Environment Canada has posted a winter storm watch for all of Southern MB for a major winter storm that is expected to affect much of the southern Prairies over the next few days. The worst of the storm is expected to spread into the Brandon-Dauphin areas Monday afternoon reaching Winnipeg and the Red River valley Monday night when blizzard conditions are expected to develop. At this point, it looks like about 5 to perhaps 10 cm of snow is expected across the Red River valley Monday night which will taper off Tuesday morning. Strong northwest winds gusting to 70 km/h will drive much colder air into the area and will create widespread blowing and drifting snow, giving blizzard conditions Monday night into Tuesday morning across much of southern MB. Conditions will be worst in rural areas but blizzard conditions are expected even in Winnipeg for a few hours Monday night into Tuesday morning. As a result, residents should be prepared for the possibility of road and school closures Tuesday as the storm moves across the region. Conditions should improve Tuesday afternoon as the storm moves east into Northwest Ontario.Note: This storm will be affecting southern SK Sunday night through Monday with widespread blizzard conditions likely. If you have any travel plans to the west tomorrow, be prepared for alternate arrangements as there will likely be numerous road closures and flight cancellations throughout southern SK on Monday. Check the western Canada webcam page to monitor the progress of this storm.
Latest model runs pointing to less snowfall over southern MB as this storm moves through Monday night.. maybe 2 to 5 cm at most for Winnipeg and the Red River valley. This will still be enough to cause blizzard conditions Monday night, but the worst of it may be over by Tuesday morning, except in rural areas where the winds will continue to produce blizzard conditions through much of the day Tuesday. Blowing and drifting snow will still be a problem across all of the Red River valley Tuesday with some road closures likely. If we get more snowfall Monday night, or if the snowfall lingers into Tuesday morning, then blizzard conditions will likely continue through Tuesday morning before we see improvement. Monitoring radar, satellite, surface and upper air data will now be critical in monitoring how this storm will affect us.
ReplyDeleteIf we indeed get minimal snowfall with this storm system, then the main story on Tuesday will be the winds and plunging temperatures.. into the -20s by afternoon, with windchills approaching -40. So get out and enjoy those mild temperatures today and Monday if you can... the deep freeze is coming back!
Nice mild afternoon across southern MB and southern SK.. ahead of the big Arctic blast roaring into Alberta right now. Unofficial temperatures of +2 to +5C from Winkler to Boissevain today, with +5 to +8C across southern SK! Meanwhile it's -20C in Calgary with strong northerly winds. These are the type of airmass changes that would kill unsuspecting Prairie settlers years ago.
ReplyDeleteBlizzard Warning for most of Southern Saskatchewan, a sign of what is to come!
ReplyDeleteOnefour AB, in the extreme southeast corner of Alberta, went from +2 and light winds at 4 pm, to -17 and sustained winds of 71 km/h (windchill -33) at 7 pm! A 20 degree drop in 3 hours. Snow is overspreading southern AB and southwest SK as the Montana low intensifies from cold air injection from the north and Pacific moisture spreads in from the southwest. Blizzard conditions a given for much of southern SK spreading from west to east tonight.
ReplyDeleteCalgary already down to an impressive -27 C. Needless to say its going to be a brutal shot to the system as this extremely cold air mass and howling winds blast thru our area. 850 mb temps are progged to drop nearly 30 degrees! Hopefully the strong winds and plunging temps will hold off until the afternoon commute is finished.
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