Mammatus-type clouds over Winnipeg on the evening of July 2, 2023. (Dave Bedard photo)

Prairie Forecast Update: Low lingers in Manitoba

Issued July 2, covering July 3 to 5

The overall forecast remains on track across both Alberta and Saskatchewan, so only a small update is needed for Manitoba. Across Manitoba, the area of low pressure that has been tracking across the northern half of the Prairie provinces is now forecasted to take a little longer to exit this region. The two main impacts […] Read more

(Warchi/iStock/Getty Images)

Prairie Forecast: Alberta low to bring bit of a cooldown

Issued June 28, covering June 28 to July 5

After a fairly active weather pattern over the last few days, at least across the eastern half of the Prairies, it looks like most regions will see much quieter few days to start off this forecast period. Weak upper-level ridging combine with a broad but weak area of surface high pressure should bring typical summer […] Read more

Ripened saskatoon berries in Winnipeg on June 26, 2023. (Dave Bedard photo)

Prairie Forecast Update: Low to push across region’s east

Update issued June 25, covering June 25-28

There has been a little bit of a shift in the overall weather pattern according to the latest weather model runs. The arctic high is dropping east-southeast as expected and will be around James Bay by the middle of this week. Along the southern boundary of the arctic air, the weather models show an area […] Read more

Ducklings on display at the Red River Ex in Winnipeg on June 20, 2023 stuck to the shady side of the waterer as daytime temperatures maxed out at nearly 36 C. (Dave Bedard photo)

Prairie Forecast: Shift in the pattern

Issued June 21, covering June 21 to 28

The weather pattern that brought some record heat to the eastern Prairies, and some significant rains to parts of Alberta, looks like it will be undergoing a bit of change during this forecast period. The overall flow across the Prairies appears as though it will become predominantly northwesterly as an upper low sets up over […] Read more

File photo of stormy conditions over Alberta fields. (Larry Stickney/iStock/Getty Images)

Prairie Forecast Update: Alberta low to break in two

Forecast issued June 18, covering June 19-21

So far, the general forecast seems to be on track, but there have been some changes. The area of low pressure expected to develop and move north through Alberta is still on track but the weather models now it show it winding itself up across central and northern Alberta on Monday before it breaks apart […] Read more


File photo of storm clouds over northeastern Alberta. (ImagineGolf/E+/Getty Images)

Prairie Forecast: Alberta low looks to dominate

Forecast issued June 14, covering June 14-21

So far, the weather models have been doing a good job with the medium-range forecasts, only falling off late in the forecast period. Of course, in the summer, short-range forecasts can be difficult, especially when it comes to just when and where thunderstorms will develop. I always find it interesting that a forecast could be […] Read more

Aerial view of a wildfire about 20 km north of Valhalla Centre in northwestern Alberta on June 4, 2023. (Alberta Wildfire photo)

Prairie Forecast Update: Forecast pretty much on track

Update issued June 4, covering June 4-7, 2023

The heat and humidity moved into a large portion of the Canadian Prairies late last week and over the weekend as the previous general forecast played out pretty close to what the weather models predicted. There is not much change in the forecast for the next three days. The heat and humidity will continue across […] Read more

Smoky skies over Calgary on May 16, 2023. (Photo: Reuters/Leah Hennel)

NEW FEATURE: Prairie Forecast: Summer has definitely moved in

Forecast issued May 31, 2023, covering May 31 to June 7, 2023

As we move into the official start of meteorological summer, it is looking like we have left spring behind and summer is here to stay. While this is great for those of us who like heat, humidity and thunderstorms, it can make it difficult to create an accurate forecast. The large areas of low pressure […] Read more


Smoke rises from a wildfire southeast of Fort Nelson in northeastern B.C. on May 27, 2023. (Photo: B.C. Wildfire Service/Handout via Reuters)

Prairie Forecast Update: A few small tweaks

Forecast issued May 28, covering the period from May 29 to 31

The weather regime across southern and central Canada is currently being dominated by a large sprawling surface high over eastern regions with a slowly digging trough of low pressure over the West Coast. The flows around these two features have been producing warm summer-like conditions across the eastern Prairies with slightly cooler conditions as you […] Read more

Apple blooms under cloudy skies in Winnipeg on May 24, 2023. (Dave Bedard photo)

NEW FEATURE: Prairie Forecast: Summerlike conditions moving in

Forecast issued May 24, 2023, covering May 24-31, 2023

As we head into the final week of May, it is looking to be very summerlike across much of the Prairies. Currently there is a strong area of cool high pressure centred over the Great Lakes. This area of high pressure is what brought cool and windy conditions to the eastern Prairies on Wednesday. As […] Read more