Arctic air mass to snap Portage back to reality

A cold arctic air mass will make its way through Portage la Prairie, bringing with it below-seasonal temperatures.

Yes, you read that right BELOW seasonal, a phrase we have yet to hear used in Manitoba much this winter, but Justin Shelley, Meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, says the prairies should prepare for frigid days ahead.

"Normal daytime highs are usually around -13 and overnight lows normally about -23, " he continues. "We're starting to see more seasonal temperatures at the moment, and then it's going to get colder as we head into the weekend. When daytime highs are going to be more in the low to mid minus -20s and the overnight lows in the low -30s, and that is, of course, before you factor in the wind chill."

He adds that as we head into this weekend, temperatures will dip -5 to -10 ° below where we should be for this time of year. 

The forecast issued at 4:00 p.m. Monday shows just how cold it is going to get this week.

The Meteorologist says that the weekend could bring Extreme Cold Warnings.

"You want to make sure you dress warmly, in layers, and try to have a wind-resistant layer on. Make sure you dress warmly, and at the end of the day, if it gets too cold, try to stay inside as best you can. If you do have to go outside, in addition to dressing warmly, you want to keep your body moving to help regulate your body heat." 

Shelley says that you should also expect some precipitation in the immediate forecast on top of colder conditions.

"We are tracking a system that is going to move across the southern prairies starting Tuesday, primarily in Saskatchewan and then moving into parts of southern and central Manitoba overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. It does look like parts of South Central Manitoba could see up to 5 to 10 centimetres of snowfall during the day on Wednesday and persisting into Thursday morning." 

Shelley notes there is a chance we could see another shot of snow on Friday night and into Saturday as that weather system makes its way through Portage.