The main weather maker over Christmas will be a large slow-moving storm system that will develop over the south-central U. S. early this week and then move northeastwards to lie over the Great Lakes by the weekend. Exactly how strong this system will get or the exact track it will take is still up in the air, but whether it hits us directly or remains well to our south we will still feel its effects.
Here are the two scenarios that can play out with this storm system. The most likely scenario will be that the snow and windy conditions will remain to our south and east bringing only a few clouds and the odd chance of some flurries to our region beginning on Christmas Eve and lasting until Boxing Day. We will then see high pressure build in behind the low as it pushes into northern Ontario. This high will bring colder temperatures along with moderate northerly winds.
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The second and much less likely scenario will see the low take a slightly more northerly route bringing snow into southern and eastern regions of Manitoba late on Christmas Eve. With the weather pattern blocked over Eastern Canada this low will then sit spinning its wheels over the western Great Lakes bringing a prolonged period of snow and high winds to our region for Christmas and Boxing Day. The low will then pull off into northern Ontario allowing cold high pressure to build in.
In either case it looks like the year will end on a cold note as arctic high pressure takes hold.
Usual temperature range for this period: Highs: -19 to -4C Lows: -30 to -13C
