May long weekend second-coldest on record

The May long weekend was one of the coldest on record in Winnipeg.

The average daily high for the three days failed to reach double digits, hovering between 9.3 C to 9.6 C, said Matt Loney, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.

It’s the second-coldest on record, failing to topple the record average daily high of 6.3 C logged on May long 1882.

“It’s definitely abnormal,” said Loney of the preliminary figures. “You wouldn’t expect temperatures to be that low, but it can happen and it has happened before.”

Loney said while May long this year can’t be classified as extreme weather, it’s colder compared with previous holiday weekends.

In 2025, the weekend’s average daily high was 11.8 C; it was 18.8 C in 2024 and 24.3 C in 2023.

“It certainly makes the weekend unpleasant,” said Loney.

Numerous Manitobans braved the elements, and Loney said it’s a testament to Manitobans’ love of the outdoors.

“There is optimism of warmer days ahead,” he said. “That optimism on a cooler weekend is infused, and you just know that this is a temporary lull in the summer conditions that are expected.”

The cold weather was the result of a stalled upper-level low-pressure centre that brought cold arctic air to Western Canada, Loney said. All three prairie provinces reported some form of snowfall.

“It’s nice to hear that we’re not crazy.”

The weather cooled things for at least one seasonal business said Colin Remillard, a co-owner of St-Leon Gardens on St. Mary’s Road.

“It’s one of the slowest Mays we’ve seen in a long time,” he said.

Remillard said the cold temperatures make more work for him and his staff, as it means constantly watching out for frost and taking plants indoors for protection every night.

He said while last year’s May long was cold, the weeks before it were warm and allowed gardeners to get ready, which has not been the case this year.

“Business-wise, it’s been very quiet,” he said.

Remillard said he was relived to hear it was one of the coldest May long weekends on record.

“There’s truly nothing more validating than knowing that this is in fact a very cold year,” he said. “Because we’re all having a pretty tough time outside in this weather. It’s nice to hear that we’re not crazy.”

Warm weather is set to arrive in Winnipeg later this week as temperatures are expected to reach 27 C by Sunday.

Remillard said the staff at St. Leon’s will be ready.

“Weather-wise, we’re excited. We’re just all waiting,” he said. “It feels like the week before Christmas and we’re all just like: ‘Let’s go!’”

morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca