Reading Time: 2 minutes Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) presented its winter seasonal outlook on Dec. 4. Officials said they expect temperatures across the country to be close to or above normal for the beginning of winter. However, they pointed out Western Canada is likely to experience normal to below normal temperatures come January and February.
More precipitation at the start of winter says Environment and Climate Change Canada
Prairie forecast: Short cold snap, then warmer
Forecast issued Nov. 27, covering Nov. 27 to Dec. 4, 2024
Reading Time: 4 minutes For this forecast period, it looks like some of the coldest air of the season is on its way to Saskatchewan while most of Alberta and Manitoba appear to miss the really cold stuff. The weather models are not showing any strong storm systems impacting the region but there a few weak systems that may bring a light shot of snow here and there.
Prairie forecast: Winter settles in
Forecast issued Nov. 20, covering Nov. 20 to 27, 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutes You might be happy to know (or maybe not) that for this forecast period we should see a quieter but colder weather pattern across the Prairies. Arctic high pressure will be pulled southwards behind the eastern Prairie low and brings the first really taste of winter.
Prairie forecast: Mild weather returns
Forecast issued Nov. 6, covering Nov. 6 to 13, 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutes The weather models are showing an area of low pressure tracking across northern Canada on Wednesday and Thursday. This, combined with a digging trough of low pressure off the West Coast, will open the door for mild air to flood across the Prairies—first from the Pacific then from the western U.S.
Prairie forecast: Warmer weather to continue
Forecast issued Oct. 30, covering Oct. 30 to Nov. 6, 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutes For this forecast period, as we work into what's often the first month of winter across the Prairies, it looks like the current warmer and drier-than-average pattern of the last two months will continue. Now, to be fair, we need to realize that we are transitioning into winter. Average temperatures are cooling, so though the forecasting is calling for above-average temperatures, those temperatures are getting cooler and cooler.
Prairie forecast: Mild pattern trying to hold on
Reading Time: 3 minutes This forecast starts with an area of low pressure over northern Ontario and a resulting push of cool air over the eastern half of the Prairies. Over the western half of the Prairies, a weak ridge of high pressure is moving in. This will bring sunny skies and average or above average temperatures.
Prairie forecast: No snow – yet
Forecast issued Oct. 16, covering Oct. 16 to 23, 2024
Reading Time: 4 minutes As we work our way towards winter, we'll eventually have to start talking about snow... but it looks like that type of weather is at least another week away. Instead, the models show unseasonably warm weather continuing across much of the Prairies over this forecast period.
Prairie forecast: Mild temperatures to continue
Forecast issued Oct. 9, covering Oct. 9 to 16, 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutes As this forecast period starts, the Prairies are feeling the effects of an upper ridge as it slowly slides eastwards and breaks down thanks due to low-pressure tracking over the ridge. Here is where things get interesting. Overall, the models have consistently shown an area of low-pressure tracking over the ridge late this week and over the weekend. This low is forecasted to drop southeastwards and deepen dramatically.
Warmer, drier October followed by colder, snowier November
Reading Time: < 1 minute The balance of October is likely to remain warmer than normal across the Canadian Prairies, but the weather could turn colder than normal in November, Weatherlogics chief scientist Scott Kehler explained.
Late season storms wreak havoc on Prairie crops
Reading Time: < 1 minute Severe hailstorms wreaked havoc on crops across Western Canada, bringing an unexpected surge in claims, according to the latest update from the Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA).
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
