Residents in Gimli, Manitoba, are preparing for a significant temperature shift this week as Environment Canada forecasts a 20-degree jump in temperatures between Friday and next Wednesday.
The week begins on a cold note, with flurries expected throughout Friday, April 17, and a high of -4°C. As of 3:00 a.m. Friday, temperatures were recorded at -4.1°C with a wind chill of -11. The federal agency expects this cold trend to begin a steady climb through the weekend, leading to a much warmer Wednesday, April 22, when temperatures are expected to reach 16°C.
This mid-week high is 6 degrees above the seasonal normal of 10°C for late April. The upcoming warmup marks a change from the colder-than-normal conditions that have dominated much of the spring in Manitoba, according to seasonal outlooks.
Conditions are expected to turn sunny starting Sunday, April 19, though residents should prepare for a windy Monday. While the warmer weather is expected to improve conditions for outdoor plans, the Province of Manitoba continues to monitor the region for potential spring flooding. The provincial outlook identifies the Interlake area as a high-risk zone for flooding this year, due to snowpack levels near the Fisher River that are currently double the long-term average.