Thursday

Southern Saskatchewan is one of many warm spots on the Prairies today, with more sun than cloud and daytime highs in the 10 to 12 degree range. There’s a slight chance of a passing shower or flurry as a few weak systems move through, but anything that falls should be pretty minor. Up north, it’s a bit more active. Northern Saskatchewan and areas near the Yellowhead highway could see some freezing drizzle in the afternoon and again overnight, along the dividing line between the milder and colder air. It’s not expected to be as impactful as earlier in the week, but it’s still something to watch], especially if you’ve got field work or equipment moving around.

Manitoba

Manitoba weather today is trending milder as warmer air continues to move in across the province. Western Manitoba will see highs in the 5 to 8 degree  range under mostly cloudy skies, while eastern areas stay a bit cooler, with temperatures closer to 3 to 5 degrees. There’s a slight chance of light showers or flurries in the Interlake, and as far north as Thompson, but most areas will just deal with cloudy conditions. Freezing drizzle is still something to watch along the boundary between warm and cold air. That said, any icing risk should be fairly brief thanks to fast-moving weather systems.

Friday

Friday’s significant weather chart shows snow for the Peace Region and north central Alberta,  wind for southwestern Alberta,  and rain for Manitoba and Saskatchewan on Friday:

Peace Region

Peace country weather Friday is taking a turn back to winter. Expect steady snow through the day with a high around -4. Into the evening and overnight, expect snow flurries, with temperatures dropping to -8. Across northwestern Alberta, this system could bring 10 to 15 cm of snow in some areas as it moves through. That lines up with what we are seeing across the rest of the Peace Region. Travel conditions will go downhill Friday afternoon into the evening, with snow-covered roads likely by nightfall. Field work will be difficult, if not temporarily put on hold, as winter conditions return.

Alberta

Southern and central Alberta weather stays on the mild side – for now. Southern areas will still see some sunshine with highs in the low to mid-teens, but clouds will build through the afternoon as a Pacific system moves in. A big story will be the strong Chinook winds along the foothills and across the southern plains. Gusts could be powerful at times, creating challenges for driving, particularly on north-south roads and highways south of Calgary.  As the chart above shows, gusts could reach 100 km/h in the zone marked “C”.  By late afternoon and into the evening, conditions start to shift. Moisture from a developing system will push into central Alberta, bringing precipitation, mainly snow, to the region. Northern Alberta weather Friday looks much more wintry, especially in the northwest. Snow will develop through the day, with 10 to 15 cm possible in some areas as this system moves through. Temperatures will stay cold enough for steady snowfall, with highs around -4. Travel could become difficult, particularly on rural and secondary roads, as conditions deteriorate through the day.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan weather Friday stays fairly mild, but you’ll notice more cloud cover building in as a fast-moving clipper system develops to the west.  Across the province, expect a mix of sun and cloud along with a slight chance of scattered showers or flurries. It won’t be a major precipitation day, but a few passing systems could bring brief changes in conditions.  In northern and central Saskatchewan, freezing drizzle is still a possibility during the morning and midday, especially in areas sitting along the boundary between warmer and colder air. It’s not expected to be widespread, but it could create some slick spots.   Temperature wise, northern areas will be close to seasonal, while southern Saskatchewan stays a bit warmer than average.

Manitoba

Manitoba weather Friday looks a lot like Thursday – mainly cloudy with a chance of light mixed precipitation, including a few rain showers or flurries. Western Manitoba will hang onto the milder air a bit longer, with highs in the 5 to 8°C range. But that won’t last all day. Conditions are expected to start going downhill late Friday as a fast-moving clipper system pushes in from the west. Expect increasing clouds, a higher chance of precipitation, and a shift toward more unsettled weather heading into Friday night.  The area with the greatest chance of precipitation is marked with an “A” on the chart above.  The most significant rain will be north of the main agricultural regions.

Saturday

The significant weather chart for Saturday shows an active pattern, with significant snowfall for the central Alberta foothills, a strong wind in southwestern Alberta,  and both rain and snow for Saskatchewan and Manitoba:

Peace Region

Compared to the rest of the prairies, Saturday will be rather quite in the Peace Region.  After Friday’s snow system clears out, we’re looking at a bright but crisp day with a high just above the melting point. It’s a bit of a shift from the mild weather we had earlier this week, so don’t let the blue sky fool you; winter isn’t done with us yet.  The real story is the overnight drop. With a clear sky, the temperature is falls to near -10. For anyone in the Peace Region dealing with muddy or unfrozen ground, heads up: everything is going to refreeze solid tonight.

Alberta

Alberta gets a sharp reality check this weekend as a fast-moving clipper system brings a definitive end to the week’s unseasonable warmth. Starting Saturday morning, a low-pressure center developing over central Alberta will trigger accumulating snow before tracking into southern regions by Saturday night and Sunday, marking the first significant snowfall in a while. Southern highs will struggle to stay at or just above 0, northern areas will actually see clearing skies, and the overnight low will fall to near -10. This transition will be marked by shifting winds as the warm westerly Chinooks along the Rockies diminish, replaced by a colder airmass that poses a significant challenge. Grain haulers are encouraged to wrap up logistics on Friday before road traction and visibility deteriorate across the central and southern corridors.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan weather Saturday will include a quick, abrupt transition as a clipper system tracks southeast from Alberta, bringing a modest shot of snow and much cooler temperatures to the central and southern regions. There is quite a bit of uncertainty over snowfall totals, though the map above indicates 10-15 cm.  The real headline will likely be the wind. Expect daytime highs to hover between 0 and 3, but in the southwest, severe Chinook gusts could easily whip up any fresh accumulation into localized whiteouts. For the agricultural community, this means a  high-alert day for calving, as the combination of moisture and wind chill can be brutal on newborns. Keep a close eye on rapidly changing road visibility and prepare for a sharp reality check as the week’s earlier warmth suddenly disappears.

Manitoba

Manitoba’s weather is set for a sharp transition Saturday as a fast-moving clipper system tracks across the southern Prairies, bringing a messy mix of precipitation and a noticeable cooling trend to the province. Those near the Saskatchewan border should prepare for accumulating snow, while those further east may see rain or a rain-snow mix depending on the system’s exact track and fluctuating temperatures. With daytime highs dropping into the 0 to 3 degree range, a significant cooling from Friday’s mild values, the combination of moisture and gusty winds could trigger blowing snow and temporarily reduce visibility on rural roads.

Sunday

Peace Region

Weather in the Peace Region is settling into a crisp, high-pressure pattern Sunday, offering a sunny high of 3 before shifting into cold, cloudy periods overnight.  This cold snap will effectively consolidate the snowpack from Friday’s system and allow rural roads to firm up, providing a brief window of stability for Peace Region producers. However, the reprieve is short-lived; flurries return Monday and Monday night, with steady periods of snow expected Tuesday through Wednesday. This mid-week return to winter conditions serves as a firm reminder that even after the March equinox, winter isn’t done with us yet.

Alberta

As the clipper system moves out of Alberta this Sunday, a firmly established Arctic airmass will bring a sharp reality check to the province, with clearing skies from northwest to southeast failing to offset temperatures that remain stuck near or below freezing. This dramatic departure from earlier double-digit highs means any snow accumulation from Saturday will persist, though southern Alberta may see lingering flurries before high pressure fully takes hold. Across Northern Alberta, Sunday will be mainly sunny but bitingly cold, with overnight lows plunging into the -9 to -10 degree range and field conditions remaining frozen solid. For Alberta producers, this shift marks the start of another extended period of cold, unsettled weather.

Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan sky is expected to clear throughout the day as the high-pressure system establishes its presence. While mostly sunny conditions will develop, daytime highs will remain capped in the 0 to 3 degree range.  On Sunday night, the combination of a clear sky and fresh snow cover will trigger rapid radiative cooling, causing temperatures to plummet sharply after sunset.

Manitoba

Manitoba will see a similar trend as the Arctic high settles over the province by Sunday afternoon. Temperatures will stay cool, hovering near or just below freezing in western regions, before dropping significantly overnight. This shift sets the stage for a dry but cold start to the work week, providing a stable window for livestock chores, though the “deep freeze” overnight will require extra attention to waterers and newborn calves.