Colleen Bready’s forecast: No escape from the extreme cold, just yet

Colleen Bready has your current conditions and updated weather forecast for Feb. 17, 2025.

If you’re wondering when we will get a break from the persistent extreme cold, we’ll have to hold on a few more days before it finally starts to loosen its grip.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has placed almost all of Manitoba and northwestern Ontario under extreme cold warnings on this holiday Monday.

With the exception of The Pas, ECCC said the warning will likely be ended for northern Manitoba later on Monday.

For the south, it’s a different story. The weather agency said the polar vortex was sitting over Kenora on Monday morning.

That, combined with a surface ridge of arctic high pressure over the Prairies, is ensuring no relief from the current cold snap – just yet.

Stable, cold conditions under the ridge will bring sunshine or a mix of sun and cloud to most regions with daytime highs in the low -20s Monday afternoon.

Ahead on Monday night, most regions across Manitoba and northwestern Ontario will be fairly clear with overnight lows dropping into the -30s with wind chill values in the -40s.

Of note, the least cold overnight lows in Manitoba will be in the northeast, while the coldest lows will be in the southwest. Churchill and Gillam are forecast to drop to -25 C overnight, while the temperature in Brandon is expected to plummet to -37 C.

These bitterly cold conditions will persist in the south until Wednesday. By Thursday, expect some moderation, but not a slingshot back to mild temperatures just yet.

Temperatures will be noticeably higher on Friday, with forecast highs in the minus single digits.

Even milder conditions are on the way for the weekend. Sunday’s temperatures could even climb above the freezing mark in Winnipeg.