Prairie Weather (Rural Roots Canada) – RRC Meteorologist David Spence takes a look at the coming weekemd’s forecast.
Thursday:
Alberta
The cold, snowy weather that has resupplied Alberta with beneficial moisture continues. Morning snow in south central Alberta tapers off in the afternoon. Then, it’s southern Alberta’s turn for snow in the evening. Most of this will target southeastern Alberta, with about 5 cm possible in the Cypress Hills.
Saskatchewan
Snow from the Low to the east continues to weaken and retreat. The northern third of Saskatchewan can expect snow through the day, but in the south, there will be low cloud, which, in places may produce some flurries or freezing drizzle. Sunny breaks are expected. Arctic high pressure building in Alberta will draw cold air into Saskatchewan, so temperatures will be WAY below average. Highs below -10 are expected across most of the province.
Manitoba
Wet and warm weather continues from the Colorado low that is moving ever so slowly east. Temperatures along the eastern boundary of the province will again climb above the melting point while the rest of the province will expect highs just a few degrees below zero. That is cold enough for snow, and snow is indeed expected across most of the province except for two areas. In the southwest it will dry out. In the northeastern part of Manitoba, expect fog and freezing drizzle changing to snow as the day goes on.
Friday:
Alberta
More snow, and this could be disruptive to highway travel, as snow is expected from Edmonton south to the US border. Circulation around the previously mentioned high to the northwest, will generate some upslope flow, so heavier snow is possible in southwestern Alberta, including Pincher Creek, Waterton, and Crowsnest Pass. The snow will move eastward through the day, with significant snowfall in the afternoon south and southeast of Calgary. The snow will lighten up a bit in the southwest, but intensify east of Highway 2, with the heaviest amounts in the Cypress Hills and near Manyberries and Onefour, where 10-15 cm are possible. The map below shows snowfall accumulations between 6:00 pm Thursday and 6:00 pm Friday:
Saskatchewan
Highs near -10 are forecast for most of Saskatchewan. The southern part of the province will have a mix of sun and cloud, with Arctic high pressure keeping the sky clear, and the temperatures low. The north and northeastern parts of the province can again expect snow, but it will taper off there will be no additional beneficial moisture for the agricultural regions.
Manitoba
The snowy week in Manitoba continues, with more expected through the day across the province, again except for the southwest. The Arctic high that has frozen Alberta and Saskatchewan for several days finally sends it’s very cold air into Manitoba, and temperatures in the southwest will peak below -10. Elsewhere, it should be 5 degrees warmer, as the snow falls.
Saturday:
Alberta
In much of Alberta, keep your snowblowers and plows gassed up. A low developing near Missoula, Montana, will spread plenty of moisture into Alberta, with heavy snowfall likely in all areas south of the Trans Canada Highway. If you make travel plans for Saturday in southern Alberta, prepare to change those plans, and monitor Environment Canada for snowfall and winter storm warnings. Plans should also be made for those animals that need protection from heavier snow. This will be an all-day snow event, with the heaviest snowfall early before noon, then tapering off. While heavier snow falls in the south, lighter snow will fall all day throughout the rest of the province.
Saskatchewan
The Montana low that will give heavy snow to southern Alberta in the morning, will move eastward, and in the afternoon, heavy snow is expected in much of southern Saskatchewan. This will cause serious travel disruptions through the region, including along the Trans Canada Highway. The heaviest snow will likely fall between Regina and Swift Current. Elsewhere, there will be significant snow across southern Saskatchewan as far north as Prince Albert. It will be cold, with low temperatures, and potentially high wind chills.
Manitoba
Cold weather will also affect Manitoba, but without the snow and blowing snow. Manitoba gets a bit of a break Saturday, and while subzero temperatures will persist through the day, there won’t be any significant precipitation in the province. It’s just a break, though, with the snow in Saskatchewan moving in on Sunday.
Sunday:
Arctic high pressure in the northern prairies and southern Territories will continue to feed very cold air intio all three prairie provinces on Sunday. Temperatures across the prairies, from north to south, are unlikely to rise any higher than -10. And while the snow ends for Alberta, more snow, most of it light, will fall across the southern halves of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as moisture is fed in from the previously mentioned Montana low, which by Sunday, will have moved to the western Great Lakes region. As the map below shows, much of Alberta could be stuck with afternoon temperatures between -15 and -20.
COMPARE: Prairie Weather This Week – Nov 18
