The sun sets over frozen prairie fields near Rosser, Manitoba as temperatures dip below -30 degrees Celsius in mid-December.

Christmases have been relatively storm-free

In a contest for the coldest-ever Christmas Eve on the Prairies, Winnipeg would win

The holiday season is about traditions, and with Christmas and the holiday season just around the corner it’s time once again to do my traditional look at Christmas weather across the Prairies — in particular, a look back to see what the warmest and coldest Christmases were, and to see if there have ever been

Forecast: Arctic high pressure to dominate

Issued December 12, 2016 – Covering the period from December 14 to December 21, 2016

We definitely have switched into winter, with most areas seeing a dramatic switch last week as the predicted snowstorm hit, ending our record warm spell. The weather pattern looks to be quiet across our region for this forecast period as cold arctic high pressure dominates our weather, but we will have to keep a cautious eye on


December’s weather outlook? Cold

December’s weather outlook? Cold

A good portion of the record-level heating we saw in November took place during the night

Well, it’s now official. November 2016 has gone down in the record books as the warmest month on record across much of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In the last issue I pointed out we should easily beat the record, and we did exactly that. In fact, we didn’t just break the record for the warmest November

Forecast: Winter arrives with a vengeance

Issued December 5, 2016 – Covering the period from December 7 to December 14, 2016

It seems like each week, forecasts start out the same, and this week is no exception. Last week’s forecast did a pretty good job, and this week’s forecast is starting off with a storm system affecting some or all of southern and central Manitoba. A strong area of low pressure will likely depart southern Manitoba


Forecast: Stormy pattern trying to develop

Issued November 28, 2016 – Covering the period from November 30 to December 7, 2016

Once again the weather models got the general pattern correct, but as usual, the weather is in the details. Last week’s weather models showed another Colorado low developing and tracking south of us during the first half of the week. Fast-forward a few days and now that same Colorado low is expected to spin out

Nathon Kucherhan checks out a device known as Stevenson Screen, which includes temperature and humidity sensors.

Automatic weather station expanded, modernized

Shoal Lake Airport’s data collection part of grid design

The weather is always a topic of conversation, and with recent upgrades to the automatic weather station at the Shoal Lake Airport, there will be even more details to discuss. According to Nathon Kucherhan, supervisor of Meteorological Services of Canada, based in Winnipeg, the upgrade includes all new infrastructure: cable, signal and power structures and


Forecast: Pattern expected to shift, but just slightly

Issued November 21, 2016 – Covering the period from November 23 to November 30, 2016

Last week’s forecast was a little bit of a bust. The forecasted storm system did form as expected, but by last Wednesday, the weather models had come to an agreement on a much more southerly path and that is what ended up happening. As a result, no significant snow fell across southern or central Manitoba

Forecast: Winter storm with shift in patterns?

Issued November 14, 2016 – Covering the period from November 16 to November 23, 2016

After a record-breaking warm first half of November, it’s looking more and more like we’ll see a shift in the overall weather pattern during this forecast period. The big question is whether or not this shift will be accompanied by the first big winter storm of the year. The weather models have been fairly consistent


Manitoba government extends nutrient application deadline

Mild fall weather means the window is a bit longer this year

Manitoba’s nutrient application deadline has been extended to Nov. 18. The province’s sustainable development department said Monday the move, which allows fall fertilizer applications through to the end of Nov. 17, is possible because soil temperatures, due to an extremely mild first half of November, have yet to reach the freezing point. The restrictions are designed to ensure nutrients aren’t

Farmers fear a replay of past springs with unseeded acres, as seen in this aerial photo taken in 2014 near Souris, Man.

Wet conditions delaying Manitoba harvest, fertilizer applications

Sunny forecast is just what many farmers need

Too wet. That sums up conditions on many Manitoba farms as of Nov. 3 when the Keystone Agricultural Pro­ducers (KAP) held its advisory council meeting here. But that was before Mother Nature treated much of the province to a weekend of record-breaking temperatures, sunshine and wind. And as of press time Monday warmer-than-normal, sunny weather