Cold weather finally arrives in Manitoba

After a mild few weeks, the cold weather has arrived in Manitoba, and experts with Environment Canada say if you don’t have the winter gear out already, it may be time to bust out the toques, mitts, and scarves. 

“We’re just approaching the beginning of Winter,” said Terri Lang, National Forecaster.

“The jet stream is sitting right overtop of Manitoba now, and the jet stream being that delineator between the really cold air to the north, and the really warm air on the south, and we’re right on the cusp, so the cold air is really starting to sink in.” 

Lang says temperatures dipped to what felt like -21C with the windchill on Friday morning and says for Manitoba, it’s one of the first tastes of winter. 

“Everybody across the prairies has been quite lucky when it comes to the temperatures, we’ve had some snow, but it’s melted.”

She says a lack of Colorado Lows has been contributing to the lack of snow on the ground for this time of year, but says now is the time to start paying attention to extreme weather warnings and watches from the national forecaster. 

“Cold will kill you.” 

The City of Winnipeg also cautions members of the public about the arrival of the cold, which can put vulnerable community members at risk, saying:

• Older adults and very young children should avoid prolonged outdoor exposure.
• Residents should check on older friends, relatives, and neighbours who live alone.
• You should be able to recognize the symptoms of hypothermia, which should include confusion, shivering, difficulty speaking, sleepiness, stiff muscles.
• And it’s time to bring pets inside and limit the amount of time they spend outdoors.

The city stresses if the symptoms of hypothermia are present, members of the public should seek immediate medical attention, as it can be fatal, and are encouraged to call 911 if they see someone who needs help in the cold, staying with the person and telling dispatchers their condition and location. 

“We’ve seen within the last five years the wettest year on record and the driest year on record,” said Scott Kehler, lead scientist at Winnipeg-based forecasting firm WeatherLogics.

Keller says this type of a cool down is normal for the province, but says due to El Nino — which produces a drier, warmer season — extreme precipitation patterns are likely to continue in Manitoba, noting forecasters are monitoring for a Brown holiday season, not seen since the 90s, stressing while it’s too early to predict for sure, there is a correlation in conditions.

“It’d be the first time since 1997 since we had a brown Christmas, and a Brown Christmases in Winnipeg are very rare, only about one or two in every 200 hundred years, there’s a Brown Christmas, and the interesting correction is that 1997 was also a strong El Nino, so we may see that pattern repeat.”