Get Ready for crazy cold weather! A pattern shift is on the way !

Southern Manitoba has been relatively lucky over the past few months in regards to extreme cold . However as we are now in the First week of December it’s not a surprise that we will be seeing a shift to colder than normal weather conditions. A clipper system will be the culprit of this pattern change. If we Manitobans have managed to handle a blizzard then I’m sure we can handle a bit of cold weather. We’re Canadians after all.

A area of high pressure will dive south into Manitoba and drop our temperatures as a large swath of arctic air builds southwards . EEK.

Southern Manitoba will experience relatively seasonal temperatures on Saturday with high temperatures in the mid minus single digits with some areas reaching the 0 degree mark or  just slightly above zero. A clipper system will go through southern Manitoba on Saturday as well, with a chance of mixed precipitation in the morning hours, and early afternoon. Especially in the Southwest portion of Manitoba into the Red River Valley, there is a possibility of freezing drizzle mixing in as temperatures hover near the freezing mark. There is a higher likelihood for a few small localities in southwest Manitoba near Melita and Virden towards Killarney to get a quick few bursts of freezing drizzle. Justin or Me (Mike) will update you tomorrow morning on that. Behind the system winds will switch to the North and Northwest bringing in a gradual drop in temperatures overnight.

As the night progresses on Saturday a area of high pressure and a burst of arctic air and colder winds will drop temperatures overnight into the mid minus double digits , with windchills dropping into the minus 20s. Areas in the inter lakes will see temperatures drop even more into the low minus 20s. Areas as far north as Thompson will see temperatures between minus 21 and minus 30C. Windchills could exceed minus 35C.

As for Sunday winds will be light out of the NW temperatures will not recover much on Sunday as skies remain clear to partly cloudy as a low pressure system skirted to the south. High temperatures on Sunday will only get into the mid to high minus double digits. (-12 to -18C.)

On Sunday night it will be exceptionally cold with low temperatures exceeding minus 20 in the Red River Valley and inter lakes region. Further south and west you go temperatures will be more on the verge of surpassing minus 20 degrees in the high minus double digits. Windchills probably would be nearing minus 30 in a few locales. Areas south and west of Winnipeg on Sunday night might be a tad warmer.

To start the work week on Monday temperatures won’t recover much, with daytime highs still struggling to warm past minus 12C. As we get towards the middle to late week, there is a sign of a small moderation in temperatures, so temperatures will be in the lower minus double digits around -10 to -15 instead of -15 to -20C. We will update you through out the week in regards to any change in the pattern. I know I’m sure I’m not the only one that likes the cold either. -Mike McGregor