After a mild final week of January, conditions are much colder in southern Manitoba on Friday – the last day of the month.
Between an arctic front extending from the Yukon area all the way into southern Manitoba and a ridge of high pressure, much colder air has returned.
Daytime highs across the south will only reach the upper minus teens in most areas Friday afternoon, including Winnipeg and Brandon with highs expected around -18 C.
In the north, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) continued an extreme cold warning on Friday for the Lynn Lake, Brochet, and Tadoule Lake regions.
The trade-off is that most of the province and northwestern Ontario will enjoy sunshine or a mix of sun and clouds.
Meanwhile, a low that has developed off the coast of Vancouver Island and its associated warm front extending into southern Saskatchewan has triggered snow west of Manitoba on Friday
Snow will move into southwestern Manitoba as early as this evening, including Brandon where 5 to 10 cm of snow is possible tonight and another two to four cm on Saturday.
Through the night, the snow will spread into central regions and into the southeast, including Winnipeg. At this point, 2 to 4 cm of snowfall is forecast for the city on Saturday.
Southeast winds are expected to strengthen Friday evening in southwest and cause blowing snow and reduced visibility.
Winds will increase overnight in Winnipeg and the southeast, which will likely create blowing snow conditions. Driving conditions could deteriorate.
Light snow or flurries could linger into Sunday.
Temperatures will be mild over the weekend as the low pressure system moves through, but will drop again in colder air behind the low as it leaves the region.
