Katherine Dow’s forecast: A smoky start to the weekend

Katherine Dow has your current conditions and updated weather forecast for July 17, 2026.

After a smoky start, clearer skies are expected in the Red River Valley into Friday afternoon alongside hot temperatures, which are likely to soar even higher into the weekend.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), smoke that pushed into Winnipeg and the surrounding southeast late Thursday from the wildfires burning in northwestern Ontario is expected to ease into Friday afternoon as winds shift into the northwest.

From there, skies will be partly sunny with highs in the upper twenties. For Winnipeg that’s 27 C.

Over in southwestern Manitoba, skies are expected to remain clear and sunny throughout the day with light winds and similar daytime values – 28 C in Brandon and Dauphin.

Meanwhile, air quality issues persist in northern Manitoba due to smoke from ongoing, destructive wildfires in that region.

There’s more rain and thunderstorm activity expected Thursday throughout Lynn Lake, Thompson and Gillam that could last overnight.

Temperatures in the northwest will take a much-needed dip on Friday, with highs expected in the low twenties throughout the region. Not the case in the northwest, where the mercury is primed to rise to 27 C in The Pas and Flin Flon.

Back in southern Manitoba, skies clear overnight and northwesterly winds persist, which will hopefully break up any remaining smoke. Temperatures are expected to dip to the upper teens.

From there, it’s shaping up to be a hot and sunny weekend ahead through southern Manitoba with clear skies and highs on Saturday of 29 C through most of the region and even hotter values to round out the weekend on Sunday.