Batten down the hatches for what is expected to be a blustery 24 hours in southern Manitoba. And that wind will push our unseasonably mild weather out of the area for at least a couple of days.
Natalie Hasell with Environment Canada says we are under the influence of a low-pressure system. As of early Tuesday morning, the centre of that low-pressure system was already in Ontario. Hasell explains there is a frontal structure that is spread across Manitoba. She notes northern areas are already quite cold, while the portion south of this front remains in a warmer air mass.
Hasell says in southcentral Manitoba we can expect a high of zero for today. We should reach that high this morning already because, by late morning, winds will be out of the northwest and then shift to the north. Then, because there is nothing to stop those winds, southern Manitoba will start to feel the cold air pushed down from the north. By later this afternoon the temperature will fall to -8 degrees.
Along this front, Hasell says we can expect light snow to fall. And, when you consider that winds will gust to 60 kilometres per hour this afternoon, Hasell says visibility will turn poor, starting this afternoon already.
By tonight, the mercury will fall to -19 degrees and when you factor in wind gusts of 70 kilometres per hour overnight, Hasell says our wind chill will be about -34 degrees.
"So, this isn't quite warning criteria but it's not that far," she points out. "So, risk of frostbite is certainly in the picture."
The forecast high for Wednesday is only -14 degrees. Hasell notes wind gusts of 70 kilometres per hour overnight will slow down to about 50 kilometres per hour later in the morning on Wednesday, before becoming light in the afternoon.
"Behind this low-pressure system and frontal structure, is a ridge of high pressure coming down from the Arctic," notes Hasell. "As is typical in a lot of ridges at this time of year, that's cold air but also calmer air, so yes, winds should be dying down later in the day tomorrow."
Wednesday night's low is -22 degrees and Hasell says the temperature will only warm up to about -15 degrees on Thursday. But then, the wind will shift, and we will start to experience much warmer weather again. In fact, by Friday, it is anticipated that our temperature will be back above the freezing mark again.
But that warm air will not last long as Hasell says another low-pressure system will bring more snow and cooler weather again to southern Manitoba. There is snow in the forecast for the latter part of the long weekend and temperatures that are below normal for this time of year.
'We have these colder-than-normal temperatures staying with us quite a bit longer, for most of next week," adds Hasell. "Not much recuperation really until towards the end of the month."
Hasell says there is not a lot of snow expected this coming weekend for the Red River Valley and Steinbach. She notes the extreme southeast corner of Manitoba could see larger amounts.
The normal high for this time of year is -7 degrees. Steinbach has experienced 10 straight days with above-normal temperatures, though that streak should end after today.