Prairie Weather (Rural Roots Canada) – RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares the mid-week prairie weather forecast.
Thursday:
Alberta
It should snow through much of the day from near Drumheller to Edmonton and Grande Prairie. 5-10 cm of snow can be expected, though an easterly wind will enhance the snow totals in the foothills near Edson and Hinton. Snow in southern Alberta, from Crowsnest Pass to Saskatchewan, will taper off during the day, leaving behind a partly cloudy sky for the afternoon. The province will still be under the influence of Arctic high pressure at the surface and a northwesterly flow aloft. So yes, it will be another very cold day. East of the foothills, high temperatures will stay below -10, but in the foothills, it may warm to about -5. In Central Alberta, temperatures could fall during the afternoon, and by mid-evening in Lloydminster, it is entirely possible that it will be as cold as -30. Keep your batteries charged, your jumper cables handy, and your cows in shelter.
Saskatchewan
The flow of bitterly cold Arctic air takes straight aim at Saskatchewan, and this could be the coldest day of the season so far. Temperatures across most of the province will be stuck in the -20s all day. It will be a clear and sunny day with no cloud to provide the insulating effect that keeps temperatures from dropping to unspeakable lows. By evening, temperatures will likely drop to -30 across central Saskatchewan. There may be some late afternoon flurries near Leader, otherwise, the only snow expected in Saskatchewan Thursday will fall in the far northern forests.
Manitoba
For yet another day, Manitoba’s temperature pattern will have an east-west split, with highs near -15 west of Virden, and closer to -10 to the east. With the warmth on the east side of the province comes snow. And snow is expected to fall all day, in the warmer air east of Portage La Prairie, and all the way to the far northern regions of the province. The moisture is coming from the circulation around a Low pressure system near James Bay.
Friday:
Alberta
With an easterly wind, snow will continue to fall Friday in parts of Alberta. In the morning, snow’s expected between Edmonton and Grande Prairie, and could intensify in the afternoon, especially close to the foothills. The rest of the province will be mainly cloudy, but without any significant snowfall. Arctic high pressure strengthens over the central prairies, so cold weather will persist. It will be warmer in the foothills, with highs near -10, but for the rest of Albertans, temperatures will peak somewhere between -15 and -20.
Saskatchewan
Snow will fall Friday in northeastern Saskatchewan, but the rest of the province stays dry. Arctic high pressure will be centred over the middle of the province, drawing in cold air. Early morning temperatures across central Saskatchewan will be near -30. The high should bring sunshine to much of Saskatchewan, nonetheless it stays cold all day, with highs of -15 to -25 across the province. At these temperatures, even the lightest of winds could produce a strong wind chill. You’ll likely want to limit your time outdoors, and if you haven’t already done so, take precautions for your animals, as this will be the coldest day so far this season.
Manitoba
Most of northern and eastern Manitoba will receive snow through the day. The now oddly familiar temperature pattern remains, with very cold weather in southwestern Manitoba, and warmer conditions east and north of Lake Winnipeg. Bittlerly cold air moves in Friday night, and temperatures could drop to near -30 in western Manitoba from The Pas to Brandon, close to the Saskatchewan boundary.
Saturday:
Alberta
A band of snow will form along something called a deformation zone, which will run diagonally from just north of Jasper to Coronation. South and north of the zone it should stay mainly cloudy, but dry. The band of snow will remain through the day and evening, shifting slightly north as the day goes on. The deformation zone is essentially separating warm air to the west from arctic air across most of the province. Temperatures in the foothills could warm all the way to zero, but in the rest of the province, highs will be closer to -15 to -20.
Saskatchewan
Light snow will fall from time to time across southern Saskatchewan during the day, and in the northeastern part of the province. The cold air begins to moderate somewhat, with an end to the -30 overnight lows, but make no mistake, it’s another cold day. Highs of -10 to -15 are possible south of the Trans Canada highway, but most of the province will only see highs of -15 to -20.
Manitoba
The pattern of warm air in northeastern Manitoba, and colder air in the south and west continues. The big Low to the east that has been generating snow across Manitoba’s eastern half for several days will continue to do so. A westerly wind in southwestern Manitoba will keep that region dry and cold, with highs near -20.
Sunday:
Snow will continue in northwestern Alberta, notably from Edmonton northwest to the Peace Region. Saskatchewan can expect dry weather, and Manitoba will be dry, except for some snow in the Interlake. There are signs of a warm up in the prairies for next week, but Sunday will remain cold. Two maps below: The first one, showing BC and Alberta, indicates mild Pacific air will begin to infiltrate the foothills, and temperatures there will rise to the negative single digits. Elsewhere in Alberta, it stays cold Sunday. The second map, shows how cold Sunday’s expected to be in the afternoon across the prairies.
COMPARE: Prairie Weather This Week – Nov 25
