Katherine Dow’s forecast: Keep those umbrellas handy

Katherine Dow has your current conditions and updated weather forecast for May 21, 2026.

After a stormy night, a sunny and windy day is unfolding on Thursday across Winnipeg and much of the Red River Valley, while our neighbours to the west continue to contend with soggy conditions.

Much of the Red River Valley can expect a mix of sun and clouds with strong and gusty southerly winds. Highs will be a touch above seasonal—at about 22 C for Winnipeg.

There is a slight chance of rainfall—about a 30 per cent shot by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s estimation—in areas like Portage la Prairie and Gimli.

To the southwest, the shortwave that brought rain and thunderstorms overnight continues to linger, bringing a chance for periods of rain throughout the day and overnight. Temperatures in that stretch will rise to the low 20s in and around Brandon and Neepawa and a few degrees cooler in Dauphin and Swan River.

Much calmer and more banal conditions are expected throughout northern Manitoba with plenty of sunshine, southeasterly winds and highs in the upper teens.

Overnight, skies remain clear and winds ease. Lows are expected at around the 6 C mark.

Winnipeg and the surrounding Red River Valley will see a cloud or two overnight as southeasterly winds lose a bit of their might. Temperatures dip to the low teens.

There’s a slight chance that showers and thunderstorm activity could continue overnight and into Friday in Brandon and Neepawa. Meanwhile, Dauphin has a stronger likelihood, as the low pressure system lingers through the Parklands as it begins to drift to the north, bringing a chance of rain through much of northern Manitoba into Friday.

Conversely, Friday ushers in more sunshine and strong southeasterly winds in Winnipeg, with a high of 21 C.

However, a separate system expected to drift over the international border overnight Friday is expected to bring periods of rain throughout Saturday, though conditions rebound on Sunday along with a sizeable warm-up.