Winnipeg breaks 125-year-old record amid sweltering heat wave

The vivid, orange sun surrounded by grey clouds and smoke appears over Winnipeg, Man. on May 13, 2025. (Janet A.)

A May heat wave has produced another record-breaking day of temperatures across Manitoba.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), 13 Manitoba communities set new heat records on Tuesday.

It was also the third straight day of new heat records in Deerwood and Pilot Mound, and the second consecutive day of record-setting heat in Altona, Carman, and Winnipeg.

Carman had some of the balmiest conditions in the province. The mercury reached 37.0 C on Tuesday, surpassing its previous record of 33.9 set in 1932.

Winnipeg had a similarly sweltering day with a high of 37.0 C, breaking its previous record of 33.3 C set a whopping 125 years ago.

The biggest spike over the previous record was recorded in Gimli. Temperatures there hit a high of 36.2 C, handily surpassing the previous record of 28.9 C set in 1960.

Meanwhile, the majority of record-breaking communities on the list - Altona, Deerwood, Dominion City, Pilot Mound, Pinawa, Pine Falls, and Portage la Prairie - broke records previously set in 1977.

A complete list of Manitoba communities that broke heat records can be found on ECCC’s website.

A break in the heat on the way: ECCC

The heat wave comes courtesy of a warm air mass that has settled over much of southern Manitoba over the last number of days.

The sweltering conditions paired with little precipitation have created fertile grounds for wildfires throughout the province, with 22 burning on Tuesday, according to the province’s fire situation report.

The good news - some relief, and potentially an end to the rash of heat records, could be on the way.

ECCC said the heat is set to subside in southern Manitoba.