Prairie Weather (Rural Roots Canada) – Persistent Pattern: Mostly dry weather continues through the weekend across the prairies
The weather across the prairies will remain dry through the weekend, in most areas. As the map below shows, central Alberta and Saskatchewan could see some moisture in the coming days, but the overall dry pattern continues for the southern prairies. The map is plotting total precipitation up until Sunday evening:
South of the Yellowhead highway, whatever rain does fall will not be significant. There is also a low risk of frost and no risk of major snowstorms in the coming days.
Low pressure off the BC coast will continue to produce drenching rains in coastal BC, and drying westerly wind across the prairies. This pattern won’t change much over the next few days, though on Sunday, the “mother low” off the coast may generate a secondary low that will provide rain and snow to northwestern Alberta.
Thursday
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
Benign weather can be expected across all three prairie provinces Thursday, with high pressure keeping the sky mainly clear. The Pacific Low will generate a westerly wind in Alberta, while the wind in Saskatchewan and Manitoba will come from the south. In Alberta, expeect highs in the 10-15 degree range, though high teens are likely in the south. In Saskatchewan, expect 10-15 degree highs in the south, while central and northern regions can expect highs of 5 to 10 degrees. And in Manitoba, it will be cooler, with highs of 5-10 degrees west of the Red River Valley, and only 0-5 in eastern Manitoba.
Friday
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
It’s another day of quiet weather across the three prairie provinces, with mainly sunny conditions. Alberta’s wind will shift from the west to the south, and the province may see a bit more cloud than Thursday. There is little change for Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In most areas, though, it will be a much warmer day. Early morning lows in Alberta may stay as warm as 10 degrees, with afternoon highs climbing to the 15-20 degree range in the south, and as far north as Edmonton. North of the Yellowhead highway, highs of 10-15 degrees can be expected. In Saskatchewan, it will also be warm. South of Saskatoon, highs of 15-20 are anticipated, with 10-15 degree highs to the north. And Manitoba will also warm up with highs of 10-15 degrees in southwestern Manitoba and the Red River Valley, 5-10 degrees elsewhere.
Saturday
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
With low pressure continuing to dance in the water off the BC coast, there is little change in the dry and mainly sunny weather on the prairies. However, a secondary low pressure system is expected to form in northwestern Alberta, and produce some rain showers Saturday in the northwestern part of the province, north of Peace River. By the end of the day, that Low travels to the Northwest Territories, and the rain follows along. Elsewhere on the prairies, the weather stays dry for yet another day. Expect increasing cloud in southern Alberta and across Saskatchewan. It will cool down a bit in Alberta, with highs of 10-15 across central regions, and 15-20 in the south. Highs in northern Alberta will reach 5-10 degrees. Saskatchewan stays warm with highs in the 15-20 degree range south of Prince Albert. To the north, highs will be closer to 10 degrees. In Manitoba, again the warm areas will be southwestern Manitoba and the Red River Valley with highs of 15-20. Elsewhere, expect temperatures to reach 10-15 degrees.
Sunday
Alberta
The weather begins to get a bit more interesting in Alberta on Sunday as the mother low in the Pacific spawns a secondary low in central Alberta. That low will produce rain and perhaps snow for parts of northwestern Alberta on Sunday. Snow will likely be contained to the mountains and higher foothills elevations, but expect a band of rain across north central Alberta. extending from Peace River southeast to Lloydminster. That line of rain will gradually move north during the day. Southern Alberta stays dry, as a westerly wind wraps around the low. Highs in southern and central Alberta will reach 10-15 degrees. And while it will be cooler in the north, it will be warm enough to keep the rain from turning to snow at lower elevations.
Saskatchewan
A low that develops in central Alberta Sunday morning will intensify as it moves into Saskatchewan by the end of the day. The low will spread rain into central Saskatchewan through most of the day, while leaving southern regions dry. North of North Battleford, expect a possible 10 mm of rain. It will be too warm for any snow, with highs of 10-15 degrees in the south, and 5-10 degrees in the north.
Manitoba
Late in the day, some showers could develop in the northern Interlake region due to a low moving into Saskatchewan from Alberta, but the rest of the province, including the agricultural lands of southern Manitoba will stay dry. expect a partly cloudy sky, a southerly or southwesterly wind, and warm weather. Highs in the south will range from 15-20 degrees, and in the north, expect highs of 10-15 before the rain arrives from the west.
EVENT FORECAST:
Fall Junior Rodeo – High River, AB, October 24 and 25. October 24: Mainly sunny, high 18
October 25: Partly cloudy, high 14
COMPARE: Prairie Weather This Week – October 13
