Forecast: Models confident in high pressure

Issued July 31, 2017 – Covering the period from August 2 to August 9, 2017

With the exception of a few timing issues, last week’s forecast was pretty decent as high pressure dominated the picture, bringing with it the warmest weather of the summer. This forecast period looks to begin with a little break from the hot, muggy weather, though that break may be short lived as it appears likely

Forecast: High pressure set to dominate for the next few days

Issued July 24, 2017 – Covering the period from July 26 to August 2, 2017

So far this summer forecasting the weather has been tough, to say the least. We’ve basically been in a battle between a ridge of high pressure to our southwest and an active storm track to our north. Every time the weather models predict that the ridge of high pressure will win out, a storm system


Forecast: Hot weather expected to move in

Issued July 3, 2017 – Covering the period from July 5 to July 12, 2017

I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but once again our weather was hijacked by an upper-level low. This one sat over northern Manitoba late last week, then dropped to the southeast early last weekend. This looks to be the last of these pesky upper lows as all of the weather models point toward

Forecast: Upper low shifts weather pattern

Issued June 19, 2017 – Covering the period from June 21 to June 28, 2017

We have definitely undergone a major shift in our weather pattern thanks to last week’s large and slow-moving upper low. This upper low formed as originally forecast and actually followed the forecasted track. What it didn’t follow was the timeline. The low moved into northwestern Ontario as expected last Friday, but then stuck around until


Forecast: A break from dry and hot may be en route

Issued June 12, 2017 – Covering the period from June 14 to June 21, 2017

I’m not sure what’s up with the weather over the last month or so, but whatever is happening, the weather models are sure having a tough time figuring it out! For those of you who monitor the weather models, you know what I am talking about. One day the medium-range forecast is calling for sunshine

Rain on the fields

Timely rains for some, but hail for others

A more general rain was in the forecast for this week at press time which could address moisture shortfalls

Some Manitoba farmers got the rain they were praying for last weekend, some didn’t get enough and a few unfortunately also received hail. The good news is a more general rain was in the forecast at press time June 12 and the hail, although devastating for a few farmers, was believed to be isolated. “We’ve


Forecast: A couple of chances for precipitation

Issued June 5, 2017 – Covering the period from June 7 to June 14, 2017

Last week’s forecast didn’t quite play out as expected, but it was able to capture the overall pattern. The big surprise was just how warm it was able to get, even though the pattern wasn’t exactly set up to produce record-breaking heat. This forecast period will begin with an area of low pressure tracking through

Forecast: Quiet early-summer weather expected

Issued May 29, 2017 – Covering the period from May 31 to June 7, 2017

Once again an upper low took control of our weather, bringing the forecasted clouds and showers over the weekend. The slow movement of the low resulted in the clouds and showers sticking around longer than forecasted, and brought temperatures that were colder than expected. For this forecast, the weather is looking much quieter, with no


Severe summer weather and tornadoes, Part 1

Severe summer weather and tornadoes, Part 1

The skies offer some telltale signs that a severe storm may be en route

So far in our look at severe summer weather, and in particular thunderstorms, we have looked at how thunderstorms form, how they can grow into severe thunderstorms, and finally, how hail is produced. Next up on the severe thunderstorm list is tornadoes! Before we begin our look at tornadoes, though, I think we have to

Forecast: Another slow-moving storm system

Issued May 22, 2017 – Covering the period from May 24 to May 31, 2017

Well, once again, both the weather models and I struggled with the forecast. Thanks to a huge area of low pressure, the holiday long weekend turned out to be much cloudier and wetter than originally expected, unless you live in extreme western Manitoba. The low that put the damper on the long weekend was an