Reading Time: 4 minutes To start this forecast period, the strong area of low pressure that tracked through the eastern Prairies is now over Hudson Bay. The rotation around this low is opening the door for a strong, very cold Arctic high to build southwards into the eastern Prairies. This looks to bring some of the coldest temperatures so far this winter to eastern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba. The good news is that it doesn't look like the cold air will stick around long.
Prairie forecast: Cold start for the east, overall warm, dry expected
Forecast issued Dec. 11, 2024, covering Dec. 11 – Dec. 18, 2024
More precipitation at the start of winter says Environment and Climate Change Canada
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.
Prairie forecast: Melting in the west, milder in the east
Forecast issued Dec. 4, covering Dec. 4 to 11, 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutes Things are looking not too bad for those who want to see snow or deep freeze temperatures. As we start this forecast period, a strong area of Arctic high pressure is dropping southeastwards over the eastern Prairies behind the strong area of low pressure that zipped through on Tuesday. Over the western Prairies, the weather models show a strong ridge of high pressure building over B.C. which is expected to transition eastwards.
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.
US forecaster sees 57 per cent chance of La Niña developing between now and December
Reading Time: < 1 minute There is a 57 per cent chance of La Niña emerging from now to December, and it is expected to persist through January to March 2025, a U.S. government forecaster said on Thursday.
Prairie forecast: Fall weather still trying to hold on
Forecast issued Nov. 13, covering Nov. 13 to 20, 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutes These forecasts are starting to sound a bit repetitive. Fall trying to hold on, a couple of weak areas of low pressure, cooling trend late in the forecast period, with the chance of a storm – but confidence is low, and that storm system never does materialize as expected!
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.
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
