Manitoba: Heavy, blowing snow prompts warnings
Arctic air will keep the western Prairies in a deep freeze for most of the weekend, while some in the east are set to receive 10-20 cm of snow through Saturday
Snowfall warnings covered much of southeastern Manitoba to see out the week, including the City of Winnipeg, where upwards of 20 cm is possible through Saturday. Arctic air entrenched in the west will keep temperatures stuck in the -20s throughout the region for much of the weekend. Details on the heavy snow, as well as timing of the expected end to the deep freeze, below.
WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS
Dangerously cold air grips most of the Prairies for entire weekend
Heavy snowfall for Manitoba continues into Saturday
Relief from the cold coming next week
Stay up-to-date on the ALERTS in your area
SATURDAY: SNOW WINDS DOWN IN SOUTHEASTERN MANITOBA
While the western Prairies are still dealing with the dangerously cold temperatures and wind chill values, heavy snow saw out the week for Manitoba and northwestern Ontario Friday, courtesy of a trough extending into the region from a stateside low.
In all, some 15-20 cm of snow is possible in the most southeastern parts of Manitoba, with 10-15 cm possible in Winnipeg by Saturday morning, when a winding down will be expected.
Stiff overnight winds will also gradually be winding down, but will still be strong enough through at least the morning to make for some blowing snow, raising the risk of
SUNDAY/NEXT WEEK: WARMUP WILL FINALLY SNAP DEEP FREEZE
Most of the Prairies will have one more full weekend of extremely cold temperatures to contend with before warmer air finally brings an end to the dangerous and bitter cold that has been plaguing the region for the past week.
However, parts of southwestern Alberta will start to see the temperatures climb Sunday. Calgary is forecasted to get a daytime high of -2°C -- an 18-degree warmup from Saturday, while Lethbridge will hit 2°C -- an increase of 20 degrees in a 24-hour period.
By Monday, the warmup will continue to spread east across the Prairies, with temperatures in Calgary and Lethbridge to rise above zero. The deep freeze will end for most of Alberta and Saskatchewan, but temperatures will remain cold in Manitoba for the start of the week.
"A dramatic pattern reversal for next week – it will feel like early spring compared to this week! Temperatures will rise above freezing across southern Alberta early in the week. No major systems for the region next week," says The Weather Network meteorologist Dr. Doug Gillham.
Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest forecast updates.