Environment Canada is warning Brandon, Manitoba residents of a risk of frost tonight as temperatures drop to 3°C, with a cool-down expected to return this weekend. The forecast suggests gardeners should take steps to protect sensitive plants before the overnight chill sets in.
Current conditions at the Brandon Airport show sunny skies and a noon temperature of 15.9°C, according to Environment Canada. Tonight’s forecast calls for clear skies with winds becoming light and a frost risk developing as the temperature falls to 3°C.
Frost is a common concern in Brandon during September; the city’s historical average first fall frost date is September 7, based on 1981–2010 climate normals. The Manitoba government notes that the earliest average first fall frosts in the province—between September 17 and 23—occur in the Riding Mountain and northeast regions. Brandon, in the southwest, sits within a similarly frost-prone transition zone as early fall frosts become possible.
Residents with outdoor plants or garden vegetables should cover them or bring potted plants inside to avoid damage from frost. After tonight’s cool start, a warm spell arrives later this week, with Thursday, September 24 reaching a high of 24°C and Friday, September 25 reaching 23°C under clearing or sunny skies, before a cool-down returns this weekend, according to the forecast.
Normal temperatures for late September in Brandon are a high of 16°C and a low of 4°C, so the coming warm spell will be well above seasonal averages. Local gardeners can expect clear conditions through the rest of the week, ideal for extending the harvest or completing fall yard work.
