We saw a strong ridge of high pressure build in last week, which brought daytime highs into the low thirties across parts of the eastern Prairies. Once the ridge collapsed, cooler air moved back in. Well, it looks like we can expect another cycle of building and collapsing ridges. Then, starting on the weekend, the weather pattern should become more energetic thanks to a strong trough of low pressure forecasted to develop off the West Coast.
Prairie forecast: Hot east, cool west
Forecast issued May 7, covering May 7 to 14, 2025
A dry spring may slide into a dry summer on the Prairies
Long range forecasts in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta all expect lack of rain for summer 2025
Reading Time: 4 minutes The rain tap might slow to a trickle on the Canadian Prairies this summer. Long range forecasts in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta all expect little precipitation in coming months.
Seasonal outlook points to hot Canadian spring/summer
Warmer than normal temperatures are to be expected across most of Canada over the next three months, according to the latest long-range seasonal forecast from Environment and Climate Change Canada as of April 30.
Prairie forecast: Here comes the summery weather
Forecast issued April 30, covering April 30 to May 7, 2025
Well, one week is up and as I pointed out in last week's forecast, the weather pattern still looks like it is going to flip from a cool-ish spring regime right into a summer-like pattern. This flip should happen over the next few days.
Prairie forecast: Warm weather gaining ground
Forecast issued April 23, covering April 23 to 30, 2025
We start this forecast period with an area of low pressure exiting the eastern Prairie and taking the rain and wet snow with it. To the west, a weak frontal system looks ready to drop into northern Alberta where it should bring scattered showers.
Prairie forecast: Temperature rollercoaster to continue
Forecast issued April 16, covering April 16 to 23, 2025
Spring is the toughest time to forecast, but this spring is being particularly tough. The atmosphere is in a very meridional flow right now. That means there are lots of troughs and ridges. So, instead of a persistent westerly flow across our region we are seeing warm southerly flows as ridges build, followed by cool northerly flows as the ridges collapse and are replaced by troughs of low pressure.
Sea ice continues shrinking
The last few years have seen some of the smallest sea ice coverage, plus a look into the continued spring melt on the Prairies
Reading Time: 4 minutes The last few years have seen some of the smallest sea ice coverage, plus a look into the continued spring melt on the Prairies.
Prairie forecast: Warm start, unsettled weekend across extreme south
Forecast issued April 9, covering April 9 to 16, 2025
When we have these battles between warm and cold air, there's always a good chance for a storm system or area of low pressure to develop. We've seen this happen a few times this spring and looking at the latest medium range weather models, the Prairies are likely in for a few more storms as the battle continues.
Prairie forecast: Two lows and a high
Forecast issued April 2, covering April 2 to 9, 2025
This forecast period looks to be be defined by two areas of low pressure, one spinning off the west coast and the other spinning over eastern Canada. Exactly how these two lows behave a move will have a big impact on temperatures across the central and eastern Prairies.
Spring weather on the Prairies is a messy thing
Alberta’s spring, along with the other Prairie provinces, has a lot of chaos built in as seasons change and summer tries to assert itself
Reading Time: 4 minutes Alberta’s spring, along with the other Prairie provinces, has a lot of chaos built in as seasons change and summer tries to assert itself
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