Manitoba weather: A short but sweet warm-up

Colleen Bready has your current conditions and updated weather forecast for Feb. 26, 2026.

This week’s temperature roller coaster takes an upward swing on Thursday across southern Manitoba.

Enjoy the mild conditions while they last - temperatures will drop sharply again on Friday, inconveniently timed for the weekend.

The good news is that the cold conditions ahead won’t last long, either.

Daytime highs on Thursday for Winnipeg and the southeast range between -2 C and -4 C. Even milder temperatures are expected in Brandon and the southwest, where highs could reach or surpass 0 C.

The southwest will also enjoy a nice mix of sun and cloud, while clouds will stick around the southeast. A few flurries can’t be ruled out, either.

Further north, scattered snow will fall in parts of central and northern Manitoba on Thursday. The highest forecast amounts are for Flin Flon, where five to 10 centimetres is possible on Thursday night, after snow starts falling lightly this afternoon.

There’s more snow ahead for central and northern regions. A low forming over northern Alberta Thursday will track east over the next day or so and is expected to bring varying amounts of snow. The most is expected along the system’s northern flank, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.

The low will also whip up very strong northwest winds gusting up to 80 km/h on Friday over the Manitoba lakes, through Winnipeg and the rest of the Red River Valley. Blowing snow is certainly possible.

Although conditions are expected to be poorest in those areas, widespread blowing snow is expected across southern Manitoba Friday, so ECCC has issued a blowing snow advisory for the entire region.

Travel could be hazardous, and the impact on rush hour could be significant, according to the advisory.

The weather agency said a ridge of high pressure building in behind the low will usher in an arctic air mass through the Prairies until the end of the week. A yellow warning for cold is in effect for northern Manitoba. Wind chills values near -45 are expected beginning Friday overnight.

In the south, temperatures will also tumble down into the mid-minus teens by Friday afternoon, before dropping into the -20s overnight into Saturday.

The last day of February will be sunny, but cold on Saturday in Winnipeg.

Temperatures will improve on Sunday, the first day of the new month, and of meteorological spring - the months of March, April and May.

Daytime highs will feel much more springlike by Monday.