It is no understatement to say we will experience a rollercoaster of weather conditions over the next couple of days. Welcome to springtime in Manitoba. Wednesday will be the warmest day in Winnipeg and much of the south since last October. Strong and gusting south winds will send temperatures soaring into the mid to upper teens this afternoon – in the sunshine. Winnipeg is forecast to reach 19 C. The last time temperatures climbed that high in the city was just over six months ago on October 11. Enjoy it while it lasts – it won’t be long. Meanwhile, winter conditions have returned with a vengeance to central Manitoba on Wednesday. A low pressure system will bring heavy, accumulating snow throughout the day. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued a yellow warning for snowfall from The Pas and Flin Flon eastward to the Ontario border. The weather agency said 15-20 cm of snowfall is expected by the time snow by Wednesday night. There is also a freezing rain risk in some areas. As that disturbance leaves the province Wednesday night, a new one will enter overnight from the west, bringing a drastic change in weather conditions to southern Manitoba. Temperatures will fall well below freezing in shifting north winds overnight, ushering in a wintry mix impulse that will continue on Thursday, according to ECCC. The weather agency said there is a freezing rain risk on Thursday along and south of the Trans-Canada Highway corridor in the southwest and Red River Valley. It’s unclear yet if freezing rain will be patchy, or more sustained in nature. Up to eight centimetres of snow is also possible in western and central areas. Snow and freezing rain will likely continue into Friday morning in the Red River Valley, including Winnipeg.
