Prairie Weather (Rural Roots Canada) – A snowstorm crosses the prairies. Chilly weekend weather. SARDA trade show forecast
Thursday
An upslope precipitation event is producing snow in central and northern Alberta and parts of Saskatchewan, and will then head into southern Manitoba on the weekend. The same system is producing scattered rain showers at times mixed with snow or snow pellets in Southern Alberta. The animation below shows the storm moving from northern Alberta to southern Manitoba from midnight Thursday morning, to early Friday morning:
Alberta
As the map above shows, significant snow is expected Thursday in central and Northern Alberta. At this time of year, a Low in Montana means Snow in Alberta. The Montana Low will develop Thursday morning, generating an easterly wind in Alberta, With a good feed of moisture, there will be considerable snow, enhanced by an upslope wind. The snow will disrupt daytime travel Thursday in the Edmonton area, and in all directions from the capital city. On the southern edge of the snow, from Devon to Leduc to Ponoka to Lloydminster, there could be a threat of freezing rain. If you have travel plans on the Yellowhead highway in Alberta or Saskatchewan on Thursday, it may be wise to make alternate plans just in case. As mentioned above, rain showers will continue in southern Alberta through the day, and even into the evening. However, as cold weather moves southward overnight, those rain showers will turn to snow.
Saskatchewan
Wintry weather returns to central and northern Saskatchewan. Snow, at times heavy, can be expected along and north of the Yellowhead highway Thursday, and travel disruptions are likely. By late afternoon, as the band of snow moves south, it may mix with rain, as it encounters some warmer air. The snow in central Saskatchewan will persist all day and into Friday, but it will taper off to lighter precipitation Thursday evening. Accumulations along the Yellowhead corridor will be meaningful, anywhere from 5 to 25 cm.
Manitoba
The system giving snow to Alberta and Saskatchewan will do the same to central Manitoba by late afternoon. The heaviest snow will fall across the interlake, toward the Whiteshell, with the southern part of the province getting only a cm or two on Thursday. This is all ahead of what could be a major snowstorm in southern Manitoba on Friday. For Thursday, though, southern and Northern Manitoba will be partly cloudy, as the snow cuts across the interlake. It will be cool, as only the areas south of the Trans Canada highway have a chance at exceeding the melting point. This is an exceedingly difficult scenario to forecast for southern Manitoba. There will be a sharp cutoff or delineation between areas of heavy snow, and areas where there is no snow at all. And, if the storm track should shift, areas thought to stay dry could be slammed with a major snowfall, and vice versa.
Friday
Snowstorm in southern Manitoba, with a high weather threat for the Winnipeg area, and along the Trans Canada Highway east and west of the Manitoba capital. More snow is expected in central Saskatchewan, central Alberta, and Banff National Park. Showers and even thunderstorms can’t be ruled out in southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan. A very active day.
Alberta
Significant snow will continue to fall in central and northern Alberta Friday, tapering off slowly during the day, as the storm system continues to shift east, focusing on southern Manitoba. While the map above doesn’t show it, snow will spread across southern Alberta during the day, falling lightly in most from Athabasca south to the US border. Calgary, Lethbridge, and the rest of southern Alberta could get measurable snowfall, though still under 5 cm in most areas. High temperatures in southern Alberta will be near 0, with highs just a few degrees lower in central and northern Alberta.
Saskatchewan
As the map above shows, southwestern Saskatchewan could experience rain, and even thundershowers near the Cypress Hills. , while central regions could see 6-20 cm, and much of that will fall Friday. Friday morning could be rather dangerous in southwestern Saskatchewan. Rain, freezing rain, and snow are all possible all along the Trans Canada Highway west of Swift Current. Elsewhere, between the Trans Canada highway and Saskatoon, expect light snow through the day, and as the map above shows, higher amounts of snow are possible north of Saskatoon. It will be cool, with high temperatures in the area ranging from -5 to -10.
Manitoba
Heavy snow is expected in southern Manitoba, starting early Friday morning and continuing throughout the day. This will be a disruptive snowfall, with weather watches and warnings. Travel plans for Friday in southern Manitoba should be postponed. As the map above shows, up to 30 cm of snow could fall in southern Manitoba along the Trans Canada highway, and in the city of Winnipeg. The interlake could receive up to 20 cm of snow. High temperatures won’t be far from zero, so this snow could have significant moisture content. Heavy, wet snow will provide benefits to agriculture in the province’s most productive regions.
Saturday
Alberta
More beneficial snow is expected for southern and southwestern Alberta on Saturday. A new impulse will spread snow across northwestern Montana and southern Alberta. Of course, the snow will be accompanied by cool weather, with highs remaining near 0 at best. Not a lot of snow can be expected in southern Alberta – 5 cm at the most west of highway 23. East of there, only 2-3 cm. The heaviest snowfall amounts on Saturday in Alberta will happen in the foothills northwest of Calgary, and even though, snow totals could max out at only about 10 cm. The snow may be welcome, but it’s not a drought-buster for the southwestern part of the province.
Saskatchewan
The snowstorm is over, but a few flurries may linger across the southern half of Saskatchewan as Arctic high pressure moves in, clearing out the northern sky. The southern half of Saskatchewan can expect a cloudy day, with highs just below 0 across the province.
Manitoba
Saturday will be a day of cleaning up after Friday’s snowstorm in the south. Significant snow is not expected anywhere in Manitoba on Saturday, and most of the province will be mainly sunny. Clouds will persist in western Manitoba, from The Pas south to North Dakota. Like the rest of the prairies, high temperatures in Manitoba will peak close to 0.
Sunday
With an Arctic high in place, centered over Saskatchewan, most of the prairies will be mainly sunny to partly cloudy on Sunday. The circulation around the high may produce a few upslope snow flurries in southwestern Alberta, and perhaps over the Cypress Hills, but accumulations will be minimal. In fact, with temperatures expected to rise to about +5 in the area, there may not be a chance for any accumulation at all. The Peace region of Alberta will be the warmest part of the prairies on Sunday, with highs from 5 to 10 degrees, while Saskatchewan and Manitoba shiver under the Arctic high, with temperatures in most areas remaining below the freezing point.
Event Forecast
Forecast for the SARDA Ag Research Trade Show (March 27-29) and Farm-Her Artisan Market (March 29) in Falher, Alberta
COMPARE: Prairie Weather This Week – Mar 12
