An Alberta clipper system tracking through southern Manitoba overnight brought a swath of heavy wet snow through western MB and the Interlake.. just as people were looking forward to the unofficial start of summer this holiday weekend. The heaviest snow fell through the northern Riding Mountain area through Dauphin and the Lake Manitoba Narrows into the central Interlake where 20-30 cm of snow was reported. The photo here is from Dauphin which received about 20 cm of the white stuff overnight. Other snowfall reports included..McCreary................ 30 cm
Grandview.............. 30 cm
Eddystone................ 30 cm
Roblin 3 NW............ 30 cm
Russell......................25-30 cm
Hodgson................... 27 cm (east of Ashern)
Gilbert Plains............. 24 cm
Bissett......................... 23 cm
Moosehorn.................. 20 cm+
Dauphin.................. 20 cm
Roblin...................... 20 cm
Laurier.................... 20 cm
Alonsa......................20 cm
Eriksdale................ 20 cm
Ethelbert................ 20 cm
Fisher Branch..........20 cm
Rossburn................... 14 cm
Inglis..................... 12 cm
Riverton................ 9 cm
Gimli......................7 cm
Further south of these regions, precipitation was in the form of rain although temperatures in the low single digits were well below normal for mid May. The system is quickly clearing out of the province today today and will be followed by drier and milder weather for Saturday and Sunday, before another cooldown for holiday Monday.
The satellite image here from the morning of the 16th reveals where the heaviest snow fell with this system. Note the white swath of snow across the Riding Mtns into the Interlake regions and east of Lake Winnipeg. A small streamer of snow also extended south of Lake Winnipeg through Beausejour.
Nice photo.....
ReplyDeleteWill frost warnings need to be issued later....????
Lot of people have flowers planted already!
Frost warnings are issued starting Victoria Day until Oct 1st. I haven't even thought of landscaping yet this year.. although it finally looks like we may be getting a change to a warmer weather pattern by the end of next week.
ReplyDeleteThat trend this millennia of cool Mays is continuing. The average for the 50 years ending 1999. is 11.5. For the last 9 years it is 10.5 and this year will bring it lower still.
ReplyDeleteJim
..and at the same time, Fargo hit nearly 20 C in the warm sector and are dealing with some significant surface based convection along the cold front. Cold mid-level temperatures and better moisture are enough to generate the instability down there.
ReplyDeleteYeah.. GFS 1200Z run is completely different and much more progressive with strong cold front on Monday. 1200Z GEM global at 132 hr also shows a big change with no surface low on Wednesday.
A lot model uncertainty obviously so not much is clear at this point. Better agreement on rapid warm air advection from SW on Sunday. This could give us a high in the lower twenties.. a brief respite from the cold. Strong warm advection to continue Sunday nite with 850 hPa temps over 10 C. SW trajectory not conducive to good moisture return.
By Monday another lobe of the very active (and large) arctic vortex is progged to rotate thru.. we'll see. At the same time sub tropical ridge is firmly established south of 40 N. It has to eventually make further north ...I hope.
For what is worth, GFS eventually pumps up a huge upper ridge over the western prairies the latter part of the extended. Looks like a something out of 1988 (heatwave/drought pattern).
Thanks to you and RobObs the Links and all of you who contribute to this Blog. We have used the information and speculation here and on RobsObs to perform and occasionally postpone or detour many outdoor activities including Ski Holidays, Beach , Golf, Hiking,, Hauling trailers, not to mention early flood control etc. The early warning of inclement weather is a lot more pivotal when your activities are on and around Lake Winnipeg and involve children. Your contributions really do make a difference. A special thanks to Daniel's heat wave prediction and Justins optimistic forecast for next weekend Cancelling this weekend is so much easier
ReplyDeleteCancel this weekends plans!!!
ReplyDeleteTomorrow will be a nice day....
Mind you the water will be a little chilly!!!!
Anonymous..
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind comments. I run this blog to give more insight into weather forecasts that are generally too skimpy on details and explanation. I enjoy everyone's contributions to the blog who provide valuable insight as well.. from thunderstorm forecasting to flood forecasts. Glad you find this site helpful and informative for your planning purposes.
Looking at my weather records for the past few years, I see these "surprise" May snowstorms over southern MB have occurred a few times in the past decade.
ReplyDeleteMay 11-12 2000... 25-40 cm snow Elkhorn MB to Moose Mountain SK.
May 8-9 2002... 10-20 cm snow southern MB including Winnipeg
May 11-12 2004.. 20-40 cm of snow Winnipeg to Brandon
May 15 2009... 20-30 cm snow Roblin through Dauphin to Interlake
Whether this is due to climate change or natural variability, it seems that we should not be too surprised to see a major snowfall in May in southern MB given the trend over the past decade.
ROB IS that 20C fcst tomorrow on TWN a mirage. If not it will be only the second day of +20 this month.
ReplyDeleteThose doubters might want to redo their cancellation.
DANIEL P a +20 and no comment?
Have you bailed on any warm weather predictions??
20 C tomorrow!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling it will not... because there may be just to much cloud cover with a chance of showers.
Here's hoping for a 20 C!
20C is possible tomorrow.. especially southwest of Winnipeg. (a lot better than that bizzare 10C that was forecast on Friday) We'll have some high level cloud streaming over us through the day, but it may be thin enough with some breaks to help us get close to that 20C mark. There'll be a brisk southerly wind however so it won't feel as warm as it could.
ReplyDeleteQuite the change for Monday however with that sharp cold front pushing through bringing gusty north winds and temperatures in the single digits. There may even be another coating of snow for the Riding Mtns and Interlake areas overnight Sunday into early Monday (though not a repeat of yesterday's storm) We stay below normal for much of the week, but long range guidance continues to indicate a nice prolonged warmup by next weekend with temperatures in the 20s, hopefully taking us through the end of May.