Weekend Weather

It's over!

I'm not talking about our relationship. I know in my heart you and I will go on forever, much like that (very bad word) song from the blockbuster movie Titanic, which has been stuck in my head and playing on a continual loop for years.

Curse you, Céline Dion! What I am talking about is the weather. Our lovely little break from the bone-rattling cold snap is over.

Yes, after a few days of tropical weather, we are back in the grip of the soul-destroying deep-freeze. Today, for instance, we are looking at a light snowfall, with a wind chill of -28 and a daily high of -17 C, compared with the normal high of -11 C at this time of year.

The good news is Environment Canada is forecasting sunny skies Sunday and Monday, when the high temperature will be -20 C and -19 C, respectively. The low temperatures for the weekend and Monday will be hovering around the -30 C mark, which, in these parts, is considered shorts weather.

If we survive until Tuesday, our on-again, off-again relationship with milder weather will be on again with a forecast high of (wait for it) -6 C. The rest of the week should be pretty mild, too. Why is it fluctuating like this? It has something to do with the weather being emotionally unstable. Either that or cold Arctic air. Probably that first thing.

Before you lose the will to live, let me point out there are some great ways to stay warm this weekend. Today, for example, you can head out to Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre for events to mark World Wetlands Day and Groundhog Day.

I am not an expert on Groundhog Day, but my understanding is that if Stephen Harper sees his shadow, we have six more weeks of being audited by the Canada Revenue Agency.

This is also the last weekend you can check out SondheimFest 2013, a celebration of the biggest name in musical theatre. Passes are $80 at the MTC box office, 204-942-6537 or www.masterplaywrightfest.com.

I also suggest you slap on your snowshoes and take the kids down to the River Trail at The Forks today to check out the Voyageur Camp presented by Festival du Voyageur. We're talking voyageur games, a bannock bake and a lot more.

And regular reader Deenie Lefko-Halas is hoping you'll take part in the Winterfriends Celebration on the Red River trail at Churchill Park between the neighbourhoods of Norwood and Riverview Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. We're talking skating, free hot chocolate and guys in costumes firing muskets. Sweet!

"Just head south on the Red River and you'll find us at the end of the trail, between Lyndale Drive and Churchill Drive," Deenie tells me. "We're encouraging neighbours to bring a lawn chair, a travel mug, skates... I'm even thinking kite-flying might be something to try!"

I personally would never tell you to go fly a kite, Winnipeg, but maybe that's just me. Also, please do not forget that this Sunday is no regular Sunday. It's Super Sunday, a day when we gather together with friends and family and try to put ourselves into a coma by eating greasy snack-related foods and drinking our weight in cold malted beverages.

I think there's a football game, too. Maybe somebody could look into that.

doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 2, 2013 A2