Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
The stretch of balmy weather is coming to an end as southern Manitoba sits on the cusp of a winter storm that could bring blizzard conditions to rural areas.
“Winter isn’t letting go of its grip again,” Terri Lang, meteorologist from Environment and Climate Change Canada, told CBC News on Tuesday. “You got yourself a recipe for really messy conditions.”
A cold front is expected to send Winnipeg’s temperature plunging to -15 C on Tuesday night.
The mercury had climbed to 6 C earlier Tuesday, melting some of the snow that now is expected to freeze wiftly, according to Environment Canada.
“We may see some blowing and drifting snow and that’s just this evening,” Lang said.
A second weather system will sweep through southern Manitoba on Wednesday, hitting Winnipeg in the afternoon.
Lang says the atmospheric river that led to flooding in British Columbia is moving to the Rockies where it will get shredded and reform into an Alberta clipper.
“This one has quite a lot of moisture associated with it,” he said, “so we’re going to see that move through quickly.”
Temperatures to plunge to -30 C
Environment Canada is predicting Winnipeg could get slapped with from 10 to 15 cm of fresh snow. Strong winds are also expected on Wednesday evening, with gusts to near 80 km/h.
“We are expecting widespread blowing snow and drifting snow. Tomorrow evening is gonna be really tricky for travelling,” Lang said.
A mass of cold Arctic air is expected through southern Manitoba on Thursday morning with temperatures expected to plunge to -30 C.
During the height of the storm on Wednesday, the federal agency says, it is possible the outskirts of cities and rural areas in southern Manitoba could see blizzard conditions.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued two warnings in Manitoba including for cold weather in the north and winter storm conditions expected in the south. (Environment and Climate Change Canada)
“We’ll probably see the warnings start to come out,” Lang said.
A large swath of southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg, Brandon, Dauphin and Portage la Prairie, came under a winter storm yellow watch on Tuesday afternoon.
The federal weather agency has also issued a cold warning in parts of northern Manitoba due to wind chills making temperature feel as cold as -45 C.
The sharp weather turn from unseasonable to the upcoming winter weather events is not that unusual, Lang says.
“Juicy air comes off the Pacific and then you get the cold air that rubs up against the mountains,” Lang said. “Sometimes, depending on how deep the cold air is, it’ll go south. But when it’s strong like this it’s making its way across and we do see these big fluctuations.
“It doesn’t happen every winter, but certainly this week we’re on tap for it.”
