Mild but unsettled week ahead with wintery mix of rain and snow

 Much of southern sections of Manitoba, received a significant winter storm over the second half of the week and the weekend. Snowfall totals fell in staggering amounts across the south. With upwards of 50cm that fell in the parklands region lesser amounts as you go towards areas south of the Manitoba lakes. Looking ahead at our week a westerly flow aloft will bring in increasing amounts of moisture,with a low pressure system in our area. We are already seeing a band of freezing rain impacting southwestern Manitoba from this system, I expect more mixed precipitation to occur in the area. There also will be more moderate temperatures as a result of the southerly flow with it. Find out how long the mild weather will last for and what we can expect weather wise in the coming days.

A photo of the forecast precipitation for the freezing rain expected this evening into the overnight hours. 

Monday Night:  Generally cloudy skies are expected as a warm front moves through the area, this forecast is a bit interesting as there will be a band of freezing rain in southwestern Manitoba moving east into areas just west  the red river valley by morning. Ahead of this band of freezing rain will be snow in the south central and eastern portions of southwestern Manitoba. The main concern with this system is that freezing rain will be ongoing throughout a majority of the evening to after midnight, in western portions of Manitoba likely reaching portage la prairie and points east after midnight. The band of freezing rain will likely weaken as it arrives in the southeast part of Manitoba. Regardless roads across the south will get very icy so travel is not recommended if your in rural areas and remember to adjust to the conditions present. As the warm front moves through temperatures will surprisingly stay near to zero degrees overnight in the Red River Valley and the interlakes (-1 to -2C). Areas in the southwest staying a degree or 2 above zero (0 to 3C)  and areas in the southeast staying slightly below zero (-1 to -4C). 

Tuesday: The forecasting is quite complicated, patchy freezing rain will be ongoing in the inter lakes, red river valley and eastern Manitoba in the morning hours. Southeastern Manitoba may end up only seeing cloudy skies. Temperatures will warm up enough near noon to allow for rain to fall in the south central and eastern areas before a transition over to light snow and snow occurs in eastern sections in the late afternoon before it enters Ontario in the late afternoon . The warm sector should nudge up far enough north in western Manitoba to allow for the sun to peak out in the afternoon. Temperatures for the day will sit in the low single digits for a majority of the forecast area (1 to 6C), areas in eastern sections might only get up closer to 1 or 2C. 

Tuesday Night: An area of low pressure will move east into eastern Manitoba, behind it the northwesterly flow will allow for a large swath of snow to develop and gradually move east southeast. This will likely envelop western Manitoba, the interlakes and southern Manitoba. There will be a risk for blowing snow as this system impacts the area. We will only be receiving about 5-10cm with this snowfall as it appears to be a clipper sort of system. Overnight low temperatures will drop into the low minus single digits (-1 to -5C) with the lakes remaining warmer than 0C because of the lake water not being frozen over yet.  

Wednesday: A trough of low pressure will move east, southeast behind it a continuing northwesterly flow will bring light to moderate snowfall in the morning hours.  Off and on periods of snow is expected through the afternoon with varying degrees of intensity but not as heavy as the morning hours. Lake effect streamers are also a possibility as the cold air will be coming off the warm lakes. The same setup happens to people in Ontario during the winter seasons, we’ll never get near as much as they do however. Temperatures will only manage to warm up into the low to mid minus single digits (-1 to -5C) with areas in the western half of Manitoba on the colder side of temperatures. 

Wednesday Night: A majority of the region can expect cloudy skies, with the exception being southwestern Manitoba where clearing skies is possible by the overnight hours. Some lake effect flurries are possible overnight in the central and eastern southern sections. Temperatures will drop into the low to mid minus single digits in the southeast and south central parts of Manitoba. Areas in the western half of Manitoba will see lows in the high minus single digits (-1 to -6C) with some areas dropping down to near -10C, some areas may see lows in the low minus teens (-10 to -12C) in the escarpment of Riding Mountain and by Swan River.  

 Second half of the week: Much of the southern sections of our region can expect temperatures in the low to mid single digits for daytime highs. Overnight lows will sit in the mid to high minus single digits. There may be a chance for some flurries or showers on Friday before another area of low pressure moves in for the weekend.