A weaker ridge means an increased chance of precipitation in southern Manitoba. That will be the case, at times, this weekend and next week. Western trough will send bits of energy towards southern Manitoba. The big question is how much rain or thunderstorm activity we should expect next week. Models are having problems resolving the strength of the ridge overhead.
Clouds are going to increase today ahead of a frontal boundary to our west. Expect a strong southeast wind heading into the afternoon and a high of 18. A band of showers is forecast to move into the region this evening. Rainfall totals won't be very high but some areas could pick up around 5 mm. It'll be breezy tonight with a low of 11.
Boundary continues east tomorrow. We'll see a mix of sun and cloud, a southeast wind, and a high of 17. There's a chance of showers in the morning and afternoon. Tomorrow night will be partly clear with a low of 10. Sunday looks like another unsettled day as a disturbance pushes through. Showers are possible with the high reaching 17 degrees.
Active southwest flow aloft is being advertised by the models next week as a western trough attempts to weaken the central ridge. Multiple pieces of energy are going to eject from the trough and move along the jetstream. Monday features a chance of showers and a high of 20. There is a slight chance of a thunderstorm. Tuesday's forecast looks much the same at this point. Showers are possible and there is a risk of a thunderstorm. Expect a high of 22.
Pattern doesn't change much for the middle of the work week and on. A shower or thunderstorm can't be ruled out on Wednesday with the high reaching 24. Right now, models are showing a stronger system affecting southern Manitoba in the latter half of the week. Expect showers and storms on Thursday with a high of 22.
As you can tell, there are numerous chances of precipitation next week. These threats look to be convective in nature and that means some areas may see a good dump of rain while others remain fairly dry. How much rain to expect is impossible to nail down at this point but we should have a better idea heading into next week.
An unsettled pattern is expected this weekend and the entirety of next week. It doesn't look like a washout, though, as the precipitation will be convective in nature. Thunderstorms are possible, at times, especially later next week.
Derek Heide's Weather Outlook
Written by Derek Heide
Thursday, 23 May 2013 10:05
May 23, 2013
High pressure remains in place as we are into the second half of the shortened work week. The ridge weakens a tad heading into the weekend, more so next week with active weather returning. For today, expect plenty of sun, a light wind, and a high of 18. It'll be clear tonight with a low of 4.
Tomorrow will start off sunny in the region. A boundary to our west looks to set off some shower activity in southwestern portions of the province in the afternoon. There will be a south wind and a high of 18. Clouds are forecast to increase late in the afternoon. Boundary slowly pushes east tomorrow night with showers possible in the region. It's going to be windy, at times, with a low of 8.
The weekend starts off on a bit of an unsettled note. There is a chance of showers on Saturday with a high of 18 degrees. Sunday features a mix of sun and cloud and a high of 18. Next week could be unsettled as western troughing sends pieces of energy towards the region. Models, however, disagree on how fast the ridge weakens and shifts east.
For Monday, expect a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm with a high of 20. Moisture looks to be on the increase for the rest of the period with southern Manitoba under southwest flow aloft. There's a chance of showers and thunderstorms on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Expect daily highs around 23 degrees.
Things continue to grow at a rapid pace in southern Manitoba. The big rain over the May Long Weekend followed by sunshine and wind has been ideal. Look for dry weather to persist for the next 24 hours before precipitation moves in tomorrow night.
MS Walks -- The Parago Family
Written by jayme giesbrecht
Wednesday, 22 May 2013 10:26
The MS Walks are on the way this weekend, across Canada. Every year over 65,000 participants in more than 160 communities across Canada take part...and we see a lot of support right here in Manitoba. This morning we were pleased to have Shawn Parago join us - Shawn's wife Charis was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and in honor of that, 34 people have banded together to raise funds, and walk for MS research, and to support Charis and the Parago family.
If anyone would like to make a donation by cash or cheque they can contact Shawn at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
, or follow these steps:
-Click “Find a walker or team” near the top right of the screen -Select “Search for a participant” (it should be the default) -Enter “Charis” in the first name field -Enter “Parago” in the last name field -Click “Search” (this should show my info on your screen with the option to donate now) -Click “Donate Now” -Complete the screen and continue as prompted until complete
Derek Heide's Weather Outlook
Written by Derek Heide
Wednesday, 22 May 2013 10:22
May 22, 2013
High pressure is beginning to settle in and should keep us dry through the end of the week. Pattern becomes active again this weekend and especially next week. For today, expect sunshine, a north wind, and a high of 20. It'll be mostly clear and breezy tonight with a low of 4.
It looks a bit cooler tomorrow in the region. We'll see plenty of sun, a light wind, and a high of 17. Tomorrow night features a clear sky and a low of 6. Friday will be another dry day, for the most part. Mostly sun is in the forecast along with a high of 19. A weak disturbance moving through the ridge could bring some shower activity to the region on Friday night.
The aforementioned disturbance pushes through on Saturday. Showers are possible with a high of 17 degrees. Main zone of instability sets up to our south and west and, as a result, no thunder is expected. We wrap up the weekend on Sunday with a mix of sun and cloud and a high of 20.
Southwest flow aloft is anticipated for, at least, the early portion of next week. Ridging starts to break down and that means an increasing threat of precipitation. There's a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm on Monday with a high of 22. Showers and thunderstorms are possible on Tuesday with the high reaching 24.
With the rain now done and the sun shining bright, things are growing at a rapid pace. That includes dandelions which many folks attempt to contain each and every year.
Derek Heide's Weather Outlook
Written by Derek Heide
Tuesday, 21 May 2013 09:40
May 21, 2013
Cut-off low which has plagued us for the past couple of days is finally moving south a bit and should lose its grip on the region in the next 24 hours. Overland flooding has occurred in parts of southern Manitoba and northeastern North Dakota. More than 8 inches reportedly fell near Thornhill over the weekend.
Today features a mix of sun and cloud, a northeast wind, and a high of 14. There is a chance of showers throughout the day but amounts won't be significant. It'll be partly clear tonight and breezy with a low of 5. Again, showers are possible. Clouds look to clear off tomorrow as the cut-off low weakens and moves southeast. Expect a north wind and a high of 18. Tomorrow night will be mostly clear with a low of 5 degrees.
The dry weather continues for the rest of the week with ridging in place. We'll see plenty of sun on Thursday with the high reaching 18. Friday will be sunny, as well, with a high of 20. High pressure weakens a bit on the weekend as western troughing begins to send energy towards the region. There is a chance of showers on Saturday with a high of 18.
For Sunday, expect a mix of sun and cloud and a high of 20. Models are showing a return to active weather early next week. Showers are possible on Monday with a high of 22. There is also the risk of a thunderstorm with some instability building into southern Manitoba.
Overland flooding has been an issue the past 24 hours or so. This image was taken near Mountain, North Dakota yesterday evening. Things should begin to improve in the near future with, at least, a few days of sunshine and dry weather expected.
Women's Health Week -- May 12-18
Written by jayme giesbrecht
Friday, 17 May 2013 10:43
Women's Health Week is May 12th to 18th, and in honor of that, Jayme Giesbrecht spoke with fitness instructor Sheena Butler about how important it is for us, as women, to stay healthy.
For more information on Sheena Butler, or to contact her, visit her website:
An interesting forecast as we head into the May Long Weekend. Forecast models are bouncing all over the place as they try to figure out the exact track of the various systems and resulting precipitation. In the end, there will be periods of wet weather to deal with heading into the early portion of next week.
Today will be mostly cloudy with a southeast wind and a high of 20. There is a chance of showers, especially this afternoon. Tonight features mostly cloud and a low of 12. A shower is possible in the evening. Precipitation chances look to increase after midnight. A batch of showers and thunderstorms will affect North Dakota this evening and push to the north and east, affecting the region overnight. There is no threat of severe weather with only weak instability expected.
Showers are a good bet tomorrow morning and there is a risk of a thunderstorm. We may see a break in the action heading into the afternoon as the first impulse moves off to the northeast. Tomorrow's high is 20. Models begin to disagree on what happens tomorrow night. A severe weather outbreak is likely to affect the parts of the Dakotas late in the day and through the evening.
A low level jet will transport more moisture north but it may get cut off somewhere to our south. Precipitable water around an inch, though, would promote the threat of some activity in the region. There is a chance of showers tomorrow night and maybe a thunderstorm. Expect a low of 12. Remnants from the North Dakota convection may affect us on Sunday. Showers are in the forecast with a high of 17. There is a slight chance of a thunderstorm.
Monday looks like another wet one with a cut-off low to our south. Plentiful moisture will stream north of the low and into southern Manitoba. Rain is in the forecast with a high of 16 degrees. Heading into the shortened work week, Tuesday features a chance of showers and a high of 17. We look to dry out for the remainder of the period. Wednesday will be mostly sunny with a high of 18. For Thursday, expect mostly sun and a high of 21.
Rainfall amounts through the weekend are tough to nail down, especially considering the model differences as of this morning. Overall, it is going to be a wet weekend with precipitation coming in spurts. Expect between 1 and 2 inches of rain tonight through Monday night. Locally higher amounts are possible if a healthy dose of thunderstorms can make it across the Canada/US border.
Thanks to Karen Peters for submitting the photo below of her green onions. The growing season is getting underway and the rain this weekend should help things along nicely.
Derek Heide's Weather Outlook
Written by Derek Heide
Thursday, 16 May 2013 10:14
May 16, 2013
An unsettled, wet weekend on the way for the region. There are still questions on when the heaviest precipitation will fall in southern Manitoba. Today is going to be a nice day in the region. Expect a mix of sun and cloud, a light wind, and a high of 22. Tonight features a mostly cloudy sky and a low of 11. There is a slight chance of overnight showers.
Moisture begins to increase tomorrow ahead of an organizing trough. There is a chance of showers with a high of 20. Shower potential continues through tomorrow night. Some thunderstorm activity is possible in North Dakota where instability is forecast. Tomorrow night's low is 12.
Plains trough emerges from the Rockies heading into the weekend. The Gulf of Mexico will be open for business, allowing plentiful moisture into the northern US and eventually southern Manitoba. There is a good chance of showers on Saturday along with the risk of a thunderstorm. Expect a high of 20. A heightened risk of showers and storms arrives on Saturday night as a low level jet strengthens. Models agree on developing a complex of thunderstorms in North Dakota in the evening. The northern flank of that complex may brush the region. Regardless, there is a risk of convection thanks to weak instability and impressive dynamics in place.
Showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast for Sunday with a high of 17. Models continue to agree on a low "cutting off" somewhere in North Dakota or Minnesota. What that means is the low itself is no longer associated with the steering winds aloft. For that reason, the low tends to remain relatively stationary.
Shower activity is likely to continue on Victoria Day as the low remains nearby. Expect a high of 15. The low finally begins to move off heading into the shortened work week. There is still a chance of showers on Tuesday with the high reaching 15 degrees. Wednesday features a mix of sun and cloud and a high of 16.
It's worth noting that the Long Weekend won't be filled with rain from start to finish. The most likely timing for widespread showers and a few thunderstorms will be Saturday night through Monday. At this point, that appears to be the favored time frame for the heaviest precipitation values. 1 or 2 inches of rain not out of the question by the end of the Long Weekend.
Rain a good bet in southern Manitoba this weekend and there may be a few thunderstorms to contend with, as well. Severe thunderstorms appear likely in states such as South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska this weekend. That threat may even extend up into southern North Dakota. Large hail, damaging wind, torrential rain, and even tornadoes are possible to our south.
Derek Heide's Weather Outlook
Written by Derek Heide
Wednesday, 15 May 2013 10:14
May 15, 2013
A quiet couple of days in store for the region before a large trough moves onto the US Plains and brings a threat of rain for numerous days extending through the Long Weekend. For today, expect a mix of sun and cloud, a northwest wind, and a high of 25. There is a slight chance of a shower late this morning and early this afternoon. It'll be mostly clear tonight with a low of 8.
Tomorrow is going to be a beautiful day in southern Manitoba. We'll see plenty of sun, a light wind, and a high of 24 degrees. Clouds may increase a bit tomorrow night. That will be tied to showers and thunderstorms in western North Dakota. The forecast low is 10. Unsettled pattern starts taking shape on Friday as moisture begins streaming north ahead of a developing and strengthening trough.
Showers are expected to spread into the region on Friday. It's going to be mostly cloudy with a high of 21. More showers are possible on Friday night. Some models are showing a bit of instability extending into southern Manitoba. There is a chance of a thunderstorm overnight into Saturday morning.
Trough continues to organize as it slowly moves east on Saturday. A severe weather episode is likely on a good chunk of the Plains, even up into southern North Dakota. Deep moisture will spread up into Manitoba. Showers are a good bet on Saturday along with the risk of some thunderstorms. Expect a high of 21. Best potential for storms looks to be on Saturday night.
Trough and associated low pressure system continue to stick around for the rest of the May Long Weekend. Widespread showers are in the forecast for Sunday with a slight risk of a thunderstorm. Sunday's high is 18. Wet weather in store for both Monday and Tuesday thanks to a cut-off low nearby. Expect showers on both days with highs around 14.
Rainfall totals through the Long Weekend could reach or even exceed 2 inches. It's been a long time since we've dealt with a prolonged rain event like this. Thankfully, it doesn't appear that there will be any snow to worry about with this system. Hopefully that's a good enough consolation prize, especially those who are going camping.
It's going to be a gloomy weekend in southern Manitoba. On May Long Weekend, we just can't seem to catch a break. The moisture, though, will be beneficial as things are quite dry across the region.
Written by jayme giesbrecht
Wednesday, 15 May 2013 07:07
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter, cut into pieces 1 small red onion, 1/2 finely chopped, 1/2 thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 teaspoon sugar 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, eyeball it 1 tablespoon hot sauce, eyeball it 1 1/4 pounds ground chicken 1 tablespoons grill seasoning (recommended: McCormick brand) a palm full 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 2 tablespoons honey, eyeball it 1 lemon, juiced 3 rounded tablespoons sweet pickle relish 2 cups shredded cabbage mix Salt and pepper 4 cornmeal Kaiser rolls, split
Directions
In a small skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add chopped onions, garlic and tomato paste and sweat them for 5 minutes to soften and sweeten. Sprinkle in sugar and remove from heat. Cool in a bowl, 5 minutes. Add tomato paste mixture, Worcestershire, hot sauce to bowl and combine. Add chicken to the bowl then grill seasoning and combine the burgers well to evenly distribute the flavors and form 4 patties. Wash up.
Heat 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, a turn of the pan, in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook patties 6 minutes on each side.
Combine the honey, lemon juice, and remaining extra-virgin olive oil in a bowl. Add relish, cabbage mix and sliced onions and season with salt and pepper. Toss the slaw to coat and reserve.
Serve burgers on bun bottoms topped with slaw and bun tops.
