, and plenty of it:
The snow goes away. The cold weather stays.
Thursday
Alberta
Arctic high pressure builds near Lloydminster during the day, keeping the sky across Alberta mainly sunny, but at the same time, drawing very cold air into the province. Most areas will stay cold with highs between -15 and -20. Wind chills will range from -24 and -28. With the return of sunshine, travel in open areas will become less hazardous. Calmer wind will ease stress on livestock, already coping with very cold air.
Saskatchewan
Arctic high pressure will clear out the sky across most of the province, and provide some very cold air. However, a very weak midlevel low pressure system in northeastern Montana will push cloud northward, and even generate some light snow, briefly in the afternoon, in southern Saskatchewan. Because of the arctic high, cold air will plunge southward throughout Saskatchewan, and afternoon highs will range from -15 to -20, with wind chills near -30.
Manitoba
Some of the relatively warm air left over from Wednesday will linger in southeastern Manitoba on Thursday. Steinbach could see highs near -5 to -7, while on the other side of the province, Brandon may only reach -13. Other than in southeastern and east central regions, temperatures won’t break through the -12 mark. Of course, there’s more to the story. The warm air in the southeast is associated with an inverted trough, and will bring snow to most of Manitoba An upper level low over Lake of the Woods will add to the chances for snow. From the Whiteshell, past the east side of Lake Winnipeg and all the way north to Thompson, expect 5 to 7 cm.
Friday
Alberta
Most of Alberta will experience another clear, cold day, due to a ridge of high pressure still moving very slowly eastward into central Saskatchewan. However, a disturbance will generate some flurries or light snow in parts of southern Alberta during the morning. The snow should affect Claresholm and Fort Mcleod, and northeast from there through Brooks and toward the Oyen area. That band of snow will move eastward, headed for the Medicine Hat region during the afternoon. There won’t be much accumulation, just 2-5 cm, and disruptions to travel should be minor.
Southwestern Alberta can expect highs from -8 to -10 Friday. From Calgary north and southeastward, it will be colder. Highs in Calgary and to the north will stay in the area of -20, rising to the -13 to -15 degree range in southeastern Alberta.
Saskatchewan
It will be sunny and cold across most of Saskatchewan on Friday. In the midday, some snow from a weak disturbance in Montana will cross into Saskatchewan from Alberta. Expect light snow or flurries, with little accumulation, as the snow moves from west to east. The snow should fizzle out before reaching Moose Jaw. Areas that get snow will be warmer than those that stay dry under the lingering arctic high pressure system. Southwestern Saskatchewan is likely to see highs ranging from -8 to -17. From Saskatoon to Regina to Estevan, it will be cold, with highs between -20 and -25. Across the north, it will be a bit milder, with highs between -15 and -20.
Manitoba
It’ll be another cold day in Manitoba as well, with temperatures in the afternoon in the -11 to -17 range The colder air finally makes its way into southeastern Manitoba, where, like the rest of the province, highs will be near -10 to -12. The inverted trough that produced snow on Thursday will still be in place Friday morning, and will be slow to move out during the day. And that means more snow for the area from the Whiteshell to Thompson. Amounts will be lighter, generally less than 5 cm.
Saturday
Alberta
Expect snow from Jasper north through Grande Prairie and the Peace region all day Saturday. Accumulations of 6-8 cm can be expected. The rest of the province will remain mainly sunny, and mainly cold. South of the Trans Canada Highway, highs should reach -9 to -11. To the north of Highway 1, don’t expect anything warmer than the -15 to -20 range. Wind won’t be a huge factor….it will be light, and come from the east.
Saskatchewan
It’s another cold day in Saskatchewan, with most areas enduring temperatures in the -20s and wind chills in the -30s. Again, the exception is southwestern Saskatchewan, where highs could reach the -11 to -15 degree range. Most of the province will be sunny, still under the influence of Arctic high pressure. However in east central regions, near the town of Hudson Bay toward The Pas, Manitoba, light snow can be expected in the morning, tapering off in the afternoon. Accumulations won’t be significant.
Manitoba
A low pressure system in northern Ontario will shoot some snow back into northern Manitoba, with 5-10 cm accumulation. The snow will fall north of the lakes, largely missing agricultural territory. That said, there may be some very light flurries in and east of the Red River valley – likely less than a cm. It will remain manageably cold, with highs from -12 to -15. The wind will be strong enough to push afternoon wind chills down to the -20 to -25 degree range.
Sunday
Alberta
Arctic high pressure remains in place, and the cold weather will continue. Some Pacific moisture will make its way into northern and north central Alberta, producing some light snow Sunday in most areas north of Highway 16. It will be light snow, and will fall mainly in forested areas, providing no help to agricultural concerns. Expect 1-4 cm, with the highest amounts at Wood Buffalo. The rest of the province will be dry, and mainly sunny. South of the Trans Canada Highway, expect afternoon highs from -5 to -10. North of Highway 1, highs will be in the -11 to -19 degree range, and in the northern forests, highs will remain in the -20s.
Saskatchewan
The temperature pattern over Saskatchewan doesn’t change much on Sunday. It will remain a bit milder in the southwestern part of the province, with highs from -8 to -10, while the rest of Saskatchewan will experience temperatures in the -15 to -20 degree range. And, outside of the northwestern forests, don’t expect any snow. South of Saskatoon, the sky will remain sunny, with some high thin cloud immediately north of the Yellowhead Highway.
Manitoba
Sunday in Manitoba will be as quiet as it gets in terms of weather. Most of the day, the province will experience sunshine, and the wind will be light.. However, all this is because of the continued dominance of arctic high pressure, which will also produce some cold weather. In the south, high temperatures will range from -17 to -20, and in the north, between -25 and -35. Brr.
Heads Up: Next Week:
A developing low-pressure system originating in the American Rockies is projected to bring hazardous winter weather across the prairies early next week. Significant snowfall and strong winds will cause blowing snow in the southern Prairies between Monday and Wednesday.
COMPARE: Prairie Weather This Week – Feb 16
