Winnipeg Weather: Top 10 Weather Stories of 2025 in the Winnipeg Area

10 - September 3-5 Record Cold - Earliest High Below 10°C

Abnormally cold weather moved through Manitoba and northern Ontario September 3 to 5 thanks to an unusually cold and deep trough in the jet stream which punched southwards, while a large ridge dominated BC and Alberta. This was a pattern reminiscent of summer 2004 and was unusually amplified for that early in the fall season.

850mb temperatures at 06z on September 4 according to the RDPS model, showing a sharp cold trough over MB and NW ON

September 4 featured the coldest temperatures. Some patchy frost was recorded in the Red River Valley and southeastern Manitoba. Winnipeg Airport dipped to 0.4°C, breaking the daily record of 1.1°C in 1885. It was also the coldest temperature for that early in the season since August 2004. It was the coldest temperature in the first 4 days of September since 1946 and 5th coldest since 1872. The daytime high of 9.0°C also broke the daily low maximum record of 10.6°C in 1889. It was the earliest single digit high ever recorded since 1872 and the only single digit high ever recorded between June 9 and September 6. The daily mean temperature of 4.7°C was the coldest ever recorded that early in the season, beating 6.7°C on September 3, 1885. It was the coldest day ever recorded between June 9 and September 6. Several high temperatures in the single digits were recorded across the Red River Valley and southeastern Manitoba with the coldest daily highs around 8°C. The coldest highs were 7.5°C in Dominion City and 7.6°C in Treherne.

In northern Ontario, it was cold enough for snow in some areas on September 3^rd and 4^th, such as in Geraldton, Lansdowne House and Ogoki. Light accumulations were recorded.

Snow on Hwy 11 near Geraldton, ON, Sept 4 (Lyndsay Tardif on Facebook)

On the warm side of the amplified weather pattern, the all-time Canadian September heat record was broken in BC on September 3^rd. Ashcroft reached 40.8°C, breaking the record of 40.0°C in Morden, MB. Even the Yukon was hot due to the amplified jet stream. Temperatures reached 29.2°C on September 4^th, a record for September for the Yukon.

Even more widespread frost occurred in the early morning of September 7^th across southern Manitoba at the tail end of the cold snap. Winnipeg managed to escape frost again, but some frost was reported on roofs of houses and low-lying areas. Several lows between 0°C and -2°C occurred across southern Manitoba, with the coldest spot being Narcisse at -4.2°C. Brandon Airport recorded its first frost with a low of -2.2°C. Some localized crop damage was reported in southeastern Manitoba due to the frost.

9 - March 27-28 Snowstorm Drops 20 cm in Northeastern Winnipeg

An elongated area of snowfall along a frontal zone brought 10 to 25 cm of snow from Edmonton (20-30 cm) to Saskatoon (10-15 cm) to Winnipeg (5-21 cm) March 27 and 28.

Snow around Beausejour, MB (Mandy Botincan on Facebook)

The initial band of snow that pushed through late afternoon on March 27 in southern Manitoba was particularly intense. As it pushed through Winnipeg between 4 and 7 pm, it dropped locally 10 cm to 15 cm of snow in northeastern parts of the city in only two hours. At my place in Southdale, I recorded 2 cm in 15 minutes (5:20 pm to 5:35 pm) at the height of the snowfall, with a total of 6 cm in 2 hours. There was a stark gradient in amounts across the city with southwestern portions of the city missing out on this heavy band with only 1 to 3 cm. Meanwhile, Winnipeg Airport recorded 5-6 cm in an hour. Visibility dropped to just 400 metres in the snowfall. Snow continued through the night into the morning of the 28^th. Storm totals of 15 to 20 cm were recorded in the northern half of Winnipeg, while as little as 5 to 10 cm fell in extreme southern portions of the city. A few highways were closed in the Parklands region because of the snow.

The system also brought significant freezing rain along the US border and in southwestern Manitoba overnight on the 28^th. Freezing rain was reported for several hours at Reston and Pilot Mound. Freezing rain was also reported at Pipestone, Deloraine, Killarney and Morden-Winkler. Freezing drizzle was reported at Winnipeg Airport and Portage Southport in the morning, and the Elie webcam was covered in ice. Freezing rain was also reported at Gladstone.

8 - Finally Wet Weather in August with Some Severe Thunderstorms

The first wetter than normal month of the year was August, when a few heavy thunderstorm events brought welcomed rainfall to southern Manitoba. Rainfall amounts in Winnipeg ranged from about 70 mm to 130 mm, the highest amounts being in southwestern parts of the city. Winnipeg Airport received 107.3 mm, the 25^th rainiest August since 1872 and about 45% above normal. The highest rainfall amounts in southern Manitoba, 150-200 mm, occurred in a swath from Portage la Prairie to La Salle, largely because of a heavy rainfall event August 20-21.

August 6 Supercells with Two Tornadoes Northeast of Winnipeg

A supercell thunderstorm outbreak occurred in the Winnipeg area on August 6 in the mid to late afternoon hours. At least 3 rotating thunderstorms developed. The worst was just north and east of the city, moving through the St Andrews and Oakbank regions. Two EF-0 tornadoes were confirmed to have touched down with it, over Birds Hill and near Dugald. Minimal damage occurred. Another storm over south Winnipeg produced a funnel cloud over the city in the Windsor Park area. The funnel cloud was visible from downtown. The other rotating storm developed near Niverville and moved into Steinbach, producing some hail.

Funnel cloud over Winnipeg (Andy Stewart on Facebook)

Some large hail, up to loonie sized, occurred, with some reports of golf ball sized hail as well in the storms. Localized wind damage was reported as well, with some trees knocked down. Localized rain amounts up to 40 mm fell in the heaviest storms.

August 20-21 Sleepless Night of Heavy Thunderstorms

Training strong nocturnal thunderstorms developed in the Red River Valley late evening on August 20^th and continued through the night until late overnight on August 21^st. The storms made for a sleepless night, including in Winnipeg, as frequent lightning, loud thunder and torrential downpours lasted for several hours between 10 pm and 5 am. Winnipeg was on the edge of the heaviest storms with rain amounts ranging from 5-10 mm in northeastern parts of the city, to 50-70 mm in southwestern parts. The heaviest rain fell from Portage la Prairie to La Salle with over 100 mm. Some overland and street flooding occurred as a result. Some power outages were reported. Lots of hail fell with the storms as well. Accumulating hail occurred in Kleefeld due to its long duration. Golf ball sized hail fell in Notre Dame De Lourdes.

An explanation of the storm event is quoted from Scott Kehler below:

''Training thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall exceeding 100 mm (4 inches) in southern Manitoba overnight. Training storms are analogous to a freight train, as storms repeatedly pass over the same location. But why did this happen?

It appears that a strong low-level jet (strong winds in the lower atmosphere) reached nearly 100 km/h just 1-2 km above the ground in southwestern Manitoba. Farther north, this helped create a convergence zone that triggered storms in the Portage la Prairie area.

As storms developed, winds higher in the atmosphere carried them from west to east, causing the same locations to be hit repeatedly. Because the low-level jet remained in place for many hours, this process continued.

The result was torrential rain over a zone that ran roughly along and just south of the Trans-Canada Highway between Portage and Winnipeg. The first map in this post shows storm-total amounts from last night through this morning:''

Rainfall estimated via radar August 20-21 (Scott Kehler / Weatherlogics on X)

7 - Early Spring in Late February and March after Cold Snap

After a brutal cold snap across the Prairies in the first 20 days of February, spring made a dramatic appearance in the last week of February with well above normal temperatures and melting snow which continued into part of March. Manitoba was on the northern edge of the warm spell, however, with North Dakota and Minnesota witnessing much more exceptional warmth.

In the first 20 days of February, sunny and dry weather dominated the province, with several days below -30°C across southern Manitoba. The coldest temperatures were in the western half of southern Manitoba. The Red River Valley and southeastern Manitoba were spared the coldest temperatures, but temperatures were still well below normal. The cold snap was centered over Saskatchewan, Alberta and Montana, where temperatures were as much as 15 degrees below normal for the period. There was a total lack of chinooks in Alberta from January 31st to February 19th, a period when Edmonton and Calgary did not go above -6°C. Winnipeg managed to only have 4 days below -30°C, which is close to normal. The lowest temperature was -32.2°C. Brandon had 9 days below -30°C with a low of -37.1°C. Roblin and Wasagaming had 14 days below -30°C. The coldest weather occurred on the 17^th and 18^th when some lows below -40°C were recorded in western Manitoba. Some locations dipped below -40°C two nights in a row. The lowest temperature was -45.1°C at Lake Audy in Riding Mountain National Park. Roblin dipped to -42.3°C. In Saskatchewan, Regina and Saskatoon dropped below -40°C two nights in a row. Saskatoon dipped to -40.6°C and Regina -40.5°C. In Regina, it was the latest in the season to reach -40°C since 1949. Only five other years on saw -40°C that late in the season: 1903, 1919, 1936, 1941 and 1949.

A dramatic reversal in temperatures occurred in the last week of February when temperatures exceeded the freezing mark daily. The warmest days saw temperatures rise into the high single digits along the Manitoba Escarpment, even approaching 10°C in some localities. Winnipeg only reached 4 or 5°C. The warm weather quickly melted the snowpack, but not completely. Only the Morden area lost almost all its snow cover. Winnipeg's snow depth became patchy, with grass showing up on fields. Weatherlogics saw snow depth drop to 3 cm on fields by the end of the month. Enclosed backyards still had 15-20 cm on the ground at the end of the month, about half what was on the ground prior to the warm spell. The rapid melt caused some street flooding in some parts of Winnipeg as drains were covered or frozen. Cooler temperatures on the 28^th froze the slush and water, making for treacherous side streets and sidewalks. The warm spell also resulted in the closure of the river skating trail in Winnipeg on February 24^th.

Very mild conditions continued in the first half of March, making for an early spring. Most days reached above freezing across southern Manitoba, except for a few cooler days. The warm weather melted the snowpack, with some bare ground showing up in the Red River Valley and along the US border. The Weatherlogics measurement site in Winnipeg dipped below 2 cm snow on ground by March 9^th, marking the 7^th earliest date since 1953 in Winnipeg. Snow cover, however, was quite variable, with some fields bare and some still snow-covered. There will still lots of artificial snow piles as well, and most backyards still had some snow.

Temperatures during the warm spell weren't overly spectacular however, reaching single digits. On March 4^th, Sprague Lake reached 10.2°C, the only double digit high. On March 6^th, a grass fire sprung up northwest of Grand Forks, ND, where fields were mostly bare throughout the winter. Geese were seen in Winnipeg as early as March 9^th.

Manitoba was on the northern edge of the significant warmth in March which dominated the northern Plains of the US. North Dakota had a significantly warm March. A clipper system racing through southern Manitoba on March 10^th brought temperatures in the teens to even twenties in North Dakota, while southern Manitoba struggled below freezing. Grand Forks reached 14°C and Fargo 18°C. The highest temperature was 21.7°C south of Bismarck. Parts of southern Minnesota also reached above 20°C. When the cold front reached Grand Forks after 1pm, the temperature fell from 14°C to 7°C in 40 minutes. and by 4pm it was -1°C. In Fargo, the temperature fell from 18°C to 6°C in 90 minutes after 4pm.

March 21 visible satellite image showing remaining snow cover in green. Mostly bare ground in RRV and SE MB

A system south of the border brought very mild air to southeastern Manitoba on March 14^th. The warm front with the system essentially divided the Red River Valley in half, with widespread double-digit temperatures to the east and temperatures mostly below freezing to the west. In the early afternoon, the warm front divided Winnipeg in half with temperatures of 7 to 10°C recorded east of the Red River, while western parts of the city remained around 4°C. The warm front retreated southeastward during the afternoon, dropping temperatures gradually. Southeast of Winnipeg, temperatures reached as high as 16°C with dewpoints reaching as high as 7°C. This was more than 15 degrees above normal. The warm weather melted much of what little snow was left. It was even warmer south of the border, with Minneapolis reaching 24°C (old record 23°C in 2012), Fargo 19-20°C and Grand Forks 17°C. The highest temperature recorded in southern Minnesota was 27.8°C. The system also brought some lightning in northwestern Ontario on the 15^th.

One of the warmest of the month was March 20^th. Morden, Pierson and Waskada reached 10°C. Winnipeg Airport reached 7.7°C. Once again, this melted most of what was on the ground around Winnipeg, with just some pesky patchy snow leftover. Winnipeg saw its first double digit high on the 26^th, reaching 11.7°C at the Airport and 12.0°C at The Forks.

6 - January 17 Blizzard Causes Multiple Multi-Vehicle Collisions

A strong Alberta Clipper ushering in another cold snap brought vicious northerly winds to southern Manitoba on January 17 behind the cold front. The winds, combined with a bit of fresh snow, produced blizzard conditions.

The clipper system began with a warm front which moved quickly eastward through southern Manitoba late evening and overnight. Temperatures reached up to 3°C, including around Winnipeg. These warm temperatures were very short lived, only lasting a few hours. The mild temperatures went largely unnoticed as the cold front moved quickly through southern Manitoba on the backside of the clipper early in the morning. Temperatures fell throughout the day behind the front.

After some freezing rain with the frontal passage, a band of heavy snow moved through the Winnipeg area just in time for the morning rush hour, producing whiteout conditions in open areas when combined with the wind. Snowfall amounts were not very significant with the system, but impossible to measure given the wind. Only a couple centimetres likely fell. The wind, gusting between 85 and 100 km/h, produced a true blizzard across the Red River Valley throughout the morning hours, and into the afternoon in some areas south and west of Winnipeg. Grand Forks, ND, recorded a wind gust of 108 km/h. Winnipeg Airport gusted to 87 km/h, the strongest in January since 2009 (85 km/h was recorded Jan 12, 2017).

Multi-vehicle collision on Fermor Ave near Plessis Rd (Tim Prokipchuk on Facebook)

Zero visibility made for dangerous driving on highways, which were not closed until well after the event had started. Unfortunately, these delayed closures led to hundreds of damaged vehicles, along with some injuries. Numerous vehicle pileups occurred across the Red River Valley, some of the worst ones involving dozens of vehicles. The RCMP estimated there were at least 50 crashes involving two or more vehicles with dozens more single vehicle crashes. MPI reported over 700 claims were made for vehicle damage related to the blizzard. Some of the worst collisions included:

· Around Roland (6 vehicles)
· Hwy 3 by the Winkler Bible Camp (at least 5 vehicles)
· Hwy 12 between Blumenort and Ste Anne (at least 20 vehicles, with reports of up to 50 vehicles, and possibly 100 vehicles in the ditch)
· Hwy 9 in West St Paul (possibly at least 20 vehicles)
· Hwy 52 east of Steinbach (14 vehicles including six minor injuries)
· Park Ave in Steinbach (6 vehicles, one person in hospital)
· Along Fermor Avenue near Plessis Rd (with one fatality).

The number of vehicles involved in the pileups was not clear due to differing reports. The list above is likely not a complete list as some events may have gone mostly unreported. For instance, I saw a report of a 9-vehicle collision on Highway 15 just east of Dugald.

Many more vehicles, including jackknifed semis, crashed in ditches as well in other areas. There were so many accidents on the highways that the province issued an emergency alert to ask people to stay home and not venture out, a first for the province. Hospitals in Winnipeg and Ste Anne issued code orange, meaning an influx of patients was expected.

Virtually all main highways did close eventually including the Perimeter Highway. Most schools were closed in rural areas. Manitoba Hydro reported thousands of power outages.

The Portage la Prairie Southport weather station came closest to recording an official blizzard, the only limiting factor being an increase in visibility to 600 metres in the fourth hour. Winnipeg Airport recorded three straight hours of visibility 600 metres or less.

Emergency Alert broadcast by the Manitoba government to mobile phones

5 - December 16-19 Clipper Train with Back-to-Back Blizzards

The first of a series of three potent Alberta Clippers tracked through the Interlake on December 16 bringing a brief respite to the cold weather across southern Manitoba. The system brought warm Pacific air which previous day brought record warmth to southern BC. Temperatures reached as high as 18.6°C in Kamloops, BC, beating its old monthly record of 16.1°C. On the 16^th, southern Manitoba briefly basked in this mild weather, mostly in the morning and early afternoon. Temperatures reached as high as 8 to 9°C along the eastern slopes of the escarpment and over forested areas of southeastern Manitoba. Some records were broken including Winnipeg Airport with 5.9°C (old record 5.6°C in 1877). The Forks reached 6.3°C. The hotspots were Killarney at 8.9°C and Deerwood at 8.8°C. The clipper also brought some light rain showers during the morning and early afternoon, and a band of freezing rain late in the evening on the 15th. Freezing rain warnings were issued in the evening of the 15^th including in Winnipeg. Accumulations were meagre with a trace to 0.5 mm.

The warm weather melted a lot of snow, particularly in areas where above freezing temperatures lasted longer such as along the escarpment and in southwestern Manitoba. Patchy grass appeared in some areas. Automatic sensors suggest 5 to 9 cm of snow melted in Morden, Melita, Sprague and Pilot Mound. In Winnipeg, only about 2-3 cm of snow melted. In Brandon, about 3-5 cm of snow melted.

Late in the morning into the afternoon, the clipper draped a sharp cold front southward behind it across southern Manitoba, dropping temperatures rapidly below freezing. Flash freeze warnings were issued by ECCC, an alert which the organisation seldom ever issued before the new alerting system was implemented in November. Temperatures dropped from a high of 6°C in Winnipeg late in the morning to -10°C late in the afternoon, and from 3°C to -4°C from noon to 2 pm. Very strong northwesterly winds followed the cold front with gusts over 80 km/h. The maximum wind gust was 94 km/h at Brandon Airport. Virden recorded 91 km/h. Gusts up to 85 km/h were recorded in portions of the RRV, particularly close to the US border.

The second, and most powerful Alberta Clipper, raced across the Prairies December 17-18 bringing the first major snowstorm of the season for some. A swath of 10 to 25 cm of snow fell from Edmonton through to northwestern Ontario (and onwards). The system brought very strong winds on its backside, causing widespread blizzard conditions across southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The system also brought rain and freezing rain to southern areas before switching to snow. The cold front on the backside was brutal, with temperatures falling as much as 15 degrees in an hour in southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan on the 17^th. It brought wind gusts over 100 km/h, with a maximum gust of 131 km/h in Onefour AB.

The system began with mild temperatures along and south of the Trans Canada Highway on the 17^th, even reaching above freezing right along the US border in Manitoba. Significant freezing rain occurred in this zone, including in Winnipeg, during the morning and afternoon hours of the 17^th. Ice accumulated, causing treacherous driving conditions and a few highway closures. A semi jackknifed at Elie. Station sensors did record freezing rain accumulation of up to 2 mm, including in Winnipeg where about 1 mm was recorded.

By evening of the 17^th to morning of the 18^th, southern Manitoba experienced the brunt of the blizzard. For Winnipeg, it was the first ‘‘official’’ blizzard since January 2022, experiencing six consecutive hours of official blizzard in the morning of the 18^th at the Airport. The blizzard was fierce with steady visibility of 200 metres for most of the event at the Airport, with whiteout conditions at times. Winds gusted up to 90 km/h and were sustained over 60 km/h.

Large drifts developed and virtually every highway out of Winnipeg was closed because of the blizzard. The entirety of the Trans Canada Highway from Ontario to Saskatchewan was closed, along with the Perimeter and highways 75, 2, 3, 6, 59 and many others across southern Manitoba. Thousands of people lost power from downed power lines. Some power flashes were seen in south Winnipeg, as well as in Grand Forks, ND. People daring to venture onto the roads got stuck in large drifts, including city buses. Some roads were blocked by drifts, and stranded vehicles blocked portions of some major roads such as Lagimodiere Blvd. Some 20 drivers were reported by RCMP to be stranded and unable to be rescued by tow trucks due to deep snow drifts. Numerous vehicles ended up in ditches as well. For the first time since January 2022, all schools, including universities, were shut down in Winnipeg. Prior to 2022, this had not occurred since 1997. The University of Manitoba postponed its exams for two days. Winnipeg Airport also saw dozens of flight cancellations causing significant travel disruption. West Jet, Air Canada and Porter Airlines announced fee waivers for flight changes. The City of Winnipeg cancelled garbage and recycling pickup, shifting service by a day.

Whiteout on the Perimeter Highway Dec 18 (CBC)

The snow was impossible to measure accurately due to the strong winds, making it uncertain just how much snow fell across southern Manitoba with the system. Radar estimations of around 5-10 mm of precipitation in Winnipeg would suggest somewhere in the range of 7 to 13 cm fell. The official measurement by Weatherlogics was about 10 cm, but snow depth in fields only increased a few cm due to blowing and drifting. The highest snowfall amounts, 15 to 25 cm fell along a narrow band from between Saskatoon and Regina, to the south Interlake in Manitoba. Although snowfall amounts in Winnipeg weren’t overly impressive, the vicious winds made the storm much worse due to large drifts and snow blowing into the city from the north and being deposited in the city.

The third Alberta Clipper on December 19 prompted ECCC to issue blowing snow advisories across southern Manitoba. This one was shorter-lived, but the snow came down heavily and accumulated rapidly. Strong south-southeasterly winds gusting up to 70 km/h produced significant blowing snow, resulting in local whiteout conditions again. Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 cm to 10 cm, but it was difficult to measure again due to strong winds. Several schools were cancelled again across southern Manitoba, particularly in rural areas. Several highways were closed again in southwestern Manitoba. A multi-vehicle collision also shut down a southeastern section of the Perimeter Highway in the afternoon. Four vehicles were involved and minor injuries were reported.

Over 200 city buses got stuck in the snow over the two back-to-back storms Dec 18-19 in Winnipeg. Bison Towing reported a record number of calls, mostly for rescue or boosting.

4 - 4th Warmest Fall with Least Snowfall Since 1976

2025 featured another warm fall across southern Manitoba, continuing the trend of warming falls this century. In Winnipeg, with a mean temperature of 7.9°C from September to November, it was tied with 1931 as 4^th warmest fall on record since 1872. Last year it was the 2^nd warmest. 2023 was tied 15^th warmest and 2021 was tied 7^th warmest. Warm falls have become so common that they are almost unremarkable nowadays.

Another Very Warm September

It was another very warm September across southern Manitoba. With a mean temperature of 16.1°C, about three degrees above normal, Winnipeg Airport tied with 1906 for 7^th warmest September since 1872. It was the third consecutive September to be in the top 7 warmest. Even more impressive, it was the third consecutive September that had average daily low temperatures among the top 4 warmest. With an average low temperature of 10.0°C, it was only the third time that lows averaged in the double digits.

The month of September began with record cold in the first week. As a result, the month could have been a repeat of 2024’s record warmth if not for the brief cold spell. The last three weeks were consistently warm and at times humid. Three daily high dewpoint records and seven high minimum dewpoint records were broken at Winnipeg Airport.

September 28 to October 3 Record Heat

It was another year of record warmth and humidity in this period with temperatures reaching 30°C on some days. On September 28, temperatures above 30°C occurred in southwestern Manitoba and the western Red River Valley. Wawanesa was the hotspot with 32.1°C, followed by Shilo with 32.0°C. Winnipeg Airport reached 27.5°C.

Widespread 30°C occurred again on September 30, this time further east as well. Winnipeg Airport reached 30.4°C, breaking the old daily record of 29.6°C in 1989. It was the 5^th latest occurrence of 30°C since 1872. The hotspots were Shilo and Carberry with 31.7°C.

The summer weather continued in the first three or four days of October. Winnipeg reached 27°C three days in a row. A daily minimum temperature of 16.9°C on the 1^st not only broke the daily record of 15.6°C in 2023 but was also the second highest on record in October, just shy of the record of 17.2°C on October 2, 1897.

October 2 in Winnipeg

The hotspots on October 1 were Emerson at 28.8°C, Gretna 28.5°C, Morris 28.5°C and Winkler 28.3°C. The warmth reached all the way to northern Manitoba as well, with all-time October heat records broken in Churchill (24.3°C beating 21.7°C) and The Pas (26.6°C beating 25.6°C).

The hotspots on October 2 were Emerson and Winkler at 29.3°C, Gretna 28.7°C and Altona 28.4°C.

On October 3, the hotspot was Emerson at 30.2°C. Gretna reached 29.5°C and Altona 29.2°C. Leading into the 4^th, Sprague had a remarkable overnight low of 21.7°C before dropping during the day.

Tied 10th Warmest October

With a mean temperature of 8.7°C, 3.6°C above normal, Winnipeg Airport tied with 2021 for 10^th warmest October since 1872. Daily low temperatures were again most impressive, averaging 3.8°C, tied with 1931 for 7^th warmest, and the warmest since 1963.

4th Longest Growing Season

The first frost arrived at Winnipeg Airport on October 7, tied with 1884 for 7^th latest on record since 1872. It was the third consecutive year to record a first frost in October. The growing season was 152 days long, the 4^th longest since 1872 and just a few days shy of the record of 157 days in 1963. It was not as long as the 156 days in 2023.

Delayed First Snowflakes and 5th Least Snowy Fall

The first snowflakes of the season occurred on October 31, tied with 2021 for 8^th latest since 1872. Only 3.0 cm of snow fell in the fall, all of which in November, the 5^th least snowy fall since 1872. It was also the lowest snowfall in fall since 1976. A permanent winter snow cover did not begin until the November 29 to December 3 period.

November 28 at Winnipeg Airport

Mild November with Second Latest Double-Digit Temperature Nov 23

November was mild but not exceptional. Winnipeg Airport’s mean temperature of -1.1°C was 24^th warmest since 1872. There was a notable lack of cold weather however, with only 3 days dropping below -10°C, tied 8^th fewest. Some lawns remained green most of the month thanks to the mild weather and rainy October. Some trees didn’t lose their foliage until early November.

On November 2, a brief warm spell brought temperatures as high as 16°C in Emerson and Gretna. Winnipeg Airport reached 14.7°C. Another warm spell on November 14 brought temperatures as high as 17°C in Morden and Killarney. Winnipeg Airport reached 10.4°C and The Forks 10.8°C. In North Dakota, temperatures up to 22°C were recorded in southwestern portions of the state on the 13^th.

Very mild weather on November 23 brought Winnipeg double digit temperatures, the second latest occurrence on record since 1872. The high of 10.3°C broke the old daily record of 8.9°C in 1942. On November 22, the hotspots were Bede at 10.3°C, Reston 10.2°C and Findlay 10.1°C. On November 23, the hotspots were in the western Red River Valley where temperatures reached as high as 14°C thanks to downslope winds.

3 - Rainy October with Severe Thunderstorms

It was an historically rainy October in the Red River Valley and southeastern Manitoba where widespread rainfall amounts over 100 mm fell. Some localities in extreme southeastern Manitoba recorded almost 200 mm of rain. These rainfall amounts were three to five times normal. It was the rainiest and wettest October on record for some. Sprague received 170.3 mm of rain, shattering its previous wettest October record of 129.2 mm in 1984 and its previous rainiest October record of 112.2 mm in 1984. The wet weather was the result of frequent systems from the US, from Montana Lows to Colorado Lows, as the storm track set up through southeastern Manitoba the entire month. In Winnipeg, 93.7 mm of rain fell at the Airport, officially the 3^rd rainiest October since 1872 in the city. However, higher amounts approaching 150 mm were recorded in southeastern parts of the city, which would be considered the rainiest on record.

Some systems brought thunderstorms as well, especially from October 1^st to 4^th when severe thunderstorms developed. Winnipeg Airport recorded 3 thunderstorm days in October, tied with 1942, 2011 and 2022 for 4^th most on record since the 1870s.

October 1-3 Severe Thunderstorms

Abnormally warm and humid late-season weather in the first four days of October brought severe thunderstorms. Temperatures reached the high twenties. The hotspot was Emerson on October 3^rd with 30.2°C. Dewpoints reached as high as 15-17°C.

On October 1^st, severe thunderstorms developed in southeastern Manitoba in the afternoon. Hail of 3 cm in diameter fell in the Steinbach area. There were even reports of hail as large as golf balls, impressive for October.

Large hail south of Steinbach on October 1st (Tracy Dueck via Steinbach Online)

On October 3^rd, severe thunderstorms developed in the Winnipeg area late in the evening. The storm complex formed just southwest of the city and moved through the city and northeastwards from it. The storm was of mid-summer intensity, featuring torrential downpours, damaging winds and nearly constant lightning flashes, certainly among the most intense thunderstorms to strike Winnipeg in October on record. Thunder was a never-ending roar throughout the event. The storm lasted only about 20 to 30 minutes but dumped 15 to 25 mm of rain in that time, enough to flood some streets. Some small hail was reported in spots. Wind gusts over 80 km/h were recorded with the storms. The maximum measured wind gusts were 83 km/h in Stead and 80 km/h in Selkirk and Lac du Bonnet. Some trees were knocked down from the wind.

IR satellite image showing large thunderstorm over Winnipeg Oct 3 at 11:41pm

October 4-5 Colorado Low with More Severe Thunderstorms in SE MB

Severe thunderstorms developed again in southeastern Manitoba late in the evening on October 4^th along a frontal boundary. Hail of 3 cm in diameter was reported in South Junction, along with localized rainfall amounts of 50 to 70 mm. The hail and heavy rains caused overland flooding which delayed harvesting operations. A Colorado Low was also riding the frontal boundary, bringing heavy rains across the remainder of southern Manitoba. A general 20 to 50 mm of rain fell in south-central to southeastern Manitoba. Winnipeg received 30 to 35 mm. The highest amounts were in extreme southeastern Manitoba where the thunderstorms occurred.

Strong wind gusts over 80 km/h accompanied the system on October 5^th in the south Red River Valley and along the shores of the lakes. Winnipeg received gusts to 70 km/h. Thousands lost power due to downed power lines, including in areas such as Victoria Beach, Great Falls and Falcon Lake. Some power outages occurred in Winnipeg as well, where some outages continued to appear on October 7^th due to weakened branches continuing to fall onto power lines.

October 12 Montana Low with Raging Blizzard in Northern Manitoba

A strong system from Montana moved through Manitoba and Saskatchewan on October 12, bringing more rain. 15 to 30 mm fell in southeastern Manitoba, while 5 to 15 mm fell in Winnipeg. The big story with the system was the raging blizzard that developed in northern Manitoba. A swath of 25 to 40 cm of snow fell from Gillam to Thompson to east of The Pas. Wind gusts up to 85 km/h accompanied the storm, causing power outages to some 11,000 customers. The storm was similar in impacts to the October 2019 blizzard in southern Manitoba, causing widespread tree damage. Only the Parklands region of southern Manitoba received snow, with reports of locally 20 cm in the Duck Mountains.

October 16-17 Colorado Low with Thunderstorms

A Colorado Low brought another tongue of moisture into southern Manitoba from the US October 16-17. The associated instability produced more thunderstorm activity in the evening hours of October 16, some of which passed through Winnipeg. The storms were weak. The system also brought widespread rain across southern Manitoba again. The highest amounts were in southwestern Manitoba and extreme southeastern Manitoba with swaths of 15 to 30 mm. Localized amounts of 35 mm to 40 mm were recorded such as in Sprague, Reston and Rivers. The system briefly brought dewpoints up to 16°C in the early overnight on October 17 in extreme southeastern Manitoba.

October 20 Wyoming Low

A merging Alberta Clipper and Wyoming Low brought another round of heavy rains across southern Manitoba October 20. The heaviest rains fell from southeastern Manitoba to the Interlake with 20 to 30 mm. Rainfall amounts in Winnipeg ranged from 15 to 25 mm with the highest amounts in eastern parts of the city.

October 27-28 Wyoming Low

Another system from the US brought heavy rain to southern Manitoba October 27-28. Most of the rain fell in south-central and southeastern Manitoba. The highest amounts occurred in areas south of Steinbach with 40 to 50 mm. In Winnipeg, 20 to 40 mm fell, with the highest amounts in eastern parts of the city.

2 - Historic May Heat Wave

One of the longest and most impressive stretches of 35°C weather on record for so early in the season occurred in southern Manitoba May 10 to 13. The heat was accompanied by gusty winds and extreme dryness, resulting in fire bans and multiple wildfires in southeastern Manitoba. The fires resulted in evacuations, loss of property and deaths.

The heat began May 10 in extreme southwestern Manitoba where it reached as high as 33°C in Waskada. In western North Dakota, temperatures as high as 35°C were recorded.

Earliest 100F in Canadian History May 11

On May 11, the heat spread eastward into the Red River Valley and southeastern Manitoba. A quasi-stationary warm front caused a decent temperature gradient as well just north of the US border. Temperatures reached as high as 37.8°C in Emerson, the earliest 100F temperature in Canadian history. South of the warm front, temperatures reached 35 to 38°C, while just north of it, temperatures reached the lows thirties. It was Winnipeg's first 30°C of the year with 31.5°C at the Airport. Temperatures reached as high as 101F (38.3°C) between Grand Forks ND and the US border. It was extremely dry with relative humidity in the low to mid teens percent. Blowing dust was reported in southeastern North Dakota with the gusty winds. In Emerson, relative humidity dipped to 13% with gusty winds.

The heat continued May 12 with highs over 35°C in the Red River Valley. Winnipeg's 35.6°C was the earliest in the season on record and smashed the daily record of 32.8°C in 1958. The daily minimum of 19.2°C also broke the daily record of 15.3°C in 1977. The dry, hot and windy conditions fueled several new large wildfires in southeastern Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. Smaller fires also popped up near Libau and in Winnipeg's Transcona area. Some of the fires, such as one at Oak Hammock Marsh, were initiated by lightning during the night.

Earliest 37C on Record in Winnipeg May 13

Exceptional heat continued May 13. Winnipeg Airport's 37.0°C was the earliest on record, beating May 22, 1980. It broke the daily record of 33.3°C in 1900 and 1932. It was tied second highest May temperature with 1980 and just shy of the all-time May record of 37.8°C in 1934. Very strong southwesterly winds accompanied the heat, causing dusty and smoky skies in the Red River Valley.

The heat subsided on May 14 thanks to the cold front that passed through the night before. However, extreme southeastern Manitoba remained hot with highs of 32°C, such as in Sprague. There was quite a temperature gradient across southern Manitoba, with temperatures only in the mid single digits in southwestern Manitoba concurrently.

Warmest First Two Weeks of May on Record and 6th Warmest May

It was the warmest first two weeks of May on record in Winnipeg since 1872, beating 1977. The average high temperature was almost a degree warmer than the previous record.

Overall, it was the 6^th warmest May on record since 1872 in Winnipeg with a mean temperature of 14.7°C, 3.6°C above normal. Daily high temperatures were most impressive, averaging 23.0°C, five degrees above normal and 5^th warmest. Note that May 2023 was warmer, making it the warmest May in only two years.

Tied 2nd Fewest Days with Measurable Rain in May

Only 3 days in May 2025 had measurable rainfall (0.2 mm or more). This was tied with 1884 for 2^nd fewest since 1872. The record was 1 day in 1917. The month overall was only 43^rd driest because of a rainstorm May 14 to 16, the only days that saw measurable rain during the month.

1 - Smokiest Summer on Record Amid Extreme Drought

2025 featured the second worst wildfire season on record in both Manitoba and Canada. Across Canada, over 8.8 million hectares of land burned, second only to 2023 when over 17 million hectares burned, with records since the 1970s. More than half of the burned area was in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In Manitoba, over 2.1 million hectares burned, second only to 1989 when 3.6 million hectares burned (records since 1914). In Saskatchewan, close to 2.9 million hectares burned, the most since at least 1981.

Fire NE of Flin Flon May 27 responsible for thousands of evacuations (Gov of MB via CBC)

Across the country, over 85,000 people were evacuated in 2025 due to fire or smoke, over 32,000 of which were in Manitoba and over 16,000 in Saskatchewan according to the Canadian Red Cross. At one point in May, the entire city of Flin Flon, MB, was evacuated. The city was surrounded by fire and could have completely burned if not for the personnel and equipment keeping the blaze from entering the city. Hotels in Winnipeg were filled with evacuees, forcing some evacuees to seek refuge in Alberta or Ontario. Several conferences in the city were cancelled to free up hotel rooms.

Firefighters from Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United States came to Canada to help battle fires.

Both Saskatchewan and Manitoba issued provincial states of emergency in May, and Manitoba reissued it in July after lifting it in late June. It was not expired until mid August. This resulted in the Canadian Armed Forces being deployed through Operational LENTUS to help with evacuations, logistics and firefighting. On June 4, it was reported that 4100 Canadians were evacuated from multiple northern Manitoba communities using 18 RCAF aircraft. This was the largest domestic air evacuation operation by the military in history.

In late May, all hiking trails in provincial parks across the province were shut down to prevent further fires caused by humans. This put a damper on summer plans for some people who were hoping to enjoy our parks and take advantage of free park entry in 2025.

The fire season cost the Manitoba government over 170 million dollars. Drought conditions also added an estimated 684 million dollars to Manitoba Hydro losses due to water flows which were tied second lowest on record. These weather-related costs contributed significantly to Manitoba’s deficit of over one and a half billion dollars for 2025. It was the 3^rd year in a row of low water levels, and the 4^th year in the past five years that has negatively impacted Manitoba Hydro’s finances.

Pukatawagan MB in late May. Fire and smoke cut electricity and closed the airport (Leo Sinclair via CBC)

Two lives were lost to wildfire near Lac du Bonnet, MB, in May when a couple were trapped in their residence as fire rushed in.

Other high-profile events included over 200 homes and cabins destroyed at Denare Beach and East Trout Lake, SK. In Alberta, a fire destroyed much of the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village east of Edmonton, destroying many artefacts and closing the location for the year. Countless other communities across Manitoba and Canada were affected by fire.

The fire season began early with the first fires sparking in southern Alberta in late February due to dry and mild conditions. In Manitoba, a fire on April 26 in Traverse Bay forced the evacuation of more than 300 residents, one of the first evacuations of the season.

The exceptional fire season was a result of compounding factors during extreme and widespread drought across the Prairies, particularly in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Reduced spring and winter precipitation, early snowmelt, near-record dry soils, less green vegetation than normal, and a record heat wave in May all combined to create the extreme fire situation beginning in May. Dry weather continued through to July. In fact, by late July, 71% of the country was classified as abnormally dry to drought. Several states of emergency and agriculture disaster were issued by municipalities in Manitoba, particularly in the Interlake. Wetter weather in August helped alleviate the situation in the Prairies.

As a result of the fires, smoke was an ongoing problem throughout most of the year, especially from May to August. Smoke frequently travelled into portions of the United States and even reached as far as Europe. Canada received snarky remarks from some politicians south of the border frustrated by smoke which was ruining summer in northern states such as Minnesota. Smoke resulted in a very unenjoyable summer in Winnipeg as well, with air quality frequently reaching unhealthy levels and clouding skies. Frequent smoke stunted plant-growth with gardeners noticing slow growth most of the summer which then accelerated in late August and September when smoke was less prevalent.

Satellite image May 25 showing fires in orange in SE MB

Satellite image May 30 showing widespread smoke

Smokiest June, July and Summer on Record in Winnipeg

At Winnipeg Airport, it was the smokiest June, July and summer on record in 2025. In June, 81 hours of smoke were recorded, beating 56 hours in 1995. In July, 189 hours of smoke were recorded, beating 137 hours in 2021. This was also the smokiest month on record. August had 70 hours of smoke, the 4^th smokiest. Summer as whole, from June to August, saw 340 hours of smoke, eclipsing the previous record of 244 hours in 1961. Records of smoke hours began in 1953.

May was also abnormally smoky in Winnipeg with 12 hours of smoke, the 4^th most since 1953. All 2023, 2024 and 2025 were in the top 5 smokiest Mays.

2025 was the 2^nd smokiest year overall with 354 hours of smoke. This was just shy of the record of 369 hours in 1961 and well ahead of the previous 2^nd place (276 hours in 1955).

Driest June in Over 50 Years

It was the 5^th driest June on record since 1872 at Winnipeg Airport with only 23 mm of rain. It was the driest since 1974.

Driest January to July on Record at Winnipeg Airport

Winnipeg Airport had its driest first half (January to June) of the year on record since records began in the city since 1872 with only 87 mm of precipitation, beating 91 mm in 2019. It also had its driest January to July on record with 126 mm of precipitation, beating 141 mm in 1980. Note that these numbers are raw data and do not account for under catch of snow in the winter from the 2010s onwards. Assuming 10:1 ratio with snow using the Weatherlogics snow measurements would result in the 2^nd driest January to July. Alternatively, using The Forks for snow-water equivalent still results in the driest January to July. No matter the data or methods used, it was a very dry January to July, either driest or 2^nd driest since records began in the city in 1872. Note that other parts of the city received more precipitation, such as at my place in Southdale where I recorded 185 mm from January to July, in large part due to some downpours in June.

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SOURCES:

General sources:

ECCC: https://climate.weather.gc.ca/historical_data/search_historic_data_e.html

College of Dupage (satellite images): https://weather.cod.edu/satrad/

Cocorahs: https://www.cocorahs.org/

Manitoba Agriculture (Mb Ag): https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/weather/index.html

NDAWN (or Daryl Ritchison on X): https://ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu/, https://x.com/DarylRitchison

City of Winnipeg Water and Waste Department – Rainfall Reports: https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste/drainageflooding/rainfallReports/default.stm

Weatherlogics (for snowfall amounts in Winnipeg – data are password protected): https://viewer.weatherlogics.com/index.html

Frodo: https://1144.ca/Summary.aspx?N=MBsu&SID=

Links specific to each weather story:

#1:

Government of Manitoba Wildfire Service - table showing amount of land burned by fire 1914-2020: https://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation_fire/Fire-Historical/firestatistic.html

A Lens on Fire Risk Drivers: The Role of Climate and Vegetation Index Anomalies in the May 2025 Manitoba Wildfires, study by Amiri, Gumiere, and Bonakdari (Université Laval and University of Ottawa): https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4834/6/3/88

Regina Leader-Post, 'Very extreme': Looking back on Saskatchewan's record-setting wildfire season, Nov 4, 2025: https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/very-extreme-looking-back-on-saskatchewans-record-setting-wildfire-season

Canadian Red Cross, Manitoba Wildfires Response 2025: https://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/current-emergency-responses/manitoba-wildfires-response-2025 ; Saskatchewan Wildfires Response 2025: https://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/current-emergency-responses/saskatchewan-wildfires-response-2025

Public Safety Canada, Government of Canada provides update on 2025 wildfires as support continues: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2025/10/government-of-canada-provides-update-on-2025-wildfires-as-support-continues.html

Natural Rescources Canada, National Wildland Fire Situation Report: https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/report

CBC News:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-deficit-projection-soars-double-original-forecast-9.7016636

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/wildfire-update-manitoba-premier-1.7535513

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/hotels-wildfire-emergency-available-1.7550388

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/wildfire-trails-closed-parks-1.7548478

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/traverse-bay-grass-fire-evacuation-1.7519749

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/pukatawagan-mathias-colomb-wildfire-airport-1.7548745

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/cranberry-portage-mandatory-evacuation-1.7549126

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/air-quality-wildfire-smoke-1.7582663

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/drought-agricultural-disaster-emergency-1.7588473

The Canadian Press, Canada's 'exceptional' drought hints at future climate, need for action: experts: https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/environment/canadas-exceptional-drought-hints-at-future-climate-need-for-action-experts/article_12129162-c4a9-50ca-9911-f95ee89d4caf.html

Environment and Climate Change Canada Online Climate Archives

CTV Winnipeg:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/third-straight-dry-year-means-projected-loss-at-crown-owned-manitoba-hydro/

APTN News:

https://www.aptnnews.ca/videos/wildfire-evacuation-becomes-largest-domestic-air-operation-in-canadian-military-history/#:~:text=June%2012%2C%202025-,Wildfire%20evacuation%20becomes%20largest%20domestic%20air%20operation%20in%20Canadian%20military,operation%20in%20Canadian%20military%20history.

#2:

Thierry Goose on X (@ThierryGooseBC): https://x.com/ThierryGooseBC/status/1921711683229118477

NWS Grand Forks on X (@NWSGrandForks): https://x.com/NWSGrandForks/status/1921639788257362240

#3:

Manitoba Hydro on X (@manitobahydro): https://x.com/manitobahydro/status/1977747044337889753

https://x.com/manitobahydro/status/1975620127128494336

Jaydon Svensson on X (@sveny67), ‘‘Larger than toonie sized hail on the east side of Steinbach at 2pm on Oct 1^st’’: https://x.com/sveny67/status/1973465435640369411

CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/farmers-in-southeast-manitoba-hope-frost-will-firm-up-fields-after-heavy-rain-hail-pummel-crops-1.7652742

Steinbach Online: https://steinbachonline.com/articles/brief-storm-brings-heavy-rain-and-hail-to-the-southeast

Coreen Anderlum on Facebook, photo of uprooted tree on Oct 3 in Transcona: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10172446303650440&set=p.10172446303650440&type=3

Chris Sullivan on Facebook, photo of lightning on Oct 3 in Tyndall: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4081935628688424&set=p.4081935628688424&type=3

Jackie Klassen on Facebook, photo of hail Oct 4 in South Junction: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10165998874478712&set=p.10165998874478712&type=3

#5:

CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-snow-storm-flight-delays-bus-9.7023808

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/calls-roadside-assistance-spike-winnipeg-blizzard-9.7024689

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/blizzard-shuts-down-highways-every-school-in-winnipeg-and-others-in-province-9.7020692

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/dozens-of-schools-closed-as-manitoba-faces-another-day-of-weather-warnings-cleanup-from-blizzard-9.7022374

CTV News: https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/police-respond-to-multi-vehicle-crash-on-perimeter-highway/

City of Winnipeg Traffic Management Centre on X: https://x.com/WinnipegTMC/status/2001648563554783379