Warm weather to stick around into weekend

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This article was published 01/02/2024 (694 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Warmer than normal weather experienced in Brandon and across Westman this week will likely last into the weekend, Environment Canada says.

Samantha Mauti, a meteorologist with Environment Canada based in Edmonton, said most of the Prairies are currently under an upper level ridge, which is associated with higher than normal temperatures.

Normal temperatures for Brandon at the end of January and heading into February are usually around -10 C, Mauti said.

“For the rest of this week for Brandon, we have temperatures forecasted at about zero, so we’re taking about temperatures that are well above normal — 10-plus above normal for this time of year.”

Heading into the weekend and into next week, the upper level ridge that has been over the Prairies will start to change and new weather patterns will bring colder air across much of the region, Mauti said.

“As of Monday, we’re looking at temperatures above zero, but still above normal, and colder air does come in early next week.”

Currently, Environment Canada’s long-range models are pointing to a high probability of above normal temperatures across southern Manitoba for February, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be cold periods experienced during that time, Mauti said.

“There is still the possibility of some variability within that time frame.”

January, for example, started with above-normal temperatures and they returned later on, but during the middle of the month, temperatures dipped to below normal.

“Overall, January is trending above normal. However, that doesn’t tell the whole story, because you do have those swings,” Mauti said.

Upper level ridges also affect precipitation, since the majority of it will be diverted while the ridge is in place, she added. No precipitation is expected in southern Manitoba for the next couple of days, but as the colder air returns early next week, some precipitation could accompany it. Whether that precipitation comes in the form of snow or rain, Mauti said, will depend on whether or not the temperatures are above or below 0 C.

The mild temperatures and recent lack of snow hasn’t been a problem for Asessippi Ski Resort in Asessippi Provincial Park, says the park’s sales manager, Kendra Sitko. The resort made all of its snow earlier in the year and the warmer temperatures mean more people are eager to get out on the slopes, she said.

“All of our chairlifts are open, all of our runs are open. We have piles of snow built up, so the only thing the warm weather does is bring people out.”

The resort won’t be making any more snow this season, having taken full advantage of the colder temperatures in the middle of January, Sitko said.

“We made snow like crazy, and that allowed us to get all three of our lifts open and all of our runs.”

Currently, around 300 to 500 students come through the ski resort from Monday to Friday, Sitko said. This year’s planned closing for the resort is March 30.

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