Residents of Ste. Anne, Manitoba, should prepare for a significant shift in weather as a warm mid-week spell gives way to freezing conditions and potential flurries by the end of the week. According to Environment Canada, the region will experience a dramatic temperature drop following a mild Wednesday.
Wednesday, April 15, is expected to reach a high of 20°C with southerly winds gusting up to 50 km/h. This unseasonably warm weather will be short-lived, however, as conditions deteriorate sharply on Thursday night. The forecast calls for periods of rain or freezing rain, with temperatures dipping to -1°C by the morning.
Freezing rain occurs when super-cooled water droplets, which are below the freezing point but remain in liquid form, turn to ice instantly upon touching cold surfaces. This creates the potential for hazardous road and sidewalk conditions.
The cold trend continues into Friday, April 17, with a high of only 2°C and a 40 percent chance of flurries. Temperatures will fall further throughout the weekend, reaching an overnight low of -8°C by Saturday, April 18. While normal temperatures for this time of year typically hover around a high of 11°C and a low of -1°C, the upcoming weekend will be significantly colder than average.
Conditions are expected to improve early next week, with a return to sunny skies and a high of 18°C forecast for Monday, April 20. As of April 15, there are no weather alerts in effect for the Ste. Anne area.
For those travelling, updates on road conditions can be found through Manitoba 511, which is managed by Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure.
