Photo: Getty Images Plus

Prairie forecast: Cold start for the east, overall warm, dry expected

Forecast issued Dec. 11, 2024, covering Dec. 11 – Dec. 18, 2024

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.

Photo: Vadimgouida/iStock/Getty Images

Prairie forecast: Melting in the west, milder in the east

Forecast issued Dec. 4, covering Dec. 4 to 11, 2024

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.


File photo of a Saskatchewan grid road in winter. (Daxus/iStock/Getty Images)

Prairie forecast: Short cold snap, then warmer

Forecast issued Nov. 27, covering Nov. 27 to Dec. 4, 2024

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.

Photo: Michelle Erickson-Jones/iStock/Getty Images

Prairie forecast: Winter settles in

Forecast issued Nov. 20, covering Nov. 20 to 27, 2024

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.

Photo: Geralyn Wichers

Prairie forecast: Fall weather still trying to hold on

Forecast issued Nov. 13, covering Nov. 13 to 20, 2024

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!


Photo: kahj19/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Prairie forecast: Mild weather returns

Forecast issued Nov. 6, covering Nov. 6 to 13, 2024

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.

A late-October cornfield in southeastern Manitoba. Photo: Geralyn Wichers

Prairie forecast: Warmer weather to continue

Forecast issued Oct. 30, covering Oct. 30 to Nov. 6, 2024

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.

(Keeperofthezoo/iStock/Getty Images)

Prairie forecast: Mild pattern trying to hold on

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.


(WPohlDesign/iStock/Getty Images)

Prairie forecast: No snow – yet

Forecast issued Oct. 16, covering Oct. 16 to 23, 2024

As we work our way towards winter, we'll eventually have to start talking about snow... but it looks like that type of weather is at least another week away. Instead, the models show unseasonably warm weather continuing across much of the Prairies over this forecast period.

File photo of cattle on pasture northeast of Calgary. (James_Gabbert/iStock/Getty Images)

Prairie forecast: Mild temperatures to continue

Forecast issued Oct. 9, covering Oct. 9 to 16, 2024

As this forecast period starts, the Prairies are feeling the effects of an upper ridge as it slowly slides eastwards and breaks down thanks due to low-pressure tracking over the ridge. Here is where things get interesting. Overall, the models have consistently shown an area of low-pressure tracking over the ridge late this week and over the weekend. This low is forecasted to drop southeastwards and deepen dramatically.