Record-setting warm weather keeps Winnipeg in swing of things By: Kevin Rollason Posted: 5:58 PM CST Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023

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This article was published 07/12/2023 (974 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Temperature records continued to fall Thursday across southern Manitoba, giving local skaters pause and local golfers an excuse to hit the links.

Seven new high points were set Wednesday; another eight were surpassed Thursday — including a century-old mark in Winnipeg.

Dragan Velaja was one of many who decided to grab their golf clubs one more time this year and head out to shoot a round just outside the capital city at Southside Golf Course.

“It’s unbelievable,” Velaja said mid-afternoon Thursday, as the mercury in Winnipeg soared to a record 8.6 C — easily besting the former record of 5.6 C set in 1923. “I can’t believe we’re out here and golfing at this time of year — it is mind blowing.”

The only change from summer play, besides the regular greens being closed with temporary holes set up in front of them, was “the ground is getting frozen. It was tough to put the tee in.”

Environment and Climate Change Canada warning preparedness meteorologist Natalie Hasell said many temperature records have fallen this week, thanks to a combination of an upper ridge centred in the United States and a low pressure system in the North.

“It’s unbelievable … I can’t believe we’re out here and golfing at this time of year — it is mind blowing.”–Dragan Velaja

“It has allowed warm air to come in,” Hasell said. “If this was summer, it would be almost heat dome-ish.”

Sprague also shattered a long-standing temperature record, hitting 6.7 C to beat the 5.6 C set in 1918.

Pinawa at 6.1 C (5.1 C in 2015), Pine Falls at 6.5 C (4.8 C in 2015), Emerson at 9 C (7.7 C in 2015), Steinbach at 8.7 C (5 C in 1984), Pilot Mound at 9.9 C (8.6 C in 2015) and Wasagaming at 6.1 C (5.5 C in 2020) also set new high points Thursday.

Swan River did not, but tied one at 3.5 C (1984).

It was a similar story Wednesday, with Gimli reaching 6 C (3.3 C in 1944), Emerson hitting 8.9 C (7.1 C in 2015), Carberry at 9.4 C (9 C in 2015), Deerwood at 10.1 C (9.6 C in 2015), Fisher Branch reaching 7.2 C (4.1 C in 1999), McCreary at 11.2C (9.3 C in 2015) and Steinbach at 7.8 C (5.5 C in 2015).

Southern Manitoba has a historical daytime average of -9 C this time of year.

While Winnipeggers have been basking in recent above-normal temperatures, they know it is only a matter of time until regular winter weather rolls in.

Hasell said temperatures are expected to reach 2 C on Friday, with precipitation ranging from rain to freezing rain to snow. Saturday and Sunday are forecast to top out at -7 C, according to Environment Canada.

Zach Peters, a spokesman for The Forks, said while recent temperatures haven’t been cold enough to freeze the Assiniboine and Red rivers for skating in the next few weeks, there are still plenty of months of winter ahead.

“Last year, we didn’t open the trail until Jan. 1,” Peters said Thursday. “It’s too early to worry.

“If we suddenly drop 10 degrees colder on a consistent basis, the rivers freeze quickly. And, before that, we will have our land (skating) trails open. We’re just awaiting winter to come around.”

Meanwhile, the weather has been helping set the foundation for winter road construction — a lifeline of supplies and materials for fly-in northern communities.

“Despite warmer weather in the south, northern Manitoba continues to have less-than-average snowfall and freezing temperatures, which has allowed the development of ice and ground frost penetration,” a provincial spokeswoman said. “Winter roads have always been dependant on freezing conditions.

“Colder temperatures are expected this weekend, which should accelerate the development of ice and ground frost penetration.”

The province constructs and maintains about 2,075 kilometres of winter roads every year.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca