Prairie Weather (Rural Roots Canada) – Prairie Weather this Week – Midweek Update Feb 20
Thursday
Alberta
A wind shift to the west will bring temperatures up substantially in southern Alberta, particularly west of highway 2. The cold spell will finally end, with temperatures climbing above the melting point in the foothills, but still just reaching -5 to -10 in eastern Alberta. That still represents a warming of at least 10 degrees in many areas. The arctic high that kept the province so cold for so long has retreated to the northern plains of the US, allowing a push of mild Pacific air into the area.
The westerly wind, true to form, is dry, and no significant precipitation is expected in southern Alberta Thursday, or for that matter, through the weekend. Some snow will fall Thursday in northern regions, coming out of a Low near Yellowknife. That Low is too far north to generate any precipitation in central or southern Alberta.
Saskatchewan
It’s another dry day in Saskatchewan, with temperatures moderating, though it won’t be as warm as expected in Alberta. Highs will reach the mid minus teens across Saskatchewan on Thursday. And while most of the province will stay dry, the Arctic high has moved off to the south, and that will allow for some light snow in the forests of northwestern Saskatchewan beginning in the afternoon.
Manitoba
A layer of arctic air will keep the weather cold in southern Manitoba. Highs across the province will reach the range of -15 t0 -20. The province is still under the influence of arctic air, though relief from the bitter cold is not far away. It will be dry and sunny across Manitoba on Thursday. The image below shows the midday Thursday sunshine near Fairford, in the central Interlake. Note the Fairford river hasn’t frozen over.
Friday
Alberta
Double digit high temperatures can’t be ruled out for parts of the foothills Friday. In most areas west of highway 2 in southern and central Alberta, highs will reach the 5-10 degree range. It will be windy, and it will be dry, as Pacific air crosses the mountains, originating from a storm west of British Columbia. A downslope wind is a drying wind, therefore there is little chance of precipitation anywhere in the province on Friday. Watch for the possibility of wind warnings, especially in the mountain passes, and in southwestern Alberta.
Saskatchewan
Milder weather will make its way into Saskatchewan, with a good chance of temperatures climbing above the melting point in Western Saskatchewan. On the eastern side of the province, expect highs between 0 and -5, as the province warms up considerably. Again, it will be dry and breezy across most of Saskatchewan. There will be a chance of light snow in the afternoon in east central regions, near the town of Hudson Bay.
Manitoba
It will be warmer in Manitoba as well. West of the Red River valley, temperatures will climb to the -5 to 0 range, but cold air will stick around on the east side of the province, from Sprague all the way north to Hudson Bay. In that region, expect highs between -10 and -15. Clouds will return to the province, and there will be some light snow near the lakes, and along the northern boundary.
Saturday
Alberta
Southern an central regions will remain dry, breezy, and mainly sunny. Highs in the south will climb to 5-10 degrees, with a few spots even exceeding 10. It will be warm across the province, but the weather itself won’t be the same from north to south. In the early morning, a Low will develop in the BC Peace Region, and move into Alberta. From that low, there will be snow, and mixed precipitation from Grande Prairie to Fox Creek to Athabasca. Other agricultural regions of Alberta will be left out of this bounty of precipitation.
Saskatchewan
A low in northern Alberta will send a warm front southeast into central Saskatchewan. Snow can be expected along that front in the afternoon, extending from Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta southeast to Yorkton. Accumulations will be light. South of highway 16, it will stay dry, and warm with highs of 0 to 5. Maple Creek and Swift Current have a good chance of reaching somewhere between 5 and 10 degrees with a westerly wind.
Manitoba
Mild weather continues in Manitoba, with high temperatures between 0 and -5 across the south and the Interlake. That region is expected to be mainly cloudy on Saturday, while to the north, it’s sunny, due to a high pressure system in the northwestern corner of the province. Because of that arctic high, temperatures in northern Manitoba are unlikely to exceed -10, and may remain in the -15 to -20 degree range through the day.
Sunday
The Low that developed in the Peace country will move across the northern and central prairies on Sunday, and the grey area shaded in the map below shows where snow is likely:
As the map shows, 5-10 cm of snow can be expected in the shaded area, with a risk of freezing rain for west central Saskatchewan. Most of Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, and northern Manitoba continue with dry weather. And, it will warm up even more on Sunday, with temperatures exceeding the melting point all the way from the west coast to Winnipeg. Highs of 5-10 degrees can be expected south of the central Saskatchewan snow, and parallel to the foothills in western Alberta. As the map below shows, highs of 15 to 20 degrees are even possible in the Lethbridge area. The map shows temperatures expected mid-afternoon Sunday:
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