Katherine Dow’s forecast: Storms headed into Manitoba

It could be a stormy few days through parts of southern Manitoba, but Mother Nature is expected to rally in time for the weekend.

It could be a stormy few days through parts of southern Manitoba, but Mother Nature is expected to rally in time for the weekend. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), a line of thunderstorms that formed overnight near the international border along a warm frontal boundary in southeast Saskatchewan has moved into southwestern Manitoba on Wednesday. Any thunderstorms that result are expected to be non-severe in nature, as the system is weakening as it spreads showers into Brandon and Neepawa during the day under cooler highs of 22 C. The Parkland and Red River Valley have a slim chance of getting a piece of that system.

Light rain already fell Wednesday morning in Dauphin, Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie and if any more comes, it’s likely to be similarly scattered and unsubstantial. Temperatures are forecast to reach 25 C in Winnipeg – a hair below the seasonal high of 26 C. Other parts of the Red River Valley could be a few degrees warmer. Winds will be light out of the north or northeast throughout the day.

Meanwhile, air quality warnings continue in the northwest, specifically in The Pas, Flin Flon and Opaskwayak Cree Nation due to ongoing wildfire smoke. ECCC warns the blazes have become more active with clearing skies so air quality continues to degrade in areas downwind. Still, the flow is expected to shift southwest and some showers in the area could help douse the flames and improve air quality into Thursday.

In the meantime, much of the north will contend with sunny and smoky skies with hot, above-seasonal highs in the upper twenties to low thirties. Overnight into Thursday morning – the line of thunderstorms spreads further into southern Manitoba and will likely impact Winnipeg and surrounding communities. Temperatures dip to the high teens and winds remain light.

From there, that system is sluggish to move off into the east, so Thursday brings another overcast and potentially damp day to Winnipeg with another cooler high of 24 C. However, conditions take a turn again by Friday, with the sunshine expected to reemerge in Winnipeg with temperatures rising back above seasonal to 29 C.