Prairie warm-up comes with freezing rain risk this weekend
Get ready to finally thaw out on the Prairies, as an exceptional spring-like warm-up is on the way. A risk of freezing rain is also on the way for much of the region through the weekend
The extreme cold warnings have finally come to an end across the Prairies. A warm up across the region is expected throughout the weekend and into early next week. However, freezing rain is in store for much of the region throughout the weekend.
At one point, extreme cold warnings spanned over 3000 km, from the Prairies down to Texas.
Pattern change with some major temperature improvements
A blocking pattern off the coast of B.C. is decaying, and will allow for the return of onshore Pacific flow. That will bring a rapid change from below seasonal temperatures, to well above seasonal by the end of the week and weekend.
Warmer air started to flow into Alberta on Thursday, with high temperatures finally cracking the freezing mark by the weekend. These will be the first temperatures above zero for many in Saskatchewan and Manitoba in over a month's time.
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Across southern sections of Alberta, daytime highs could actually near or reach double-digit values by Saturday!
This will be a major temperature rebound, with 40-degree increases for places like Saskatoon and Regina, Sask. In Calgary, Alta., a 35°C warm-up is on the way.
Freezing rain develops in time for the weekend
As the milder air flows in along a boundary across northern areas this weekend could create slick road conditions as freezing rain develops.
The boundary will develop overnight Saturday into Sunday morning, and with the extreme cold that the region has experienced over the past week, icy conditions could develop across northern Alberta along the Yellowhead highway, flowing into Saskatchewan and Manitoba on Sunday.
Grand Prairie, Edmonton, and Lloydminster will be the first to feel the effects of the precipitation on Saturday night and into Sunday. Those in Saskatoon and Regina will start to see the precipitation on Sunday morning and as the boundary line continues moving through the region, Brandon, Winnipeg and Dauphin will see precipitation begin in the evening on Sunday.
While this won't be an ice storm, this is the perfect set-up for icy roads and freezing rain to develop.
Stay with The Weather Network for more forecast information and updates on your weather across the Prairies.