Winnipeg could hit 20 degrees this weekend, a rare April occurrence

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There is good news in southern Manitoba.

Winnipeg residents have not seen temperatures below 20°C since October 3, 2023. It's a long wait for warm weather lovers hoping to open the windows and shed their coats.

Another step in the slow progress toward spring comes this weekend, as the nearly 200-day wait ends. Communities in southern Manitoba could see highs of up to 20°C by Saturday afternoon.

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A strong ridge of high pressure over the central United States will extend far enough north to bring an unseasonably pleasant weekend to the southern Prairies.

Daytime highs will climb into the teens on Saturday, possibly in the lower 20s, including Winnipeg. Forecasters see temperatures in the city reaching 19°C on Saturday afternoon, and it won't be difficult to push it a degree higher.

Warm winds will push temperatures into the teens well into the Manitoba Lakes region, where even Pasta may see double digits in the sunshine.

The seasonal high in mid-April is around 4-5°C in Winnipeg, so getting above 20°C this time of year is nothing to sneeze at.

We usually have to wait until May to see spring warmth in the province. The last time we hit 20 degrees in April was in 2020, and that was right in the middle of the day on the last day of the month.

Unseasonably warm temperatures will continue for another day through Sunday, although daytime readings will be a few degrees cooler than we enjoyed at the start of the weekend.

STAY SUN SAFE: Track Winnipeg's UV forecast here

If you plan to go outside and enjoy the spring warmth, don't forget the sunscreen. As the sun's angle steadily rises this time of year, it's easy to get a sneaky and serious sunburn.

Enjoy the beautiful weather. An unsettled pattern hits the Prairies next week, forcing temperatures to reverse course and dip into seasonal territory. Winnipeg may try to climb above freezing in the second half of next week.

Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest Manitoba conditions.

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