What is the Weather Like in Winnipeg?
Winnipeg is a great place to live and to visit. The weather is something to be prepared for no matter what time of year you are going to be there. The weather can change dramatically between winter and summer. This is due to the area being low lying, in a flat plain location. It is also surrounded by four rivers. The hottest temperature was in July of 1936 when it reached a blazing 42.2°C! The lowest temperature was -47.8°C in December of 1879.
Spring
April and May are basically considered to be the spring months around this area. It can be as short as six weeks, but varies based on temperature and other environmental changes. The weather can change very quickly during the spring so be ready for it. However, an Indian Summer is very common in Winnipeg. After the initial frost, the warmer temperatures may occur again.
Summer
From June until August is considered to be summer in Winnipeg. This is warm time of year with humidity around 50%. This is a great time to be in Winnipeg as the trees are in bloom and will remain that way until October. The temperatures are typically between 24° and 30°. It is common for thunderstorms to develop in the afternoon. Recent years there have been long stretches of hot weather, averaging around 30° for weeks at a time.
Fall
September and October are a short fall in Winnipeg. This is a lovely time to notice the colors changing. The leaves fall off the trees and there may be breezy days. The temperatures can change dramatically from one day to the next during fall here.
Winter
November through March is typically winter here. Environment Canada has identified Winnipeg as the 10th ranking coldest location in Canada. The temperatures can dip extremely low during the winter in Winnipeg. There is also the possibility of conditions that result in a blizzard. These blizzards are the result of what is called the Polar High.
For the most part though, winter in Winnipeg is long with lots of cold wind. It is also dry which gives people a break from the humidity during the hotter months. During the winter months, ice skating is a very popular event in Winnipeg. Curling Rink at the Red River of The Forks is the most popular location. Snow is going to be part of winter in this area. In fact, there has only been one Christmas on record when it wasn’t snowing or that there wasn’t snow already on the ground!
Overall
Winnipeg is a place to live or to visit if you want to experience all of the different seasons. On average, Winnipeg receives just over 20 inches of precipitation annually. The temperature can change quite a bit over the course of any given day in Winnipeg. This is why it is recommended to dress in layers. It makes it simple to be able to add items or to take off items in order to remain comfortable despite the temperature.
If you enjoy the sunshine, Winnipeg is one of the sunniest places in Canada to be. Even during the colder times of the year, it gets plenty of sunlight. On average, there are 306 days with substantial sunshine in this part of Canada. The most sunlight is seen in July and August, with the least of it in November.
Adverse Conditions
The wind can be a factor around Winnipeg during any of the seasons. It is ranked #12 when it comes to overall wind for cities in Canada. The most wind usually occurs in April and the least wind is typically in July. There can be tornadoes that develop in the summer and spring but they aren’t common, and are always outside city limites. The strongest tornado ever recorded in Canada occurred about 25 miles West of Winnipeg in 2007.
The flat plain layout of Winnipeg makes it wide open for flooding. When there is lots of precipitation, this is more likely to occur. In 1950 there was a major flood here that resulted in a State of Emergency being declared. More than 100,000 residents were evacuated and over 10,000 homes and businesses were destroyed. As a result, the Red River Floodway was developed to prevent future problems with flooding. The construction took place in 1962 with upgrades implemented in 1997.