Spring in air, but forecast to remain unpredictable

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This article was published 09/03/2025 (214 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Forks has wrapped up its skating season, an annual sign of spring in Winnipeg, but a local meteorologist is warning the forecast will remain unpredictable for the indefinite future.

“It’s pretty volatile, the weather pattern this week, and it’s quite normal for the springtime,” said Shannon Moody, a meteorologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada.

In order to break any records, the temperature would have to plummet or spike significantly, Moody said.

The Nestaweya River Trail officially closed for the season on Sunday, following 68 days of winter activity in downtown Winnipeg — a longer-than usual run, albeit no record. In 2019, it was up and running for 76 days.

The recreational trail opened to the public on Dec. 31 for its latest season, which was far longer than last year’s nine-day stretch amid a particularly mild winter.

This winter, it spanned six kilometres at its peak. The maintained skating paths stretched from the central port to Churchill Drive on the Red River and from its entry point on the Assiniboine River to the Hugo Docks.

A spokesperson released a recap of the season when The Forks announced it was no longer monitoring or maintaining any portion of ice on Sunday. All on-land trails are also now closed.

Communications manager Zach Peters said 988 metres have been “adopted” so far this winter, meaning an individual donated to fund ice maintenance and have their name or a loved one’s name posted along the river trail, through the Trail Together initiative.

Almost 600 people participated in the campaign and raised upwards of $50,000, combined for The Forks Foundation, he said.

The Forks has yet to confirm plans for next winter, but “we definitely want to build upon the success that we saw,” Peters said, adding there may be additional opportunities for members of the public to contribute in the future after this year’s pilot.

The thickest measurement of ice this winter was 28 inches.

There were 800 Christmas trees used as decorations, 18 warming huts, 10 river trail crew team members who consumed 350 litres of coffee and at least one marriage proposal took place, per a news release issued Sunday.

St. Adolphe’s world record-holding snow maze, A Maze in Corn, closed on Sunday due to warm temperatures, but the attraction’s operators have yet to call it for the season. The icy puzzle, the largest rendition to date, opened on Jan. 25.

Also Sunday, Shooters Family Golf Centre celebrated the start of its range season.

“Ready or not… The crew has been working hard to get stalls ready for all the eager golfers,” states a Facebook post made by the facility in north Winnipeg.

Moody, a meteorologist based in Winnipeg, said Sunday that a couple of “weak systems” are anticipated to move through Manitoba.

Today “is not going to be a very pleasant day,” she said, noting there’s a chance of freezing rain. “Fast forward to Wednesday and we could be well above zero,” Moody added.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca