This Day in Weather History - August 26

August 24 and 26, 1915 Early Frosts Damage Gardens

Unusually chilly weather moved through southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan August 24 to 26. Southwestern Manitoba and the Interlake recorded patchy frost on the 24th when Brandon CDA dropped to -1.7°C, Moosehorn to -1.1°C, Cypress River to -2.2°C, Stony Mountain to -0.6°C and Pierson to -2.8°C. Frost was more widespread on the 26th however, gripping even the Red River Valley. Winnipeg St John's College dipped to 0.0°C, a daily record low which still stands to this day in 2023. Parts of southwestern Manitoba dipped to a bone-chilling -4°C. It was so cold that some campers near Brandon reported ice on the water near their tents. Some farmers near Kemnay saw ice in the horse troughs. Near Portage la Prairie, over a quarter inch of frost accumulation was reported. 

Lows on August 26, 1915 from ECCC:

Moosehorn -4.4°C

Pierson -4.4°C

Boissevain -4.4°C (Winnipeg Tribune)

Brandon CDA -3.3°C

Minnedosa -3.3°C

Stony Mountain -3.3°C

Virden -2.8°C

Morden -2.8°C

Hamiota -1.7°C

Oakbank -1.7°C

Cypress River -1.1°C

Ninette -1.1°C

Emerson -1.1°C (Winnipeg Tribune)

Dauphin -0.6°C

Pinawa -0.6°C

Birtle -0.6°C

Portage la Prairie -0.6°C

Winnipeg St John's College 0.0°C

Treherne 0.0°C

Damage to crops was minimal by the frost since they were far advanced or harvested, especially for cereal crops. Gardens on the other hand, suffered damage. Corn and cucumbers froze. This was mostly the case outside of Winnipeg. Not much damage was reported in the city. 

From the Winnipeg Tribune Aug 27, 1915, page 1

From the Brandon Sun Aug 26, 1915, page 2

From the Winnipeg Tribune Aug 26, 1915, page 1