Prairie Weather This Week – Midweek Update Nov 20 |

Prairie Weather (Rural Roots Canada) – Ahead of changes next week, the warm dry weather continues

An upper ridge of high pressure will dominate western Canada through Sunday, continuing the mostly dry pattern. Temperatures will be near or above average across the prairies. The ridge will deflect any incoming systems to the north, and no major storm systems are expected to cross the prairies. However, there may be spotty light precipitation as clipper systems pass through the southern prairies. It’s unlikely any of the clippers will transform into a major storm.

This map shows precipitation expected until the early evening of Sunday Nov 23. There’s just not a lot there….

Thursday

Alberta

It will be a dry day across Alberta, but some areas will experience considerable wind, especially along the foothills, with gusts of 50 to 60 km.h. Due to a weak upper level disturbance, there will be some cloud for northern Alberta, with the rest of the province under a mainly sunny sky. The strong southern Alberta wind will bring warm weather to the region, with highs climbing above the melting point. North of the Trans Canada Highway, temperatures will remain below zero.

Saskatchewan

A low in northern Manitoba produces some light snow for the northern Saskatchewan forests, but that moisture will pull off to the east and taper off during the day. Agricultural regions will stay dry, and most of the province will have a mainly sunny day. It will be cool, with temperatures remaining below the freezing point.

Manitoba

Light snow will fall in northern and southeastern Manitoba during much of the day, tapering off as a Low pressure system crosses the northern part of the province, heading into Ontario by the end of the day. As the map below shows, accumulations will be minor to moderate, with agricultural areas remaining dry.

Temperatures across most of Manitoba will remain below zero Thursday, though south of the Trans Canada Highway, highs may be as warm as 0 to 5 degrees.

Friday

Alberta

Friday’s another quiet weather day in Alberta, though a weak surface trough is likely to produce plenty of cloud, especially during the midday. No precipitation is expected in Alberta. There will be a warm wind from the southwest, and temperatures will rise above the melting point in most of the province, the exception being low lying valleys, coulees, highway 9 northeast of Calgary, and the Yellowhead highway east of Edmonton. Those areas could remain below zero all day.

Saskatchewan

Warm westerlies will bring temperatures above zero in southern Saskatchewan, south of the Trans Canada Highway. The rest of the province will continue with sub-freezing temperatures. Most of Saskatchewan will be mainly sunny, however a weak disturbance late in the day will produce some light snow in the northern forests toward evening. Accumulations will be minor. There is a risk of freezing rain for the La Ronge area for a brief period in the early evening.

Manitoba

Manitoba’s Friday forecast is straightforward. Mainly sunny and dry. The wind will be light, and Manitoba will not catch the warm westerlies that will produce above zero highs to parts of Saskatchewan and most of Alberta. The southern half of Manitoba will achieve highs in the -2 to -7 range, while in the north, temperatures will be closer to -10.

Saturday

Alberta

A drying westerly wind will continue Saturday in Alberta, so the subsidence flow off the mountains will give the province another dry, warm, and windy day. There is upper level support as Saturday is the day the ridge reaches its peak. That said, most of the province will be slightly cooler than Friday, with highs within a few degrees of zero. South of the Trans Canada Hihgway, though, in the chinook belt, there is an opportunity for 5-10 degree highs.

Saskatchewan

It’s another dry day for Saskatchewan’s agricultural regions, and for most of the rest of the province. A weak disturbance could bring light snow near the boundary with the Northwest Territories. Otherwise, it will be another quiet day, with a westerly wind. In southern Saskatchewan, highs will be just above zero, and in the north, it will be mild, with highs between 0 and -5.

Manitoba

It will be a warm November day in Manitoba, with highs climbing above the melting point in most of the populated areas. It will be cooler to the north, but still relatively warm, with highs between 0 and -5. While the south will be mainly sunny with a westerly wind, a northern Low will produce some light snow through most of the day over the northern permafrost.

Sunday

Alberta

Sunday will be another dry, partly cloudy day in Alberta, but things are starting to happen. A low pressure clipper system will begin to develop in southern Alberta. The impact on Sunday’s weather will be minimal, with most of the province remaining dry. However, some late day snow is likely to form over the foothills and mountains, getting ready to move across the southern part of the province, spreading snow across the region on Monday. For Sunday, though, it will be dry and warm. Double digit highs can be expected Sunday south of the Trans Canada Highway. To the north, expect highs of only 0 to -5. There will be an abrupt change in the weather Sunday night as the wintry conditions develop, and could have a significant effect on travel through central and southern Alberta on Monday morning.

Saskatchewan and Manitoba

While we see change developing in Alberta Sunday, Saskatchewan and Manitoba will have another quiet day, under a partly cloudy sky. There is a chance of afternoon flurries or freezing rain near Prince Albert, but the remainder of the region stays dry. The map below shows temperatures for the late afternoon in Saskatchewan and Manitoba:

Nest Week:

There will be a return to active weather across the southern prairies next week, with a couple of snowy weather systems crossing the area. The first on Monday, the second on Saturday. The map below shows an animation of next week’s expected weather. Bear in mind, this is a long way out, and subject to change.