Many of our rain watchers are reporting much-needed rain along with a few thunderstorms in the region yesterday afternoon and evening. After a stretch of temperatures around 30 degrees paired with gusty southerly winds up to 60 km/h, conditions had dried out considerably over the past week or so. Portage la Prairie however did not see any rain at all for the most part.
"Since May 22nd, except for one day in there following a cold front, temperatures across the region have consistently been in the 29 to 31 range, with quite breezy conditions due to the pressure gradient (the difference in pressure) between a blocking high to our east and a consistent train of low-pressure systems moving through," explained CMOS Accredited Weathercaster Chris Sumner. "Tuesday was the start of less windy conditions, but the general pattern for the remainder of the week is to remain above average for this time of year."
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were in place for parts of the region Tuesday afternoon and evening, including the Municipalities of Lorne, Louise, Pembina, and Stanley. A tornado warning was also issued for areas near Grand Beach and Beausejour although nothing major came from that.
"Those storms weakened, and dissipated, by mid-evening, but some areas did see some decent rainfall from them," noted Sumner. "In fact, a Tornado Warning was briefly in effect shortly after 4 p.m. for the R.M. of Brokenhead, which includes Beausejour. That was based on strong rotation being noted in a particular thunderstorm cell. That same storm also dropped nearly two inches of rain in that community in a short period of time."
The following totals are courtesy of our rain watchers, Environment Canada and the Manitoba Ag Weather Network:
Beasejour - 45.2mm
Manitou - 13.2mm
Lac Du Bonnet - 11.6mm
Elm Creek - 11.9mm
Morris - 8.5mm
Carman - 5.2mm
Pilot Mound - 2.4mm
Portage la Prairie - 0.0mm
25mm = 1 inch
A relatively quiet Wednesday is expected, with mainly sunny conditions and highs around 28, but Sumner notes warmer weather, and more thunderstorms may return Thursday and beyond.
"Upper level ridging returns to the eastern Prairies by Thursday, with surface high pressure in place, which means lots of sunshine and temperatures remaining close to 30 most days," he said. "The southwesterly flow aloft also means moisture being pumped into the region from the southern U.S., and that means we'll see the humidity creep up for the end of the week, and weekend, leading to muggy conditions, at times. That factor, along with the daytime heating, means there will be thunderstorm chances most afternoons/evenings Thursday through Saturday, but with that high pressure in place, we're missing a trigger to fire them up. I don't expect widespread chances of thunderstorms, and any that do develop will be localized."
Sumner added widespread severe weather is not expected in the coming days, but depending on the circumstances surrounding any particular storm that develops, it could reach strong to severe limits, but again, would not be widespread in nature.
Averages, as we head into June, are 23 degrees during the day and around 10 degrees overnight.