August 23, 2026

Severe Thunderstorms Possible Across Alberta & Saskatchewan Sunday with Risk of Large Hail and Damaging Winds

August 23, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

***NOTE: YOU CAN CLICK ON THE MAP TO OPEN A ZOOMABLE IMAGE***

Severe thunderstorms will be possible across the majority of Alberta and Saskatchewan today, and this includes the first real widespread risk that we’ve seen in close to two weeks.

This morning, there have already been some thunderstorms in parts of both provinces, but the activity has been more located in Central and Southern Saskatchewan. These storms have remained non-severe for the most part, but there was an area of severe storms that developed to the west of Moose Jaw and they have since weakened.

The ongoing morning storms should stay sub-severe, but there is a slight chance that one could surpass the threshold of becoming severe.

Additional thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon that will be scattered across Central and Northern Alberta and into Central Saskatchewan. Most of these storms are expected to stay non-severe through the afternoon and evening, but there will be the possibility for isolated storms to reach severe levels. These isolated severe storms may produce some large hail that could be toonie-size or larger and damaging wind gusts in excess of 100km/h.

As we move into the evening, a more widespread severe thunderstorm risk is expected in East Central and Northeastern Alberta, and extending slightly into Northern Saskatchewan. The environment here will be more supportive for severe thunderstorms across the region that could continue into the early hours of Monday, particularly along the provincial border. The storms in this region will also have the ability to create large hail and damaging wind gusts, but there is also the threat of heavy downpours that could lead to some localized flooding.

We will be monitoring today’s storms as they develop later and we will be sure to keep you updated if there are any significant severe threats.

July 23, 2026

Widespread Severe Thunderstorm Risk Across the Northern Prairies Thursday; Tornado Threat in Northern Saskatchewan

July 23, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

Today, there will be the widespread potential for severe thunderstorms across Northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and into parts of Northern Alberta. Meanwhile, most of the rest of the Prairies will be under a more isolated risk.

A low that is over Northern Alberta this morning will move into Saskatchewan this afternoon and its cold front will be the trigger for thunderstorm development. Although there won’t be a great deal of instability, with CAPE values below 1000J/kg for most of the region, there will be more than enough shear to still support thunderstorms once they form, especially for more southern areas.

We are already seeing some non-severe thunderstorms this morning in Northeastern Alberta and Northwestern Saskatchewan. It’s possible that one or two of these storms could become severe, especially if they can persist into the afternoon.

***Hourly Precipitation at 7Pm MDT/CST, 8pm CDT , courtesy of weatherbell.***

It’s during the afternoon that we are expecting to see additional development across the Northern regions of all three Prairie provinces, which will gradually track eastward with the low through the evening and overnight.

For the most part, we’re expecting that these will be garden variety severe thunderstorms across the region, with the main threat being strong wind gusts that could exceed 100km/h along with the possibility of up to toonie size hail and heavy rain.

There is, however, a slightly stronger severe risk in parts of Northern Saskatchewan and crossing the border into Alberta. This particular area, which includes Cold Lake, Meadow Lake, and Prince Albert, could potentially see storms that are capable of producing up to golf ball size hail, as well as an isolated tornado.

The presence of wildfire smoke in the atmosphere could certainly hinder thunderstorm development today, especially where the smoke is much thicker, closer to the Northwest Territories border. The good news is that we’re expecting today’s thunderstorms to be very moisture-laden, and there is also the possibility of widespread heavy rain not associated with thunderstorm activity. This will be beneficial for firefighting efforts across Northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as long as no additional fires are ignited by lightning strikes.

July 18, 2026

Dangerous Tornadic Supercells Capable of Massive Hail & Destructive Wind Gusts Possible Northeast of Edmonton Saturday; Strong Severe Thunderstorm Risk Extends Across Alberta & Saskatchewan

July 18, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

The week of daily severe weather risk in Alberta continues on Saturday, and much of Saskatchewan, with the greatest threat we’ve seen so far this week.

Not only are we looking at the possibility of strong severe thunderstorms across a considerable stretch of both Alberta and Saskatchewan today, but there is also the risk for some significantly strong storms to the east and northeast of Edmonton, in an area that includes Vegreville and St. Paul.

Today’s environment will be primed for the formation of strong supercell thunderstorms.

Models are showing that there will be an incredible amount of instability across the region today, with well over 3000J/kg of CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) expected for the Edmonton area. CAPE values of this magnitude are very uncommon for areas this far north, which indicates how strong of a risk we are truly looking at.

Dew points in the upper teens to low 20s today will provide plenty of moisture. Combined with the significant amount of shear that’s expected through the atmosphere, supercell storms will be easily supported.

Overall, we’re looking at a very dangerous setup that would look more at home in the Great Plains of the United States, not in Central Alberta and Saskatchewan.

A low that is set to develop this afternoon, and its associated cold front, will be the trigger for today’s severe weather. The location of this low will be the key to where the very strong thunderstorms will end up impacting.

As it stands, it appears that the low will set up over Edmonton, which would bring the greatest severe threat to areas northeast and east of the city.

***Future Surface weather map with the positions of highs, lows, and fronts displayed for 6pm MDT/CST on Saturday, courtesy of*** ***the national weather service***.

There have already been some severe thunderstorms in Northern Alberta and Southeastern Saskatchewan this morning, but these will just be a precursor of what’s to come.

Additional storms could begin to initiate early this afternoon, mostly in the Foothills, but there could be some isolated development across Central Alberta and into Saskatchewan. As we progress through the afternoon, we are expecting to see more storms develop, all of which will move along a mostly northeastward trajectory.

The greatest severe threat will be through in the evening and into the overnight hours, as the storms encounter their most ideal environmental conditions. The strongest of these storms will likely impact areas to the northeast of Edmonton later in the evening, approximately from 10pm to midnight, give or take an hour.

Through the overnight hours, the storms will eventually weaken, but there will still be a slight severe risk that continues into the pre-dawn hours.

***Hourly Precipitation at 11Pm MDT/CST, courtesy of weatherbell.***

As we’ve mentioned, the area to the northeast of Edmonton is under a significant severe weather threat today. The storms that hit this region could potentially produce massive baseball size hail and destructive wind gusts that could be upwards of 130km/h, possibly even higher.

There is also a strong severe risk the covers a large portion of Central Alberta and Saskatchewan, that also extends into Northern parts of both provinces.

The entirety of the area under both the Strong and Significant severe risks today will also have the threat of tornadoes developing. The greatest risk for multiple, possibly strong, tornadoes, however, will be in that Significant risk as well as the surrounding area.

This could end up being a very dangerous day so it is crucial to have a plan in place in the event of tornado warning for your area. You’ll need to know where the best place to take shelter is: the most interior room of the lowest floor, away from any windows.

It’s also very important to have all of your devices charged and to have multiple ways to receive weather alerts.

We have already begun live streaming the severe weather ongoing in Southern Ontario and we will be extending our coverage to include Alberta and Saskatchewan once things start to fire up later. Be sure to join us as www.instantweather.ca/live!

July 11, 2026

Widespread Tornado and Large Hail Threat with Another Risk of Severe Thunderstorms in Alberta & Saskatchewan Saturday

July 11, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

Following yesterday's widespread severe weather, in which multiple tornadoes were reported to have touched down in Central Saskatchewan, as well as one possibly touching down to the west of Edmonton, we're in for yet another day with the risk for strong severe thunderstorms.

For several days, weather models have been showing that the environment could be extremely unstable today, especially across much of Saskatchewan, which could result in a fairly significant severe weather outbreak. Working against this, however, is the likelihood that there could actually be too heat higher up in the atmosphere, which could create a strong capping inversion that would hinder thunderstorm development. This is expected to be the case for much of Southern Saskatchewan today, where there will be a more isolated severe risk. It's important to note that any storms that are able to develop in this region will probably be quite strong.

Shifting northward, the capping should be less of an issue in Central and Northern parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Across this large swath of the Prairies, severe thunderstorms are expected to develop much more readily in a favourable environment.

Although there are already some thunderstorms this morning in Central and Northern Alberta, the storms that we are most concerned about are expected to beginning developing early this afternoon in Western Alberta, which will track mostly eastward through the afternoon.

As these storms cross into Saskatchewan early this evening, they could strengthen considerably as they move through the most ideal environment. These thunderstorms are expected to maintain their strength as they cross Saskatchewan during the evening and into the overnight hours. As they approach the provincial border and cross into Western Manitoba, the storms are expected to weaken and then dissipate in the early morning hours.

At their strongest, the severe thunderstorms today could easily produce large golf ball to tennis ball size hail, damaging wind gusts up to and possibly exceeding 100km/h, and heavy rain. There will be a widespread risk of tornadoes today in the area outlined in yellow and even in Southern Saskatchewan if storms are able to form there, but the most significant risk will be in the orange region. An area of particular concern today will be around North Battleford, Saskatoon, and Prince Alberta.

This is looking like it could be another long day with a heightened severe weather threat across the Prairies. Given today’s widespread tornado risk, please ensure that you have all of your devices charged and that you have more than one way to receive critical alerts. We expect to be livestreaming today’s storms so be sure to tune in!

July 09, 2026

Massive Tennis Ball Hail and Tornado Threat from Strong Severe Thunderstorms Across All Three Prairie Provinces Thursday

July 09, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

Yesterday, two tornadoes have been confirmed to have touched near the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, south of Lloydminster. So far, no damage has been reported from the first tornado that began southwest of Paradise Valley, Alberta. The same can not be said for the second tornado, which tracked through Dillberry Lake Provincial Park, where it damaged trees, flipped a trailer, and caused minor injuries.

Unfortunately, this area will once again be at risk for tornadoes today, as we are looking at two particular regions in the Prairies where there could be strong severe thunderstorms capable of producing very large hail and tornadoes. The first area of concern will be in Southwestern Manitoba and extending northward into the Parkland and Interlake Regions. The second area is further west, extending southeastward from Wainwright, through Kindersley, to the Moose Jaw and Regina area.

To start things off, we’ll take a look at the severe risk in Eastern Saskatchewan and into Manitoba. As discussed in yesterday’s forecast, last night’s storms did manage to track across Saskatchewan overnight and persist through to the daylight hours today. They weakened considerably after crossing the Manitoba border and have gradually dissipated this morning.

Despite the lingering storms, the same low and frontal boundary setup that triggered yesterday’s tornadoes is positioned over Southern Saskatchewan and it will continue tracking eastward today.

***Future Surface weather map with the positions of highs, lows, and fronts displayed for 12pm cst/1pm CDT on Thursday, courtesy of*** ***the national weather service***.

Temperatures will climb into the mid-to-upper 20s and dewpoints into the low 20s across much of Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southern Manitoba today, meaning there will be plenty of moisture. The environment will also be quite unstable, with CAPE values possibly as high as 3000J/kg. Along with a decent amount of shear, all of the ingredients will be in place for strong severe thunderstorms to develop this afternoon as the low tracks through the region.

Thunderstorms could start to develop in the early afternoon in Southeastern Saskatchewan, along the warm and occluded fronts. However it’s looking more likely that storm initiation will occur on the other side of the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border in the mid-afternoon.

***Simulated reflectivity at 3pm CdT, courtesy of weatherbell.***

Given the extensive north-south orientation of the warm and occluded fronts, it’s possible that there could be widespread severe thunderstorm development that extends northwards from the international border to north of Flin Flon. While there is this large severe risk, the strongest severe thunderstorms are expected to remain further south.

The storms in Southern Manitoba are expected to strengthen quickly once they develop, especially if they interact with any lingering outflow boundaries from this mornings thunderstorms. If this were to happen, we could see some fairly explosive development in the region. There could be a few supercell storms, but it’s mostly looking like the storms will be multicellular in nature.

As the front slowly continues to track eastward and crosses Manitoba through the afternoon and evening, so too will the storms. In fact, these slow moving, moisture-laden storms could dump a lot of rain over an area that has already been dealing with major flooding issues, so be prepared.

Other than exacerbating the flooding concerns, if things really ramp up this afternoon and evening, the strong severe thunderstorms could potentially produce some massive hail today, with estimates of hail as large as tennis balls being possible. Damaging wind gusts up to 120km/h are also likely with these strong storms, and there will also be a threat of tornadoes if we end up seeing some of that explosive development.

The severe weather threat could possibly move into Winnipeg and the Red River Valley in the evening, but most models are showing the storms tracking southeastward into the States. The possibility of storms in this region is still a bit questionable, so we’re forecasting a widespread risk to the east of the area of strongest storms.

***Simulated reflectivity, with added storm motion, at 7pm CdT, courtesy of weatherbell.***

While storms are impacting Southern Manitoba, there will also be the risk of some severe thunderstorms further west.

A new low has been forming over Southern Alberta and it could trigger thunderstorms to develop this afternoon, but it’s looking like a boom or bust situation in this region. There will be plenty of moisture and a decent amount of instability, but there could actually be too much shear for thunderstorms to survive.

If storms are able to develop today and they aren’t over-sheared, they will likely be supercells that could start up in Central Alberta and track southeastward across West Central and Southwestern Saskatchewan. Models that are showing thunderstorm development are suggesting that these could end up being long-lived storms again, which could continue into the overnight and early morning hours as they approach the Montana border.

***total Precipitation as of 3pm MDT/CST shows possible tracks of long-lived thunderstorms, courtesy of weatherbell.***

The greatest risk of strong severe thunderstorms in Alberta and Western Saskatchewan today will exist from Wainwright to Moose Jaw and if these strong storms do develop, it could be a similar situation as yesterday. Very large hail, that could be tennis ball size or larger, would once again be the main severe threat. Damaging wind gusts well in excess of 100km/h will also be possible and there will be the threat of tornadoes, too.

Beyond the two areas we’ve highlighted as having the strongest severe thunderstorms today, there will also be a widespread severe risk across much of the Southern Prairies as a result of a favourable environmental conditions.

Shortly after 10:30am local time, Environment Canada has issued a Yellow Severe Thunderstorm Watch for parts of Central and Southern Alberta. Similar Watches will likely be issued in Saskatchewan and Manitoba in the coming hours.

As always, we will be monitoring today’s thunderstorm development very closely. We intend on live streaming today’s storms, as well as the risk in Southern Ontario, so please be sure to tune in and stay safe!

July 08, 2026

Threat of Tennis Ball Hail, Damaging Winds, and Tornadoes on Wednesday as Strong Severe Thunderstorms Take Aim at Parts of Alberta & Saskatchewan

July 08, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

After a bit of a break yesterday, severe weather returns today to parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. There is a widespread risk of severe thunderstorms across large swaths of both provinces today, however there is a threat of particularly strong severe thunderstorms for parts of Eastern Alberta and Western Saskatchewan.

The environment will be quite unstable throughout the region today, with CAPE values expected to climb as high as 2500J/kg. Combined with plenty of moisture and a considerable amount of shear, conditions will be favourable for thunderstorm development.

Some storms have already begun this morning to the northwest of Lac la Biche, and the bulk of today’s storms are expected to initiate in the Alberta Foothills later this morning and into the early afternoon. The storms will develop along a warm front that’s associated with a low which will move into Northern Alberta from British Columbia. It’s expected that today’s thunderstorms will start off as small individual storms, but they should quickly grow and strengthen as the track eastward across Alberta and reach the Saskatchewan border by the late afternoon.

***Hourly Precipitation at 6pm MDT, courtesy of weatherbell.***

The strongest storms of the day are expected to occur during the late afternoon and into the evening, impacting parts of Eastern Alberta approaching the Saskatchewan border and extending eastward as far as Saskatoon. The main risks from these storms will be up to tennis ball sized hail and very damaging wind gusts that could be upwards of 120km/h, however, this area will also have the threat of tornadoes.

As we progress later into the evening and overnight, the storms will continue to track east across Saskatchewan, but they are expected to have weakened slightly. The thunderstorms could end up persisting straight through the night and approach the Manitoba border around sunrise tomorrow.

***Simulated reflectivity at 6Am CST, courtesy of weatherbell.***

There is a bit of uncertainty associated with today’s thunderstorm risk for Southern Alberta. A few weather models are showing little to no thunderstorm activity in this area and this potential lack of development could be due to the presence of smoke from wildfires in British Columbia. Regardless, the environment in this region will still be primed for thunderstorm development, which is why we have opted to forecast a widespread risk for this region.

Environment Canada has already issued Yellow and Orange level Severe Thunderstorm Watches for much of Central and Southern Alberta and these will likely be extended into Saskatchewan in the coming hours. We will be monitoring today’s thunderstorm development very closely and we will possibly go live later on so be sure to stay tuned!

July 05, 2026

Widespread Strong Severe Thunderstorm Risk Across the Prairies Sunday with Tornado Threat in Southwestern Manitoba

July 05, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

It’s another day with the possibility of severe weather across the Prairies. Today’s risk extends eastward from Southern Alberta through Central Saskatchewan and throughout most of Central and Southern Manitoba.

There are going to be two areas where we will be watching for thunderstorm development later today. The first being in Southern Alberta and the second in Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba.

Starting in Alberta, the combination of heat and moisture from the south, along with considerable instability, will create the ideal environment for severe thunderstorms to develop this afternoon. The storms are expected to be supercells or multicellular that would develop in the Southern Foothills.

As the storms track eastward beyond the Foothills, they should become severe and possibly long-tracked thunderstorms. Looking at weather models, it appears as though things will strengthen to the east of Calgary, but there will still be an isolated severe risk for the City and the crowds at the Stampede.

***Simulated reflectivity at 6pm MDT, courtesy of weatherbell.***

The thunderstorms that develop in Southern Alberta this afternoon could very well maintain their strength and continue tracking eastward straight across Central Saskatchewan through the late evening and into the overnight hours. There is a bit of a question mark with this, with some models showing this possibility while others show nothing impacting Saskatchewan.

Regardless, the thunderstorms that do end up developing in this region could be quite strong and have the potential to create very large hail that could possibly be as big as tennis balls, as well as damaging wind gusts in excess of 100km/h.

The secondary area of severe threat for today will exist in Southeastern Saskatchewan and across much of Southern and Central Manitoba.

The development of storms in this region will be courtesy of a cold front from a low pressure system that will move into the region this afternoon. The environment in this area will already be primed with substantial instability (CAPE values upwards of 3000J/kg) and a significant amount of vertical shear so thunderstorms will likely be quite strong, especially in Southwestern Manitoba.

Thunderstorm development in this part of the Prairies could kick off later this afternoon/early evening in deep Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba. These storms could then intensify quickly as they track east-northeastward across Southern Manitoba throughout the evening and overnight.

***Simulated reflectivity at 9pm CDT, courtesy of weatherbell.***

As with to the west, the severe thunderstorms that impact Southeastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba could also be quite strong. The entire region could experience large hail and damaging wind gusts, but in Southwestern Manitoba, where the strongest storms will likely hit, there could be hail as large as tennis balls. There is also the risk of tornado development throughout the evening that extends from Southeastern Saskatchewan to east of Winnipeg and northward into the Parkland and Interlake Regions.

We will be monitoring today’s thunderstorm development very closely and be sure to tune in later when we go live!

June 27, 2026

Tornado Risk for Regina Area as Significant Severe Storm Risk Target Saskatchewan & Manitoba Saturday

June 27, 2026/ Brennen Perry

After a brief reprieve from active weather across Saskatchewan and Western Manitoba, the threat of severe thunderstorms returns on Saturday. This round of storms could bring a potentially significant severe weather risk to portions of Southeastern Saskatchewan, especially around Weyburn and Estevan.

Isolated thunderstorms are expected to develop near the International Border around the dinner hour. Any storms that form could quickly become supercells capable of producing all severe weather hazards, including tornadoes, golf ball-sized hail and destructive wind gusts up to 120 km/h.

There is also a strong severe weather risk extending northward toward Assiniboia, Moose Jaw and Regina. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out in these areas as well, although confidence in storm development is lower compared to locations closer to the border.

Further south, additional thunderstorms are expected to develop across Montana and North Dakota. As the evening progresses, these storms are forecast to merge into a large complex that will race northeast toward Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba.

The earlier isolated supercells over Southeastern Saskatchewan are expected to be absorbed into this larger storm complex as it crosses the border. As this happens, the primary threat will shift from large hail and tornadoes to widespread damaging wind gusts as the storms organize into a fast-moving line during the mid and late evening hours.

This line is expected to sweep northeast from Regina toward the Manitoba border. There is still some uncertainty regarding how well it will maintain its strength after sunset, as the loss of daytime heating will reduce available instability. However, we expect at least an isolated to widespread severe weather risk to continue past midnight as the storms approach the Yorkton and Brandon corridor.

**SIMULATED RADAR** - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

Based on the latest data, isolated thunderstorms are most likely to develop between 5 and 7 PM CST near the International Border. These storms could impact the Weyburn and Estevan areas as they rapidly intensify into supercells capable of producing large hail, damaging wind gusts and tornadoes.

The environment will be particularly favourable for tornadic development during the first few hours of these storms' lifespan. The greatest tornado risk appears to be closest to the border, although this threat could extend northwest toward Moose Jaw and Regina if storms are able to develop there during the late afternoon and early evening.

As the mature line of storms over Montana and North Dakota advances into Saskatchewan, the earlier isolated storms are expected to merge into the line, forming a bowing segment stretching from Regina to the Manitoba border.

Although the tornado threat will decrease once the storms become linear, a brief QLCS spin-up tornado cannot be ruled out, particularly near any bookend vortices that develop within the line. The primary hazard, however, will become widespread damaging wind gusts, with localized gusts over 100 km/h possible. The hail threat will also diminish by this stage, although quarter to toonie-sized hail may still accompany the strongest storms.

The line will continue sweeping across Southeastern Saskatchewan and into Southwestern Manitoba during the overnight hours. While isolated damaging wind gusts will remain possible within the strongest portions of the line, there is still uncertainty regarding how well the storms will maintain their intensity after midnight.

June 20, 2026

Widespread Severe Thunderstorms Possible Across Southern Alberta and into Southwestern Saskatchewan Today with Slight Risk of a Tornado

June 20, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

Severe thunderstorms are going to be likely across Southern Alberta and into parts of Central Alberta and Southwestern Saskatchewan today. A cold front associated with the low pressure system that’s responsible for the heavy rainfall in Central Alberta will be the trigger for thunderstorm development this afternoon and evening.

Temperatures are expected to climb into the low to mid-20s, but dewpoints are expected to be fairly low, barely reaching mid-teens for most of Southern Alberta and Southwestern Saskatchewan. This lack of moisture could hamper thunderstorm development, however some moisture from the north could make its way into the region later today, which would make up for the lower dewpoints.

***Simulated reflectivity at 3pm MDT, courtesy of weatherbell.***

Thunderstorms are expected to develop early this afternoon in the Foothills as individual cells. These storms will likely be severe for most of the region, but there is a more isolated severe risk closer to the low pressure center, in the Edmonton area and westward.

As the storms progress eastward through the afternoon and evening, they are expected to eventually merge into a line. This transition to a linear storm mode will bring a more widespread severe risk across Southeastern Alberta and eventually into Southwestern Saskatchewan later in the evening (around 8-10pm).

The severe risk does not extend too far eastward into Saskatchewan because the storms will weaken later in the evening. This will lead to a more isolated threat into the Swift Current area by around midnight before it’s expected that the storms become non-severe for the rest of the overnight period.

***Simulated reflectivity at 9pm MDT, courtesy of weatherbell.***

Across most of Southern Alberta and stretching into parts of Central Alberta, including Red Deer, and Southwestern Saskatchewan is where there is the greatest risk for widespread severe thunderstorms today. In this region, the main severe weather threats will be strong wind gusts above 100km/h and large hail that could be as big as ping pong balls. There is also a small risk of a tornado today, but that will be very conditional on there being enough moisture moving into this area from the north ahead of the thunderstorm development.

June 16, 2026

Strong Winds and Timbit Sized Hail Possible with Widespread Risk of Severe Thunderstorms in Southern Alberta & Saskatchewan Tuesday

June 16, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

It’s looking like it’ll be an active day for some parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan today. A low pressure system from Southern British Columbia will track southeastward through Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan today, which will trigger the development of thunderstorms across the region.

Temperatures are expected to climb into the low to mid-20s, with dewpoints possibly into the mid-teens, across Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, which should help fuel thunderstorm development. There will be a modest amount of CAPE in the region, with weather models showing upwards of 1000J/kg for some areas. While this is not a great deal of instability, the combination of shear and a mechanism for lift will be enough for scattered thunderstorms to develop across the region.

***Simulated reflectivity at 2pm, courtesy of weatherbell.***

Non-severe thunderstorms have already developed this morning in Central Alberta. As the low continues tracking southeast into Southern Alberta, so too will the thunderstorms and starting in the early afternoon, it’s likely that the storms that develop will become severe.

The bulk of the thunderstorm activity is expected to make its way into Southern Saskatchewan later in the afternoon, around 3-5pm. Behind the initial cluster of storms in this area, additional storms are expected to develop to the west, in Southern Alberta. Most of these storms will likely be severe, but there is a more isolated severe risk that will extend eastward across much of the rest of Southern Saskatchewan.

The thunderstorms will gradually weaken through the evening as they continue tracking into Montana and most of the storms should cross the international border by midnight. However, there is a chance that some storms could linger in Southern Saskatchewan into the early morning hours.

***Simulated reflectivity at 6pm, courtesy of weatherbell.***

An area that stretches from northwest of Calgary southeastward into Southwestern Saskatchewan, shown in yellow on our forecast map, is where there is the greatest risk for widespread severe thunderstorms today. Across this region, the main threat from thunderstorms today will be strong wind gusts in excess of 100km/h, however there is also the threat that these storms could produce large hail that could be as large as Timbits and maybe even as large as golf balls. Given that at least one tornado is confirmed to have touched down in Northern Alberta from this system last night, the possibility of additional tornadoes today can not be ruled out.

June 09, 2026

Potential Derecho Combined with Threat of Baseball Hail and Tornadoes Marks the Return of Extreme Risk in Saskatchewan and Manitoba Tuesday

June 09, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

It was a very busy weekend for severe weather in Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba. From the two day span, there have been countless reports of massive hail, wind damage, flooding from across the region, as well as a few tornado reports that are awaiting confirmation. Unfortunately, the calmer conditions we saw on Monday will come to an end when strong severe thunderstorms once again impact Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba today.

Through the day, a low pressure system will strengthen as it moves from Southeastern Montana into Western North Dakota and then into Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba by later this afternoon. A warm front will extend eastward from the low pressure center, which will help draw lots of heat and moisture northward into Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

***Future Surface weather map with the positions of highs, lows, and fronts displayed for 12pm cst/1pm CDT on Tuesday, courtesy of*** ***the national weather service***.

Temperatures are slated to climb into upper 20s and low 30s across the region this afternoon and with dewpoints expected to be in the upper teens, there will be plenty of fuel for thunderstorm development. Weather models are showing upwards of 4000J/kg of CAPE in some areas, which will support the development of supercell thunderstorms. Veering winds will also create a significant amount of shear to maintain large supercell thunderstorms and support tornado potential.

Through the morning, there is a chance that some thunderstorms could develop in Southeastern Saskatchewan which would track northeastward into Southwestern Manitoba during the early afternoon. These storms could possibly become severe and produce some small hail and strong winds, but they won’t be as strong as the storms expected later in the day.

***Simulated reflectivity at 3pm CST/4pm CDT, courtesy of weatherbell.***

Severe thunderstorms could start to fire up in the early afternoon, particularly in Southwestern and West Central Saskatchewan. However, we will gradually see more organized development of stronger thunderstorms occur across Southern Saskatchewan and into Southwestern Manitoba as we get later in the afternoon, around 3-6pm, depending on the time zone.

Similar to what we saw on the weekend, the thunderstorms are expected to grow exponentially into large supercells which will track mostly northeastward through the evening and overnight.

***Simulated reflectivity at 7pm CST/8pm CDT, courtesy of weatherbell.***

Even more thunderstorms are expected develop during the evening and storms will also move into the region from south of the border. As with the situation on both Saturday and Sunday, there is the likelihood that these additional storms will end up merging into a large line of thunderstorms. These thunderstorms will continue to be quite strong for a few hours after they transition into a linear storm mode.

As the hours tick on and it gets closer to midnight, it’s likely that the storms will begin to gradually weaken. This is also around the time that the severe line will make its way into the Winnipeg area so it’s possible that the city could avoid the greatest severe hazards of the day.

***Simulated reflectivity at 11pm CST/12am CDT, courtesy of weatherbell.***

The risk of strong severe thunderstorms extends across much of Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba today. Across much of the region, there will be the possibility for storms to produce ping pong ball hail, damaging wind gusts up to 100km/h, and heavy rains that will likely result in localized flooding.

However, the greatest threat of severe weather will once again be in Southeastern Saskatchewan, into Southwestern Manitoba and extending eastward into the Interlake Region and approaching the Red River Valley. This region, highlighted in red and purple on our forecast map, could see some exceptionally strong thunderstorms this evening that will originate from Montana.

The main threat from the thunderstorms that move through this region is expected be widespread destructive wind gusts upwards of 130km/h and this could very likely end up being considered a derecho. On top of this, the storms will also have torrential downpours that could further exacerbate the flooding issues being faced by some communities and they may produce hail that could be as large as baseballs, which could be extremely dangerous if it’s being driven by winds up to 130km/h. As if this wasn’t enough, there is also a tornado risk across this region.

The major hindrance to tornado development over the weekend was that a lack of moisture ended up keeping the cloud bases high, until they were able to lower later in the evening on Sunday. This could end up being the case today, but this still has the potential to be a life-threatening situation.

Even without the tornado risk, today’s severe weather threat is very serious. If you live in the area that we’ve highlighted in either red or purple on our map, PLEASE be prepared for the likelihood that threatening weather could impact your area today. Make sure you have your phones charged and you have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. It’s also a good idea to have a plan in place in the event that you need to take shelter.

June 08, 2026

Threat of Large Hail, Damaging Winds and Tornadoes Returns to Saskatchewan and Manitoba on Tuesday

June 08, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

It was a very busy weekend for severe weather in Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba. From the two day span, there have been countless reports of massive hail, wind damage, flooding from across the region, as well as a few tornado reports that are awaiting confirmation. Unfortunately, Monday’s calmer conditions won’t last because strong severe thunderstorms are once again expected to impact Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba on Tuesday.

Early Tuesday, a low pressure system will move into Southeastern Montana and from there, it will strengthen as it tracks into Western North Dakota through the morning hours and into the afternoon. A warm front will extend eastward from the low pressure center, which will help draw lots of heat and moisture northward into Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Temperatures are slated to climb into upper 20s and low 30s across the region in the afternoon and with dewpoints expected to be in the upper teens, there will be plenty of fuel for thunderstorm development. Some models are showing upwards of 4000J/kg of CAPE in some areas, which will support the development of supercell thunderstorms.

Veering winds will also create a significant amount of shear to maintain large supercell thunderstorms and support tornado potential. Overall, this is looking like a fairly similar environmental setup to Sunday.

During the late morning, there is a chance that some thunderstorms could develop in Southeastern Saskatchewan which would track northeastward into Southwestern Manitoba into the early afternoon hours. These storms will likely become severe and produce some small hail and strong winds, but they won’t be as strong as the storms expected later in the day. However, if these storms manage to persist across the Interlake Region, they could end up re-intensifying through the late afternoon and evening.

***Simulated reflectivity at 4pm CST/5pm CDT, courtesy of weatherbell.***

The strong severe thunderstorms could start to fire up in the early afternoon, particularly in Southwestern and West Central Saskatchewan. However, we will gradually see more organized development occur across Southern Saskatchewan and into Southwestern Manitoba as we get later in the afternoon, around 3-6pm, depending on the time zone.

Similar to what we saw on the weekend, the thunderstorms are expected to grow exponentially into large supercells which will track mostly northeastward through the evening and overnight.

***Simulated reflectivity at 8pm CST/9pm CDT, courtesy of weatherbell.***

More thunderstorms are expected develop during the evening and storms will also move into the region from south of the border. As with the situation on both Saturday and Sunday, there is the likelihood that these additional storms will end up merging into a large line of thunderstorms. These thunderstorms will continue to be quite strong for a few hours after they transition into a linear storm mode.

The risk of strong severe thunderstorms on Tuesday extends across much of Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Throughout this region, the severe thunderstorms could end up producing hail that’s larger than golf balls, widespread damaging wind gusts up to 130km/h, and torrential downpours that could exacerbate the flooding issues some communities are already dealing with.

There is also the potential for tornadoes to form from these thunderstorms. The major hindrance to tornado development over the weekend was that a lack of moisture ended up keeping the cloud bases high until they were able to lower later in the evening on Sunday. This could end up being the case on Tuesday, given the similar environmental setup, but the risk is certainly still in place.

Please keep in mind that this is a preliminary forecast and could differ from our final forecast as more data comes in overnight and tomorrow morning.

June 07, 2026

Widespread Tornado Threat and Softball-Sized Hail Possible with Extreme Thunderstorm Risk on Sunday as Severe Weather Outbreak Enters its Second Day

June 07, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

After a busy day yesterday, that saw severe thunderstorms dropping massive baseball-sized hail over parts of Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southern Manitoba, we have the chance to do it all again today. It’s likely that today could be an even greater severe risk day than yesterday, with an extreme risk posed by the possibility of gigantic hail and multiple tornadoes. However, there has been a little bit of uncertainty surrounding how thunderstorms may end up developing this afternoon and evening.

Like yesterday, today’s severe thunderstorm threat will be triggered by a cold front that is currently oriented on a north-south axis and it located just west of the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border. This is a bit further west than originally anticipated when we issued our preliminary forecast on Friday, due in part to the front becoming stationary for a period of time yesterday. As a result, the severe risk today will cover more of Southeastern Saskatchewan and won’t extend as far east across Southern Manitoba.

To the east of the cold front, temperatures will once again climb into the low 30s this afternoon and it’s expected to be much more humid today, with dew points approaching the 20°C mark. The lack of moisture yesterday kept the cloud bases high, which greatly reduced the tornado risk, but it doesn’t look like that will be the case today.

The heat and humidity will lead to high levels of instability and upwards of 3000J/kg of CAPE to fuel thunderstorm development again today. Veering winds will also create a significant amount of shear to maintain large supercell thunderstorms.

***Surface weather map with the positions of highs, lows, and fronts displayed as of 6am cst this morning, courtesy of*** ***the national weather service***.

As we’ve mentioned in this forecast already, and in our forecast from yesterday, there was uncertainty with today’s severe thunderstorm risk. There have been some mostly non-severe thunderstorms that have tracked through Southern Manitoba already this morning and it is possible these could hinder additional development later today.

The storms have weakened over the past couple of hours and the thought was that if they manage to clear early enough, that will allow for there to be ample surface heating needed for the additional explosive development later. However, if the storms stuck around into the afternoon, the severe thunderstorm risk would be greatly reduced. With the clearing of these morning storms already occurring, it seems likely the severe threat will not be diminished.

The significant severe thunderstorms could develop in the late afternoon and into the early evening, around 4-6pm in Southeastern Saskatchewan and extending northeastward into Southern and Central Manitoba. These storms could once again explode into massive and dangerous supercell thunderstorms that would track roughly northeastward through the evening.

The area highlighted on our map in red, that covers a large portion of Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba, will be at a very high risk for dangerous severe thunderstorms. The area highlighted in purple, however, is where the strongest environment is expected to be and where there is an extreme risk for incredibly dangerous and life-threatening thunderstorms.

Throughout this region, the severe thunderstorms could end up producing absolutely massive, and maybe record-breaking, softball-sized hail, damaging wind gusts up to 120km/h, and very heavy rainfall that could lead to localized flooding. If we end up seeing the moisture that we were lacking yesterday, and the storm bases are lower, it is entirely possible that we could be looking at a tornado outbreak.

As we progress through the evening, more thunderstorms are expected develop and storms will also move into the region from south of the border. Once again, there is the likelihood that these additional storms will end up merging into a large line of storms which could impact a wide area into the overnight hours.

By the time we see a more linear storm mode, it’s likely that the storms will have weakened from their greatest strength, but they are still expected to be very strong and capable of producing very large hail, damaging wind gusts, and torrential rain.

The tornado threat should also decrease as we get later in the evening and into the overnight hours, but with how strong these thunderstorms could be today, there will still be a slight risk until the storms move into Northern Manitoba during the early morning.

Today’s severe weather threat is very serious. If you live in the area that we’ve highlighted in either red or purple on our map, PLEASE be prepared for the possibility of threatening weather to impact your area today. Make sure you have your phones charged and you have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. It’s also a good idea to have a plan in place in the event that you need to take shelter.

Once again, we will absolutely be live-streaming later so please join us while we monitor and track today’s severe weather. We hope everyone is able to stay safe today!

June 06, 2026

Tennis Ball-Sized Hail and Multiple Tornadoes Possible as Severe Thunderstorm Outbreak Targets Southeastern Saskatchewan on Saturday

June 06, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

Over the last several days, we’ve been closely watching the possibility of an intense multi-day setup for this weekend that would impact Southeastern Saskatchewan today and shift into Southwestern Manitoba tomorrow. There has been a lot of chatter online about this severe weather risk and combined with several high-profile storm chasers in the area from the US, it’s easy to say that we’re not looking at your average thunderstorm activity.

Today’s severe thunderstorm threat will be courtesy of a warm and cold front that is poised over Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba. The warm sector between the two fronts will see temperatures climb into the upper 20s and low 30s this afternoon, with high humidity.

This will lead to high levels of instability and CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) for thunderstorm development. Add in veering winds, changing direction with height, which will create a great amount of shear, and you have the recipe for an outbreak of significantly strong severe thunderstorms.

There have already been some scattered thunderstorms this morning which will continue through the afternoon across much of Southern Saskatchewan. These storms are expected to stay non-severe for the most part, but there is an isolated severe risk.

The thunderstorms that will be the focus for today aren’t expected to develop until this evening, starting around 5-6pm, to the east of Regina. Weather models are showing that these storms will likely quickly explode into large and dangerous supercell thunderstorms as they track roughly east-northeastward.

***Simulated reflectivity at 6pm CST, courtesy of weatherbell.***

The area highlighted on our map in red that covers a large portion of Southwestern Saskatchewan and into parts of the Parkland Region in Manitoba will be at the greatest risk for the strongest of these severe thunderstorms.

In this region, it’s likely that the storms could produce massive hail as large as tennis balls and possibly even larger, damaging wind gusts up to or exceeding 100km/h, and heavy downpours that could result in localized flooding. There is also a considerable threat that multiple tornadoes could touch down in this region; with the stretch from Weyburn to Yorkton appearing to be of particular concern.

As we progress through the evening, we will see additional thunderstorm development occur, which are expected to merge into a line of storms. This will bring a more widespread threat of the significant and strong storms across the rest of Southeastern Saskatchewan and into Manitoba.

***Simulated reflectivity at 8pm CST, courtesy of weatherbell.***

The severe weather threat will diminish gradually as the hours tick on in the evening and overnight. The tornado risk is also expected to decrease from its highest point by the mid-evening, but the storms could still be strong enough for the risk to remain through the evening. By midnight, there could still be a widespread risk of some severe storms, but this will quickly turn into a more isolated risk and scattered non-severe thunderstorms through the morning.

Looking ahead to tomorrow afternoon, we’re looking at another day of possibly strong severe thunderstorms, with the risk pushing further east across Southern Manitoba. What ends up happening tomorrow will really depend on how things unfold today. There’s the possibility that tomorrow could have even stronger storms than what is expected this afternoon, but this will be heavily contingent on how long any overnight storms manage to persist into tomorrow.

If the storms clear during the morning, that will allow for there to be ample surface heating for the development of another significant severe thunderstorm outbreak. However, if the storms continue into the afternoon, the severe thunderstorm risk will be greatly reduced.

We will have more details later today about how tomorrow could shape up. In the meantime, we will be watching today’s development very closely and we will be streaming later to track the severe thunderstorms live. Be sure to tune in!

May 26, 2026

Real Taste of Summer for Alberta & Saskatchewan as Temperatures Soar into the 30s with Severe Thunderstorm Risk

May 26, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

It was only a little over a week ago that we had snow falling across parts of the Prairies. Now, Mother Nature is treating us to some weather whiplash and a true taste of summer, with temperatures climbing into the 30s in a heat wave that begins today and continues through the week.

This extended period heat is courtesy of a strong upper level ridge in the jet stream which will allow much warmer air from the States to surge northward. This ridge is expected to gradually extend eastward over the course of the week, which will then bring the heat into Manitoba and possibly deliver some relief in Eastern Alberta.

Along with the heat today, there will be the risk for severe thunderstorms to develop in Southern Alberta and Southwestern Saskatchewan.

Isolated thunderstorms are possible for Southern Alberta throughout the afternoon, but the greatest risk of severe weather begins with storms that develop later in the afternoon and early evening in both provinces, as well as in Montana. Storms that form during this time will likely be severe as they track northwestward, but as we get later into the evening and overnight hours, they should weaken and become non-severe.

Strong wind gusts in excess of 100km/h are the main threat from today’s severe thunderstorms, but there will also be a possibility of up to nickel-sized hail. There is a chance that there might be enough capping in the atmosphere today that storms could struggle to develop so we will certainly be keeping a close watch on how things shape up over the coming hours.

April 22, 2026

Buckle Up: Parts of Saskatchewan & Manitoba About to Get Hammered By an Intense Spring Storm This Week

April 22, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

We may be in the latter half of April, but winter is still hanging on across the Prairies. On Wednesday, a massive low pressure system will begin to develop which will bring chaos to Saskatchewan and Manitoba over the next few days.

Unfortunately, we’re looking at all precipitation types in both provinces, with some places possibly expecting full-on blizzard conditions, while others could see temperatures in the 20s and severe thunderstorms. This makes for a very complicated forecast, but we’ll do our best to break it down for you here.

***The rdps model showing precipitation type and intensity at 12pm cst/1pm CT on Wednesday, courtesy of WeatherBell.***

***The rdps model showing precipitation type and intensity at 7pm cst/8pm CT on Wednesday, courtesy of WeatherBell.***

An area of light to moderate rainfall began to move into Northern Saskatchewan from Alberta on Wednesday morning, which then started to transition to snow before the lunch hour.

Through the afternoon and into the evening, the area of snowfall will expand and spread eastward as the low strengthens and becomes more organized. Meanwhile, the trailing rainfall will make its way into Central and Southern Saskatchewan.

The snowfall will be fairly light at first, but there is expected to be some pockets of more moderate snowfall during the evening. However, things will really start to ramp up as we get later in the evening and continuing into the overnight hours, just as the leading edge of the storm will start to cross into Northern Manitoba.

***The rdps model showing precipitation type and intensity at 12am cst/1am CT on Thursday, courtesy of WeatherBell.***

***The rdps model showing precipitation type and intensity at 6am cst/7Am CT on Thursday, courtesy of WeatherBell.***

This is when the heaviest snow will start to develop, falling at a rate of up to 3cm/hr, and it is expected to persist well into the afternoon across a significant swath of Northern Saskatchewan.

Meanwhile, the heavy rain that is expected to track through West Central and Southwest Saskatchewan overnight Wednesday will start to transition over to snow Thursday morning, as cold air from the Arctic is pulled in around the backside of the system. A quick 5-15cm of snow will be dumped over much of this region by the late afternoon/early evening, at which time this area of snowfall will begin to dissipate.

Also during the early morning hours, freezing rain and ice pellets will be added to the mixture of rain and snow in Northeastern Saskatchewan and into Northern Manitoba. The freezing rain could be quite heavy at times across a fairly narrow path that stretches from approximately Cumberland House and Flin Flon to the Ontario border.

Ice accretions above 5mm, and even as high as 10mm, are possible by the early afternoon Thursday, which has prompted Environment Canada to issue Winter Storm and Freezing Rain Warnings alongside the Snowfall Warnings. This is a significant amount of ice buildup that will likely damage both trees and powerlines and could lead to prolonged power outages for the area, so be prepared.

***Environment Canada Thunderstorm Lookout Map for Thursday morning***

The situation across Southern Manitoba and into the Southeast corner of Saskatchewan will be remarkably different. Late Wednesday evening and into the early morning hours of Thursday, there will be the risk of some elevated thunderstorms, particularly to the east of Brandon, that could have the potential to produce up to Toonie-sized hail.

Temperatures will then climb into the upper teens and low 20s in the afternoon in this region before the cold front slides through during the late afternoon and evening. This will trigger development of additional, marginally severe thunderstorms from Winnipeg eastward.

***Environment Canada Thunderstorm Lookout Map for Thursday Afternoon and evening***

The thunderstorms will likely form in lines, but an individual supercell or two could be possible. These storms may produce strong wind gusts up to 90km/h, Toonie-sized, and the possibility of a tornado can not be ruled out.

As of Wednesday afternoon, this thunderstorm development is conditional on a few factors so if, when, and where they might occur could change. We will definitely be watching the situation closely.

Outside of this area, to the north and west, there is a lesser risk from thunderstorms throughout the day, with strong wind gusts being the main concern. We will go into more detail about the wind later in the forecast.

***The rdps model showing precipitation type and intensity at 7pm cst/8pm CT on Thursday, courtesy of WeatherBell.***

***The rdps model showing precipitation type and intensity at 5Am cst/6Am CT on Friday, courtesy of WeatherBell.***

As we get into Thursday evening, the system begins to lose some organization in Saskatchewan, while the heavier snow sets up in Northern Manitoba.

Overnight, the low will start to track northward and it will continue along with path through the day Friday. During this time, there is a possibility of brief freezing drizzle in Central Manitoba, but very little ice would build up.

The heavy snow will continue to fall in Northern Manitoba into the afternoon, while large areas of lighter snow will wrap around the low and settle over Saskatchewan for the majority of the day.

By Friday evening, the entire system will start to fall apart and the snow will taper off overnight. A few flurries will linger through Saturday morning, which may add a centimetre or two to the total accumulations across both Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

By the time the storm has finished, a total of 25-50cm of fresh snow is expected to fall across a large stretch of Northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. An area of 15-25cm will extend southward into Central Saskatchewan while most of the rest of the province will be in the 5-15cm range.

Heavy rain is also a concern for areas to the south of the heaviest snowfall. Rainfall totals approaching 30mm could lead to some localized flooding, especially in areas where the ground is still partially frozen.

***The rdps model showing precipitation type and intensity at 6pm cst/7pm CT on Friday, courtesy of WeatherBell.***

Precipitation will not be the only hazard this storm brings; strong wind gusts will also be a concern.

Strong wind gusts up to 90km/h, and possibly up to 100km/h in the Cypress Hills area, will develop this evening in Southeastern Alberta and Southwest Saskatchewan. These strong winds will continue in this region through to the morning before they start to travel eastward. They will cross Southern Saskatchewan through the day and into Southwest Manitoba by the evening, before they die down overnight.

Further north, where the heavy snow is slated to fall, the winds will not be quite as strong, topping out at around 70km/h. This still poses a major issue as it will likely lead to widespread whiteouts, and even crossing the threshold of being a blizzard, across Northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. These will be treacherous conditions to attempt to travel in this region, so it will be best to postpone any unnecessary travel until the storm is over.

***The ECMWF model showing Maximum Wind gust by 12pm CST/1PM CT Friday, courtesy of WeatherBell.***

March 23, 2026

Winter's Last Hurrah? Prairies Brace for Up to 15cm of Snow as Atmospheric River Arrives Tuesday

March 23, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

The calendar may say that it’s Spring, but it appears that Mother Nature may have missed the memo. An incoming system, courtesy of the atmospheric river funnelling moisture into British Columbia, will blast across the Prairies on Tuesday and Wednesday, dumping 5-15cm over a considerable swath of the region. It’s still too early to be certain, but this could very well be the last significant snowfall of the season for some parts of the Prairies.

The snow will begin to fall in the Rockies during the early morning hours of Tuesday. It will remain isolated to this area until the late morning/early afternoon, at which point the snow will start to spread deeper into Alberta.

***The rdps model showing precipitation type and intensity at 6Pm MT/7pm CT on Tuesday, courtesy of WeatherBell.***

Through the afternoon and into the evening, the snowfall will orient along a rough northwest-southeast axis, stretching approximately from Grande Prairie to Lloydminster.

The leading edge of the snow will cross into Saskatchewan early Tuesday evening, spreading southeastward across the province throughout the rest of the evening and reaching the Manitoba border around midnight. It’s likely that there will be some light snow falling in parts of Southern Manitoba Tuesday evening, ahead of the main system, which could result in a few centimetres of accumulation before the majority of the accumulation arrives later.

There is the possibility of isolated pockets of freezing rain along the southern edge of the snow in Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba throughout the day Wednesday, as the moisture interacts with areas with above freezing temperatures. The threat from the freezing rain is minimal overall, with only a millimetre or so expected, but it could be enough to make untreated surfaces a bit slippery.

***The rdps model showing precipitation type and intensity at 2m MT/3pm CT on Wednesday, courtesy of WeatherBell.***

The snow will begin to taper off in Alberta Wednesday morning, ending from west to east throughout the day. There could be some lingering light snow in Southern Manitoba overnight and into Thursday morning, but it is expected to end by the lunch hour.

This system will bring upwards of 15cm of snow across all three Prairie provinces, from Grande Prairie to Pine Falls. The snow isn’t expected to be too heavy, falling at rates up to 2cm/hr, but the possibility of some localized intensification may result in snowfall totals exceeding 15cm, especially in East Central Saskatchewan.

In the Rockies, the snow will fall continuously for the longest period of time, which will lead to accumulations of 15-25cm by Thursday afternoon. The greatest amount of snowfall occurring here poses a unique issue as it compounds the preexisting avalanche risk through the region and it also hinders the cleanup from avalanche control efforts that happened over the weekend.

Those who are south of the snow won’t be completely unaffected by the system as it moves through the region. On Wednesday, strong winds are expected to develop in Southeastern Alberta and Southwestern Saskatchewan. Wind gusts in the 60-80km/h range are likely for a few hours before they weaken later in the afternoon and into the evening.

***The rdps model showing wind gusts at 11am MT/12pm CT on Wednesday, courtesy of WeatherBell.***

We will be watching how this system develops through the day on Tuesday because a slight shift in the track could lead to significant changes to the forecast downstream, especially as it tracks into Manitoba. In the event that the path of the storm deviates from what is anticipated as of Monday evening, we’ll be sure to keep you updated.

January 22, 2026

Deep Freeze Continues Across the Prairies Thursday Night With Wind Chills Dropping Below -45°C

January 22, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

***NOTE: if you click or tap on this image you can zoom in***

Frigid Arctic air continues to blanket the Prairies, which has led to temperatures plummeting across the region. Dangerously low air temperatures and wind chill values will once again reach their lowest point of the day during the early to mid-morning on Friday, with many areas expecting to be colder than Thursday morning.

Air Temperature

Alberta can once again expect to be the most mild of the three provinces tonight and tomorrow morning, relatively speaking. However, it will be several degrees colder tonight and tomorrow morning. A majority of the province will see low temperatures drop into the -20°C to -30°C range. East Central and Northeastern Alberta will be in the colder air, with Edmonton falling below -30°C while Lloydminster and Fort McMurray are expected to dip below -35°C.

In Saskatchewan, the “warmest” air will again be found in the Southwest, where the lows are expected to range from -25°C to -30°C. A large portion of the rest of Southern Saskatchewan will drop to into -30°C and -35°C range Thursday morning. Further north, including both Regina and Saskatoon, temperatures will fall below -35°C, though they should stay above -40°C.

Manitoba will experience more variation in low temperatures Thursday night and Friday morning than overnight Wednesday. Much of the province is expected to bottom out between -30°C and -35°C. Slightly warmer air over Southeastern Manitoba, including in Winnipeg, will keep temperatures above -30°C. At the same time, some slightly colder air will nudge into the Parkland Region, bringing temperatures in Roblin and Russel just below the -35°C mark.

Wind Chill

Sustained wind levels will vary across the Prairies overnight Thursday and Friday morning. The winds will be fairly light across Alberta and Western Saskatchewan, ranging from calm to 15km/h, which will bring several degrees. The situation will be much more drastic in Eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Here, sustained winds are expected to higher, at around 15-30km/h, and gusts up to 50km/h, which will drive wind chills much lower.

In Alberta, the comparatively milder temperatures will also translate to the least extreme wind chills, thanks to the light winds. Wind chill values will be approximately 5-10°C cooler than the air temperature, dropping steadily travelling northeast. It will feel colder than -25°C in Calgary and the Rockies, -30°C in Red Deer and Grande Prairie, -35°C in Edmonton, -40°C in Fort McMurray, and -45°C in Cold Lake and Lloydminster.

Most of Saskatchewan will be dealing with very harsh wind chill values Friday morning. Wind chills across much of the province, including Regina and Saskatoon, will make it feel colder than -45°C. Some weather models are even suggesting that the wind chill could possibly dip below -50° at times throughout Friday morning. There will be a slight reprieve in the Southwest, with Moose Jaw and Kindersley feeling like below -40°C and Maple Creek feeling like below -30°C.

Manitoba will see fairly uniform wind chill values, despite the increased variation in air temperatures. For most of the province, wind chills values will range between -40°C and -45°C. Wind chills will dip below -45°C in Southwestern Manitoba, where the winds will be the strongest.

***Wind chills values and frostbite times based on air temperatures and wind speeds.***

With the wind chill values this low, it’s important to remember that frostbite can develop in as little as 10 minutes on exposed skin. Limiting time outdoors will be important, especially during the coldest part of Thursday morning. If you do need to be outside, dress in multiple warm layers and cover as much exposed skin as possible. Pets should be kept inside and it is also a good idea to keep an eye on any pipes that could be vulnerable to freezing during this prolonged cold.

This stretch of extreme cold is expected to continue for at least a few more days, with little relief during the day. It’s looking like we will be back into regular cold weather by Monday morning. In the meantime, we will continue share updates on just how cold it is expected to get.

January 21, 2026

Dangerous Multi-Day Arctic Cold Arrives Wednesday Night Across the Prairies With Wind Chills Dropping Below -40°C

January 21, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

Bitterly cold Arctic air is flooding south into the Prairies, sending temperatures plunging across the region. The first taste of the bitter cold temperatures will be overnight Wednesday and into Thursday morning. The worst of the cold, both in terms of air temperatures and wind chill, is expected to from the mid to late morning on Thursday, with many areas dealing with dangerously low values.

Air Temperature

Alberta can expect to be the most mild of the three provinces tonight and tomorrow morning, but this is very relative given how cold it will still be in some parts of the province. A majority of Southern Alberta, the Rockies and the Foothills will see low temperatures drop into the -10°C to -20°C range. As you move northeast, the air becomes colder, with Edmonton falling below -20°C. Cold Lake is expected to dip below -25°C, while Fort McMurray will have temperatures falling below -30°C.

In Saskatchewan, the “warmest” air will found in the Southwest, where the lows are expected to range from -20°C to -25°C. A large portion of the rest of Southern Saskatchewan, including Regina, will drop to into -25°C and -30°C range Thursday morning. Further north, including Saskatoon and surrounding areas, temperatures will fall below -30°C, though they should stay above -35°C.

Manitoba will see some of the most consistently cold air across the Prairies.. Much of the province is expected to bottom out between -30°C and -35°C. The main exception to this will be the extreme southwestern corner of Manitoba, where temperatures are expected to stay slightly warmer, hovering just above the -30°C mark.

Wind Chill

While many who live in the Prairies are used to cold temperatures in the winter, the wind will make the next few days feel even more harsh.

Brisk winds have been sustained at up to 30km/h across the Southern Prairies, but they will luckily ease throughout the remainder of the evening ahead of the coldest air. By the time the temperatures reach their lowest point Thursday morning, sustained winds should be lighter, at around 10-20km/h. Even so, with air this cold, it does not take much wind to bring wind chill values down significantly.

In Alberta, the comparatively milder temperatures will also translate to the least extreme wind chills. The winds will be very light through the Rockies and into the Foothills, limiting wind chill in those areas. Farther northeast, wind chills will drop steadily. It will feel colder than -20°C around Red Deer, -25°C in Edmonton, and -35°C in Cold Lake and Fort McMurray.

Most of Saskatchewan will be dealing with harsh wind chill values Thursday morning. Wind chills across much of the province will make it feel colder than -35°C. Regina and Saskatoon are both expected to see wind chills in the -40°C to -45°C range, while parts of Northern and Central Saskatchewan could see values approaching -50°C at times during the morning.

Manitoba will see fairly uniform wind chill values, much like the air temperatures.

There will be a bit of relief in the Northeast, where winds will be lighter, but for most of the province, wind chills values will range between -40°C and -45°C. Parts of Central Manitoba could see wind chills dip below -45°C, where winds are a bit stronger.

This stretch of extreme cold is expected to continue into the weekend, with little relief during the day. We will continue to share updates on just how cold it is expected to get, along with when a slight warm up may arrive.

January 20, 2026

Yet Another Round of Intense Winds and Whiteouts Will Batter Alberta & Saskatchewan Tonight Ahead of Bitter Cold

January 20, 2026/ Alannah Campbell

In a seemingly never ending trend of strong winds, it comes as no surprise that we’re in for another bout of intense wind gusts beginning this evening and continuing into Wednesday morning. These strong northerly winds will be courtesy of a cold front that will blast southward from the Northwest Territories, having already crossed into Northern Alberta earlier this afternoon.

As the cold front makes its way across Northern Alberta through the remainder of the afternoon and into the early evening, 70-80km/h gusts are likely. The winds will become stronger as the cold front moves into Central Alberta a bit later in the evening, with gusts expected to exceed 80km/h over most of Eastern Alberta and into Southwest Saskatchewan. This also includes the possibility of gusts up to, and even exceeding, 100km/h, particularly from Kindersley and southeastward to the US border. The strongest winds will exit the region before sunrise, but gusts upwards of 60km/h are expected to linger into Wednesday evening.

***The rdps model showing wind gusts at 10pm MT/11pm CT on Tuesday. courtesy of WeatherBell.***

These winds will also once again be accompanied by snow. Bands of flurries are expected to organize into snow squalls, which will reduce visibility in impacted areas. Given how narrow the bands are anticipated to be, there will likely be periods of rapid reductions in visibility followed by sudden clearing. It is also unlikely that there will be any blizzard warnings issued this time around because of how short-lived the whiteouts should be.

Overall, we could see a few centimetres of snow falling, but with the wind, it’ll be impossible to measure anyways. The exception to this will be in deep Southwestern Saskatchewan, in the Cypress Hills area, where 5-10cm of snow could accumulate.

The arrival of this cold front will be the precursor of frigid Arctic air that is slated to start to flood south later in the day Wednesday, and will persist until the beginning of next week. By Friday morning, we’re looking at widespread temperatures in the range of -25°C to -45°C across the Prairies, with windchills below -50°C!

We will have more details regarding how cold it will get and where in the coming days, but you’re definitely going to want to bundle up for the rest of the week!

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