Residents in Beausejour, Manitoba, are preparing for an unusually warm Thursday, February 5, 2026, as Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has forecast a daytime high of 7°C. That forecast is about 17°C higher than the area’s typical early-February high (around −10°C), raising concerns about rapid snowmelt and messy road conditions.
Forecasters say the sudden warmth is being driven by a Pacific air mass / strong atmospheric ridge moving into the Prairies. While the warmer air may feel like a break from winter, it is expected to trigger a rapid thaw across the region that will peak Thursday afternoon.
Because the soil remains frozen below the surface, much of the melting snow will run off rather than soak in. The Hydrologic Forecast Centre (HFC), part of Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI), is monitoring the situation for localized overland flooding, particularly around the Brokenhead River where ice-choked culverts and other blocked drainage infrastructure could cause water to pool on residential streets.
Manitoba 511 and MTI are warning drivers to watch for deep puddles and slushy patches on local routes including Highway 44 and Highway 12. Road-condition monitoring services say these wet surfaces could become especially hazardous late Thursday night and into Friday when temperatures are expected to fall back below freezing, creating a risk of a rapid “flash freeze” and black ice.
Climate and historical records show this level of warmth is unusual for early February in the Eastman region. Local climate data (Town of Beausejour) and regional historical temperature records indicate a spike to 7°C in mid-winter is rare for this week of the year.
