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By Andrew Owen
Prairies Audio Weather For March 2
The Prairies will be under the influence of an upper-level northwesterly flow pattern this week. The first disturbance to impact the Prairies will generate light to moderate amounts of snow near and north of Highway 16 today. Snow will continue for several areas north of Highway 16 Tuesday as a new disturbance enters the region. Disturbances will continue to promote snow or a wintry mixture of precipitation for several locations Wednesday into Thursday. Light precipitation will continue for portions of northern Alberta and several neighboring areas Friday when another system enters the region. Blowing and drifting of snow will be a concern for portions of the Prairies today and Tuesday due to breezy conditions. Travel may be impacted due to reduced visibility.
Temperatures will be highly variable across the Prairies through the end of the work week. Southern Alberta, southwestern Saskatchewan, and neighboring areas will experience seasonable to seasonably warm weather today and Tuesday while temperatures become progressively colder farther to the north and east. The temperature profile will trend near to below normal for most locations Wednesday. Warmer air will then spread across the region Thursday and Friday, lifting temperatures near or slightly above normal for this time of year.
A stronger disturbance and associated frontal boundary will advance over the Prairies this weekend. This disturbance will generate mostly light rain and snow. Another disturbance could generate precipitation late Sunday into next Monday. Seasonably warm weather is slated for much of the Prairies Saturday before colder air returns later this weekend and early next week.
An upper-level low-pressure trough will build over northern Canada near the Hudson Bay during the second week of the outlook while high-pressure ridges build over eastern North America and the eastern Pacific Ocean. This pattern will promote seasonable to seasonably cold weather for much of the Prairies. Disturbances will continue to make their way near or into the Prairies on a frequent basis, which could promote slightly wetter than usual conditions for much of crop country.
Disturbances Will Promote Waves Of Precipitation For Prairies This Week
The first disturbance will bring snow to areas near and north of Highway 16 today. Precipitation will occur at times throughout the day with some of the most widespread snow occurring late this afternoon into the evening and overnight hours. Southern sections of Peace River country into areas near Slave Lake, Alberta will receive 2 to 8 centimeters of snow with local amounts over 10 centimeters. Other locations will receive a dusting to 5 centimeters of snow. Coverage will be 85%. Areas farther south will be mostly dry.
Winds will shift out of the east-northeast for Manitoba and much of Saskatchewan today. East-southeasterly winds will evolve in Alberta and northeastern British Columbia. Wind speeds will range from 15 to 30 kph and gusts of 45 kph or higher. Blowing and drifting of snow will be possible and may decrease visibilities at times.
A new disturbance associated with a cut-off upper-level low-pressure center will advance into the northern Plains and southern Prairies Tuesday. Snow associated with this disturbance will evolve north of Highway 16 into northeastern British Columbia at times throughout the day. The most widespread precipitation will occur in the afternoon and evening hours. Peace River country and areas near Slave Lake, Alberta will receive 2 to 8 centimeters of snow with local amounts of 12 centimeters or slightly more. Coverage will be 90%. Other locations will receive a dusting to 4 centimeters of snow. Coverage for these areas will be 65%. Areas farther south will remain mostly dry.
East-northeasterly winds will spread across much of the Prairies Tuesday. However, areas closest to the U.S. border will see south-southwesterly winds for much of the day. Wind speeds will often range from 15 to 30 kph and gusts of 45 kph or higher. Blowing and drifting of snow will again be a concern, most notably in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Light and erratic precipitation will evolve for several locations Wednesday as the disturbance tracks easterly over the northern Plains and southern Prairies. Most areas outside southern sections of Peace River country, southeastern Alberta, southern Manitoba, and neighboring locations will have an opportunity for light precipitation. Some of the most widespread precipitation will occur in the evening and overnight hours. Moisture totals will range from a trace to 5 millimeters with coverage of 65%. Many areas in southwestern Alberta and portions of west-central and southern Saskatchewan will see rain or freezing rain mixed in with snow while other areas are cold enough for snow. Accumulations will range from a dusting to 4 centimeters and locally greater amounts.
Winds will turn from the east-northeast to the east-southeast in Alberta, western Saskatchewan, and northeastern British Columbia Wednesday. East-northeasterly winds are slated for Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan. Wind speeds will range from 15 to 30 kph and gusts of 45 kph or higher.
The main band of precipitation associated with the disturbance will shift into Manitoba and much of Saskatchewan outside areas near the Alberta border Thursday. Precipitation will shift from west to east over the course of the day. Moisture totals will range from a trace to 8 millimeters with coverage of 75%. Precipitation will fall as snow or a wintry mixture. East-central Saskatchewan into areas north of Highway 1 in Manitoba will see 2 to 8 centimeters of snow accumulate with locally greater amounts. Other areas will receive a dusting to 4 centimeters of snow. Light snow will also evolve from Peace River country into west-central and southwestern Alberta as another disturbance passes north of the Prairies. Snowfall will range from a dusting to 3 centimeters with coverage of 45%.
South-southwesterly winds will evolve in Alberta and northeastern British Columbia Thursday. South-southeasterly winds are slated for Saskatchewan while east-northeasterly winds persist in Manitoba. Wind speeds will range from 10 to 25 kph and gusts of 35 kph or higher.
A weak disturbance will promote light rain and snow from Peace River country and other areas in northern Alberta into central Alberta and northwestern Saskatchewan Friday. Moisture totals will only range from a dusting to a few millimeters with coverage of 45%. Any snow that accumulates will be minimal. West-southwesterly winds will be most common across the Prairies with speeds ranging from 10 to 25 kph and gusts of 35 kph or higher.
A stronger disturbance and associated frontal boundary will begin tracking across the Prairies Saturday. Precipitation will expand for areas near and north of Highway 1 over the course of the day. Light showers could even reach southern Alberta in the evening. Moisture totals will be light, though a few pockets could receive 8 millimeters or more of moisture. Precipitation will start out as rain or a wintry mixture before changing over to snow. New snowfall will be relatively light.
Precipitation will continue for portions of the Prairies Sunday as the disturbance and cold front travel farther over the region. Another disturbance could bring precipitation to parts of the Prairies next Monday.
An upper-level low-pressure trough will build near the Hudson Bay March 10 – 16. This upper-air pattern will continue to send disturbances near or into the Prairies on a frequent basis.
Temperatures Will Vary Across Prairies This Week; No Significant Warming
The temperature profile will be variable across the Prairies this week as the northwesterly flow pattern continues for the region. A small pool of warm air will settle over the southwestern Prairies today and Tuesday while seasonably cold weather is slated for most other locations. Temperatures will briefly settle to seasonable or seasonably cold levels in most locations Wednesday. Warmer air will then spread across the Prairies Thursday into Saturday, gradually lifting temperatures near or above normal for this time of year. Colder air could then return Sunday into next Monday following a frontal boundary. Temperatures will trend near to below normal most often March 10 – 16 as an upper-level trough likely builds near the Hudson Bay.
Today: Highs ranging from 3 to 9 in southern Alberta and southwestern and south-central Saskatchewan with many areas near Montana warming as high as 13. West-central Alberta and much of southeastern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba will warm to a range of -4 to 2. Other areas between Highway 1 and Highway 16 will warm to a range of -11 to -5. Highs north of Highway 16 will range from -17 to -11.
Tuesday: Lows ranging from -22 to -16 in northern Manitoba, northern Saskatchewan, and extreme northeastern and northwestern Alberta. Other areas in Manitoba and the remaining production areas near and north of Highway 16 will see lows range from -16 to -10. Central and southeastern Saskatchewan into east-central Alberta will see lows range from -11 to -5. Lows elsewhere will range from -6 to 0 with pockets in southern Alberta only cooling as low as 2. Highs ranging from 8 to 14 in southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan with pockets near Montana warming as high as 17. South-central and southeastern Saskatchewan into southwestern Manitoba will see highs range from 1 to 7. Other areas south of Highway 16 will see highs range from -6 to 0 with pockets only warming as high as -8. Areas north of Highway 16 will see highs range from -15 to -9 with pockets in Peace River country only warming as high as -17.
Wednesday: Lows ranging from -18 to -12 for areas north of Highway 16 with pockets in Peace River country cooling as low as -21. Areas between Highway 16 and Highway 1 will see lows range from -12 to -6 with pockets cooling as low as -14. Lows south of Highway 1 will range from -7 to -1 with many areas near Montana only cooling to the lower positive single digits. Highs ranging from 0 to 6 in southern and west-central Alberta and much of southwestern and extreme south-central Saskatchewan with pockets near Montana warming to the upper single digits. Other areas in central Alberta, central and southeastern Saskatchewan, and southern Manitoba will warm to a range of -7 to -1 with pockets only warming as high as -9. Highs elsewhere will range from -14 to -8 with pockets in northern Manitoba and northeastern Saskatchewan only warming as high as -16.
Thursday: Lows ranging from -18 to -12 in northern and central Manitoba and much of east-central and northern Saskatchewan. Southern Manitoba, most other areas in Saskatchewan outside the southwest corner, and east-central and northeastern Alberta will cool to a range of -13 to -7. Lows elsewhere will range from -8 to -2 with pockets in southern Alberta only cooling as low as zero degrees. Highs ranging from -12 to -6 in Manitoba and much of east-central, northeastern, and north-central Saskatchewan with pockets in southeastern Manitoba warming as high as -3. Southeastern through northwestern Saskatchewan will warm to a range of -6 to 0. Highs elsewhere will range from -1 to 5 with many areas in southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan warming as high as 9.
Friday: Lows ranging from -16 to -10 near and north of Highway 16 in Saskatchewan and Manitoba with pockets cooling as low as -19. Lows elsewhere will range from -9 to -3 with pockets in western and southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan only cooling as low as -1. Highs ranging from -4 to 2 in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan. Highs elsewhere will range from 2 to 8.
Saturday: Lows ranging from -12 to -6 in Manitoba, eastern and northern Saskatchewan, northern Alberta, and northeastern British Columbia. Lows elsewhere will range from -5 to 1 with pockets in Alberta only cooling as low as 3. Highs ranging from 6 to 12 in southern and west-central Alberta and southern Saskatchewan with pockets warming as high as 14. Highs elsewhere will range from 1 to 7.
Sunday: Lows ranging from -18 to -12 in Peace River country. Other areas in northern Alberta into central Alberta and northwestern Saskatchewan will cool to a range of -11 to -5. Lows elsewhere will range from -5 to 1. Highs ranging from 1 to 7 near and south of Highway 1 with warmer pockets. Areas farther north will warm to a range of -5 to 1.
Next Monday: Lows ranging from -18 to -12 in northern Manitoba and northeastern Saskatchewan. Lows elsewhere will range from -11 to -5 with warmer pockets in the southwestern Prairies. Highs ranging from 6 to 12 in southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan. Other areas south of Highway 1 will see highs range from -1 to 5. Highs elsewhere will range from -8 to -2 with colder pockets.
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