The lowdown on winter storms on the Prairies

It takes more than just a trough of low pressure to kick up a memorable winter storm

It takes more than just a trough of low pressure to develop an Alberta Clipper or Colorado Low, which are the biggest winter storms in Manitoba. It also takes humidity, temperature changes and a host of other variables coming into play.

A snowy pasture scene in eastern Manitoba. Photo: Geralyn Wichers

Prairie forecast: Mild start before winter pushes back in

For this forecast period, we are starting with a fairly sharp ridge of high pressure over Western Canada and a deep trough of low pressure over Ontario. This setup will keep Alberta and the western half of Saskatchewan in milder air, while Manitoba sees a quick return to more winter-like temperatures.









Photo: Geralyn Wichers

Prairie forecast: No real signs of winter yet

Forecast issued November 12, covering Nov. 12 to 19, 2025 Highlights Once again, the weather models had a good handle on the overall weather pattern. Small variations in the timing and track of individual systems led to some differences in local conditions, but the general trend unfolded as expected. Winter made a brief attempt to


2025 set to be among hottest years on record: WMO

2025 set to be among hottest years on record: WMO

With only two months remaining in the year, 2025 is set to be among the top three hottest years on record, according to the State of the Global Climate Update from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The mean near-surface temperature in January-August 2025 was 1.42 C above the pre-industrial average, said the WMO report, released