Reading Time: 4 minutes Weather columnist Daniel Bezte discusses the strength of straight-line winds during a thunderstorm and the damage they can cause.
Thunderstorms and straight-line winds
Straight-line winds in thunderstorms can cause as much damage as a tornado
Prairie forecast: Looking warm and dry for Canada Day
Forecast issued June 25, covering June 25 to July 2, 2025
A broad but unorganized area of low pressure impacts all three Prairie provinces for at least the first half of this forecast period. Unsettled weather means it will be a difficult forecast to pin down. It also means seasonable temperatures with no big intense heat waves expected—though that doesn’t mean we won’t see a few hot days.
Saskatchewan crops in need of rain: report
Intense storms cause some damage
Isolated showers across Saskatchewan during the week ended June 16 brought welcome moisture, but "a good general rain is needed to help push crop development and ensure the crop doesn't begin to deteriorate in condition," said the latest provincial crop report released June 19.
Prairie forecast: Unsettled weather ahead
Forecast issued June 18, covering June 18 to 25, 2025
For this forecast period we start, once again, with no strong systems impacting the Prairies. But, as we head into the weekend a strong area of low pressure is forecasted to develop over the western U.S. This low will impact our region over the weekend, but how and where is a little uncertain.
Varied rains leave parts of Manitoba in need of moisture: report
Planting 100 per cent complete
Varied rainfall across Manitoba left many areas of the province still in need of precipitation, with accumulations at 60 per cent of normal in eastern, Interlake and northwestern regions, reported Manitoba Agriculture in its latest weekly crop report.
Sporadic rains lead to varied crop development in Saskatchewan
Seeding 100 per cent complete
Rains were welcome across much of Saskatchewan during the week ended June 9, but topsoil moisture levels declined and crop damage was a concern in areas that missed out on the precipitation, said the latest provincial crop report.
Prairie forecast: Where did the summer heat go?
Forecast issued June 11, covering June 11 to 18, 2025
Looking at the big picture we start this forecast period with a generally zonal flow across the Prairies as Arctic high pressure slides across the far northern Prairies and weak low pressure moves by to the south. This will bring sunny to partly cloudy skies and near to slightly below-average temperatures.
Unsettled weather for Prairies
Temperatures to be a little below normal
The weather situation on the Canadian Prairies will likely become unsettled when moving deeper into June, said Scott Kehler, chief scientist for Weatherlogics.
Prairie forecast: Summer pattern making forecast difficult
Forecast issued June 4, covering June 4-11, 2025
We start this forecast period off with an area of low pressure over far northern Manitoba that is slowly moving off into Hudson Bay. To the west, an area of low pressure is developing over the Yukon which is helping to develop a weak ridge of high pressure over Alberta. Over southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba weak high pressure is in place.
What we know about how wildfire smoke affects Prairie crops
Impacts depend on smoke quantity, plant progress, surrounding weather conditions
Prairie farmers don't have to go far right now to see and feel the effects of smoke in the atmosphere — but what their crops will experience this year is a more complicated matter.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
