Spring-like early December sets temperature records around Manitoba
Winnipeg could see new record set on Thursday but big change is coming
People were swinging golf clubs rather than pushing snow shovels as temperatures soared in southern Manitoba on Wednesday.
Seven new warm records were set, with McCreary, near Riding Mountain National Park, taking top spot at 11.2 C. That broke the old record of 9.3 C, set in 2015.
Other records were:
- Deerwood at 10.1 C. Old record was 9.6 C in 2016.
- Carberry at 9.4 C. Old record was 9 C in 2015.
- Emerson at 8.9 C. Old record was 7.1 C in 2015.
- Steinbach at 7.8 C. Old record was 5.5 C in 2015.
- Fisher Branch at 7.2 C. Old record was 4.1 C in 1999.
- Gimli at 6 C. Old record was 3.3 C in 1944.
Although Morden reached 10.3 C, to be the second-warmest spot in the province, it was not a record — but it was oh, so close. The temperature there hit 10.6 C in 2015.
In Winnipeg, it was 6.4 C on Wednesday, nice enough for some golf driving ranges to reopen but short of a record. That was set back in 1939, when the city warmed up to 11.7 C.
Winnipeg could, however, set a record on Thursday. The forecast is calling for a high of 6 C, which would edge the old record of 5 C, which was also set in 1939.
It's a drastic change from exactly one year ago, when Winnipeggers braced against a high of –18 C and an overnight low that plummeted to –32 C.
Even in the polar bear land of Churchill, where normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of –17 C and overnight low of –25 C, the average high in December has been –8 C and peaked at –1.9 C on Wednesday, according to Environment Canada.
It won't get quite that cool over the next few days, but a change is coming across the entire province.
Southern Manitoba will likely see snow — and temperatures — fall throughout Friday as a cold front moves through. With winds gusting to 60 km/h, highways could get icy and the fresh snow being blown around could make for poor visibility, CBC meteorologist John Sauder says.
Environment Canada is calling for highs over the next few days ranging from –3 C to –12 C in Winnipeg. The normal for this time of year is a daytime high of –9 C.
"Looking at the long-range temps, I don't think the snow that falls on Friday will melt anytime soon. It may be here to stay," Sauder said in his weather blog.
And up in Churchill, the highs through the weekend and into next week are expected to be around –17 C to –21 C.
