Hot week ahead.. Scattered thunderstorms possible later in week

Mid summer heat will be spreading across southern Manitoba this week as a large upper ridge of high pressure over western Canada slowly pushes east across the Prairies. This ridge is resulting in widespread temperatures in the low to mid 30s across southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, which will be spreading east into southern MB this week. In Winnipeg, temperatures are expected to approach the 30C mark today, and surpass the 30C mark the rest of the week into the weekend, with maximum temperatures of 35C possible. Conditions will be generally sunny and hot, although there will be a threat of scattered thunderstorms Wednesday through Friday as some minor impulses track across southern Manitoba, triggering a few scattered thunderstorms that could be heavy at times given the building heat and humidity.  Other than that, looks like an extended spell of hot weather ahead.. plan to stay cool!

Rain over southern Red River valley this morning.. Building heat expected over Prairies next week

A large thunderstorm complex over North Dakota is spreading an area of rain across the Red River valley this morning, generally south of a line from Carman through Brunkild to Steinbach. Rainfall amounts of will range from 10-15 mm near the US border to little or no rain north of St Agathe.(UPDATE: rain has spread up to Winnipeg, although bulk of rain will remain south and east of the city) This system will push east today, with gradually clearing skies expected over the Red River valley this afternoon. Saturday will start off sunny but a weak impulse tracking through the Interlake will likely spawn scattered showers and thunderstorms by the afternoon, especially north of Winnipeg. After that, it looks like we'll be in for an extended spell of warm and dry weather next week as an upper ridge builds over the western Prairies, bringing increasing heat through the week. Temperatures in the low to mid 30s will be widespread over southern Alberta and Saskatchewan early next week, with the heat expected to spread into southern Manitoba by the end of the week.

Showers and thunderstorms moving through southern MB this morning

A weakening cold frontal trough pushing across southern Manitoba this morning is triggering a band of showers and thunderstorms ahead of it, bringing the first significant rainfall to the Red River valley in two weeks.  Some heavier thunderstorms over southwest MB have produced tremendous rainfall totals over the Turtle Mountain area, with 80-100 mm of rain recorded in the Boissevain area, and 50-80 mm around Killarney. Storms are weakening as they head into the RRV, however some locally heavy downpours are still likely this morning, with local amounts of 15-25 mm possible in heavier showers and thunderstorms. This system will track east of the RRV this afternoon, with a return to warm and dry conditions for Thursday into the weekend.

A hot and sunny Canada Day on tap.. thunderstorms possible Monday

It's going to be a hot and sunny day for Canada Day celebrations in Winnipeg and southern Manitoba Sunday. Temperatures are expected to hit the 30C mark Sunday afternoon under blazing sunshine and light winds, so don't forget the hat and sunscreen if you're out! Fortunately, humidity levels will be tolerable with afternoon dewpoints in the mid teens expected. By late Sunday, thunderstorms are expected to fire up over southern Sakatchewan, possibly severe. These storms are expected to track across southeast Saskatchewan into southwest Manitoba Sunday night into early Monday, before weakening somewhat as they push into the Red River valley by midday Monday. Additional thunderstorms are possible later Monday over southern Manitoba depending on how much morning activity clears. Sunny and hot weather is expected to return Tuesday before another threat of thunderstorms moves in Wednesday.

Unsettled pattern coming to an end... brighter drier weather ahead..

The unsettled weather of the past two weeks will finally be giving way to a sunnier and drier pattern by Friday into the weekend, offering some much needed time to dry out from the recent damp and dreary weather.  Winnipeg has not seen more than 2 rainfree days in a row since June 4-6th, with frequent showers and occasional thunderstorms dumping over 50 mm of rain in the past 2 weeks at Winnipeg airport, and over 70 mm at my Charleswood site.  An upper ridge of high pressure is forecast to build over the Prairies over the weekend into next week which will finally take a stubborn storm track north of the southern Prairies, and also allow warmer air to push into our region. With increasing sunshine, temperatures should finally rebound back into the mid 20s over the weekend, with above normal temperatures possible next week.