People in Stonewall, Manitoba, have a rare chance to view the Snow Moon this week because a high‑pressure system is expected to clear skies beginning Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, providing a mainly clear window through Friday night.
Even though the moon does not reach its full phase until Sunday, Feb. 1 (Feb. 1, 2026 at 4:09 p.m. CST), the best nights for viewing in the Interlake are forecast to be Wednesday through Friday (Jan. 28–30) before clouds move in this weekend.
Environment Canada’s Stonewall forecast shows a stable air mass keeping skies mainly clear through Friday night. This is notable for late January in the Interlake, when moisture from Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba often produces a persistent cloud ceiling. Clouds are expected to increase Saturday evening (Jan. 31) with forecasts of roughly 70–80% cover, which could obscure the moon on the night of its full phase.
Local landmarks such as Stonewall Quarry Park are likely to be popular with families and photographers because they have relatively low local light levels. Local amateur astronomers, including members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada — Winnipeg Centre (RASC Winnipeg Centre), say steady air — good “seeing” — can improve lunar photography and help produce sharper images of the Moon framed against the park’s limestone cliffs.
Time and Date’s astronomy data for the Winnipeg area (used as a close proxy for Stonewall) shows moonrise times will be later in the evening in the run‑up to full moon: about 9:01 p.m. on Jan. 28, 10:06 p.m. on Jan. 29 and 11:09 p.m. on Jan. 30. The moon reaches full on Feb. 1 at 4:09 p.m., so on that date the Moon will be high around sunset.
While skies are expected to be clear, residents should prepare for extreme cold: overnight lows for Jan. 28–30 are forecast in roughly the −24°C to −29°C range. Drivers are advised to take care on Provincial Road 236 (PR 236) and in shadowed areas near the quarries, where black ice can form. The name ‘Snow Moon’ is a traditional name for February’s full moon used by several Indigenous nations and early settlers to mark a month typically associated with heavy snowfall; exact names and meanings vary by culture.
