Finally, some much-welcomed relief from the bitter cold. Environment and Climate Change Canada has ended all extreme cold warnings in Manitoba on Thursday.
A bitterly cold arctic air mass is loosening its grip on the province and northwestern Ontario as it slides off to the southeast. It’s being nudged along Thursday by mild Pacific air moving in from the west.
Temperatures should reach around -14 C Thursday afternoon in Winnipeg, several degrees below the normal high of -7 C for late February. Still, the cold air has lost much of its bitter bite from the last several days.
Outside the city, forecast daytime highs across the rest of Manitoba are also in the mid-teens.
In northwestern Ontario, temperatures Thursday should rise slightly higher to around -10 C or -11 C.
Most regions in both provinces will also enjoy sunshine for much of Thursday afternoon.
Ahead Thursday night, temperatures across Manitoba will only drop a handful of degrees from daytime highs - a significant change from the plummeting lows over the last few nights.
For perspective, Winnipeg’s forecast overnight low is -17 C, which was the highest temperature in the city on Wednesday.
Strong and gusting south winds will develop Thursday evening in the south that will usher in more mild air.
By Friday, temperatures in southern Manitoba will return to normal, with daytime highs in the minus single digits.
Sunshine gives way to clouds on Saturday in Winnipeg, as afternoon temperatures come close to the freezing mark.
Rain or a rain-snow mix looks likely in the city on Sunday with a daytime high near 2 C.
Mild temperatures will continue well into next week.
