Have you ever seen blue snow? Or heard snow squeak?

At very cold temperatures, snow makes a distinctive crunch/squeak sound when you walk and yes, it actually appears to be blue, especially at dusk, or in the shadows.

Winnipeg weather forecast this week

Winnipeg weather in January

January and February are cold, with crisp air, blue skies and usually with not a lot of snow but by the first week of January it has been cold enough, for long enough, that the River Trail opens for skating on the Red River (the longest river skating rink in the world).

There are also cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snow-shoeing, and plenty of other ways to get out and enjoy winter.

Or just stay inside with a good book.

Or join the throng at the mall. (There are mammoth fireplaces at either end of the Food Court at St. Vital mall, making it a popular meeting spot in winter).

Winnipeg weather in February

February has short days and long nights, but it also has a winter festival that takes place mostly outdoors, Festival du Voyageur, always held at Fort Gibraltar in St. Boniface.

More about this and other Winnipeg Festivals on the Festivals page.

Winnipeg weather in March

March is still winter, sometimes still cold, but usually gloriously sunny.

Some say this is the best month for skiiing because it is usually the month with the most snow, the bonus season as well for ice-fishing and snowmobilers.

Winnipeg weather in April

Winter ends abruptly, with the snows melting usually the second or third week of April (but in 2010 two weeks earlier than usual), followed by spring rains.

The rains and the melt can cause flooding, which is not sudden (like flash floods) but still, about once a decade, is a serious threat.

Canada geese return early in April, and so do the songbirds, a welcome sign of warmer weather to come.

The Winnipeg Commedy Festival is the first fest of summer, usually in late April or early May.

Winnipeg weather in May

May usually has mild summery days mixed with ones that are cooler and rainy. One day you might wear shorts, but find you need a sweater or jacket the next.

The tulips and tree leaves bloom in the third or fourth week of May.

Gardeners look forward to Victoria Day, 24th of May weekend, or May Long as it is known here. That's planting weekend, the start of another glorious outdoor gardening season.

Winnipeg weather in June and July

June and July are usually the hottest months, as well as bringing the longest days of the year, with an average temperature of 25 degrees C (close to 80 degrees F.) and highs that get up into the 30s C. (80s to 90s F.)

We are far enough north that in June the sun doesn’t set until almost 11 p.m. – great for visiting and entertaining on long summer evenings at the lake or on the patio.

Winnipeg weather in August

August tends to bring more balmy summer weather to Winnipeg.

August has been rainy in some years but has been warm and beautiful (plenty of good sightseeing or beach weather) the last few summers.

Winnipeg weather in September

September starts out with two, and sometimes three weeks of true gloriously warm (or even hot) summer weather.

Most years, there are a few more good beach days in early September.

If you have a choice of month for your visit, September is truly beautiful. I think it’s the best time to come to Winnipeg. One drawback is that many of the smaller museums (run largely or totally by volunteers) have reduced hours, or are only open in summer. Another is that the winter theatre/concert season doesn't start until late September or October.

In late September and into October, leaves turn various hues of oranges and yellows. Songbirds and Canada geese flock, getting ready to migrate south.

Winnipeg weather in October

October may still be summery, with cooler nights, but the first snow arrives abruptly in the third week or towards the end of the month. Once snow is on the ground, it will stay there till spring.

There is no snow-and-melt cycle and so there is no dirty, depressing slush. Winnipeg remains beautifully white throughout the winter, but in October we know that dressing in layers (hats, scarves, gloves, boots, heavy coat -- the whole rig) is going to be required for the next (almost)six months.

Winnipeg weather in November and December

November and December are cool to cold, usually with not much snow but there is never any question about if we will get a white Christmas and Holiday season. That's a given in Winnipeg!

When to visit Winnipeg:

Every month has its merits, but I think Winnipeg is best:

January to March – for theatre, ballet, opera, dining out, shopping, Manitoba Moose (hockey) home games, and outdoors activities including skating, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and winter hiking.

Late April or early May for Winnipeg Comedy Festival.

June to August– for Winnipeg Festivals. They happen year-round, but the ‘Big Six’ fests – Kidfest, Red River Ex, Winnipeg Jazz Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Winnipeg Fringe Festival and Folklarama – are all in summer.

Also for gardens, walks and hiking, visiting museums and galleries, shopping, dining out, golf, Goldeyes (baseball) home games, beaches, camping, and outdoor adventure.

And for professional horse racing at Assiniboia Downs, guided walking tours, sightseeing and dinner-dance boat cruises and outdoor theatre.

September – for glorious weather, fall gardens, walks and hiking, golf, the new theatre, ballet and dance season, Blue Bombers (football) home games, Winnipeg Writers Festival and the last beautiful summery days. And also for those delicious Fall Suppers.

October – for Fall Suppers, the last cool bright days of autumn, Bombers games, Thanksgiving and Halloween.

November and December – for the Holiday Season fairs, concerts, special Holiday events at the major museums, and spending the holidays with family and friends.

All Year Long – for concerts and live music, theatre, dining out, museums, art and art galleries, trade shows and conventions at Winnipeg Convention Centre, shopping, historic architecture, casinos and wildlife viewing.