January to end on cold quiet note

Seasonably cold and quiet weather is on tap over southern Manitoba for the rest of the week into the weekend as high pressure over the Prairies blocks incoming weather systems. A brisk northwest flow of Arctic air today will diminish tonight into Thursday as a ridge of high pressure over Alberta builds into the Dakotas. This will result in more comfortable conditions Thursday and Friday with lighter winds and temperatures near normal. A weak trough of low pressure will move across southern MB on Saturday followed by a reinforcing shot of cold air for Sunday into early next week as another area of Arctic high pressure builds over the province. All in all, a pleasant end to January, which will finish about 4 or 5C above normal thanks to the spell of above normal temperatures the past 2 weeks.

Blizzard conditions slamming Red River valley and southern MB..travel not advised

Blizzard conditions have developed over the Red River valley this morning as strong northerly winds gusting to 70 or 80 km/h combine with falling snow to give poor visibilities in snow and blowing snow across the area. Travel is not advised across most highways in southern MB with several highway closures including the TransCanada between Winnipeg and Portage La Prairie and Hwy 75 to the US border. Whiteout conditions are being reported outside the city of Winnipeg with occasional zero visibility in exposed areas even within the city at times. Many rural schools are closed with bus service cancelled in most areas including Winnipeg. Blizzard conditions will continue through the morning into the afternoon before conditions begin to improve later this afternoon into this evening as snow diminishes and winds ease up. All in all.. a difficult start to the work week, with travel not recommended throughout the Red River valley. (See Free Press article on blizzard over southern MB along with photos and video)

Colder air and increasing winds moving into southern MB.. poor travelling conditions developing tonight into Monday

Temperatures will be on the way down this afternoon into tonight and Monday over southern MB as northwest winds start to pick up behind a large storm system over Wisconsin. The bulk of the snow from this storm system has ended over southern MB, however an additional 2-5 cm of new snow is possible tonight into Monday morning as cold air deepens over the area. Strong northwest winds increasing to 50 gusting 70 km/h overnight into Monday will combine with the additional snowfall to give poor visibilities in blowing snow over open areas. In addition, temperatures dropping into the mid minus teens by Monday morning will freeze up any standing water or slush from Saturday's wet snow, producing icy conditions on area roadways and bridges. This will make for poor travelling conditions tonight and Monday across southern MB, especially for the Monday morning commute.. so caution is advised if driving especially on highways outside Winnipeg. Consult MB highways for the latest road conditions across southern MB.

UPDATE: 3:30 pm Sunday: Blizzard warning issued for Red River valley including the city of Winnipeg. Strong northwest winds combining with a developing area of fresh snow tonight will produce visibilities below 1 km across the RRV overnight into Monday. Worst conditions will be in exposed rural areas outside the city. Stay tuned..

Winter Storm Warning posted for southern MB

Winter storm warnings have been posted for all of southern MB as a large storm system over the central and northern states slowly moves towards Minnesota. This system will bring a prolonged period of snow, beginning tonight and continuing through the weekend into Monday morning. The first wave of snow will be pushing into southern MB tonight from the south, and may mix with ice pellets or even freezing rain tonight into Saturday. Snow will ease somewhat over southern MB Saturday as the heaviest snowband shifts north, with precipitation possibly changing to drizzle or freezing drizzle as surface temperatures hover near the freezing mark. Snow is expected to redevelop Saturday night into Sunday as the main low pressure system intensifies over Minnesota. Northerly winds will increase later Sunday into Sunday night with snow and blowing snow giving poor visibilities and travel conditions Sunday night into Monday. All in all, storm totals of 15 to 25 cm are expected across southern MB by Monday morning, with the highest amounts across the western Red River valley through the eastern slopes of the Riding Mountains.

Snow moving in this weekend.. colder next week

After an extended period of mild and snowfree weather, it looks like southern MB will finally be seeing some snow this weekend. A complex storm system will develop to the lee of the American Rockies Friday and begin to affect the eastern Prairies into the weekend. The storm system will initially spawn a low over Montana that will spread snow over southern SK and southwest MB Friday into Friday night. This low is expected to weaken by Saturday, as the main energy is transferred to a more intense Colorado low that will track into Minnesota over the weekend. This low will bring snow to much of southern MB Saturday into Sunday, with amounts of 5-15 cm possible, with heavier amounts likely south of the border. The snowfall may be mixed with freezing rain or ice pellets on Saturday over the RRV and southeast MB as warmer air aloft feeds into the system. By Sunday, increasing northerly winds on the backside of the storm will bring colder temperatures over southern MB along with snow and areas of blowing snow. In the wake of the storm, colder and drier weather is expected Monday through next week as Arctic air pushes back into southern MB for the first time in two weeks.