Winnipeg - 19th Century Full Summaries
I include emoticons as a way to quickly peruse this page and find weather types that are most interesting to the reader, and also as a way to better visualize the progression of weather throughout the years.
Definitions of emoticons: 🔵 Cold 🔴 Warm ❄️ Snowy 💧 Rainy or wet 🌊 Flood (rivers overflowing their banks or significant overland flooding) ⚡ Significant/unusual or frequent thunderstorms 🌪️ Possible tornado 💨 Damaging synoptic wind event 🌫️ An extended period of fog or frequent fog 🦗 Grasshopper/locust infestations 🏜️ Drought or very dry 🔥 Smoke and/or fires 🦟 Problematic mosquitoes |
Almost-daily weather comments are available from November 1797 to May 1798 and September 1799 to April 1800. I've added some reports from Brandon House.
1797
1798 🔴❄️
1799
- Aug 30: Clear fine weather ... found water low in the [Assiniboine at the Forks] (Brandon House Journal).
- November: Frequent snowfalls Nov 15 to 22, snowing all day on five days. Very hard blowing snow Nov 17.
- December: Three days of snow mentioned, but seven or eight days of blowing and drifting snow. Calmest mid month and very cold Dec 18 to 22.
1798 🔴❄️
- January: Six days described with snow, blowing snow or stormy conditions.
- February: Six days described with snow or blowing snow. A few days described as cold, and 27th-28th warm, otherwise not much comment about temperatures.
- Winter 🔴: Very mild. (source)
- March 💧❄️: Starts off cold and windy, with a storm of snow and blowing snow the 9th. Mostly fine rest of month. Heavy rain all day the 29th; some snow the 30th.
- Mar 14: ''Our journey for the past eight days between The Forks and Pembina has been wretched travelling; the snow was full three feet deep; the ice on the river has much water on it, from the mild weather with small showers of rain, or wet snow (Coues; journals of Henry and Thompson)
- Mar 29: Rained very hard all day. The snow now so mixed with water that we could not proceed. (Thos. Miller, and Henry and Thompson)
- Mar 30: Showers of hail and sleet. The country before us appeared like a lake, with water (Henry and Thompson, might be at Pembina)
- April 🔴: Seems to be a bit of an early spring. River rising fast first mentioned the 6th, with open water the 7th, but driving ice the following days. Water ''rising to prodigeous height'' by the 12th-14th, but no mention of river conditions afterward. Rain the 8th, 20th, 24th and 30th. No mention of snow.
- May: Snows and blows most of the day on the 1st.
1799
- September: Rains 6th-7th, 18th-19th and 29th-30th. Gale winds 14th-17th.
- October: Mostly fine, with 5 days of gale winds and no precip mentioned up to 19th. Evening snow 20th. Rain 25th.
- November: Quiet with 5 cold days up to the 15th. Evening rain 16th; snow all day and gale winds 17th. A few mentions of cold rest of month, river froze 21st and snow all day 23rd and 27th.
- December: Very little mentioned, appears part of the month's weather was ignored. Warm 28th-29th.
- Supplement from Brandon House: Sharp cold 8th, 13th-16th, 19th. Warm to very warm 6th-7th. Snowed all night Dec 1, otherwise no precip mentioned.
1800 🔴
General summary: A short and mild winter with little snow and an early spring. Snowier colder weather later in April. The summer was likely dry, with very low water levels reported in August in the Red River.
General summary: A short and mild winter with little snow and an early spring. Snowier colder weather later in April. The summer was likely dry, with very low water levels reported in August in the Red River.
- January: Mostly fine. Warm 13th-15th. The only precip mentioned was snow on the 19th.
- Supplement from Brandon House: Sharp cold the 3rd. Warm to very warm 6th-13th, 24th, 31st. Heavy snow 19th then sharp cold 20th-21st. Snow 26th.
- February: Mostly fine. Warm 20th-21st, sharp cold 29th. No precip mentioned at all.
- Supplemental reports from Brandon House: Warm or very warm 4th, 14th, 22nd-24th. A little snow 26th. Very little snow on the plains mentioned after 20th.
- March: A very early spring. River opened the 24th, and driving ice 25th. Snow all day the 2nd and 14th.
- Supplemental reports from Brandon House: Similar, snow only mentioned the 15th, with rain at times the 19th. Warm to very warm 10th, 24th-25th, 31st. Goose and ducks seen the 18th. River ice bad 30th and driving ice the 31st.
- April: Reports only up to the 11th. Gale winds six of the first eleven days with no precip mentioned.
- Supplemental reports from Brandon House: Similar first half, with no precip mentioned and windy days. Two days described as a hurricane. Weather changed by the 18th, with thunderstorm and heavy rain at night. Snow and drifting by noon. Cold after, with more snow the 23rd-25th, then improving.
- August:
- Aug 22: I am told that the Red is lower than has ever been known before (Alexander Henry in Coues). (This might have been at Pembina ND)
1803
No reports available from Winnipeg, but Alexander Henry from Pembina did provide some clues to the weather in the general area. In general, it was a snowy winter, then an early spring. High water in the spring.
No reports available from Winnipeg, but Alexander Henry from Pembina did provide some clues to the weather in the general area. In general, it was a snowy winter, then an early spring. High water in the spring.
- Mar 27: The plains are covered with water from the melting of the snow so suddenly. The water is commonly knee deep, in some places up to the middle.
- May 24: Set off for Portage la Prairie (from Pembina), and we found much water on the plains. mosquitoes by the millions.
- May 31: Too much water on the plains for our horses to proceed (between Morris and Pembina rivers).
1804
Again no reports available from Winnipeg, but Alexander Henry from Pembina did provide some clues to the weather in the general area. It was a very dry winter with little snow (apparently there was a good deal of snow in early November, but it must have melted off. In addition, fires in 1802 burned the grasses, causing new snow to just blow off). Considerable snow fell in February however. But, spring came early with snow all gone by March 19-21.
Again no reports available from Winnipeg, but Alexander Henry from Pembina did provide some clues to the weather in the general area. It was a very dry winter with little snow (apparently there was a good deal of snow in early November, but it must have melted off. In addition, fires in 1802 burned the grasses, causing new snow to just blow off). Considerable snow fell in February however. But, spring came early with snow all gone by March 19-21.
1805
Summer 🔴: ''The potato crop failed due to the excessive heat which scorched everything early in the season (Henry at Red River).
Summer 🔴: ''The potato crop failed due to the excessive heat which scorched everything early in the season (Henry at Red River).
- Apparently, there was severe drought in the 1804-1805 period over central North America.
1806 🌊
General summary: There is evidence of a wet year with flooding based on Alexander Henry's journal during his travels through the Red River Valley, likely around the Pembina area. It was a late spring with April snowstorms. No reports from the Winnipeg area available.
General summary: There is evidence of a wet year with flooding based on Alexander Henry's journal during his travels through the Red River Valley, likely around the Pembina area. It was a late spring with April snowstorms. No reports from the Winnipeg area available.
- Mar 17: Continual storms and drifts.
- Apr 13: Dreadful snowstorms.
- May 1: Great banks of snow still lying on the edge of the woods. This certainly has been the most extraordinary cold and stormy weather I have ever experienced on Red River.
- May 4: Deluge of rain, stores flooded and property damaged.
- Jun 26: Red River extraordinarily high from the continued storms.
- Jul 7: The travelling was tedious from the heavy rains... In many places, we found several feet of water; every little hollow formed a pond and every rivulet appeared like a river. Our horses often sunk up to their knees in mud, and at times had water up to their bellies... The water in the Red was very high. While attempting to cross to the east side of the river, he found the country almost entirely overflowed.
- Aug 13: This summer’s extraordinary rain, having overflowed the low country, has caused the buffalo to resort to the high lands southward.
- Aug 14: We found a great quantity of water, and for a long distance our horses had it up to their bellies… This road used to be firm and good but the continued rain of the summer has altered the face of almost everything, and there is now mud and water knee deep.
1810s
The decade featured the multi-year eruption of Mount Tambora, and a cooler climate which began in 1809. 1816 was known as the year without a summer in eastern North America with summer snows and frosts. Based on what's available, there are signs of unusual cold in Winnipeg from 1815 to 1817, with a spring flood in 1815. After the flood, dry conditions prevailed with poor crops and grasshopper infestations; the worst years being 1817 to 1819. There are signs that the drought was quite prolonged and widespread, with most rivers across SK and MB reportedly low. This was in contrast to the period of 1812-1815 when crops were apparently good. Some reports/comments for this decade were pulled from the book: The Year Without a Summer? World Climate in 1816, via Archive.org.
1812 🌊
General summary: There is some evidence of flooding based on a couple travellers passing through or around the Red River Settlement area (Rannie, 2001, U of W).
General summary: There is some evidence of flooding based on a couple travellers passing through or around the Red River Settlement area (Rannie, 2001, U of W).
- Jun 4: I returned up the [Red] river toward [the Forks] with two men in a canoe to look after our men who were coming down with the horses. We found them 3 points above when we stopped and learned from them that the water was so deep in the plains that they could not take them further down in consequence I sent 4 men down with the canoe & I returned to the fort, with our man & the horses to leave them in the care of some freemen till the water abates. Very heavy rain. (Brandon House Journal)
- Oct 6: No post down there [near the mouth of the Red River] is perfectly able to support itself unless they have an opportunity of catching a great number of fish in the fall-which the very high water of this year forbids me to expect. (Pembina Journal of Occurrences)
1815 🔵❄️🌊
General summary: A snowy winter, followed by an exceptionally late spring with significant Red River flooding. Not much snow and mild in December apparently.
General summary: The winter started warm (though it is unclear how mild exactly, considering -12.2°C was called astonishingly mild) with not much snow until January 23 when it snowed all day. Spring seemed to come on time, but not much snow resulted in lower water levels. Very little rain in the spring with dry ground.
General summary: A snowy winter, followed by an exceptionally late spring with significant Red River flooding. Not much snow and mild in December apparently.
- Winter 1814- 1815 - Very deep snow, with most horses dying in consequence.
- May 14 - Water remarkably high on the Red River, overflowing its banks to a considerable distance.
- May 25 - It was a very backward spring. The last wheat finally sown.
- May 26 - Water on Red River still very high, not abating yet.
- June 2 - Water begins to fall a little.
- June 4 - Water falling fast. Very few leaves yet on the trees. Lake Winnipeg still frozen (still fast), except for some water along the shores.
- June 10 - Water still falling.
- June 16 - Wheat and barley now several inches above ground.
- August 25 - Crops prospered despite late spring and war in June.
- Dec 1: Snow on the ground about 3 inches deep (Peter Fidler at Red River Settlement).
- Dec 30: The softness of the weather and want of snow is very alarming. (Colin Robertson, at Fort Gibraltar)
General summary: The winter started warm (though it is unclear how mild exactly, considering -12.2°C was called astonishingly mild) with not much snow until January 23 when it snowed all day. Spring seemed to come on time, but not much snow resulted in lower water levels. Very little rain in the spring with dry ground.
- Jan 8: The weather uncommonly fine. Our cattle are feeding on the plains the same as in the fall of the year. (Colin Robertson, at Fort Gibraltar)
- Jan 17: The mildness of the season is astonishing. The thermometer was 10 above (-12.2°C) the cypher at mid-day in the shade. (Colin Robertson, at Fort Gibraltar)
- Jan 23: Snowed all day. (Colin Robertson, at Fort Gibraltar)
- Mar 29: The walking is certainly bad, as the plains in many places must be covered with water, from the melting of the snow (Colin Robertson, at Fort Gibraltar).
- Apr 22: Red River clear of ice, but the Assiniboine still fast. The ice moved on the Assiniboine this afternoon. (Colin Robertson, at Fort Gibraltar)
- Apr 24: Still some ice on the Assiniboine. If there had been the usual snow this winter, the ice would have been cleared much sooner (due to higher water levels during melt). (Colin Robertson, at Fort Gibraltar)
- May 29: The weather warm, we had little or no rain this spring which makes the rivers very low in this quarter. (Colin Robertson, at Fort Gibraltar)
- May 30: Exceedingly warm, the ground almost parched up. (Colin Robertson, at Fort Gibraltar)
- Supplemental reports from Brandon House: Gardening/crop preparation began May 3, last crops sown May 27. A very sharp frost June 5, killing all the barley, wheat, oats and garden stuffs above the ground except onions and lettuce. The oak leaves just coming out are as if they are singed by fire and dead.
- Summer 🔵🏜️ - Crops were late sown and were damaged by frost. Very dry, but there were still some heavy rains at times. Rivers very low.
- Supplemental reports from Brandon House: Severe spring weather, backward spring. 2 inches of snow on June 18. Colder than usual summer and very dry: grass and crops remarkably short, ground dry, all the little runs of water now dry. Frost on July 17 and 23, killing all the potato tops. Frost on August 17 which killed all the potato tops. Assiniboine froze over Oct 23, about three weeks earlier than normal.
- Jul 12: Water very low in the Red River (Peter Fidler at Red River Settlement)
- Jul 20: Heavy rain - water remarkably low in the Red River & the crops exceedingly backwards. Some potatoes only 4 inches above ground. The grass is also remarkably short and ground dry. All the little runs of water now dry. The season has been colder than usual. (Peter Fidler at Red River Settlement)
- Jul 21: Heavy rain. (Peter Fidler at Red River Settlement)
- Jul 25: At night, very heavy thunder and lightning and wind. Near 6 inches water in the yard in places. (Peter Fidler at Red River Settlement)
- Jul 30: Water very low in the Red River. (Peter Fidler at Red River Settlement)
- Aug 3: Rained most part of the day. (Peter Fidler at Red River Settlement)
- Aug 30: Very heavy rain and thunder in the afternoon (Peter Fidler at Red River Settlement).
- Sep 1: Rain last night (Peter Fidler at Red River Settlement).
- Spring - Arrived early.
- Apr 10: The Red River open. (A. MacDonnell at Fort Douglas)
- Summer - Huge swarms of grasshoppers descended on the little strip farms of Red River. As a result of this plague, they produced virtually nothing in 1818.
- Jun 8: Water low in the Red River at The Forks. (Peter Fidler at Red River Settlement)
- Jun 20: The water on the lower Red River is very shoal. (Peter Fidler)
- From Provencher in St Boniface on Aug 12: The grasshoppers arrived August 3rd around noon and the ground was quickly covered. They stayed five to six days. They destroyed a portion of the crops. The gardens are completely destroyed. The barley was almost generally cut, the potatoes are shaved in some places, in others they suffered less. We still have hopes of a sufficient harvest as we had lots of crops planted.
- Aug 30: Grasshoppers have made great havoc in the crops at the colony, particularly in the barley. The fishery this summer has been bad, owing to the very low state of the Red River. (Peter Fidler at Red River Settlement)
- Sep 1: Water very low in the Red River. A very dry season scarce a single shower of rain all summer. All the potatoes and garden stuff burnt out and dead. These past 3 summers remarkably little rain, as also very little snow in the winter. Quite different from what it used to be. (Peter Fidler at Red River Settlement)
- Sep 8 to 11: Red River rising owing to heavy rains above.
- Supplemental reports from Brandon House: Late summer reports - Water very low, very dry season with scarce a single shower of rain all summer. Crops burnt out and dead. Grasshopper infestation first made appearance in third week of August, and came from the southwest. Cold summers of recent years ended in 1818 (warmer now).
- Jan 15: The fine weather which is milder than we ought to expect at this degree of latitude is the reason for the remoteness of the buffaloes. (Provencher, St Boniface).
- Rivers falling rapidly in early June. Red River rising fast June 21-22 when rain must have fallen upstream. Waters remained low much of the summer however.(Peter Fidler)
- Summer - As 1818.
- July 27 according to Provencher in St Boniface: It has perhaps been guessed that we will have no harvest this year; the locusts have destroyed everything. We are exempt from eating bread and there will be difficulty in getting seed for next year; it's a pity, because according to appearances, by behavior of the season, there would have been an abundant harvest. Whooping cough and measles reigned this summer here and killed many children.
- Within these last years, the summers so backward with very little rain and even snow in winter, and the ground parched up. Dry summers commenced 1816. River traffic shifted to Red River Carts due to low water levels. (Peter Fidler at Red River Settlement)
- November 24 according to Provencher in St Boniface: The lack of a harvest retards the Colony's progress greatly. We are spending more money to buy meat to eat as that is all there is to eat.
An incredible amount of weather reports are available from 1820s, providing a detailed view of the weather of the time.
The 1820s featured extremes of precipitation. The decade was drier to start, then turned remarkably wet from 1824 to 1828. This extended period of wet weather featured heavy winter snows and incessant summer rains, making for persistently high river levels. Spring 1826 saw the worst flood of the 19th century. The flood nearly wiped out the settlement and resulted in many settlers relocating elsewhere. 1828 was described as the second worst of the time. The weather then turned dry again in 1829, save for a period of wet weather in June which helped lessen the impacts of the dryness on crops.
The decade featured both extremes of warmth and cold, but was an overall warmer period in the 19th century particularly starting in 1825. Possible El Nino conditions resulted in a very early spring in 1825.
The 1820s featured extremes of precipitation. The decade was drier to start, then turned remarkably wet from 1824 to 1828. This extended period of wet weather featured heavy winter snows and incessant summer rains, making for persistently high river levels. Spring 1826 saw the worst flood of the 19th century. The flood nearly wiped out the settlement and resulted in many settlers relocating elsewhere. 1828 was described as the second worst of the time. The weather then turned dry again in 1829, save for a period of wet weather in June which helped lessen the impacts of the dryness on crops.
The decade featured both extremes of warmth and cold, but was an overall warmer period in the 19th century particularly starting in 1825. Possible El Nino conditions resulted in a very early spring in 1825.
1820 🦗
General summary: Reports Oct 23 to Dec 31. Cold December the highlight. Cold and snow beginning Nov 2, but a reprieve with mild weather mid-month.
General summary: Reports Jan 1 to Jun 14. Periods of mild and severe cold in January to March with some rain in each month, but spring was not early due to cool weather in April. Cold late May with some snow and frost but rebounding in early June with heat and several thunderstorms. General hot and stormy weather continued throughout the summer according to some comments. Locusts/grasshoppers returned as well, destroying parts of the crops.
General summary: Reports Sep 11 to Dec 31, with some other sources scattered earlier in the year. An early spring with thawing weather in March. Cooler weather in the final days of March, and at least part of April and May. Warm and dry September, cold October with an early winter, then warm start to November but extreme cold late November and into December.
General summary: Reports Jan 1 to Jun 11. Cold of December loosens up in January, but returns in February. Milder spring, except for a period of prolonged chilliness the first three weeks of May. Turning hot and very dry in late May and June with smoke.
General summary: Wet summer with high river levels and numerous mosquitoes. Overall, a cold year, with an early start to winter.
General summary: Cold weather dramatically switched to abnormally warm conditions in February, resulting in an early spring. Minneapolis was also exceptionally warm from February to April, almost every day being above normal. Suggested El Nino influence. Warm weather largely persisted through to September. Heavy rains in May, June and September caused flooding. The wet and warm weather resulted in swarms of mosquitoes starting as early as April and continuing all summer. The weather turned around dramatically in early October with cold snowy weather, with even a thunderstorm in November. December was snowy as well with a fierce snowstorm around the 20th. This would result in saturated soils and deep snow cover heading into the winter. ''The year had been unusually wet; the country was thoroughly saturated. The lakes, swamps, and rivers at the fall of the year were full of water. (Ross) ''
General summary: Reports Oct 23 to Dec 31. Cold December the highlight. Cold and snow beginning Nov 2, but a reprieve with mild weather mid-month.
- Spring: Because of locust plagues of the past two years, there was no grain - not even for seed. A small party of men set off to Wisconsin to buy seed wheat, and returned in early June.
- October: Some snow the 23rd, then warm to mild until some rain the 30th and heavy rain the evening of the 31st.
- November: Rain the 1st; snow 2-3rd, 7th, 15th, 20th, 22nd, 27th. Cold to very cold 2-12th, mild 13-21st, cold 22-27th, mild 28-30th. River froze over the 9th.
- December 🔵: Snow 3rd-5th, 11th, 13th, 18th, 20th, 26th. Mild first couple days then cold to severe cold the rest of the month.
General summary: Reports Jan 1 to Jun 14. Periods of mild and severe cold in January to March with some rain in each month, but spring was not early due to cool weather in April. Cold late May with some snow and frost but rebounding in early June with heat and several thunderstorms. General hot and stormy weather continued throughout the summer according to some comments. Locusts/grasshoppers returned as well, destroying parts of the crops.
- January 💧: 17 days mild, 10 days cold to severe cold. 7th evening heavy rain. 7 days with snow. 29-30th clearing away snow and enough snow for sleds.
- February: 15 days mild (1st, 7-18th, 27-28th), 13 days cold to severe cold (2-6th, 19-26th). ''Mild for the season'' 7-9th. Some rain the 11th. 7 days with snow.
- March: 24 days mild, 7 days cold to severe cold (13-17th, 23-24th). Some rain the 12th. 6 days with snow. Still enough snow for sleds 27-28th.
- April 🔵: 15 days mild, 10 days cold. 7 days with snow (3-5th, 13th, 19th, 21st, 30th). 4 days with rain (5th, 21st, 26-27th). Heavy rain 27th. Wild fowl first observed the 5th. Enough snow on ground for sleds the 12th. Still ice on river late April but thawing 21st-29th and breaking up 29-30th.
- May 🦗: 17 days mild to warm, 13 days cold. Milder first half of month, cooler second half. First t-storm with heavy rain the 11th. 5 days with rain. Snow the 1st, 17th and 27th. Severe frost the 27th. Plains at Fort Douglas accidental fire the 2nd. River ice cleared May 1st. Gardening the 7th. Grasshopper eggs hatched the 6th.
- June 🔴⚡🦗: Everyday from 6th to 14th had rain or thunderstorms. 4 days with thunderstorms and 6 days with rain in this period. Accidental fire in woods 3-5th. Grasshoppers destroying corn the 6th. From 1st to 14th, only one day described as cold. Extremely warm or sultry 3rd, 7-11th.
- July 🦗:
- Jul 20: The weather is extremely hot, the thermometer more than 90°F. Vegetation is making as astonishing rapid progress, and the grain in its luxuriant growth upon a rich soil, presents ... the fairest prospects of a good harvest. But the locust...is beginning to make sad ravages, by destroying the crops, as it has done for the last three years, at the Settlement. (J. West at Red River Settlement).
- August 🦗:
- Aug 16: The grasshoppers again doing a good deal of damage this year, especially at The Forks; most of the garden stuff has been eaten. Fortunately they are going away without laying eggs. We did not have any at Pembina this spring; everything was excellent. But on July 17 they arrived in such swarms that in five or six days everything would no doubt have been devoured (Dumoulin at St Boniface).
- Aug 30: The grasshoppers have again greatly troubled the colony this year. We shall harvest scarcely over a fourth of what we hoped. If, however, we had only to fear shortage in the harvest, and if the prairies offered as easy a means of supplementing it as in these past years, our condition would not be serious. But...the buffaloes [are] very far out...The intense heat we have had since the first of June has been the cause of very frequent and abundant storms, always accompanied with terrible thunder. (Destroismaisons at St Boniface)
General summary: Reports Sep 11 to Dec 31, with some other sources scattered earlier in the year. An early spring with thawing weather in March. Cooler weather in the final days of March, and at least part of April and May. Warm and dry September, cold October with an early winter, then warm start to November but extreme cold late November and into December.
- March 🔴: Mild with thawing conditions. However, cooler weather arrived about the 27th, and lasted for part of April. The Red didn't break up until late April as a result.
- Mar 25: The thaw continues ... shouldn't be late before the River breaks up, & is clear of ice, so as to prevent catching sturgeon ... Saw two geese, the sure harbingers of spring. (J. West at Red River Settlement) Gov. Simpson also reported heavy rain, but it isn't clear if he was at Red River Settlement or not.
- August 11 from Bishop Provencher in St Boniface: We have been relying on meat and fish for food for a number of years now. However, crops are looking lovely this season, the grains and gardens as lovely as could be desired.
- September 🔥: Dry and mild. Extremely sultry the 14th. Rain the 23rd and 26th. Plains caught fire the 23rd and lasted at least six days. On the 27th, sky was so obscured by smoke that daytime changed almost into night. Hard frost the 30th.
- October 🔵❄️: Mostly cold with an early start to winter. Pleasant first few days, even sultry on the 4th. Rain the 6-7th. Cold 8th, warm 10th. Then it plummets into winter conditions, with cold weather for the season until the 24th. Very cold hard frost the 18th. Some snow the 17th then 4 inches (10 cm) the 20-21st. River froze over the 22nd. These conditions made work and travel on the river difficult. Alternating mild and cold conditions rest of month.
- November 🔵: A bipolar month with warmth to start then extreme cold to end. First 11 days mild to warm, likely enough to melt the snow and ice from October. Rain the 9th. Things began to turn around the 12th with some snow and colder windier weather. Snow the 12th, 14th, 21st, 24-25th. 4 inches (10 cm) the 24-25th. Then excessive cold 26th to 30th. It was likely well below -30°C, as even Minneapolis dipped to -30.6°C on the 30th (a November record there for the next 53 years). The Red and Assiniboine re-froze again on the 16th.
- Nov 29: The season has been so dry that the prairies are burned almost completely, a condition which will probably cause us to experience famine at least as far as meat is concerned. Fortunately the harvest was quite abundant; but without meat one has a poor livelihood. The fire not only traversed the Red River area, but also all the prairies as far as Fort des Prairies whence the company gets much of its supplies ... 1 did not receive his letter until the day before All Saints'; and even then the rivers had for some twelve days been frozen solid enough in spots to carry men and even horses; it is true that subsequent mild weather had caused the ice to melt (Provencher in St Boniface).
- December 🔵: A very cold December with only two days with snow mentioned (12th and 27th). Minneapolis had its coldest December on record. Cold to excessive cold the 1st to 7th, then mild weather until the 11th. Dogs frozen owing to the severity of the cold. A bad storm of snow and blowing snow the 12th: ''this is as stormy a day as any gentleman has ever seen in any part of the Country''. Extreme cold again 14th to 22nd. Thermometer showed -40°C on the 21st. It was difficult keeping up with the firewood owing to the extreme cold. Milder but still cold at times rest of month.
General summary: Reports Jan 1 to Jun 11. Cold of December loosens up in January, but returns in February. Milder spring, except for a period of prolonged chilliness the first three weeks of May. Turning hot and very dry in late May and June with smoke.
- January 🔴: First 3-4 days excessively cold. Someone arriving from Brandon House suffered severely from hunger and cold the 3-4th. Mostly mild the remainder of the month with only a few cold days. 4 days with snow. The person who arrived from Brandon House left the 8th, but had to return as the depth of snow was too much for his dogs. ''Stormy'' the 11th making work difficult.
- February 🔵: First half of month cold to excessively cold. Mild 16-24th, then cold remainder of month. 4 days with snow.
- March 🔴: Mostly mild; 6 days described as cold and 19 days as mild. General thaw the 12th. Unseasonably mild with lots of thawing the 27th and 30-31st. On the 27th, ice on river entirely covered in water from thawing snow. 3 days with snow, including 4 inches (10 cm) on the 1st. No precipitation mentioned after the 10th.
- April: Mild the 1st with swans, ducks and geese seen for the first time. Snow the 2nd and cold the 2-7th. Dangerous river ice the 4th with horses falling in. Unsettled weather the 8th to the 21st with 6 days of rain and 4 of snow. 3 of these days had both rain and snow. About 3 inches of snow in inches was mentioned the 20th. Warm and dry the 16-17th, with some people working in the gardens and fields the 17th. Cold the 21-22nd and 26th. Mild the remainder of month with rain the 30th.
- May 🏜️🔥: Very dry with only 1 day of rain mentioned (2 if ''stormy'' refers to rain the 13th). First three weeks of the month were rather chilly and cold. Digging in the garden on the 1st. Becoming milder around the 22nd. Warm summer-like weather starting the 26th and lasting the remainder of the month. Extremely sultry and excessively warm the 28th to 30th. On the 26th, growth of crops much retarded for want of rain. Windy with clouds of dust and smoke the 30th.
- June 🔴🏜️🔥: Warm month with 6 days described as mild to very sultry in the first 11 days and no mention of cold. Very sultry the 5th and 9th. Windy with clouds of smoke the 1st, and a mention of drought conditions the 6th. 3 days with rain in the first 11 days, on the 3rd and 9-10th.
- July 16 🏜️: This year, there will be little harvest. The drought of this season has killed some of the grain and even more of the garden, which a part of didn't even rise until July when some rain fell. The poor harvests of late have greatly discouraged the settlers. (Provencher in St Boniface)
- Comment from the following year by Provencher in St Boniface: The harvest was better than expected and gave much grain, given the drought and hail damage.
General summary: Wet summer with high river levels and numerous mosquitoes. Overall, a cold year, with an early start to winter.
- Spring 🔵: Signs of a cold spring as ''the lake''' was not clear of ice until June 5. Minneapolis was colder than normal the vast majority of spring.
- June 💧: High river levels due to wet weather. Only 9 days of rain however, so maybe it was wetter upstream? Not much reference to temperature, 1 day described as warm (25th) and 1 day as extremely sultry (30th). There was no mention of thunderstorms.
- Jun 6: Rained heavily all day.
- Jun 15: River continued rising,
- Jun 17 to 19: Three days of stormy weather: rainy and strong easterly winds. Unable to work in such conditions.
- Jun 19: River high with strong current.
- Jun 26: Crops in a thriving state.
- July 💧🦟: Numerous mosquitoes mentioned on 3 days. 6 days with rain, 4 of which had thunderstorms, The rains were intense at times. Warm mentioned on 3 days, and exceedingly warm or sultry on 2 days.
- Jul 4 to 5: Much rain and thunderstorms: ''we were again drenched with water in all the dwelling houses and stores. Little work being done consequently''.
- Jul 16 and 17: Heavy rain with strong winds and thunderstorms, putting a stop to all work.
- Jul 29: Excessive heavy rain all day, putting an end to all work.
- August 💧🦟: Wet overall with some dry periods. Warm first half, cooler late August with light frost the 27th.
- Aug 1: Heavy rain and thunderstorms all night.
- Aug 3 and 7: Clouds of mosquitoes.
- Aug 3 to 15: Drier and mostly warm.
- Aug 16 to 20: 5 days of almost uninterrupted rains. Ground muddy. Stopped work around the forts again.
- Aug 21 to 28: Dry weather
- Aug 27: Light frost and cold all day. Wind N.
- Aug 29 to 31: Rainy weather again. Late month was also chilly, with light frost and cold all day the 27th.
- September 💧🦟: Very wet first half of month with 11 out of the first 16 days being rainy. Incessant rains from Aug 29 to Sep 8; only one day was dry in this period.
- Sep 2: River levels have risen considerably.
- Sep 3: Heavy rain with thunderstorms.
- Sep 8: Continued rainy weather has ''caused material injury to the wheat crops, which otherwise would have been excellent''.
- Sep 9 to 12: Warm to sultry and fine. Mosquitoes numerous.
- Sep 13 to 16: Rainy weather. Heavy rain all day the 14th and part of the 15th. Unfortunately, crops suffering to a very great degree.
- A dramatic turn to dry weather the remainder of the month. 3 days described as warm with fine and pleasant weather; no mention of cold or frost.
- October 🔵❄️: Mostly cold with 3 or 4 days of snow. No rain mentioned. 7 days described as mild or ''milder than some days past''. 15 days described as cold.
- Oct 8: Turnips and cabbages harvested are remarkably large.
- Oct 10: Snowed lightly last night and this morning.
- Oct 18: Snowed considerably during last night and this morning.
- Oct 19 to 21: Ground is now entirely covered with snow and there was some ice along the riverside this morning.
- Oct 28: Red River runs full of shifting ice. Assiniboine River set fast last night. Cold NE wind blowing as strong as gale.
- Oct 31: Cold with light showers of snow.
- November 🔵❄️: First couple weeks were cold and snowy. On the milder side with a few cold days the remainder of the month. 7 days with snow.
- Nov 1 to 4: Snowy and cold. Snowed all day the 2nd and 3rd. Snowed heavily all day the 4th, causing many people to stay home.
- Nov 6: Red River set fast last night.
- Nov 8: Cold; snowed the greater part of the day.
- Nov 22: Snowed a little last night and this morning.
- Nov 27: Snowed during all night and greater part of day.
- December: The first half on the colder side and the second half on the milder side. 15 days cold, 14 days mild. Only 1 day with snow mentioned.
- Dec 7: Cold, -21°F (-29°C) this morning.
- Dec 8 and 9: Very cold, wind NE.
- Dec 12: Snowed during last night and greater part of day.
- Dec 21 and 22: Warm, wind SE.
General summary: Cold weather dramatically switched to abnormally warm conditions in February, resulting in an early spring. Minneapolis was also exceptionally warm from February to April, almost every day being above normal. Suggested El Nino influence. Warm weather largely persisted through to September. Heavy rains in May, June and September caused flooding. The wet and warm weather resulted in swarms of mosquitoes starting as early as April and continuing all summer. The weather turned around dramatically in early October with cold snowy weather, with even a thunderstorm in November. December was snowy as well with a fierce snowstorm around the 20th. This would result in saturated soils and deep snow cover heading into the winter. ''The year had been unusually wet; the country was thoroughly saturated. The lakes, swamps, and rivers at the fall of the year were full of water. (Ross) ''
- January 🔵: Cold month with 20 days described as cold and 4 days as very cold. On the 31st, ''the quick silver froze last night in the thermometer''. 6 days with snow and drifting snow. Much of this was from the 14th to 19th. Also on the 26th otherwise.
- February 🔴: Mostly cold through to the 9th, then a dramatic swing to abnormally warm weather the remainder of the month. 4 days with snow (8-9th, 19-20th).
- Feb 1: Very cold, wind N.
- Feb 7: -40°C this morning.
- Feb 10: Weather so warm as to melt the snow where exposed to the sun.
- Feb 11 and 12: Weather so warm as to thaw the snow at noon. Wind S
- Feb 23 to 28: Warm with thawing snow. Mentioned general thaw the 24th, and thawed all day the 25th and 26th. Winds generally SW to SE.
- March 🔴: First 7 days were very warm, melting most of the snow. Became cooler with occasional snowfalls the remainder of the month. It was still alternating between cold and mild thawing conditions. 4 days with snow (12-13th, 19th, 26th).
- Mar 1 to 7: Weather so warm as to cause a general thaw. Weather remarkably fine for this season of the year. Winds generally SW to SE.
- Mar 6: People employed for a short time this morning to drain the water out of the yard caused by melting snow, to prevent its entering the stores.
- Mar 7: Owing to the late warm weather, a great portion of the snow on the ground is melted and the creeks are now all running full of water.
- Mar 15: The track was so extremely bad that I was obliged to leave my horse and Cariole at a Settler's house, and wade through water ... on the surface of the ice [probably on the Red] to the depth of eighteen inches during the last three miles (David Jones from Rannie 2001, U of W).
- April 🔴🌊🦟: Very warm, not a single day described as cold. Early spring causes trees to bud, grass to sprout, mosquitoes to appear and an early last snowfall. High river levels, exacerbated by heavy rains the 26th and 27th. 1 day of snow on the 4th.
- Apr 1: Geese seen for the first time. Weather so warm as to cause a general thaw. Wind S.
- Apr 3: Numerous flocks of ducks and geese seen flying north. Warm, wind S.
- Apr 4: Snowed during last night and greater part of the day. This was the last mention of snow of the season.
- Apr 10: Ice on river so weak as to make it dangerous to walk on. Greater part of the snow is melted off the plains. Warm, wind S.
- Apr 11: Snow is now entirely off the ground, and the grass begins to sprout. Very fine weather, wind S.
- Apr 12: About noon the Red River broke up, and the ice continues drifting down without intermission the remainder of the day.
- Apr 13: Red River continued full of drifting ice, and the water in it rises rapidly. Fine, warm, wind S.
- Apr 15: Ice on Assiniboine broke up and continues drifting down with great velocity. Water in both rivers rises fast. Grass sprouts fast, trees begin to bud.
- Apr 16: Assiniboine continued full of drifting ice, and the rivers rise very fast, so much as to overflow the banks in several places.
- Apr 17: Sultry, numerous mosquitoes. Wind SE.
- Apr 18 and 19: Some settlers began sowing wheat and plowing goes on extraordinarily. Fine, warm, wind S.
- Apr 20: Sultry. Mosquitoes very numerous at this early season of the year. Wind S.
- Apr 22 and 23: Plowing and sowing goes on briskly. Fine, warm, wind S.
- Apr 26 and 27: Rains heavily all day, confining people indoors. Water so high in both rivers as to cause them to overflow their banks. Some settlers have abandoned their houses as a result. Water extraordinarily high. The houses at Pembina are all overflowed.
- May 🔴💧🌊🦟: Warm and rainy. Whenever it wasn't raining, it was warm. 9 days with rain and 2 with thunderstorms. River levels high to start then falling.
- May 1: Mosquitoes numerous. Warm and fine, wind E.
- May 2: Rivers continue rising. Settlers fields greatly inundated. Vegetation of every kind comes on rapidly. Fine weather, wind S.
- May 3: Rainy, wind E. Waters inundating the woods.
- May 6 to 8: Rainy, no work outdoors. Wind N to E.
- May 9 to 20: Dry weather, warm. Wind generally SW to SE.
- May 14: Inundation begins to subside.
- May 16: Mosquitoes numerous.
- May 17: Rivers falling fast.
- May 21: Rainy with thunderstorms.
- May 26 to 29: Rainy. Thunderstorms on the 26th. Wind E.
- June 💧🌊🦟: Extremely rainy with high water levels and swarming mosquitoes. 16 days with rain including 13 consecutive rainy days from the 5th to 17th. When it wasn't raining, it was warm.
- Jun 1: Rainy. Wind NE.
- Jun 5 to 17: Incessant rainy weather. Thunderstorms the 7th and 8th. Heavy rains mentioned the 11th and 17th. Work outdoors impossible at times.
- Jun 12: The water has risen considerably this year like has happened sometimes in the past. It has covered almost all the prairie at Pembina and has flooded all the homes there. (Provencher from St Boniface)
- Jun 19: Rainy with thunderstorms again.
- Jun 20: Firewood left along riverbanks is in danger of being carried away by the extraordinary inundation of the river caused by the late continued rains.
- Jun 21: Owing to the unusual height of the river waters, very few fish have been caught this season.
- Jun 22: Rainy. Outdoor work suspended again.
- Jun 23 to 30: Dry and warm weather. Swarming mosquitoes. Winds generally from the SW quarter.
- Jun 29: The floods increase at the rate of one foot per 24 hours, whereby the fishery is completely interrupted.
- July 🔴🦟: Warm and drier, but river levels continue high and begin to abate in the second half of the month. Only 3 days of rain and no thunderstorms mentioned.
- Jul 2, 6-7, 9, 13-16, 20-21, 24-26, 28: Clouds of mosquitoes.
- Jul 3: Rained heavily during the greater part of the day. Wind NW.
- Jul 11 and 12: Rainy, wind NE. Floods in the rivers continue high and fishing unsuccessful.
- Jul 15: Rivers continue much swelled, but invariably rise or fall. Mosquitoes troublesome. Fine and warm weather, wind SE.
- Jul 18 and 19: Sultry, wind S. Floods in rivers begin to subside, and some fish have consequently been caught the last two nights.
- Jul 29: Fisheries in river begin to improve as the waters abate. Warm, cloudy, wind S.
- August 🔴🦟: 26 days described as warm. Drier again with only 2 days of rain (17th and 18th) and no thunderstorms mentioned.
- Aug 1, 5, 8-10: Mosquitoes numerous and troublesome.
- Aug 5: All hands employed making hay. Mosquitoes swarming.
- Aug 6-7, 12-13: Sultry.
- Aug 20: Crops have damage due to mildew from unusually high waters this season.
- Aug 24: Great drawback in wheat crops due to mildew.
- September 🔴💧: Mostly warm through to the 16th, then cooler and rainier. Only 5 days with rain mentioned, however, a prolonged rain event from the 19th to 22nd raised river levels considerably again, which indicates a lot of rain. Becoming warm again in the last couple days of the month.
- Sep 11: Rainy. Strong NW gale.
- Sep 17 and 18: Cold, wind NE. This is in contrast to mostly warm weather up to the 16th.
- Sep 19 to 22: Rainy, wind NE to E. People stayed indoors.
- Sep 23: Owing to the latest heavy rains, both rivers have risen considerably. Cloudy, wind N.
- October 🔵❄️: After starting out warm, a dramatic turn to winter arrived the 6th and continued the remainder of the month. 10 days with snow and 4 with rain.
- Oct 1 to 5: Fine warm weather, wind variable in direction.
- Oct 6: Cold stormy weather with snow showers. Wind NE.
- Oct 7 to 9: Cold and snowy. Wind NE to NW.
- Oct 10 and 11: Rainy, wind NE.
- Oct 12: Cold with snow showers at intervals. Wind NE.
- Oct 16 and 17: Rain and sleet. Wind E.
- Oct 18 and 19: Cold with snow. Wind NE.
- Oct 24: Cold with snow and drifting snow. Wind NE blowing a strong gale.
- Oct 27: Assiniboine River running full of drifting ice. Cold, wind NW.
- Oct 28: Assiniboine River frozen completely. Red River running full of drifting ice. Cold, wind NE.
- Oct 29 and 30: Cold and snowy. Ice drifting on Red River.
- November ❄️⚡: An extremely variable month, bouncing between warmth and cold. Also a lot of snow. A one-day warmup brought thunderstorms on the 13th.
- Nov 1 and 2: Weather so warm as to melt all the snow that lately fell. Ice broke up in the Assiniboine River. Wind S.
- Nov 5 to 8: Stormy weather, with heavy snow and strong NE winds causing drifting snow. Drifting ice on rivers. No work outside and stores very quiet.
- Nov 9: Red River set fast last night.
- Nov 10 to 12: Cleared up but cold.
- Nov 13: Weather warm with a strong gale from the NW. Much rain with thunderstorms in the afternoon; an extraordinary circumstance at this season.
- Nov 16 to 18: Drifting snow, with strong NW gales. Snow on the 18th.
- Nov 19 to 21: Cold to very cold. Wind NW to NE.
- Nov 22 to 26: Mild weather. Wind S to SW.
- Nov 27: Weather so warm as to melt the snow about noon. Wind SW
- Nov 28 and 29: Cold with snow and drifting snow. Wind NW. No work outdoors due to badness of weather.
- Nov 30: Very cold, men back at work.
- December ❄️: Mostly mild the first 10 days. then turning cold for most of the remainder of the month. 5 days of snow and drifting snow mid-month. There are reports of a major snowstorm about the 20th which lasted a few days. This was not mentioned in the Upper Fort Garry Post Journal for some reason. The Journal did mention snow from the 14th to 17th so maybe it is referring to that event instead. It is difficult to confirm. The NorWester mentioned that the storm about the 20th was fearful, such as had never been witnessed before. It drove off the buffalo and killed many horses, which is partly what led to such severe famine later in the winter.
- Dec 1: Cold and clear, wind SW.
- Dec 2 to 10: Mild weather.
- Dec 11: Snow and drifting snow. Wind NW
- Dec 14 to 17: Cold with snow and drifting snow. Wind E on the 14th.
- Dec 18 to 23 and 25-26: Cold.
- Dec 24: Warm and fine. Wind SW.
- Dec 30 and 31. Very cold. Clear. Wind NE to NW.
1826 🔵💧 ❄️🌊 ⚡🌪️🦟
General summary: One of the most challenging years for the region, which resulted in many settlers leaving the settlement forever and resulting in the Hudson Bay Company choosing to establish a new fort at Lower Fort Garry. An extremely delayed spring, with the worst flood since settlers arrived. This, combined with cold in the winter and a less than ideal harvest the year before resulted in famine and disorder. The flood nearly wiped the settlement out of existence. One man drowned in the flood. An extremely wet spring, summer and fall only prolonged the impacts of the flood and resulted in a poor harvest. Only adding insult to injury, severe thunderstorms and a possible tornado further damaged the settlement.
General summary: One of the most challenging years for the region, which resulted in many settlers leaving the settlement forever and resulting in the Hudson Bay Company choosing to establish a new fort at Lower Fort Garry. An extremely delayed spring, with the worst flood since settlers arrived. This, combined with cold in the winter and a less than ideal harvest the year before resulted in famine and disorder. The flood nearly wiped the settlement out of existence. One man drowned in the flood. An extremely wet spring, summer and fall only prolonged the impacts of the flood and resulted in a poor harvest. Only adding insult to injury, severe thunderstorms and a possible tornado further damaged the settlement.
- January: 17 days cold, 1 very cold. 6 days mild. 6 days with snow and 5 with drifting snow.
- Jan 22: Strong NE gale winds produced considerable drift. People of the fort could not attend church due to the badness of the weather.
- February ❄️: 13 days cold, 9 days mild. 7 days with snow and 4 with drifting snow. Cold and little in the way of food was leading to famine in the region.
- Feb 2: Winter had started early and has been harsh with bad weather and cold. (Provencher at St Boniface)
- Feb 11: Snowed and drifted most of the day. The snow now rounds the fort as high as the pickets - and twice as much on the plains as at any time last winter.
- Feb 20: 12 settlers have perished from cold and hunger.
- March: Leaning toward cold. 10 days cold and 7 days mild to warm. 5 days with snow and drifting snow. The famine worsened.
- Mar 2 and 3: Snowed and drifted last night and this day. The snow this season is unusually deep - many houses are actually buried under it. Wind NE.
- Mar 14: Canadians here bordering on famine, if it were not for the grain they can purchase. Wind NE.
- Mar 15: Snowed and drifted during last night and all this day. Cattle dying daily for want of fodder. Wind NE.
- Mar 19: Snowed and drifted the whole of last night and this day. Wind NE.
- May 28: Many sufferers arrive daily to purchase grain (Pembina was also in starvation).
- Mar 29 to 30: Weather for the first time this season was so warm about noon as to melt the snow in front of the fort, but the thaw in the plains was scarcely perceptible. Wind S.
- April 🔵❄️: Extraordinarily cold April, making for an extremely late spring. There was snow on the ground the entire month. 8 days with snow and no rain mentioned. The first general thaw of the season wasn't until the 12th. It thawed for a few days but it turned out to be deceiving as cold and heavy snow returned less than a week later and lasted the remainder of the month.
- Apr 1 and 2: No general thaw but a partial melting was perceived in places exposed to the sun and sheltered from wind. Strong NW gales.
- Apr 3: No thaw. Wind N.
- Apr 4: Unusual lateness to the season. Famine continues for both beast and man, with no relief until a change in weather. Wind NW.
- Apr 5 and 6: Cold, wind N.
- Apr 7 to 9: Partial thaw about noon in areas exposed to the sun, giving hope to starving settlers that a change was coming. Wind SW.
- Apr 10: Cold with snow showers.
- Apr 11: Froze keen and snowed all day. Wind E.
- Apr 12: First general thaw we have had this season. Thaw from 10am to sunset. Wind S.
- Apr 13: Thawed throughout the day. Swans, ducks, geese and various other wild fowls seen this day for the first time this season. Wind variable.
- Apr 14: 15 have died so far in the plains from famine and cold this season. Thawed considerably during the day but commenced freezing at sunset.
- Apr 15: Froze keenly at night, but commenced thawing at 10am and continued until sunset. Deplorable famine continues. Wind variable.
- Apr 16: Froze last night. but thawed from 6am until night. Wind W. Beggars prawling about the settlement in crowds.
- Apr 17 and 18: Cold. Snowed and froze keenly last night and all this day. Strong N wind. Beggars around despite the weather.
- Apr 19 and 20: Clear, cold, N wind. Appearance of January more than April. More snow has fallen during the two days past then previously thawed of the original winter stock. Very gloomy in settlement in consequence of the return of cold; the poor in a deplorable state.
- Apr 21: No thaw in shade, but a partial thaw in areas exposed to sun. Clear, wind NW.
- Apr 22: Partial thaw, wind SE.
- Apr 23 to 26: Cold, wind NE with heavy snow. Mixed with sleet on the 26th.
- Apr 26: Extraordinary lateness to the season, retarding relief that may be obtained by hunting and fishing.
- Apr 27 and 28: Partial thaw during the day in parts exposed to sun and sheltered from prevailing NW wind.
- Apr 29 and 30: Assiniboine River still frozen, but lifting due to increased discharge. Thawed during the day and commenced freezing at sunset. Wind SW.
- May 💧⚡🌊🦟: The worst case scenario occurred this month as the weather turned dramatically warmer, melting the snow and ice quickly. To make matters worse, it was an extraordinarily stormy May with strong winds, 20 days of rain and 14 days of thunderstorms. Putting it all together resulted in the worst flood in the history of the settlement, a flood that has yet to be repeated or rivalled even 200 years later.
- May 1 and 2: Rain, snow and sleet showers. Wind NE. Ice on the rivers began to rise
- May 3: Rain, driving snow, sleet and hail. Wind E, stormy in extreme. River rose around 2 metres. Ice in the rivers has attained the height that the floods reached at the highest pitch last summer, and the water in several places has overflowed the banks, and many houses are surrounded thereby.
- May 4: Rain, snow and sleet. Wind SE. The water overflowed the banks of the river and spread so fast that almost before the people were aware of the danger it had reached their dwellings. Water in the rivers rose above 5 ft perpendicular during the last 24hrs, and the ice is now on a level with the highest banks, but it is still so thick and strong that even the present flush of waters have no sufficient force to break it up.
- May 5: Mild, strong SW wind. Assiniboine River begins to break up, the latest date in almost 200 years of records (Rannie, 1983). About 2pm, the ice in the Red broke up in an awful rush, carrying away cattle, horses, houses, barns, trees and everything else that came in its way - the river overflowed its banks everywhere and carried the ice with great velocity to a greater distance from its course, than had ever been before seen by the oldest inhabitants. 47 dwellings were thus carried off by the first rush, in the short space of half an hour, and many others afterwards from which the wretched inhabitants barely escaped with their lives. All the arable land is now under water and where according to the season of the year, the plough ought to be at work, the waves roll by the agitation of a piercing wind.
- May 6: Warm, rain and thunderstorms. The waters continued to increase during the last night and this day. The ice during the same time ran past without intermission in immense masses, mingled with the wrecks of houses, fences, trees, etc. Houses and part of furnitures, were swept off before their eyes by the icy deluge. The havoc was terrible. Boats and canoes were now used in the forts, in passing from one house to another. About 60 families with 200 head of cattle enclosed on half an acre of ground, by the floods. Boats sent to give relief.
- May 7: Rain and thunderstorms. Wind variable. About 4am the ice in the Assiniboine River broke up, and the waters therein rose as high as those of the Red.
- May 8: Cold, sleet and rain, wind NE. The rivers have become almost clear of ice, but the waters increase apace. All the company's men and boats continue day and night in snatching from watery graces, such of the settlers as were unable to escape from their houses, from the roofs of which, several of them were taken up by our people, with such of their property as they had saved. Thus repeatedly has the Company been the means of saving the lives.
- May 9: Warm. wind NW. The waters still rose, and the whole country has assumed the appearance of a large lake. The boats of the fort continue day and night, in use, saving the settlers, with their remaining cattle and effects from destruction. The wrecks of houses are constantly floating down the stream; and the tales of woe from all quarters are really heart-rending. All claim the aid of the fort, the court of which is constantly filled with flotilla of canoes, imploring the first helping hand.
- May 10: Darkness, rain and thunderstorms. Wind tempest. The scene of desolation and distress in the Settlement, was if possible greater this day than yesterday, or before, as the continued rising of the floods, not only increases the alarm, but also the destruction of property. Our boats employed as yesterday. Our people encamped without the fort were from the rapid rising of the waters, obliged to pitch further up the Assiniboine River to higer ground.
- May 11: Rain and thunderstorms all night. Wind tempestuous. Floods continue to rise considerably throughout the last 24 hours, and with it the anxiety of the settlers and ourselves for the safety of our lives and property. The remains of houses and fences are constantly floating down the stream. Our boats have been solely employed by the inhabitants in removing their effects up the Assiniboine. All is bustle and confusion.
- May 13: Rain and thunderstorms, tempest wind. Our people encamped on the banks of the Assiniboine River have been obliged to pitch their camp to some miles higher up that stream; their original encampments being overflowed by the rapid swelling of the waters. The forts now standing like a castle of romance in the midst of an ocean of deep contending currents, the water extending for at least a mile behind them, and they are thereby only approachable by boats and canoes.
- May 14: Awful horrifying heavy rain and thunderstorms at night, cloudy in daytime. Our people were again forced to remove their camp still higher up the Assiniboine, to the vicinity of Sturgeon Creek. The waters rise so rapidly that the property was considered to be no longer safe in the forts, consequently, our people and most of the boats, with the help of some of the settlers, commenced removing the Company's property, with all dispatch, up the Assiniboine to our encampment there. A stormy lake surrounds us, over which agitated as it now is by contending winds and currents, no craft smaller than our large boats, dare venture, and scarcely these with safety.
- May 15: Rain and thunderstorms but more moderate than yesterday. Wind SE blowing hard, stormy all night. The buildings are undermining and giving way rapidly to the force of the current. Some poor families are obliged to remain in the water for hours, before relief can be afforded them.
- May 16: Cloudy, with a few light showers of rain. Wind SW strong. The whole face of the country, both below and above our encampment is covered with water, and in this windy weather, looks like an immense lake in a storm.
- May 17: Fine warm windy weather, wind SW. The seed grain was distributed to our encampment, that the people might not perish for want of food, if not being considered prudent to withhold it any longer, as their condition from famine is truly desperate. The waters rise at the rate of 2ft in 24 hours, but at our encampment we still have an elevation of 6ft, the highest situation except one, within many miles. All the Canadian, French Halfbreed, Swiss and Demeuron inhabitants, are encamped around us, and we are only 15 persons in number to defend the property, which was not considered safe in the forts, from their depredations, and which there were so many plots on foot to seize, while there.
- May 18: Fine, wind SW. The waters continue to rise at the rate of 10 inches in 24 hours. We have the waters in front, and the land above Sturgeon Creek in the rear, however some of the people being yet in terror from the rapid rise of the floods, have moved some miles from us. With all the exertions that people make, they catch but few fish, the current being too strong.
- May 19: Dreadful rain and thunderstorms at night, high winds during the day; quite a hurricane. Boats that were loaded yesterday, for the better securing of part of the property, were with difficulty saved from destruction in the hurricane, and many of the tents were blown down, whereby the poor women and children were drenched by the rain. The water rising at the rate of 4 inches in 24 hours. Some freemen from beyond Pembina also arrived and report the waters to be as high there as here.
- May 20: Rain and thunderstorms. Wind NW strong. Almost all buildings throughout the Settlement carried off by the floods and high winds. Many of them containing property. Some freemen arrived from the upper part of this Assiniboine River, and report that the waters in tha quarter as as high as with us. The Missouri River it appears by their accounts, has overflowed its banks, so as to drive part of its waters this way. They also say that a number of the natives of that quarter have been drowned in consequence. Water almost stationary in both our rivers since last night.
- May 21: Cloudy, wind W strong gale.
- May 22: Rain and thunderstorms in the evening. Wind variable, very furiously. The inundation seems to have reached, at length, its extreme height, it being imperceptible, whither the water rose or fell during the last 36 hrs. By far, the majority of these distressed people, and even those of them who meant until lately to pass the remainder of their days in this country, are now determined to abandon it forever. To this end they surrender their rights to their lands, without condition or reward, not thinking them worthy of either. They are also disposing of the remainder of their livestock and furnity for next to nothing. With few buyers and many sellers, all property must fall in value. A demeuron was last night drowned, in a creek close to our encampment, when in quest of his cattle. McDermot and Nolin arrived from Pembina in a boat. They state that the waters to be falling there.
- May 23: Rain and thunderstorms in the evening. Wind variable, still raging furiously. Sultry weather in the morning. Water had fallen 2 inches last night.
- May 24: Wind SW strong gale
- May 25: Rain and thunderstorms towards evening. The water fell 3 inches. We then pulled over the lands and sites of the settlers houses, and found all covered with no less than 10 or 12 feet of water. From The Forks to this place, and as far as the eye can reach, the country is covered with water and driftwood. And in all that space, there are only to be seen the remnants of 29 abandoned houses, which are so much shattered and dilapidated, that not above 10 of them, but must be rebuilt, or repaired, should they even remain without sustaining further injury. It is said that above The Forks there is scarcely the vestige of a house remaining, or any other mark to denote that it has ever been inhabited. The waters first undermined the houses, the storms beat them to pieces, and the overpowering currents swept away the ruins.
- May 26: Fine and warm, wind SE.
- May 27: Warm, wind W windy. The waters fell at the rate of 10 inches in 24 hours.
- May 28: Tempest with rain and thunderstorms in the evening. Wind variable. Fine warm weather in the morning.
- May 29 and 30: Fine and warm, wind SW.
- May 31: Heavy thunderstorm about noon, after which the weather became more than usually pleasant. The swarms of mosquitoes however, by which we are unceasingly tormented, prevent us from enjoying agreeably in summer, the blessings of this salubrious climate. The floods fall at the rate of 1 foot in 24 hours, but makes, at a general view, little appearance of diminution, owing to the great extent of our country inundated.
- An additional account of the flood by John Pritchard by following this link.
- June 🔴💧🌊: Warm and rainy (no evidence of significant amounts however). No mention of thunderstorms. 10 days with rain. The flood receded but even toward the end of the month the rivers were still overflowing their banks. Farmers tried to seed as much as they could and some groups began their leave.
- Jun 1: Fine warm weather, wind SE.
- Jun 2: Rainy toward evening, wind NE.
- Jun 3: Cloudy, wind NE strong gale. Weather has been boisterous. Last night though the house stands 2 feet in water, the waves dashed against the roof most of the night.
- Jun 4 and 5: Fine weather weather, wind SW.
- Jun 6: Rainy, wind strong SE. The water falls at the rate of 1 foot per 24 hours, at our encampment, though it is said not to exceed 6 inches above The Forks, where it is more expanded.
- Jun 7: Fine warm weather, wind W. The Swiss, and Demeurons, who, being discouraged with the country, from their late losses of the floods, and fearing a similar occurrence in future, made application to the Governor to leave the Settlement. They decided on going, but they are so changeable and frivolous on all other occasions, we are anxious to see what course they will eventally take on the present.
- Jun 8 to 11: Fine warm weather, wind SW to SE.
- Jun 12: Fine warm weather, wind W. We are now nearly re-established in our dwellings. The people are now drawing near the banks of the river to the site of their old habitations . The settlers who have the means, continue to break up small plots of new ground. And plant wheat therein, solely with a view of preserving seed for another year, it being now too late in the season, as we think, to risk a regular crop of that grain.
- Jun 13: Showers of rain, windy. Water continues to fall at the regular rate.
- Jun 14 and 15: Fine warm weather. Wind NE 14th, W 15th. Current still strong, navigation begin at present very dangerous.
- Jun 16: Rainy, wind SE.
- Jun 17: Cloudy, strong W wind.
- Jun 18: Rainy, wind NE.
- Jun 19: Fine warm weather, wind SE.
- Jun 20: Rainy, wind N.
- Jun 21: Showers of rain, windy. Some Canadians about us providing materials for building canoes to carry themselves and families to Canada. The inhabitants who mean to remain in the Settlement are following the waters as they withdraw, and as their cultivated land gets dry they (the inhabitants) plant therein barley and potatoes. The little wheat already sown for the purpose of preserving seed, comes on well, and many people now regret they did not put down full crops of grain.
- Jun 22: Cloudy, wind NW strong gale. The settlers still continue putting seed in the ground in proportion, as the waters withdraw from their cultivated lands, but of which a very small part is yet dry.
- Jun 23 and 24: Cloudy, strong SE breeze.
- Jun 25: Cloudy, strong NW wind. This morning we arrived at the fort, which we found a complete pile of ruins.
- Jun 26: Fine warm weather, wind W.
- Jun 27: Cloudy, wind NE. The settlers who mean to remain, continue busily employed planting what portion of their land is dry.
- Jun 28 to 30: Showers of rain, windy.
- July 💧⚡🌪️🦟: Rain and thunderstorms continued frequent in July with 11 days of rain and 4 with thunderstorms. Significant damage occurred from a severe thunderstorm on the 11th which might possibly have included a tornado. Rivers finally receded to within their banks and the remaining residents began to rebuild and recover from the flood. Although crops did well in the warm wet weather, worms actually reversed some of the progress by destroying some of the crops.
- Jul 1 and 2: Warm, clear, wind SW. We are now well assured that many of the settlers have resolved on leaving the place, some by the US, some by Canada and some to Europe by the Company's ships.
- Jul 3: Most of the farms are now clear of water, and as far as possible have been planted with potatoes and barley, which constitute the principal crops this season. The quantity of land under crop is far short of that of last year.
- Jul 4: Warm, wind S. Clouds of mosquitoes as usual. The inhabitants are now turning their attentions towards building new houses and enclosing their crops, both houses and fences being nearly all swept away by the deluge. The waters continue to fall regularly at the rate of 1 foot in 24 hours, and now getting within the banks of the rivers in most parts. Vegetation is uncommonly rapid. Crops appear above ground the third day after it is planted, which is no doubt owing to the moisture of the ground and heat of the weather.
- Jul 5: Warm and fine weather, wind SE. The waters are now nearly within the banks of the river in every part, and are just the height they were last year, at the highest, and even then they were uncommonly high.
- Jul 6: Rain and thunderstorms, wind variable. Part of the settlers who have been preparing for some time past to go to the US, set out this morning of their journey. The waters continue to fall rapidly as they get within the banks of the rivers.
- Jul 7 and 8: Cloudy, wind SE.
- Jul 9: Warm and fine weather, wind W.
- Jul 10: Warm and cloudy, wind SE. The crops in the settlement come on rapidly, but the hopes of many farmers, when most sanguine, are blasted, by the destruction made in their fields by a kind of insect called a grub worm, which in the course of a night destroy whole fields of barley and potatoes, leaving the ground as bare and bleak as before it was planted.
- Jul 11 🌪️: Morning fair; about noon a thunderstorm and waterspout, of unusual force and violence burst upon us, which lasted about half an hour. Trees of the largest magnitude were broken to pieces, torn up by the roots. Part of the roof of the Portestant church was carried away, and several people narrowly escaped with their lives, being actually tossed to and fro in the air. It resembled a tornado.
- Jul 12: High winds and heavy rains during last night and this morning. About noon the rain ceased but the wind continued with increased violence. The last of the Swiss, Demeurons and Canadians, going to the back parts of the US, took their departure this morning.
- Jul 13 to 16: Rainy, wind SW to NW.
- Jul 15: Our colony has lost about 250 souls: Swiss, Meurons and others. They leave the country from fear caused by the weather this year. (Provencher)
- Jul 17 and 18: Fine warm weather, wind SW to S.
- Jul 19: Fine warm in the forenoon, in the evening rain and thunderstorms with wind.
- Jul 20: Warm and clear, wind W.
- Jul 21: We experienced a severe thunderstorm in the afternoon, which lasted about half an hour, when the weather again cleared up and became fine, wind variable.
- Jul 22 to 26: Fine warm weather, wind SW to SE.
- Jul 27 and 28: Fine pleasant weather with light showers of rain at intervals, wind W.
- Jul 29 and 30: Sultry, clear, wind SW.
- Jul 31: Cloudy, wind NW. Some small quantities of barley are beginning to come out of the ear, as also a little of the first sown wheat, but that sown last, though it looks well, it is feared will never come to perfection, owing to the lateness of the season. The grub worms are now almost extinct, but the destruction they made while they lasted, was very great, and which will be severely felt this season of small crops.
- August 🦟: Warm with 6 days of rain. Crops struggling due to late seeding. Sultry on the 2-3rd, 7-8th, 12th, 23rd. No thunderstorms mentioned.
- Aug 4: High winds and heavy rains all day.
- Aug 5: Cloudy, wind NW. The crops might be said to look well if they were, in their present condition, about six weeks earlier in the season.
- Aug 12: Mosquitoes in clouds. Sultry, wind S.
- Aug 13 to 15: Rainy, wind NW to NE.
- Aug 22: Windy with showers of rain.
- Aug 24: Rainy, wind NW. Potatoes not larger than pigeon eggs in most cases.
- Aug 28: Want for food continues. Pleasant, wind W.
- September 💧: An exceptionally rainy and cloudy month with 21 days of rain. It began warm and dry, then starting the 6th, only four days the remainder of the month had no rain mentioned. 13 consecutive days of rain occurred from the 18th to 30th. This resulted in a terrible harvest. High water levels also made fishing difficult. No mention of temperatures after the first 5 days of warmth, but I would assume chilly given cloudy and rainy weather.
- Sep 1: Poor are hungry.
- Sep 5: Crops not very successful this season.
- Sep 6 to 9, 12 to 15 and 18 to 22: Rainy, wind NE to SE.
- Sep 23: Rainy, wind NE. The extraordinary height of the waters in Lake Winnipeg have prevented ourselves from establishing fisheries there as intended. Lake Manitoba is all that remains for that purpose.
- Sep 24: Rainy, wind NE. The late heavy rains have left little hope of thelate barley crops or any of the wheat ever ripening or even approaching to maturity.
- Sep 25 and 26: Rainy with high NW winds, which has done great injury to the standing crops.
- Sep 27 to 28: Heavy rains and high winds.
- Sep 29 and 30: Rainy, wind NE 29th and SW 30th.
- October 💧: Wet weather continues with 12 days of rain and 8 with sleet. The wet fall resulted in a very late and poor harvest. Temperatures leaning on the cool side, with frosty nights and mild afternoons.
- Oct 1: Froze keenly during last night, which together with the late constant heavy rains, had given the death blow to the standing crops of wheat and barley, and has also destroyed a large portion of the potato crops. Wind NW.
- Oct 2: Froze again last night. Wind N. Settlers finding themselves wanting to shift elsewhere given the destitute situation of the settlement.
- Oct 8 to 10: Showers of rain and sleet. Wind NE. Large portions of crops left standing in the fields, people employed to try to harvest what's possible.
- Oct 11 to14: Heavy rains. Wind E to SE. Waters of Lake Winnipeg higher than ever known - the island therein entirely under water as well as all the headlands of the coast.
- Oct 15 and 16: Sharp frost at frost, mild and clear during daytime.
- Oct 17 to 19: High NW winds with showers of rain and sleet. Settlers try their best to salvage as much crop as possible.
- Oct 20 to 23: Sharp frost at night, fine and mild during day. Wind SW.
- Oct 21: Harvest appears to be done and it was a late one.
- Oct 23: Much fish were caught in Lake Manitoba.
- Oct 27 and 28: High NW winds with showers of rain and sleet.
- Oct 31: Cold boisterous weather. Wind NW. Nearly all ready for winter.
- November 💧🌊: Wet weather continued the first week with high water levels and significant overland flooding. The weather turned dramatically afterward with no precipitation mentioned the remainder of the month. This resulted in no snow on the ground at the end of November, an unusual occurrence back then. The first half of the month leaned toward the warmer side, then on the colder side in the second half.
- Nov 1: Heavy snow towards evening with a strong SE gale.
- Nov 2: Snowed all day, wind SE.
- Nov 3: Heavy rain all day which dissolved all the snow that fell the preceding two days. Wind SE.
- Nov 4: Rained incessantly all night and this day, which together with the late melted snow has swollen the rivers, and laid the country under one general sheet of water. Wind SE.
- Nov 5 to 7: Rainy, wind SE.
- Nov 8: About noon the weather cleared up and became clear and mild. Wind S.
- Nov 8 to 13: Light frosts at night and agreeably warm during the day. Wind S to SW.
- Nov 14 to 17: Clear with light frost. Thin ice driving in the Assiniboine River.
- Nov 18: Intensely cold. Wind NW. Ice set fast in Assiniboine last night, and the Red River drifting ice from bank to bank.
- Nov 19: Cold. Wind NE. Red River full of drifting ice.
- Nov 20 to 23: Cold, wind NE to NW. On the 20th, Red River set fast in some places last night.
- Nov 25 and 26: Clear, frosty, wind NW. Red River set fast enough to let people walk across.
- Nov 30: Very cold with high NW winds.
- December 🔴: First half of the month was abnormally mild. A consistent snow pack did not begin until the 15th, making for an unusually late start to winter. The second half of the month was significantly colder.
- Dec 3: Snowed during last night and this day. Ground is covered about 4 inches deep, which was until now completely bare. Wind E.
- Dec 4: Cloudy with strong NW gales.
- Dec 5 and 6: Clear and pleasant, wind SW to S.
- Dec 7: Thawed during the day which with the high winds of Dec 4 has cleared the ground once more of snow. Wind S.
- Dec 8 to 14: Uncommonly mild and pleasant. Wind S to SE.
- Dec 15: Snowed heavily all last night and this day, with a strong NW wind. It was the only real severe winter weather we've had this season, proof of it being a remarkably mild winter thus far.
- Dec 16: As yesterday. Ice on Lake Winnipeg said to be set fast.
- Dec 17: Snowed all day with strong NE gale.
- Dec 18 and 19: Cold boisterous weather, wind NW.
- Dec 21: Snowed and drifted all day. Wind NE.
- Dec 24 and 25: Very cold, clear. Wind NE.
- Dec 22-23, 26-30: Clear and cold.
1827 🔴💧🌊🦟
General summary: A much gentler winter than the year before, with milder temperatures and significantly less snowfall. Despite less snowfall, there was still a spring flood with rivers overflowing their banks, but significantly less than the preceding year. After exceptional dryness, bordering drought, in May and June, extraordinarily rainy weather returned in July, August and September, which was both a blessing and a torment for the crops. High water levels continued until freeze-up in mid November, when the weather turned notably colder and snowier until mid December. Note that beginning in the summer, weather reports became much less detailed and regular in the Red River Journal. Thunderstorms were mostly disregarded from entry in the Journal.
General summary: A much gentler winter than the year before, with milder temperatures and significantly less snowfall. Despite less snowfall, there was still a spring flood with rivers overflowing their banks, but significantly less than the preceding year. After exceptional dryness, bordering drought, in May and June, extraordinarily rainy weather returned in July, August and September, which was both a blessing and a torment for the crops. High water levels continued until freeze-up in mid November, when the weather turned notably colder and snowier until mid December. Note that beginning in the summer, weather reports became much less detailed and regular in the Red River Journal. Thunderstorms were mostly disregarded from entry in the Journal.
- January: Quiet with only 3 days of snow and drifting snow. Tending toward milder than normal for the time; 16 days cold but none very cold, 9 days mild.
- Jan 31: Our colony does not live too well this winter since there was almost no harvest last year. Most people forced to relocate to fishing areas (Provencher).
- February: Quiet with only 3 days of snow and 5 of drifting snow. 14 days cold, 2 very cold, 3 mild and 2 warm.
- March: 4 days with snow and 3 with drifting snow. Typical or a little warmer than normal. 12 days cold, 11 days mild, 1 warm. Occasional partial thaws in areas exposed to sun and and sheltered from N winds. First general thaw commenced about noon on the 31st.
- April 🌊: Wetter with 9 days of snow and 2 of rain. A slow start to spring due to cold weather and snow in the second half of the month. The first half tended toward warmer and most of the snow had melted. Another flood began late in the month but not nearly as bad as last year.
- Apr 1: Thawed during last night and this day. The plains in many places clear of snow and a great deal of water on the ice in the rivers. The quantity of snow has been this winter but trifling (much less) in comparison with that of last year - geese and ducks seen for the first time this season. Wind S.
- Apr 2: Winds last night switched to NW, followed by showers of snow with high winds.
- Apr 3: Continued showers of snow and high winds.
- Apr 4 and 5: Sharp frost, wind E.
- Apr 6: Thawed a little about noon, wind SW.
- Apr 7: Thawed a little from 10am to sunset. Wind SE.
- Apr 8: Warm in the forenoon. Wind S. In the evening, the wind veered to E and was followed with heavy rain, the first of the season. Geese ducks and swans flew past in considerable numbers towards the north - snow nearly all melted - river rising rapidly.
- Apr 9: Rained throughout last night, but cleared up in the morning and continued fine weather all day. Wind E. River rises apace.
- Apr 10 and 11: Cold, frosty, wind N.
- Apr 12: Showers of snow and sleet, wind NE.
- Apr 13: Warm, wind S.
- Apr 14: Warm, wind SW. Red River ice moved a short distance, the water therin rising rapidly.
- Apr 15: Warm, wind SW. Ice again made a move opposite the fort but soon stopped.
- Apr 16: Warm and fine weather, wind SE. Red River broke up this evening in great velocity. Water so high as to cover some of the low lands along the river.
- Apr 17 and 18: Cold frosty, wind NW. Red River now open. Assiniboine still fast.
- Apr 19: Snowed all day, wind SE.
- Apr 20 to 22: No thaw, cold boisterous weather. Wind N.
- Apr 23: Thawed about noon, wind SW.
- Apr 24: Warm, wind W.
- Apr 25 and 26: Cold with snow showers. Wind NW. Red rises 4 inches in 24 hours on the 26th.
- Apr 27 to 29: Very cold with high winds and snow showers. Rivers rise apace.
- Apr 30: Cold, wind NW. Some low land farms under water from the swelling of rivers, owners abandoning in consequence. High land farms began ploughing.
- May 🔴🌊🏜️: Warm and very dry May. However, floodwaters continued in the early part of the month. Only 1 day of rain mentioned.
- May 1: Warm, wind SW. Red river continues rising. Part of the Assiniboine ice broke up and drifted downstream. Sowed wheat in highland farms.
- May 2: Warm and fine, wind SW. Assiniboine ice broke up entirely.
- May 3 and 4: Warm and fine, wind SW. Both rivers rise 3 inches in 24 hours, and spread rapidly on the low grounds.
- May 7 and 8: Warm and fine, wind SW. Waters neither risen or fallen during last 24 hours. People were worried of repeat of last year flood.
- May 9 to 12: Warm and fine, wind SW to SE. Gardening.
- May 14: Cloudy, wind NE. Finished planting garden.
- May 15: Rainy, wind NE.
- Warm, fine and pleasant the remainder of the month. Winds consistently from the SW or S.
- June 🏜️: Mostly warm and very dry June, a dramatic shift from a year before. Only 3 days of rain, and it doesn't appear very much fell. Despite a mostly warm month, a temporary mid-month cold spell brought frost as late as the 20th. Crops began to suffer as a result of the dry weather, worms and frosts.
- Jun 1: Warm and fine, wind SW.
- Jun 2 to 4: Cold and boisterous. Wind NE, blowing a gale on the 2nd.
- Jun 5 and 6: Warm and fine, wind S to SW.
- Jun 7: Sultry, wind S.
- Jun 9 to 11: Very warm and clear, wind SW to SE.
- Jun 15: Cold, cloudy, wind SE. Rained a little last night, welcomed as the crops are parched by the continuous drought. Worms causing damage to crops.
- Jun 16: Cold and cloudy, wind NW. Last night a hoar frost fell, which done much damage to the crops.
- Jun 18: Warm and clear, wind SE. Crops suffering great damage from the drought and worms.
- Jun 20: Warm and clear, wind SE. Light hoar frost fell again last night, which together with the long continuous drought, and the damage done by the worms, which justly dishearten the inhabitants at large.
- Jun 22: Our colony was not flooded this year but all the riverbanks were drowned below us. Everyone has sown as much seed as they could this year. But the drought has been troublesome. (Provencher at St Boniface)
- Jun 29: Since the 20th, weather continues oppressively hot and dry, so much so that the crops appear a yellow tinge, but a genial shower fell today, which entirely changed the aspect of things. Wind NE.
- Jun 30: Rained again today, wind E.
- July 💧 🦟: Rainy weather returned in July with several days of rain. Due to irregular weather reports, it is difficult to say how many days of rain exactly. I can estimate there were at least 17 days of rain based on available comments. Crops generally enjoying the rain after the dryness in May and June. Mosquitoes made their return with the rainy weather.
- Jul 5: The settlement has been helped with daily showers of rain for some days past, and the crops in consequence are improving rapidly. Mosquitoes in clouds since the moist weather set in. Wind SE.
- Jul 6: Rained. Wind E.
- Jul 7: Everything looks delightful after the late rains. Clear and fine, wind S.
- Jul 13: Excellent hay crop owing to the richness of the soil caused by the floods. The weather of late has been very pleasant accompanied by nourishing showers of rain. Mosquitoes almost unsupportable.
- Jul 31: We have had daily showers of rain for the last ten days which greatly improves the crops, but retards the haymaking. Weather generally very sultry, wind variable. Mosquitoes in clouds.
- August 💧: Only 4 days of comments. Based on what's available, it appears August was quite showery/rainy with possibly lots of thunderstorms.
- Aug 9: This morning we were visited with an awful thunderstorm, which lasted for two hours, during which time the rain fell in torrents, and the firmament was in one continuous blaze - We have had several thunderstorms of late, but none so terrific as this.
- Aug 10: Warm and clear, wind SE.
- Aug 14: Fine, wind SE.
- Aug 31: Since the 14th, scarcely a day has passed without heavy rains, a circumstance of serious consideration to the inhabitants.
- September 💧🌊: Based on available comments, it appears it rained almost every day throughout September. This made for a stressful and difficult harvest as farmers tried to salvage as much as they could from the wet fields.
- Sep 3: The rainy weather continues, and the crops suffer materially from its affects. The potatoes in low lands were completely destroyed, though every effort was made to save them.
- Sep 8: Heavy showers of rain every day.
- Sep 20: Hardly a day passes without heavy rains. Farmers have tried to save as much crop as they can. Rivers are greatly swollen by the late rains, the face of the country is entirely carved with water.
- Sep 30: Scarcely a dry day has been experienced since the last date. Farmers tried their best to save what they can and must say the results were good given the circumstances.
- October: Not much to indicate the general weather of the month. Based on what's available, it appears the weather calmed down with less precipitation. The harvest was better than expected. Thanks to wet weather in September, the first frost was quite late for the time - Oct 1st. Appears the month was on the milder side, turning cold in the final week with the first snows.
- Oct 1: Last night, we experienced a light frost, the first of Autumn, succeeded by fine clear weather today. Wind SW, a welcome change to the farmers. Trees and other vegetation have affirmed a yellow tinge from the frost of last night.
- Oct 10: Potatoes still abundant despite wetness of season.
- Oct 23: Frost prevails in night for some time past, but the days are clear and pleasant.
- Oct 25: Cold cloudy, wind W.
- Oct 28: Snowed all last night and this day heavily, being the first fall of the season.
- Oct 31: Weather continues snowy and boisterous, with only a partial thaw in the day.
- November 🌊: Based on what's available, it appears the month started out mild, but then turned cold in the second week and remained cold for most of the remainder of the month.
- Nov 5: Most of the snow has been melted off the ground, which together with the water previously on the ground, has laid the plains under a sheet of water, and greatly swollen the rivers.
- Nov 14: Both rivers set fast last night opposite the fort, but are still open below it.
- Nov 25: Cold with snow showers, wind NE, E.
- Nov 30: Weather cold and snowy of late, wind varying from E to NE & north.
- December: It appears the first three weeks were quite cold and snowy, then becoming mild after the 20th.
- Dec 12: Weather of late has been very cold, with occasional heavy falls of snow.
- Dec 31: Ever since the 20th, the weather has been uncommonly mild and pleasant though not exactly so warm as to melt the snow, it was within a degree or two of doing so.
1828 🔴💧🌊🔥
General summary: Significant flooding for the fourth year in a row. This year's spring flood was apparently the second worst, second only to 1826. Another rainy summer, particularly in July and August, but impacts less severe than in recent years. Overall, a warm year especially for the time. January, April and September were the only months that were obviously cold. An early spring in February and March, and a slow start to winter with the first -20°C not until mid December. Weather reports infrequent and not much detail through to August. Starting in September, reports become regular and detailed again.
General summary: Significant flooding for the fourth year in a row. This year's spring flood was apparently the second worst, second only to 1826. Another rainy summer, particularly in July and August, but impacts less severe than in recent years. Overall, a warm year especially for the time. January, April and September were the only months that were obviously cold. An early spring in February and March, and a slow start to winter with the first -20°C not until mid December. Weather reports infrequent and not much detail through to August. Starting in September, reports become regular and detailed again.
- January 🔵: Quite cold the first half then milder the second half. A wave of sickness passed through the settlement and was killing the children.
- Jan 7: The weather of late has been extremely cold, which succeeding the previous warm weather, so suddenly, has caused a general attack of sickness in the colony with young dying and people stuck in bed.
- Jan 15: Weather continues cold and boisterous. Winds generally from the N or NE. Sickness continues in the colony, with children dying almost daily.
- Jan 20: Weather has changed and become mild, wind S. Sick are recovering but children still dying daily.
- Jan 22: Weather continues mild.
- Jan 31: Cold, wind NW.
- February 🔴: Starting off colder but then quite mild in the second half of the month. The last ten days had thaws during the day.
- Feb 4: Weather for some days past cold and snowy.
- Feb 9: Still cold, wind NE.
- Feb 10 and 15: Mild, wind SW to SE.
- Feb 12: Cold, wind NW.
- Feb 29: The weather of late have been unusually mild for the season - thawed about noon for the last ten days. Winds generally S.
- March 🔴: A very mild March with almost daily thaws.
- Mar 15: Weather since the beginning of the month has been remarkably mild, even so much so, as to cause a partial melting of the snow about noon in southern aspects.
- Mar 20: Still mild, wind SE.
- Mar 31: Weather remarkably fine and thaws a little about noon daily.
- April 🔵❄️🌊: Starting warm with thaws, then turning cold and snowy after the 5th. By the 19th, the weather turned warm again which finally melted the snow and cleared the river ice.
- Apr 2: Weather so warm as to melt the snow during the whole day. Wind S.
- Apr 5: Warm, wind SE.
- Apr 19: From the last date to the present, the weather has been cold and boistrous with heavy falls of snow, but the wind changing this day about noon from the northward to the south. Warm weather replaced the cold almost instantly.
- Apr 22: The ice in both rivers broke up towards evening, and ran fast for some time with great velocity, but was stopped again until midnight at Point Douglas, during which time the water rose rapidly. Last night was the first of the season that did not freeze. Most of the snow is melted off the plains, and cattle graze out.
- Apr 25: Red River is entirely clear of drifting ice, but the assiniboine still runs full of it. Plains now entirely clear of snow, and cattle going at large.
- Apr 28: Colonists generally commenced ploughing, some have sown wheat already. Assiniboine now overflowed as are the low points along the red river. Warm wind SW.
- Apr 29: Fine, wind W.
- Apr 30: Cold cloudy, wind N. Rivers still on the rise.
- May 🔴🌊: Another bad river flood, second only to 1826. A warm May with settlers busy planting and seeding. Crops progressing well.
- May 5: Warm, wind SW.
- May 10: Pleasant, wind averaging from S to SE to SW.
- May 12: Rivers at their height.
- May 13: Warm, wind S.
- May 19: Sultry, wind SW. Preparing gardens and putting down seed. Rivers continued to rise until a few days ago and were more swollen this spring than during any season in latter times, that of the great flood of 1826 excepted. Waters now receding from the flooded lands and as the soil dries, the seed is planted.
- May 25: Warm and fine, wind SW.
- May 26: Finished planting our potatoes.
- May 31: Cloudy, wind SW. Wheat crops look well and more extensive than any other year. Rivers fallen rapidly of late and are now within their natural limits and the land overflowed by them are now crop.
- June: A favourable month for crops, suggesting weather probably something closer to normal.
- Jun 1 and 2: Warm and fine, wind SW.
- Jun 10: Pleasant, wind SW.
- Jun 20: Fine weather.
- Jun 30: Weather throughout this month has been favourable to the crops of every kind.
- July 💧⚡: Warm with frequent showers and thunderstorms.
- Jul 10: Sultry, wind S. The weather of late has been rainy with frequent thunderstorms. The crops are in a thriving state and at this moment promise plentiful returns. Haymaking commenced.
- Jul 22: Warm and rainy with frequent thunderstorms.
- Jul 31: Weather continues warm and rainy.
- August 💧: Warm with frequent showers.
- Aug 6: Sultry weather with frequent showers of rain. Wind S to SW.
- Aug 12, 26 and 27: Rainy, wind SE.
- Aug 15: Warm, wind SW. A tolerable barley crop except on low grounds which was much destroyed by standing water from frequent rains (W. Cochran)
- Aug 16: Harvest going on briskly.
- Aug 22 by W. Cochran at Red River Settlement: Most awful night I ever witnessed... The rain which fell... being now standing on the ground... to a depth of 3 in.
- Aug 30: Warm with showers of rain, wind SE.
- Aug 31: Rainy, wind NW. It may be proper to state that this summer has been a wet one (but so far) has not been injurious to the crops.
- September 🔵: Drier with only 5 days of rain. The first few days warm, but turning cold around with the 6th with early frosts and remaining mostly chilly the remainder of the month, Possibly a bit warmer mid-month but no mention of temperatures.
- Sep 1 and 3: Warm and fine, wind SW to SE.
- Sep 6 and 7: Fine but rather cold, wind N.
- Sep 8: Froze a little last night, weather fine.
- Sep 9: Froze last night, the weather fine.
- Sep 10: Rained a little in the evening, otherwise fine. Wind SE.
- Sep 12-13: Fine and pleasant.
- Sep 14: Froze a little last night, calm and fine.
- Sep 15 to 17: Fine weather. Wind S, strong on the 17th.
- Sep 18: Fine morning, some appearance of rain towards evening.
- Sep 19: Strong south wind in evening. Had a short duration shower of rain.
- Sep 20: Wind very strong in afternoon. Intermitting showers of rain, clearing up evening.
- Sep 21: Rained all day, wind SE.
- Sep 22: Cold, wind N. Milder in evening.
- Sep 23: Cloudy and cold. Wind N. A little afternoon rain.
- Sep 24: Cloudy and cold, evening milder and clear.
- Sep 25: Froze a little last night, wind SW.
- Sep 26: Cloudy and cold, wind N.
- Sep 27-29: Fine, wind SW on the 28th.
- Sep 30: Rather cold. Fire in the plains in the SW. Wind NW.
- October 🔥: Seems like a fairly typical October with some cold and some warmth, with a little snow and some rain. There were, however, fires burning around the settlement, burning some hay, causing some anxiety and producing smoky skies at times.
- Oct 1: Cold and fine, wind N. Evening cloudy.
- Oct 2: Cloudy, wind N. Evening a little rain.
- Oct 3 to 5: Fine weather, wind NW to SW.
- Oct 6: Warm and fine weather.
- Oct 7 to 9: Fine weather.
- Oct 9: Wind SW, fire not far from the fort.
- Oct 10. Rain with very strong wind.
- Oct 11: Fine, wind SW.
- Oct 12: Cold and cloudy with a little rain.
- Oct 13: Cold and cloudy, snowed a little in the evening. Wind NW.
- Oct 14 and 15: Cold and cloudy, wind N.
- Oct 16: Very smoky owing to the fire in the Plains. Strong S wind.
- Oct 17 and 19: Fine weather.
- Oct 18: Fine. Fire driven by the wind came within a few acres of the fort, all hands turned out to try to extinguish it and it was not until late evening that they succeeded.
- Oct 20: Fine, in the evening we saw fire opposite site of the river, blazing. Wind very strong from the south.
- Oct 21: Fire on opposite side of river devoured much hay. Weather fine but strong wind out of the south.
- Oct 22: Cloudy, wind S.
- Oct 23: Cloudy, about 10am it began to rain and continued all day, wind NW.
- Oct 24: Cold. Cloudy, in the morning had a little snow.
- Oct 26: Froze hard last night, weather fine, wind S.
- Oct 27 and 28: Fine, wind NW.
- Oct 29: Blew very hard last night. Wind NW and very strong.
- Oct 30: Blew hard during the night, had a little snow in the morning. Wind N.
- Oct 31: Cloudy but not cold, wind NE.
- November 🔴: Milder November with no extreme cold mentioned. It was particularly mild from about the 12th to 23rd with melting snow. 7 days with snow. The heaviest snows seem to have been between the 6th and 9th during a period of colder weather.
- Nov 2: Mild and fine, wind SW.
- Nov 3: Cold, wind N. Plains are burnt in every direction.
- Nov 4: Froze hard last night.
- Nov 6: Cloudy in the evening with a little snow.
- Nov 7: Cold, snowed part of the night.
- Nov 8: Snowed most of the day, wind SE.
- Nov 9: Snowed part of the night and during the day by intervals. Wind S, shifting to N in evening.
- Nov 10: Cold and cloudy, wind N. Ice drifting down the Assininboine. Badness of roads causing delays.
- Nov 11: Froze hard last night, clear, wind N.
- Nov 13 to 17: Mild and cloudy.
- Nov 16: Ice drifting down Red River. Wind SE.
- Nov 17: Blowing hard in the evening with snow.
- Nov 19: Thawed part of the night and blew hard all day.
- Nov 20: Cloudy, wind N.
- Nov 21: Mild and cloudy, wind S.
- Nov 22: Mild and cloudy. Blew hard in the evening from the south with a little snow.
- Nov 23: Fine, thawed during the day. Wind S.
- Nov 24: Fine, rather colder than yesterday. Wind SE.
- Nov 25 and 26: Fine but cold, wind N.
- Nov 27: Very stormy day, wind NE.
- Nov 28: Cloudy but not cold, wind SE.
- Nov 29: Blew very hard during the night and snowed a little, cloudy part of the day, wind N.
- Nov 30: Fine and mild, wind NE.
- December 🔴: Mild until the 12th, then it turned cold. Milder around Christmas, then cold again to finish the month. 5 days with snow mentioned. Based on comments, it appears the first -20°C of the season wasn't until Dec 17 which is pretty late even for modern times.
- Dec 1: Snowed a little, wind N.
- Dec 4: Snowed a little during the day. Evening clear. Wind N.
- Dec 7 to 9: Fine and mild.
- Dec 10: Fine morning, began to snow in afternoon, the weather very stormy. Wind N.
- Dec 12: Fine and mild, wind N.
- Dec 13 and 14: Fine but cold.
- Dec 15: Very stormy and cold, wind SW.
- Dec 16: Clear but the coldest we have had this season the mercury -1F (-18.3°C).
- Dec 17: Fine but very cold, the mercury -15F this evening (-26.1°C). Wind N.
- Dec 20: Fine but very cold, -16F (-26.7°C). Wind N.
- Dec 21: Fine but very cold, -28F (-33.3°C). - This temperature value was a bit hard to read so may not be correct
- Dec 24: Fine in forenoon, evening snowed a little.
- Dec 25 and 26: Fine and mild.
- Dec 29: Very stormy and cold, wind N.
- Dec 30: Clear and cold, had some snow. Wind very strong from SE.
- Dec 31: Very cold and windy, wind N.
1829 ⚡🏜️🔥
General summary: Very mild weather in January dramatically switched to extreme cold late in the month and continued into February. The winter overall had little snow, resulting in low water levels in the spring. Spring's arrival was fairly normal but dry weather continued. Heavy rains returned in late May and June, leading to believe this would be another wet summer as river levels again rose to cause some flooding. But the weather dramatically turned dry in July, making for a very dry rest of summer and early fall with low water levels returning. Two thunderstorm events in June and July were strong enough to cause damage from hail and wind. Turned cold in October with heavy snow late in the month, leading to an early start to winter. A turn to mild and calmer weather in December.
General summary: Very mild weather in January dramatically switched to extreme cold late in the month and continued into February. The winter overall had little snow, resulting in low water levels in the spring. Spring's arrival was fairly normal but dry weather continued. Heavy rains returned in late May and June, leading to believe this would be another wet summer as river levels again rose to cause some flooding. But the weather dramatically turned dry in July, making for a very dry rest of summer and early fall with low water levels returning. Two thunderstorm events in June and July were strong enough to cause damage from hail and wind. Turned cold in October with heavy snow late in the month, leading to an early start to winter. A turn to mild and calmer weather in December.
- January 🔴🏜️: Overall, a very mild January for the time with mild weather from about the 3rd to 23rd. Starting around the 25th, it became very cold which was the start of a prolonged cold snap. There was very little snow, potentially one of the lowest amounts of snow on record. Only a little snow was mentioned on one day.
- Jan 1: Fine but cold, -15F (-26.1°C) - temperature was hard to read so may not be correct. Wind N.
- Jan 2: Very clear and cold, -32F (-35.6°C) - temperature was hard to read so may not be correct.
- Jan 3: Not so cold as yesterday.
- Jan 5: Fine and mild, wind SE.
- Jan 6: Very strong NW wind.
- Jan 8: Clear and cold, wind NW.
- Jan 10 and 11: Fine, wind SE.
- Jan 12 to 22: Fine and mild, wind mostly S.
- Jan 23: Thawed towards the middle of the day.
- Jan 24: Cloudy, wind N.
- Jan 25: Blew hard all last night and this day, wind N.
- Jan 26: This morning -32F (-35.6°C). Clear, wind N.
- Jan 27: Cloudy, snowed a little. Wind N.
- Jan 28: Clear, very cold. Wind N.
- Jan 30: Clear and cold, -34F (-36.7°C).
- Jan 31: Still cold, -35.5F (-37.5°C).
- February 🔵🏜️: Brutally cold February. Pretty much every day cold to very cold. Again, very little snow, potentially one of the lowest amounts of snow on record. Only one day with a ''little snow'' mentioned.
- Feb 1: Clear and cold, -36.5F (-38.0°C).
- Feb 2: Cold -38F (-38.9°C).
- Feb 3: Clear but not as cold as yesterday, -34F (-36.7°C).
- Feb 4: Clear and cold, -42F (-41.1°C).
- Feb 5: Still cold, -40F (-40°C).
- Feb 6: Cloudy, -34F (-36.7°C), wind strong from N.
- Feb 7: Clear but not as cold as yesterday.
- Feb 8: Fine but cold, -38F (-38.9°C).
- Feb 9: Still cold, -40F (-40°C). Wind N.
- Feb 10: Fell a little snow during the night, weather much milder.
- Feb 11: Fine and not cold.
- Feb 12 to 16: Fine, wind N.
- Feb 18 and 19: Cold and stormy, wind N.
- Feb 20 to 25: Fine and cold, wind N.
- Feb 26: Cold and calm, -23F (-30.6°C).
- Feb 27 and 28: Fine and cold, wind N.
- March: Extremes of both warmth and cold. First week very mild with melting snow, then quite cold with nights near -30°C in the middle of March. More snow this month with 3 days of snow. Becoming mild again near the end of the month with one day of rain.
- Mar 1: Fine and mild, wind S.
- Mar 2 and 3: Fine, thawed considerably in course of day.
- Mar 6: Fine, thawed a little in course of day, wind S.
- Mar 8: Fine, thawed a great deal, wind S.
- Mar 9: Fine but cold, wind N.
- Mar 10: Cloudy, in the evening snowed a little. Wind SE.
- Mar 11: Blew hard all night and all day from the N.
- Mar 12: Fine but cold, wind N.
- Mar 13: Stil cold, -17F (-27.2°C).
- Mar 14: Cold, -22F (-30.0°C), wind N.
- Mar 17: This morning -20F (-28.9°C).
- Mar 19: Cold, in the evening blew hard from the N.
- Mar 21: Cloudy, in the afternoon had some snow with a strong south wind.
- Mar 22: Blew hard all night and part of the day, in the evening the wind ceased.
- Mar 23: Fine, not so cold as yesterday, wind S.
- Mar 25: Snowed part of the night and continued all day.
- Mar 26: Overcast, blew hard part of the day, wind N.
- Mar 27: 6am began to rain and continued all day, wind N.
- Mar 28: Cloudy, wind S.
- Mar 31: Fine, snow melting very fast, wind S.
- April 🏜️: Leaning toward cold, with some warmth in the beginning and end of the month. Coldest relative to normal appears to have been between the 18th and 25th, following a system that brought some thunderstorms and a little snow. Overall, a dry month with 2 days of snow and 1 of rain. Some fires late month. The snow was gone in early April according to Provencher in St Boniface.
- Apr 1 and 2: Very fine.
- Apr 3: Fine but rather cold, wind N.
- Apr 4: Cold, thawed very little, wind N.
- Apr 5: Fine, wind N.
- Apr 6: Fine, snow melting very fast. Wild fowl begin to make their appearance.
- Apr 8: Fine, water begins to rise and the ice is getting very bad.
- Apr 10: Froze hard last night, and blew hard all day the wind N.
- Apr 11: Fine but rather cold, wind N.
- Apr 13: Fine, ice began to move, blew hard all day from the S. Provencher in St Boniface sowed some wheat.
- Apr 14: Ice drifting down very fast.
- Apr 15: Last night, the ice stopped down below causes waters to rise rapidly, about mid day it loosened causing waters to lower.
- Apr 16: Cloudy and cold, main river clear of ice, settlers beginning to plow and put wheat in ground.
- Apr 17: Fine in the morning, in the evening we had thunder and rain, wind SW.
- Apr 18: Cold and cloudy, a little snow in the evening. Wind N and very strong.
- Apr 19: Cold, snowed a little, wind N.
- Apr 20 to 22: Cold, wind N.
- Apr 23: Froze hard last, and blew hard all day wind N.
- Apr 24: Froze hard last night, fine but cold today wind N.
- Apr 26: Warm, wind S.
- Apr 27: Fine but rather warm, the fire is in the plains in different quarters.
- Apr 28: Cloudy, blew very strong from the N.
- May: Given a dry winter, river levels were low to start the month. Heavy rains returned in the last week of the month with 3 days of thunderstorms and heavy showers. There were 7 days of lighter rains and showers the remainder of the month, resulting in 10 days of rain in total. Also became very warm and sultry at times in the second half of the month.
- May 1: Fine weather, the water very low for the season.
- May 6 and 7: Cloudy, in the course of the day we had a little rain.
- May 8: Cold, wind N. Froze a little in the night, two or three slight showers of rain.
- May 9 and 10: Cold, strong N wind.
- May 13: Cloudy had slight shower of rain.
- May 16: Cloudy, began to rain in the evening.
- May 17: Rained part of the night, weather cool.
- May 18: Fine but cool, wind N.
- May 19: Fine, in the evening a shower of rain.
- May 21: Wind very strong from the south and disagreeably warm.
- May 22: Fine but very strong south wind and very warm.
- May 25: Fine and cool, wind N.
- May 27: Had a shower of rain last night, today cloudy. In the evening, a very heavy shower with thunder and lightning.
- May 28: Fine and pleasant. In the evening, thunder and lightning towards the south.
- May 29: Last night had a heavy shower of rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. Fine morning but very sultry.
- May 30: In the evening, had a very heavy shower of rain.
- June 💧⚡🌊: Rainy with some strong thunderstorms. Hail on the 26th caused some damage to crops. Owing to the frequent heavy rains which began in late May, river levels raised significantly and caused some flooding in lower points. 12 days with rain mentioned in June and 3 with thunderstorms. Not much mention of temperatures, except for a period of cold weather around the 21st when a late frost occurred.
- Jun 4: Morning fine, in the evening very heavy shower of rain which lasted all night.
- Jun 5: Cool and cloudy, cleared up in the afternoon.
- Jun 6: Rainy about midday, in the afternoon it blew a gale and continued part of the night with intermitting showers of rain.
- Jun 10: Morning fine, in the afternoon two or three showers of rain.
- Jun 11: Morning fine, in the evening thunder and lightning accompanied by a heavy shower or rain.
- Jun 12: Morning fine, in the afternoon a shower of rain with thunder. Owing to the frequent and heavy rain of late, the assiniboine is very high and has overflowed the points, causing potatoes in the ground to rot.
- Jun 15: Weather good and wind very strong.
- Jun 16: Had two or three showers of rain during the day and the wind very strong.
- Jun 17: Very windy, in the course of the day it rained a little, water still very high owing to which people take very few fish.
- Jun 18: Morning fine, heavy shower of rain in the afternoon.
- Jun 20: Fine and cool.
- Jun 21: Last night it froze pretty hard, weather fine till evening when it began to rain and continued for some time.
- Jun 22: Cloudy with a thick mist.
- Jun 23: Cloudy with some rain.
- Jun 26: Morning fine, in the afternoon a heavy shower of rain and hail accompanied with a gale of wind but did not continue long. Grain has a fine appearance throughout the colony.
- Jun 27: Fine. Hail yesterday injured some of the grain in the upper part of the settlement.
- Jun 28 to 30: Fine, and water beginning to fall.
- July 🔴⚡: The weather turned very warm and dry, with rapidly falling river levels. Crops doing well given recent rains and now warmth. Strong thunderstorms on the 29th caused more damage, this time from strong winds. 3 days with rain mentioned and 1 with thunderstorms.
- Jul 1 to 15: Warm to very warm. Excessively warm on the 1st.
- Jul 9: Water falling very much.
- Jul 16: Had a little rain in the evening.
- Jul 18: Fine but very warm.
- Jul 21: Fine and warm, crops throughout the settlement look very well.
- Jul 25: Morning fine, in the evening a very heavy shower of rain but did not last long.
- Jul 28: Very warm.
- Jul 29: In the morning very sultry, in the afternoon we had a potent storm of wind and rain which carried away the wings of Mr Logans mill and broke some of the inside.
- Jul 31: Fine, water falling very much,
- August 🏜️: Very dry with only 1 day of rain and thunderstorms. This did not seem to impact crops negatively, which had sufficient moisture from earlier wet weather. No reference of temperatures, potentially indicating it was near normal.
- Aug 1 to 6: Fine. Barley nearly fit for cutting.
- Aug 7: Settlers very busy with their hay and barley and the weather very favourable.
- Aug 11: Fine and has been very favourable for some time past.
- Aug 17: Fine and people very busy cutting wheat.
- Aug 18 to 25 and 28 to 30: Fine weather
- Aug 26: Fine, wind very strong.
- Aug 27: Last night we had a shower of rain accompanied with thunder and lightning but did not last long.
- Aug 31: In the morning fine, became cloudy in the evening.
- September 🏜️: Dry weather continued, resulting in low water levels and parched ground making ploughing difficult. 4 days with rain, but these rains were of short duration and low intensity and likely did not amount to much as a result. Not much reference to temperature again, but seemed to lean on the chillier side.
- Sep 1: Shower of rain last night but of short duration.
- Sep 4: Shower of rain last night, the weather today fine.
- Sep 5 to 12: Fine and the water very low.
- Sep 13: Had a little rain during the night the weather today fine.
- Sep 14: Cloudy and cool.
- Sep 20: Cloudy, in the afternoon had a little rain.
- Sep 22: Fine, done harvest and getting ready for winter.
- Sep 24: Fine but the wind very strong.
- Sep 25: Froze hard last night. Fine, water very low.
- Sep 26: Still fine. Owing to the dryness of the season the ground is so hard that the farmers are unable to plough.
- Sep 28: Hazy.
- October 🔵❄️🔥: Began very dry with fires which burned some hay. A late-season thunderstorm and heavy shower on the 9th. About mid month, the weather turned cold and stormy with frequent snow. A heavy snowstorm on the 25th made travel difficult without sleds. The fact that the snow remained on the ground through the first week of November indicates quite a bit must have fallen. 6 days with snow and 3 with rain. Ice on the rivers late in the month.
- Oct 2: Fine, the wind very strong from the N. The fire raging in the plains.
- Oct 3: Still fine and the fire very nigh the settlement.
- Oct 4: Fine, wind S, settlers lost some hay due to the fire.
- Oct 6: Rained part of the day.
- Oct 7: Fine and the water very low.
- Oct 9: Cloudy, in the afternoon had a heavy shower of rain. In the evening it thundered to the eastwards.
- Oct 10: Stormy and cold, wind N.
- Oct 11 to 16: Mostly fine.
- Oct 17: Stormy, in the evening it blew very hard and snowed a little, wind N.
- Oct 18: Fine and clear. Froze hard during the night.
- Oct 20: Last night there fell a little snow, very stormy and cold.
- Oct 21: Mild and the snow disappeared.
- Oct 22: Cloudy, in the evening became very stormy, wind N.
- Oct 23: Mild and cloudy with a little rain.
- Oct 24: Morning cloudy, in the evening became very stormy and blew hard and snowed, wind N.
- Oct 25: Stormy all night and greatest part of the day, in the evening the storm abated.
- Oct 26: Fine. Recent fall of snow making travel difficult, travellers detained at White Horse Plains owing to snow and needed sleds.
- Oct 27: Fine and mild.
- Oct 29: Very stormy wind from the east.
- Oct 30: Storm continued all night, about mid day the weather cleared up. People have crossed the river on the ice in different places.
- Oct 31: Fine and mild. Someone arrived on foot from pembina, having left his boat about half way taken by the ice.
- November 🔵: Started mild with the snows of October melting. About the second week it turned quite cold for most of the remainder of the month. Appears there wasn't much new snowfall but I am a bit confused whether ''Stormy'' means it snowed or if it was just windy. 1 day with snow mentioned, 2 days stormy.
- Nov 1: Fine and thawed considerably during the day. Wind S.
- Nov 2 to 4: Fine, wind mostly S.
- Nov 5: Very mild, wind S.
- Nov 6: Fine, snow melting fast.
- Nov 7 and 8: Fine.
- Nov 9: Froze hard last night, today fine.
- Nov 10 to 12: Cloudy, wind N.
- Nov 13: Fine but cold, the ice pretty thick.
- Nov 15 and 16: Mild. Fine the 15th, cloudy the 16th.
- Nov 17: Very stormy and cold, wind N.
- Nov 18: Clear but very cold.
- Nov 19: Cloudy, snowed a little in course of the day.
- Nov 20: Fine but cold.
- Nov 22: Fine but very cold.
- Nov 24: Towards evening the weather stormy.
- Nov 25 to 30: Fine. Wind S on the 28th.
- December 🔴: The bulk of the cold weather in the first half. The second half turning quite mild and enough to cause a little melting of snow at times. Doesn't appear there was much snow, with 1 day of snow mentioned and 2 very stormy (unsure if stormy means there was snow or if it was just windy).
- Dec 1: Very stormy, wind N.
- Dec 2: Clear but cold.
- Dec 3: Cold, wind N.
- Dec 4 and 5: Milder, wind S.
- Dec 6 and 7: Clear and cold.
- Dec 10: Cloudy and not very cold.
- Dec 11: Snowed part of the night and continued the greater part of the day.
- Dec 12: Fine and mild.
- Dec 15: Very cold, wind N.
- Dec 16: Clear but not as cold as yesterday.
- Dec 17 and 18: Mild, wind S.
- Dec 20: Cloudy, afternoon very stormy.
- Dec 22: Fine but cold.
- Dec 25: Very mild, wind S.
- Dec 26: Thawed a little today.
- Dec 27: Colder than yesterday, wind N.
- Dec 28 to 31: Fine weather.
Weather reports become more scattered in the 1830s. Most weather reports available from 1830 and 1839, both warm years. The generally milder climate of 1825 to 1834 (1831 was cold) ended in 1835 with a cold period lasting a few years. This is based on Minneapolis comparisons. It doesn't appear precipitation in the 1830s was as extreme as the 1820s.
1830 🔴
General summary: Appears to have been a very warm year. Weather reports only available up to May in the Red River Journal. Comparing with Minneapolis, it's possible there was a very warm mid-summer and fall. In fact, there was one report of uncommonly mild weather in December which resulted in the Red River not completely freezing over until late in December. At Winnipeg, abnormally mild weather occurred in February and late March with some rain. The winter also appeared to be snowy, but flooding in April was not too severe. May was reportedly quite wet, then it turned quite dry in the summer after the middle of June.
General summary: Appears to have been a very warm year. Weather reports only available up to May in the Red River Journal. Comparing with Minneapolis, it's possible there was a very warm mid-summer and fall. In fact, there was one report of uncommonly mild weather in December which resulted in the Red River not completely freezing over until late in December. At Winnipeg, abnormally mild weather occurred in February and late March with some rain. The winter also appeared to be snowy, but flooding in April was not too severe. May was reportedly quite wet, then it turned quite dry in the summer after the middle of June.
- January ❄️: Mostly cold but doesn't appear to be abnormally cold. 17 days cold and 3 very cold (16th, 22nd and 23rd). Due to a comment about the quantity of snow on the ground in early February, it appears January was snowy. 10 days with snow or stormy conditions (3 snow, 7 stormy).
- February 🔴❄️: First 5 days cold then turning mild for most of the remainder of the month. The middle of the month was remarkably warm with melting snow and some rain. In the last 11 days, it turned quite snowy and cloudy and not quite as warm. 10 days with snow or stormy conditions (8 snow, 2 stormy).
- Feb 1 to 5: Cold and mostly clear. Blowing hard during the night on the 2nd. Wind N.
- Feb 6: Had a little snow, not so cold as yesterday.
- Feb 7 and 8: Fine and mild.
- Feb 9: Fine then became stormy about 10 am and continued all day.
- Feb 10: Fine morning, afternoon blew very hard.
- Feb 11: Fine. Some of the men sent to Pembina yesterday returned today owing to the quantity of snow.
- Feb 12 to 14: Fine and mild.
- Feb 15: Fine, thawed during the day.
- Feb 16: Cloudy and rained a little.
- Feb 17: Cloudy.
- Feb 18: Snowed a little during the night, cloudy and mild during the day.
- Feb 19: Snowed the greatest part of the day.
- Feb 20: Very stormy during the night and continued the greater part of the day.
- Feb 21: Still stormy, blowing and snowing.
- Feb 22: Snowed part of the day.
- Feb 23 and 24: Cloudy and snowed a little.
- Feb 25 and 27: Still cloudy.
- Feb 26: Snowed part of the day.
- Feb 28: Stormy.
- March 🔴: 13 days of snow or stormy conditions (11 snow, 2 stormy). However, most days only had ''a little snow'' suggesting amounts weren't significant. Leaning toward mild conditions overall, a little colder in the first half and warmer in the second half with significant melting in the final week.
- Mar 1: Blew very hard all day, wind N.
- Mar 2: Fine but cold.
- Mar 3: Mild with strong S wind.
- Mar 4 to 6: Still cloudy with a little snow.
- Mar 8 and 9: Cloudy and cold with a little snow.
- Mar 10: Clear and cold.
- Mar 11: Stormy and cold, wind N.
- Mar 12: Blew hard all day with with much drifting snow.
- Mar 13: Still cloudy with a little snow.
- Mar 14 and 15: Fine but cold.
- Mar 16: Blew hard and snowed part of the day.
- Mar 17: Blew hard and snowed a little.
- Mar 19: Cloudy with a little snow.
- Mar 20: Very stormy all day.
- Mar 23: Cloudy with a little snow.
- Mar 25: Fine, wind S. Snow melting very much.
- Mar 26: Cloudy, wind S. Thawed very much.
- Mar 27: Fine and thawed very much.
- Mar 28: Warm and fine, some wild fowl have been seen passing.
- Mar 29: Very stormy, blew hard, rained and snowed.
- Mar 30: Very strong N wind.
- Mar 31: Thawed a little, wind N.
- April ⚡: Alternating mild and cold days. 9 days cold, 3 days warm. Rising river levels from the spring melt with a bit of flooding in low points. 3 days with snow and 5 with rain. 2 days with thunderstorms.
- Apr 1: Froze hard last night, today fine and thawed a great deal. Wind S.
- Apr 2: Froze hard last night, water risen very much during the day and the ice getting very bad.
- Apr 3: Fine, wind SE.
- Apr 5: Froze hard last night, Water rose about 3ft during the night, Wind N.
- Apr 6: Froze hard last night, cold.
- Apr 7: Cloudy, ice made a move but stopped shortly after. In the evening it rained a little.
- Apr 8 to 10: Fine but cold. Ice moved a little on the 10th. Wind N.
- Apr 11: Water rose much during the night. Today, the ice made a general move and in consequence the water fell very much. In the evening, river free of ice.
- Apr 13: Snowed a little during the night. In the morning, it thundered to the southward and rained part of the day. Wind NE. Saw a number of pigeons.
- Apr 14 and 15: Froze hard during the night. Wind N. Day cold on 14th and milder on 15th.
- Apr 16 and 17: Fine and warm, wind S.
- Apr 18: Thundered towards morning, day fine, wind S.
- Apr 19: Rained a little towards morning, cloudy during the day, wind SE.
- Apr 20: Rained last night and part of the day. Ice, very thick, still drifting down the Assiniboine.
- Apr 21: Cloudy and snowed a little in the morning. Blew hard all day, wind N.
- Apr 22 to 24: Fine but cold. Wind N. Assiniboine clear of ice.
- Apr 26: Towards morning it began to snow and continued till about 8am, weather cleared up after, wind N.
- Apr 27: Fine but cold, wind N. Assiniboine very high and overflowed some of the points.
- Apr 28: Fine, water beginning to lower in main river.
- Apr 29: Froze a little during the night, fine and warm today, wind S.
- Apr 30: Fine, wind N. In the afternoon, a little rain.
- May 💧: Alternating warm and cold. 10 days with rain and 1 with thunderstorms. Some late snow on the 19th.
- May 1 to 3: Froze hard during the night, fine but cold, Wind N.
- May 4 to 8: Fine. Wind S.
- May 9: Rained a little in the morning, afternoon cleared up.
- May 10: Rained part of the day, evening thunder and lightning to the eastward.
- May 11: Rained part of the day.
- May 12: Towards morning we had a heavy shower of rain but of short duration. Cloudy part of the day.
- May 13: Morning shower of rain, cloudy and cold.
- May 15 and 16: Fine and warm to very warm.
- May 17: Morning warm, afternoon shower of rain.
- May 18: Fine but cold. Wind N. In the afternoon, a slight shower of rain.
- May 19: Cold, wind N, in the evening there fell a little snow.
- May 20 to 22: Fine but cold, wind N.
- May 23: Fine and rather warmer than yesterday; wind still N.
- May 24: Fine and warm; men busy planting potatoes.
- May 25: Fine in the forenoon; in the evening, a slight shower of rain.
- May 30: Morning fine; in the afternoon, some rain.
- May 31: Rained part of the night and day.
- July 29 comments about previous weather from William Cochran at St Andrews (via Rannie 2001, U of W): This Spring the whole of the people in my neighbourhood have suffered severely from the heavy rains which fell in May. In the beginning of May, the rain fell in such abundance that the whole surface of the plains was a sheet of water. This obstructed every kind of Agriculture for upwards of ten days. As soon as the land was so dry as to bear cultivation, the people commenced sowing. The seed time lasted for 20 days, the weather being so dry as to allow us to work upon the ground. After we had sown the wheat and planted the potatoes, the rain fell in such profusion that the ground was perfectly deluged. This continued till it destroyed a large portion of the wheat and most of the potatoes. This is a general calamity in my neighbourhood; about 10 miles further up it has been partially felt. Since the 15th of June, we have had only one slight shower. The ground is now parched with the long continuation of dry weather.
- November-December 🔴: Abnormally mild with a lack of snow and ice through to mid December. The weather likely turned dramatically colder by around Christmas as both Fort Pelly (near Kamsack in SK) and Minneapolis showed colder weather.
- Dec 18: The weather has been uncommonly fine so far, no snow, little frost and the river not yet set fast. (Alexander Ross via Rannie 2001, U of W)
1831 🔵
- May 20: The spring is very backward. Northerly winds month after month and little or no appearance of vegetation. Lake Winnipeg is as solid as in the depth of the winter and McMillan says he is ploughing through ice instead of soil (George Simpson letter from the Red River Settlement via Rannie 2001 U of W).
1832 💧
General summary: No reports available in Winnipeg proper other than a couple August frosts. Reports from St Andrews are provided to give a general idea of weather at Winnipeg.
General summary: No reports available in Winnipeg proper other than a couple August frosts. Reports from St Andrews are provided to give a general idea of weather at Winnipeg.
- April:
- Apr 18: Most of the snow thawed, and and the Red River now clear of ice, as far as Netley creek. (W Cochran, St Andrews area).
- May 🔵❄️:
- May 7: Had an extraordinary fall of snow. The storm continued to rage for 24 hours, till many drifts were formed higher than any we had the preceding winter. (W Cochran, St Andrews area). No reports from Winnipeg proper.
- June and July 💧:
- Jun 14: Heavy incessant rains are falling in this neighbourhood. The ground is deluged, the wheat and barley look sickly and many potatoes which are planted on the wet soil are rotting (William Cochran at St Andrews).
- Early summer: The whole season has been unfavourable. We had heavy falls of rain and hard frost up to the 20th of May. About the 10th of June, heavy and constant rains commenced (William Cochran at St Andrews).
- August 🔵: Two frosts damaged crops (Prairie Forum, 1992).
- Aug 19: The air was excessively cold (in the morning), a thick hoar frost covered the ground and the stagnant waters of the swamps were frozen... The potato tops are blasted (W. Cochran at St Andrews)
- Aug 30: A most unexpected frost last night which completely cut down everything in the shape of vegetation; there are many sorrowful faces at Red River today as by far the greatest part of the wheat is in an unripe state. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- November 🔴:
- Nov 26: It is a surprising proof of the mildness of the season that no snow remained on the ground yet, which generally is the case every year six weeks before this (David Jones at Red River Settlement).
1833 🔴
General summary: A fairly mild winter, with snow almost gone by late March.
General summary: A fairly mild winter, with snow almost gone by late March.
- January 🔴:
- Jan 14: The track to Lower Fort Garry is wretchedly bad owing to the late heavy falls of snow. (David Jones)
- Jan 21: Weather unseasonably mild-the snow quite soft and the eaves of the houses in the middle of the day dripping like in spring weather. (David Jones)
- Mar 29: I proceeded to Lower Fort Garry on horseback the snow being nearly all melted away and too much black earth for the cariole to draw (David Jones).
- April 27: Men busily engaged sowing wheat (Rev. David Jones).
- May 5: The rain was falling in torrents and the swamps were so deep that my horse could not carry me. I was obliged to plunge through them on foot [at Red River]. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Sep 28: North winds brought such a torrent of rain upon us, as I have never before witnessed, the plains are deluged, and the creeks run as deep as in the spring (William Cochran around St Andrews I believe).
1834 🔴
- Apr 9: The snow has now nearly all dissolved and the surface of the earth beginning to be soft. This is the earliest spring I have seen in Red River. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- July 16: There was no snow during the last winter (not much) (winter 1833-34) and the water has been very high during the summer (unsure if he meant summer 1834 or 1833). (Provencher)
- Oct 25: Was prevented from visiting the Indian Settlement owing to the state of the River which is now froze but not sufficiently strong to carry the weight of a person. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Dec 17 and 18: To this date, we haven't had enough snow for sledding (Provencher in St Boniface).
1835
- January: After not much snow in December, looks like the snow finally came in January.
- Jan 10: The weather cold and stormy, the snow drifting almost to suffocation the track invisible by the heavy fall of snow (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Jan 20: The wind blowing high from the North, the snow drifting every track full. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Mar 20: The weather exceedingly stormy, a strong wind blowing from the north with much snow which rendered the track invisible, the drift flying thick almost to suffocation ... The drifts in many parts were as high as the tops of the bushes. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Apr 6: The track had many parts the snow and water to the horses belly. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Jun 5: We had a short and not very cold winter. The snow had melted at the end of March, we had setbacks in April and May. Now, here the weather is too dry. (Provencher in St Boniface).
- Summer from W Cochran, St Andrews area:
- ''Oppressive heat'' in mid-June and early July.
- Jul 17: Frequent rains.
- Aug 23: Gloomy autumnal weather.
- Aug 24: Sleet and rain all day.
- Oct 10: Ground snow-covered. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- Oct 25-28: River frozen. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
1836 🔵
General summary: Based on Minneapolis observations, a decades-long period of much colder weather began around 1835, after a relatively warm period from about 1825 to 1834. The colder climate would continue until about 1875, with only very brief respites (e.g. in 1839). It is possible, but unclear, whether the cool down of 1835-1836 was influenced by the volcanic eruption of Mount Cosigüina in Nicaragua in January 1835. One study in 2014 suggested it had more of a global cooling impact than Pinatubo in 1991. Unfortunately, I have so far found very few weather reports from the period at Winnipeg. I found a few comments from Alexander Ross showing very cold weather in June and August with heavy snow and some ice on the river in early June, and severe frost in mid August. This would confirm that there was indeed abnormally cold weather in the period. The cold continued until late October when the weather turned to milder than normal conditions for at least part of the winter. Very dry weather starting in November resulted in almost no snow by January.
General summary: Based on Minneapolis observations, a decades-long period of much colder weather began around 1835, after a relatively warm period from about 1825 to 1834. The colder climate would continue until about 1875, with only very brief respites (e.g. in 1839). It is possible, but unclear, whether the cool down of 1835-1836 was influenced by the volcanic eruption of Mount Cosigüina in Nicaragua in January 1835. One study in 2014 suggested it had more of a global cooling impact than Pinatubo in 1991. Unfortunately, I have so far found very few weather reports from the period at Winnipeg. I found a few comments from Alexander Ross showing very cold weather in June and August with heavy snow and some ice on the river in early June, and severe frost in mid August. This would confirm that there was indeed abnormally cold weather in the period. The cold continued until late October when the weather turned to milder than normal conditions for at least part of the winter. Very dry weather starting in November resulted in almost no snow by January.
- Mar 26: Rain and sleet all day & the snow melting fast...the ground covered with slush more than half knee deep. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- Mar 31: The roads are now nearly impassable with melted snow. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- Apr 2: Weather very fine and the snow is disappearing fast. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- Apr 3: The morning was very gloomy. All the ground covered with snow excepting a few patches here & there which had been laid bare by the sun of the last two days. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- Apr 6: A heavy rain last [night] and subsequently warm morning; but the wind veered to the North in the middle of the day and brought on sleet and snow again. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- Apr 12: A good deal of snow fell last night again but the air is generally warm. The ice moved a few yards in the afternoon. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- May 28: Our Wheat, Barley, potatoes and garden seeds are all sown ... the drought however at present is severe and keeps everything backward. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- May 30: The drought is very severe; there was a slight shower with thunder in the afternoon but it soon passed away again. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- Jun 6: Soon after retiring last night we were disturbed by the approach of a thunder storm and the sound of abundance of rain, which nature has been gasping and panting for, for weeks past. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- June 7: We had a heavy fall of snow.
- June 8: The ice was the thickness of a penny piece on the water. Nothing seriously dampened their hopes for crops however, until the August frost.
- Jun 30: We were overtaken between Grantstown (St Francois Xavier) and this little Settlement by a most terrific thunderstorm which drenched us terribly; the reverberations accompanying the frequent electrical discharges were the most stunning I ever knew. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- August 19: We were visited by a most destructive frost which destroyed the reward of the farmer... in wheat; it was truly a gloomy morning the whole of the vegetable world drooped and blackened as the sun grew warm and the air was filled with a most unpleasant odour... all garden seeds have been destroyed (Rev. David Jones). "Had a sharp frost during the night the potatoe tops are quite withered and the wheat considerably damaged. The barley that was sown late, is all destroyed (William Cochran).
- September-October: ''The season continued cold, drizzly and frosty, till the latter end of October.
- November to January 1837: The weather became unusually mild and pleasant , insomuch that men were whistling at the plow on the 12th of November, and hauling with their carts, without snow, till the 14th of January 1837, a most unusual circumstance in the colony.
1837 🔵🏜️
General summary: Not much snow in the winter of 1836-1837. This resulted in deep frost inside the ground. The spring was very delayed with persistently cold weather. Dry weather continued as well, with almost no rain until June when the rains finally came.
General summary: Not much snow in the winter of 1836-1837. This resulted in deep frost inside the ground. The spring was very delayed with persistently cold weather. Dry weather continued as well, with almost no rain until June when the rains finally came.
- April 🔵🏜️: Very chilly, delaying spring.
- Apr 13: First ducks of the season at table to day. The ice in the river is as solid as in December. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- Apr 24: Very little snow has fallen during the winter, this has exposed the ground to all the influence of a dry cold which is more pernicious to agriculture than any summer drought...There are fissures in the earth sufficiently wide to admit the foot of a horse or ox, and many of them are four feet in depth. These run in every direction dividing the ground into small pieces of two or three yards square, thus all the moisture has evaporated and the frost has gone to an unusual depth. As there is no water from the melting of snow and no rain to enter the earth and thaw it, all beneath 4 inches on the surface (which is affected by the solar rays) down to the depth of 4 feet is as hard and dry as rock, and cold as ice. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Apr 26: Since April 13 the weather has been very unfavourable and gloomy. This day the ice moved about twenty yards and then choked up again. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- May 🔵🏜️: Chilly, dry and windy weather continues. This stunted the growth of vegetation/crops.
- May 10: The state of the weather has kept every thing in a most desponding state. Cold bleak winds from the North and every morning ice half an inch in thickness. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- May 22: The weather continues dry, cold and stormy. Very little of the wheat that we have sown is germinating. There is every reason to believe the wheat crops will fail again ... At present a great quantity of the wheat which was sown 3 weeks ago, is as dry as when in store. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- Summer: Some rain finally fell, improving crop prospects somewhat.
- Jun 8: At midnight there was thunder and rain and in the afternoon the object of many prayers was granted in a fine general rain which fell without violence and without ceasing the whole of the evening. (David Jones at Red River Settlement)
- Jun 11: This evening we were favoured with a weighty shower of rain that saturated the ground 4 inches in depth. Few can conceive the gratitude that was felt in many a bosom to God for this refreshing shower. We have had no rain since September and scarcely any snow during the winter consequently everything is parched, and no appearance of summer. .. our fields are just as we sowed them, and our cattle come lowing home for want of grass. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Jul 4: I arrived in St Boniface on Jun 14. The ice stopped us in many parts which made us lose 15 days. People are suffering from a poor harvest last year and this year's not looking much better so far. The weather has been cold and dry. (Bishop Provencher in St Boniface).
- Aug 4: In the past month, rains have changed the look of the crops which promise much; except the grains are so retarded in development, that we must worry about frost. It would be very bad if this happened two years in a row. (Bishop Provencher in St Boniface).
- September 💧: Untimely heavy rains during the harvest season.
- Sep 6: Heavy rain. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Sep 7: We have had two days of thunder and rain of the most alarming nature, the lightning was incessant and vivid ... The plains are now covered with water. Found the track nearly impassable. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Sep 11: The weather extremely unfavourable for harvest, the ground covered with water. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
1838 🔵
General summary: A short snow-free season as snow fell on May 22 and Oct 14. The October storm was apparently significant, but melted away afterwards.
General summary: A short snow-free season as snow fell on May 22 and Oct 14. The October storm was apparently significant, but melted away afterwards.
- May 22: Snow fell at Red River (not sure where the report was exactly).
- October 🔵❄️:
- Oct 14: Set out early for the Upper Church, track deep strong wind from the North heavy snow .. .Returned, an awful storm, at some times the wind would fairly poise me and the horse and the snow was drlfting thick and direct a head. I had often to turn my horse round from the wind and wipe the congealed snow off his face. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Nov 13: The harvest was better than expected. There is little wheat because it did not sprout or was too late to ripen, although the frost only made itself felt around the 20th of September. A fairly good snowfall fell three weeks ago which has since melted. The land is bare but it is snowing today the 13th. (Provencher in St Boniface).
1839 🔴🏜️
General summary: A warm year, especially for the time. At Minneapolis, it was the warmest year since records had begun in 1820. At Winnipeg, there was plenty of evidence in the Red River Journal of abnormally warm weather, particularly in February, April, May, June and October. Weather reports were fully available from January to March, in May and in September. Partial reports were available in April, June and October. A few other sources are included. The reports included measured temperature at 7am, noon and 7pm. I use the average maximum and minimum of these three measurements to estimate how far above or below normal the month was. I have included graphs comparing the daily maximum of these three measurements to the 1872-2022 period percentiles. In terms of precipitation, it was quite dry in the summer, with little to no rain in June. Dew at night was the primary saviour from drought impacts. Some unusual thunderstorms in April and October.
General summary: A warm year, especially for the time. At Minneapolis, it was the warmest year since records had begun in 1820. At Winnipeg, there was plenty of evidence in the Red River Journal of abnormally warm weather, particularly in February, April, May, June and October. Weather reports were fully available from January to March, in May and in September. Partial reports were available in April, June and October. A few other sources are included. The reports included measured temperature at 7am, noon and 7pm. I use the average maximum and minimum of these three measurements to estimate how far above or below normal the month was. I have included graphs comparing the daily maximum of these three measurements to the 1872-2022 period percentiles. In terms of precipitation, it was quite dry in the summer, with little to no rain in June. Dew at night was the primary saviour from drought impacts. Some unusual thunderstorms in April and October.
- January 🔴: A mild January, but still at least 3 days below -30°C. Very deep snow mentioned the 13th, suggesting a lot of snow may have fallen earlier in the winter. 7 days with snow or stormy conditions mentioned in January (3 snow, 4 stormy). 7 days with drifting/blowing snow.
- Average maximum of the three daily measurements = -11.1°C, which means average highs would have been at least a few degrees above normal.
- Average minimum of the three daily measurements = -19.7°C.
- Mean monthly temperature estimation = -15.4°C
- The first half was more abnormally warm than the second half. From the 1st to 15th, the average maximum of three daily measurements was -8°C and only 4 to 6 days dipped below -20°C.
- Jan 1: Clear, wind S. -25F (-31.7°C) at 7am.
- Jan 4: Stormy morning, cloudy at noon. Wind SE.
- Jan 5: Clear then cloudy evening.
- Jan 7: Clear morning, cloudy noon, clear evening. Wind SW.
- Jan 8: Clear noon then cloudy evening with E wind.
- Jan 9: Stormy morning and noon, clear evening. Wind SE.
- Jan 10: Snowing and drifting. Stormy evening.
- Jan 13: Snow very deep. Wind NE.
- Jan 17: Stormy noon, cloudy evening. PM snowing and drifting. Wind NNW.
- Jan 18: Clear. -25F (-31.7°C) at 7am.
- Jan 19: Strong winds with drifting. Cloudy morning. Wind SE.
- Jan 20: Wind NE. Clear morning.
- Jan 21: Stormy morning with 0F (-17.8°C) at 7am. Rising quickly to 35F (1.7°C) by 7pm and falling dramatically to -2F (-19.4°C) by 7am the next morning.
- Jan 22: Strong wind and drifting. Wind NW.
- Jan 24: Strong wind and drifting. Wind SW.
- Jan 26: Clear.
- Jan 27: Strong wind and drifting.
- Jan 28: Cloudy, stormy evening.
- Jan 30: Wind NNW. Clear evening.
- Jan 31: Wind NE. Clear morning, -28F (-33.3°C) at 7am.
- February 🔴: An exceptionally mild February, especially for the time. At least 11 days exceeded freezing. 8 consecutive days saw temperatures above freezing from the 18th to 25th, causing snow to thaw rapidly. Most of these eight days didn't drop below -10°C. It still managed to drop below -30°C at least twice in the first week of the month. 6 days with snow or stormy conditions (2 snow, 4 stormy). 3 days with drifting snow mentioned.
- Average maximum of the three daily measurements = -5.6°C, which would indicate several degrees above normal.
- Average minimum of the three daily measurements = -14.7°C.
- Mean monthly temperature estimation = -10.2°C.
- Feb 1: Clear, wind SW. -22F (-30.0°C) at 7am.
- Feb 2: Stormy morning.
- Feb 4: Cloudy evening. -22F (-30.0°C) at 7am.
- Feb 7: Stormy evening, wind NE. Temperature 1.7°C at noon falling to -12.2°C at 7pm and -20.0°C at 7am the next morning, indicating a sharp cold front.
- Feb 8: Wind NE in morning, cloudy evening.
- Feb 10: Clear evening.
- Feb 11: Stormy morning.
- Feb 13: AM hours strong wind with drifting snow. Cloudy evening, wind N.
- Feb 14: Clear. 1.7°C at noon.
- Feb 15: Stormy evening. Temperatures 4.4°C at noon falling to -8.3°C at 7pm and -17.8°C at 7am the next morning, indicating a sharp cold front.
- Feb 16: Wind NW. Clear evening.
- Feb 19 and 20: Rapid thaw, snow disappearing fast. 2.8°C at noon on 19th and 3.9°C at noon on 20th.
- Feb 21: Foggy morning and evening. 4.4°C at noon.
- Feb 22: Clear. 3.3°C at noon.
- Feb 23: 4.4°C at noon.
- Feb 24: 3.9°C at noon.
- Feb 25: 7.2°C at noon. 0.0°C at 7am, making for a very warm start to the day as well.
- Feb 26: Snowing and drifting snow. Stormy morning and noon, wind N. Temperatures falling from -6.7°C at 7am to -15.0°C at 7pm.
- Feb 27: Fine and clear. -8.9°C at noon.
- Feb 28: Snow and drifting snow. Stormy noon/afternoon and evening. -17.8°C at noon. -21.7°C at 7am and -22.8°C at 7pm.
- March 🔵: A bit of a roller coaster of temperatures. Keep in mind, when viewing the graph for March below, that you likely have to add a few degrees to each day to get the true high (most of the values displayed were measured at noon, which is at least a couple hours before the typical maximum temperatures). Even doing so, however, you can assume that it was likely a March that was a bit colder than normal, and near normal at best. Significant cold snaps dominated the first 18 days of the month, save for a couple brief warm ups, then it was warmer in the final two weeks. It dipped below -30°C on the 16th and at least close to it on the 18th, then warmed dramatically to at least 10°C on the 20th. The warmth of late March rapidly melted the snow on the ground. Only 4 days of snow or stormy conditions in March, all of them before the 13th, suggesting a quiet second half of the month. There was possibly a significant snowstorm on the 11th and 12th.
- Average maximum of the three daily measurements = -7.7°C
- Average minimum of the three daily measurements = -15.8°C
- Mean monthly temperature estimation = -11.8°C
- Mar 1: Snow at times, strong winds from N. -25.0°C at 7am.
- Mar 2: Clear.
- Mar 3: Wind S.
- Mar 5: Wind N.
- Mar 6: -17.8°C at 7am, -12.2°C at noon and -13.3°C at 7pm, then rising rapidly toward the next morning.
- Mar 7: Stormy morning. -1.1°C at 7am and 0.0°C at noon.
- Mar 8: 1.7°C at noon.
- Mar 9: Clear morning, -26.1°C at 7am a rapid drop since -1.1°C at 7pm the 8th.
- Mar 11: Stormy evening. Heavy fall of snow.
- Mar 12: Stormy morning and noon. Wind NW.
- Mar 13 and 14: Clear. -26.1°C at 7am the 14th.
- Mar 16: Wind S. -31.7°C at 7am and -23.3°C at noon.
- Mar 18: -28.9°C at 7am.
- Mar 20 and 21: Rapid thaw. 10.0°C at noon on the 20th and 7.2°C at 7am.
- Mar 24: -15.6°C at 7pm and -7.2°C at noon. Wind S.
- Mar 25: Rapid thaw. -1.1°C at noon.
- Mar 27: Wind SW. 4.4°C at noon.
- Mar 30: -20.6°C at 7am. Warming up nicely to 0.0°C by 7pm.
- Mar 31: 4.4°C at 7am and 7.2°C at noon.
- April 🔴💧: Only about one or two weeks of weather reports are available for this month. Based on what's available, combined with knowledge of Minneapolis, it appears it was a very mild April. Based on morning and evening temperatures, it might have been more moist than usual in the first couple weeks as temperatures were quite warm at 7am and 7pm. From the 7th to 9th, the temperature was above 5°C at both times. This suggests warm nights for that time of year. There were 4 days of rain up to the 14th, no mention of snow and 1 day of thunderstorms. The rivers cleared up and vegetation began to grow in early April as well, suggesting an unusually early spring, especially for the time.
- Apr 1: Clear, wind N.
- Apr 2 and 3: Rapid thaw, great deal of water upon the ice. 9.4°C at noon on the 3rd.
- Apr 4: PM thunderstorms with heavy showers of rain. Rainy noon. Wind S. 12.8°C at noon and 7.2°C at 7pm.
- Apr 5: Appearance of vegetation. Wind SW. Clear at noon. 11.1°C at noon.
- Apr 7: Plains covered with water and half-melted snow. Thinly crusted with ice. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Apr 8: River open in places. 12.8°C at 7pm, 8.3°C at 7am.
- Apr 9: Wind E. 10.0°C at 7am and 7pm, 11.7°C at noon.
- Apr 11, 13 and 14: Rainy morning.
- Apr 15: Fine, commenced agricultural operations. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- May: A roller coaster ride of temperatures which probably averaged out to a near normal May. Again, keep in mind that the graph below is mostly the temperatures at noon, therefore you must add a few degrees to each day to get the true daily high. There were at least 3 days above 30°C, and possibly a record high on the 9th. A sharp cold front dropped temperatures to near record lows around the 14th, then it rebounded back above 30°C a few days later. The last evidence of frost in May was on the 24th. There were 2 day with snow and 5 with rain mentioned. No mention of thunderstorms.
- Mean monthly temperature estimation = 11.8°C (based on the daily means of the maximums and minimums of the three daily measurements).
- May 1: Cloudy with snow early in the day, then clear. Wind N.
- May 3: -6.7°C at 7am. Clear morning and noon, then stormy evening with rain and strong winds. Wind NW.
- May 4: Strong gales of wind. Clear evening. -1.1°C at noon.
- May 5: Strong gales of wind. 1.1°C at noon.
- May 6: Wind S. Warmed up last night with 9.4°C at 7am.
- May 8: 21.1°C at 7am and 25.6°C at noon.
- May 9: 23.9°C at 7am and 31.7°C at noon. Wind E.
- May 10: Refreshing showers of rain during the day (rainy noon and morning). Wind SE. 20.6°C at 7am.
- May 11: Clear, wind SW. 20.6°C at 7am.
- May 12: Wind N. Much colder, hovering near 4°C.
- May 13: AM hours stormy, strong winds with hail and snow. -1.1°C at 7am falling to -6.7°C by 7pm.
- May 14: Very cold. -5.6°C at 7am and -3.9°C at noon.
- May 15: Clear morning. 3.9°C at noon.
- May 16: Much warmer. Wind S. 26.7°C at 7pm.
- May 17: 30.0°C at noon.
- May 18: 31.1°C at noon.
- May 19: Swallows arriving in great numbers. Rainy evening. 26.7°C at noon.
- May 20: Rainy morning and noon, heavy at times. Clear by evening.
- May 21: Clear.
- May 23: Rainy morning and noon.
- May 24: 9.4°C at noon, dropping to -2.2°C at 7pm.
- May 25: Excessively cold. Hard frost in the evening. Much wheat cut off.
- May 30: Strong winds, 26.1°C at noon.
- June 🔴🏜️: Weather reports only up to the 6th. The first week was warmer than normal, as evidenced in the graph below. No precipitation mentioned. Apparently little to no rain was reported in the area until early July, and weather was hot starting mid month.
- Jun 1: Clear, wind SE.
- Jun 3: Wind NE. 30.6°C at noon.
- Jun 6: 29.4°C at noon.
- July:
- Jul 4: Returned in the evening, heavy rain and loud thunder ... The rain was much required, the fields were yawning for it. Many of these openings in the wheat were sufficiently wide to admit the hand to be pushed down 8 inches. Had the drought continued many days longer, my fields of wheat would have dried from the roots. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- August:
- Aug 12: This has been one of the finest Summers I have ever passed in the Indian Country- The weather has been exceedingly dry and warm, but the heavy dews at night prevented its being injurious to the crops which are much more abundant than was anticipated. (John Ballenden at Red River Settlement)
- September: Likely averaged near normal or slightly colder than normal. 8 days with rain, no thunderstorms mentioned. Apparently the rains had begun in late August.
- Average maximum of the three daily measurements = 17.8°C.
- Average minimum of the three daily measurements = 5.0°C.
- Monthly mean temperature estimation = 11.4°C.
- Sep 1: Blowing hard all day from the S. 28.9°C at noon. Clear skies.
- Sep 2: Blowing hard greatest part of the day, wind SW. Cloudy. 24.4°C at noon.
- Sep 3: Calm and raining during latter part of the day. Wind SE to E.
- Sep 4: Raining during greater part of day. Wind SE.
- Sep 5: Foggy with rain at intervals during the whole day. 12.2°C at noon. Wind NE.
- Sep 6: Wind NNE blowing fresh all day. 14.4°C at noon.
- Sep 7: Showers of rain at intervals, wind N blowing fresh all day. 14.4°C at noon.
- Sep 8 and 9: Wind N blowing fresh all day. Cloudy. 10.6°C at noon on the 8th.
- Sep 10: Cloudy morning then clearing up by noon. Light NW winds. 12.8°C at noon.
- Sep 11: Light NW to SW wind. Fair. Warmer, 25.0°C at noon.
- Sep 12: First frost of autumn. -0.6°C at 7am, but warming up nicely to 26.1°C by noon. Light SW winds, fair weather.
- Sep 13: Light SW wind. Fair weather. 27.2°C at noon.
- Sep 14: Foggy with rain at intervals. Wind SE. Cooler, 15.0°C at noon.
- Sep 15: Wind SE becoming W, blowing hard all day. Cloudy morning, clearing by noon. 12.8°C at noon.
- Sep 16 to 20: Beautiful clear weather with light breezes all day. Warm weather.
- Sep 21: Raining during greater part of the day.
- Sep 22: Stormy during early part of the day, but calm beautiful clear evening.
- Sep 23: Rain at intervals with light breezes. Wind NW.
- Sep 24 to 26: Light winds and mild. Wind NW to N.
- Sep 27: Calm and hard frost during early part of the day. -6.7°C at 7am. Wind N in morning. Only 1.7°C at noon.
- Sep 28: Calm and hard frost during early part of the day. -3.9°C at 7am.
- Sep 29: Wind S, blowing fresh all day. -4.4°C at 7am.
- Sep 30: Light W wind and mild. 22.8°C at noon.
- October 🔴: Weather reports only available up to the 17th. An exceptionally warm first two weeks with possible record heat on the 3rd. At least 7 days above 20°C. A significant cool down after the 13th but based on Minneapolis it likely warmed up afterwards (Winnipeg data stops). First snowfall on the 17th. Two days with thunderstorms during a rainy period from the 5th to 8th.
- Oct 1: Light breezes and rather sultry during the day. Wind SW. Mix of sun and cloud. 23.9°C at noon.
- Oct 2 to 4: Beautiful mild weather with light winds. Wind SW to SE. Clear. On the 3rd it was 29.4°C at noon.
- Oct 5: Early morning thunderstorm with very heavy rain. Wind SE, cloudy. 20.6°C at noon.
- Oct 6: Early morning thunderstorm with very heavy rain. Rainy all day. Wind N. Colder, only 7.2°C at noon.
- Oct 7: Light winds with rain at intervals. Wind NE, cloudy.
- Oct 8: Rainy in early part of day, then clear towards afternoon with light winds. Wind SW.
- Oct 9 to 13: Light N to NW winds with mild weather. The 11th and 12th were above 20°C at noon.
- Oct 14: Blowing a gale during greater part of the day. Wind N. Clear morning then cloudy noon and evening. Colder, only 5.6°C at noon.
- Oct 15: Blowing fresh all day, cloudy morning. Only 1.1°C at noon.
- Oct 16: Clear, blowing fresh all day. 1.7°C at noon.
- Oct 17: Snowing during early part of the day. Cold, only -1.7°C at noon.
- December:
- Dec 4: The track rough and so little snow upon it. (Red River Journal)
I have not found much information from the 1840s, and most of what is added here are proxy-obs from areas north of Winnipeg. Note that Minneapolis recorded its coldest year on record in 1843 but unfortunately I have not found any reports from Winnipeg that year. 1849 was a very wet and cold year with high water levels and an extremely delayed spring.
1840
- January and May: Only based on reports from Smithurst at the Indian Settlement near Netley Creek. Apparently, after little snow in early December, the snows arrived in earnest in January and February with significant amounts. The river did not break up until late April, however, there was significant thawing of snow in early April. Snowed all day May 1st, and melted the following day. Heavy rains May 12 and 16 to 19. Rain on April 29.
- October 🔵❄️:
- Oct 29: The snow commenced October 18, and it still covers the ground, which is already frozen. The rivers are frozen over and we will have a long winter. We probably won't have enough feed for the winter for both humans and animals. There is enough wheat but not enough of other grains and potatoes. (Provencher at St Boniface).
- Nov 29: The roads not yet being sufficiently covered with snow for the Cariole ... the Thermometer now being -20F (-28.9°C). (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
1841
General summary: No reports available from Winnipeg proper, but there are reports by Smithurst at the Indian Settlement near Selkirk and Netley Creek. The reports below are from him, unless otherwise noted. The winter was very snowy with considerable snow on the ground by March. Some warm weather in March, but the spring was very delayed due to cold weather in April and early May. The ice on the river did not disappeared until the second week of May.
General summary: No reports available from Winnipeg proper, but there are reports by Smithurst at the Indian Settlement near Selkirk and Netley Creek. The reports below are from him, unless otherwise noted. The winter was very snowy with considerable snow on the ground by March. Some warm weather in March, but the spring was very delayed due to cold weather in April and early May. The ice on the river did not disappeared until the second week of May.
- January and February ❄️:
- Jan 23: It has been a most winterly day ... the snow having drifted nearly to the height of the fences.
- Jan 24: Found it difficult to get along in consequence of the deep snow that fell yesterday.
- Jan 29: Most boisterous journey. The wind was blowing strong and the snow drifting till we could not see the track and in some places could scarcely get through drifts.
- February: Cold except for mild weather 15th-22nd. Heavy snow on several days.
- March:
- Mar 21: Track almost impassable in some parts from overflowings. Stuck fast in them and got turned over into the melted snow. (W Cochran, St Andrews)
- Mar 22: Returned home through half melted snow, in many parts above the horse's knees. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- April 🔵❄️:
- Apr 2: The snow having melted a good deal the track was bad ... We proceeded along the river ... perceived by the light of the moon that there were open places in the ice.
- Apr 11: Snowing thick, river dangerous, the open places concealed by the new fall of snow ... Returned home through deep snow. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Apr 17: The roads now being so bad ... the horse going nearly knee deep in mud and water the whole 13 miles.
- Apr 20: We now have an appearance of warm weather the snow has melted very fast today and the ground is now impassable.
- Apr 22: The wind has changed to the north and we have had rain today the first rain for the last six months.
- Apr 28: : It rained nearly the whole day which has for the present destroyed our prospects of being able to commence wheat sowing.
- Apr 29: The wind is now blowing a gale and it has been snowing and drifting all day as if it were the month of Jan. The ground is again quite solid and the snow several inches deep.
- Apr 30: We have now arrived at the end of April without any appearance of winter leaving us. Every thing looks just as it did at Xmas all locked up in the solid ice.
- May: Started very cold, but warmed up by mid month.
- May 1: The roads were worse than ever I saw them being for the most part covered with water that was frozen over an inch thick. The ice breaking with the weight of the horse let him through to the knees at every step.
- May 9: The ice in the river being unsafe to walk upon and not sufficiently open to pass in a canoe I have been unable to get across.
- May 11: Busy sowing wheat... The ice has to day been floating out of the river in large blocks from two to three feet thick.
- May 12: Finished sowing wheat today. We have great reason to be thankful that we have been favoured with a week of such fine weather at this advanced period of the season. The river is now clear of ice and there is an appearance of the weather continuing fine.
- October 🔵:
- Oct 25: I was detained some time in crossing the river. as it had frozen sharp during the night and I was compelled to wait a while the ice was broken to make way for my canoe.
- November:
- Nov 1: Winter has commenced in good earnest to day. The wind has been blowing a gale from the north with a heavy fall of snow.
- Nov 8: It rained nearly the whole way ... and as it was also freezing I was completely caked in ice when I reached home.
- Nov 16: The river is now sufficiently frozen to admit of my horse walking across the ice.
- Nov 22: We have had very winterly weather the snow drifting the whole day.
1842
General summary: Few reports available from Winnipeg proper, but there are reports by Smithurst at the Indian Settlement near Selkirk and Netley Creek. The reports below are from him, unless otherwise noted. There appeared to be again a lot of snow over the winter, with thawing in March as an early spring arrived. River clear of ice by the second week of April.
General summary: Few reports available from Winnipeg proper, but there are reports by Smithurst at the Indian Settlement near Selkirk and Netley Creek. The reports below are from him, unless otherwise noted. There appeared to be again a lot of snow over the winter, with thawing in March as an early spring arrived. River clear of ice by the second week of April.
- Jan 6: The snow was deep and no track I could scarce get on.
- Jan 7: Still found great difficulty in getting through the deep snow.
- Mar 27: Going all the way by way of the river. There was a good deal of water upon the ice owing to the melting of the snow.
- Apr 2: The general thaw seems to have commenced inconsequence of which it is not practical to travel by the river it is very bad getting about. (Abraham Cowley near Selkirk)
- Apr 7: The ice in the river has broken up to day and is consequently impassable until it has all cleared away.
- Apr 10: The river is now tolerably clear of ice and the Indians were able to cross.
- Apr 25: Snow, which melted during the day.
- July 10: Our crop is not looking bad now that it has rained. We sowed early but the season was cold and dry which delayed everything. Everything else is normal (from Provencher of St Boniface).
- Nov 12: Heavy snow.
- Nov 14: The winter has now commenced in good earnest, the thermometer at 0F (-17.8°C) and the river frozen over.
1843 🔵
General summary: Few reports available from Winnipeg proper, but there are reports by Smithurst at the Indian Settlement near Selkirk and Netley Creek. The reports below are from him, unless otherwise noted. It appear to have been a very cold year. At Minneapolis, it was the coldest year on record. There is evidence to suggest that the Wininpeg area was similarly cold.
General summary: Few reports available from Winnipeg proper, but there are reports by Smithurst at the Indian Settlement near Selkirk and Netley Creek. The reports below are from him, unless otherwise noted. It appear to have been a very cold year. At Minneapolis, it was the coldest year on record. There is evidence to suggest that the Wininpeg area was similarly cold.
- Jan 8: The track was heavy in consequence of the drifts of snow carried together by the storm of yesterday.
- February 🔵: Insanely cold for almost the entire month. At least 10 days near or below -40°C.
- Feb 12: Deep snow has fallen recently. The thermometer -40F (-40.0°C).
- Feb 16: Thermometer -52F (-46.7°C) this morning. This excessive cold has now lasted nearly three weeks.
- Feb 19: For the last 10 days the thermometer has in the morning been generally down at the point where Mercury freezes, namely -40F, and on two occasions it has been even twelve degrees below that or in other words at -52F.
- March 🔵: Minneapolis had absolutely brutal cold last the entire month. Unfortunately, not much evidence in the Winnipeg or Selkirk areas, but I would assume also cold.
- Mar 6: It commenced snowing when we left the Fort and continued the whole day, sometimes drifting to such an extent that we could not see the track.
- April: Spring a bit later than normal.
- Apr 7: The thaw is now going on very rapidly and there being so much water I find it difficult to move about.
- Apr 14: The morning was very unfavourable in consequence of a heavy fall of snow mixed with rain.
- Apr 20: There was in the afternoon a more general breaking up of the ice and the river is now impassable.
- Apr 23: The river being full of floating ice is quite impassable.
- Apr 24: In the afternoon the weather was so unfavourable owing to a cold north wind and excessive rain.
- Apr 28: A very stormy day of wind and rain.
- Apr 29: It has been snowing all day and the snow drifting with a strong north wind till at times I could scarce see twenty yards from the house.
- May 🔵: Continues chilly.
- May 4: The weather continues cold and wet and the land unfit for the plough.
- May 15: Snow.
- Sep 4: Near St Francois Xavier came a most awful storm of thunder, lightning and rain with scarce any intermission. The rain came down in torrents. The storm lasted for a full hour.
- October 🔵: Red River frozen by Oct 27-29 according to Smithurst at the Indian Settlement near Netley Creek. Suggests a cold October.
1844 🔵
General summary: A fairly early spring for the time with warm weather in March and early April. Cold snowy weather returned in early May however. Not much detail about the summer, but September was quite dry with very little rain. Harvesting went well as a result making for a decent crop despite early frosts. Winter arrived early again with a cold October.
General summary: A fairly early spring for the time with warm weather in March and early April. Cold snowy weather returned in early May however. Not much detail about the summer, but September was quite dry with very little rain. Harvesting went well as a result making for a decent crop despite early frosts. Winter arrived early again with a cold October.
- January:
- Jan 1: The new year was ushered in by a terrible storm of wind and snow. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Jan 15: The weather was very stormy. The wind has blown almost a hurricane and the air has been filled with snow as small as dust. At times it has not been possible to see ten yards from the house. Only the men were able to come the snow drifts are so deep. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Jan 23: The storm continued. The drifts are so high that in some places I seem to be walking between walls of snow that I cannot see over. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- February:
- Feb 4: The weather being very stormy this morning, the wind blowing strong from the north with a heavy drift of snow. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Feb 12: The weather being mild and the snow falling but lightly when we left home I anticipated a fine day. In the afternoon a strong gale set in from the north bringing with it a heavy drift of snow. During the five winters that I have spent in this country I certainly never saw any thing to equal this storm. It was impossible to face the winds for the fine snow was driven with such force that it struck the eyes like sand. At times I could neither see the track nor the horse. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- March: A mild March for the time, but would be considered quite chilly by 21st century standards. Mean temperature about -8 to -9°C. Temperatures were also amazingly consistent throughout the month (little variability), suggesting possibly quiet weather. This also meant the start was milder than normal and the end was colder than normal. There's a comment of ''Thunder during the night and much rain'' but it is unclear for which day this was for. The temperature exceeded freezing only once based on four temperature measurements daily at sunrise, 9am, 3pm, and 9pm. I'm not sure how accurate it is as a result. At least 4 days below -20°C, and the coldest measurement was only -24.4°C, warm for the time. The warmest measurement was 1.7°C on the 23rd. (SOURCE)
- April:
- Apr 4: This and the last two days have been very warm. We have travelled the whole distance from the Pembina River to St Francois Xavier on foot in snow and water. (Peter Garrioch)
- Apr 6: It rained the whole morning and has been damp and misty all day. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Apr 8: The day has been very fine and warm, but the water from the melting snow makes it difficult to get about The thaw has riow fairly commenced .. .for a week or ten days the attendance will be somewhat irregular owing to the unsafe state of the ice not admitting persons to cross from the other side of the river. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Apr 12: The ice has been clearing away to day. The river is passable though there is still a good deal offloating ice. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Apr 29: I had hoped we whould have been able to commence ploughing and sowing this morning but in consequence of the heavy rains which fell last night the ground is now too wet. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- May 🔵:
- May 1: It has been a very wet stormy day which has put a stop to our ploughing. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- May 3: Snowing nearly the whole day. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Jul 29: The crops promise abundance but they are not advanced. (Bishop Provencher in St Boniface)
- September 🏜️:
- Sep 30: The weather unusually fine for this season of the year. we have been interrupted by rain only one day since we commenced the work of repairing our house 6 weeks ago. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Oct 19: The weather in this province had been optimally favourable during the latter part of the season, enabling the settlers to get the harvest satisfactorily completed; much of the wheat was injured by early frost but every other description of crops are fully equal to a general average; at present the settlement is perfectly healthy. (From Correspondence Books - Winnipeg 1840 to 1891 - via the Manitoba Archives)
- October 🔵: Appears to have been yet another cold October.
- At ''Red River'', ground snow covered by Oct 18 and river frozen by the 27th. I am unsure where exactly this was from, either Pembina or Selkirk areas.
1845 🔴
General summary: Very little information from Winnipeg itself. Supplemental reports from Pembina and north of Winnipeg are included below to give an idea of the weather in 1845. It was a warmer year than in recent years past. The winter was mild and spring came about on time or even a bit early. Wet and stormy mid May. A later start to winter than recent years past, with snow and rivers freezing over not until mid November.
General summary: Very little information from Winnipeg itself. Supplemental reports from Pembina and north of Winnipeg are included below to give an idea of the weather in 1845. It was a warmer year than in recent years past. The winter was mild and spring came about on time or even a bit early. Wet and stormy mid May. A later start to winter than recent years past, with snow and rivers freezing over not until mid November.
- Winter 1844-1845 🔴: The winter was not cold (Bishop Provencher in St Boniface). Minneapolis also had a mild winter.
- March: Some heavy snow in the first half at Pembina. Thawing conditions on the 25th at the Indian Settlement near Netley Creek. Snowstorm 30th-31st at both locations.
- April: Cold start, then warming.
- Apr 3: It blows and drifts like a February day. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Apr 4: Wet morning ... The track very miry from the heavy rain which had fallen. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Apr 12: The first rainbow was seen - unknown source, found in Winnipeg Tribune Aug 31 1935 pg39.
- Apr 13: The ice upon the River is now covered with water which is in some places deep. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Apr 14: Some rain this evening with the first thunder of the season. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Apr 21: The river is still packed full of immense masses of broken ice. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Apr 23: The first ploughing done - unknown source, found in Winnipeg Tribune Aug 31 1935 pg39.
- Apr 25: It fell about 2 inches of snow the last night and continued to snow all this day. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Apr 26: The snow is nearly all off again. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Apr 29: Has been raining all day. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- May 💧⚡:
- May 5: Some wheat sown - unknown source, found in Winnipeg Tribune Aug 31 1935 pg39.
- May 10: At sun set we had a storm of thunder and lightning attended with hail and heavy rain. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- May 11: The storm which commenced last night at sun set increased in violence towards midnight and the quantity of rain which fell has been so great that every level piece of ground is covered with water and the farm is now half underwater. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- May 12: Very wet all day. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- May 13: In the evening it commenced raining and continued till the following morning. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- May 19: Returned in the evening through heavy rain. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- May 31: Pessimists that predicted drought were disappointed today (does this mean there was a lot of rain??) - unknown source, found in Winnipeg Tribune Aug 31 1935 pg39.
- Jun 20: The grains are fine for the season.
- November: A later start to winter than in years past. The river froze over sometime around the 19th to 22nd.
- Nov 13: We are expecting the winter to set in with all the severity daily, it is nearly a month later than in some years. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Nov 18: Nearly all the snow that fell yesterday went off to day before a strong south wind. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Nov 20: All the swamps and little lakes are frozen over. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Nov 24: A great fall of snow. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
1846 🔴
General summary: Very little information from Winnipeg itself. Supplemental reports from Pembina and north of Winnipeg are included below to give an idea of the weather in 1846. Starting in the fall, Colonel J. Crofton arrived in the Red River Settlement and began to provide some weather reports. 1846 was a very warm year for the time. January was remarkably warm, possibly one of the warmest ever reported. Cooler and snowier in February then warm in early March. Cooler snowier in the first half of April, prolonging the winter a little longer. Hot summer and possibly stormy, then a later star to winter again with a mild first half of November.
General summary: Very little information from Winnipeg itself. Supplemental reports from Pembina and north of Winnipeg are included below to give an idea of the weather in 1846. Starting in the fall, Colonel J. Crofton arrived in the Red River Settlement and began to provide some weather reports. 1846 was a very warm year for the time. January was remarkably warm, possibly one of the warmest ever reported. Cooler and snowier in February then warm in early March. Cooler snowier in the first half of April, prolonging the winter a little longer. Hot summer and possibly stormy, then a later star to winter again with a mild first half of November.
- January 🔴: A very mild January with very little snow on the ground. Thawing weather in the second half of the month melted much of what was on the ground. Colder weather returned by the 29th. Some snow and colder weather at times in February, but not much info available for that month. At Minneapolis, it was the warmest January on record, a record that still stands to this day.
- Jan 5: There has been very little snow, consequently the tracks up the banks of the river too slippery for oxen to haul loads. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Jan 22: This day has been quite an April one. The wind has been from the south and continues as strong and warm still. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Jan 24: The wind still from the south. This day has been altogether an April one. The wind has dissolved so much of the snow that water begins to stand in pools at the doors, and the eves of barns hang down with lengthy icicles. It was so wet today that I was obliged to put on boots in the afternoon. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Jan 26: The roads on land were almost entirely bare. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- March 🔴: Appears there was some very warm weather in first half.
- Mar 5: Got home a little after sun down under a heavy fall of snow. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Mar 6: Quite a smart shower of rain to day. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Mar 7: The snow begins to run down into running liquid. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Mar 11: A very great part of the road from The Oevil's Creek to the Red River was entirely bare. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- April ❄️: Cooler snowier weather in the first half retarded the full arrival of spring somewhat.
- Apr 2 and 3: Rain. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Apr 5: : The ice upon the river was not safe for travelling higher up than 8 miles above this place. We then had to go by the plain which at present is overflowed with water. The frost of last night had coated over the water with ice which broke every step the horses took. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Apr 7: Today a heavy snow storm. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Apr 9: A great part of the road is covered over with ice in consequence of the late rains and subsequent frosts. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Apr 11: Some more snow to day and cold north wind. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Apr 17: Yesterday poured down rain; and this day it snows and drifts like ah that. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Apr 19: The track deep with mire and water. (W Cochran, St Andrews area)
- Apr 26: Assiniboine River at Red River Settlement broke up.
- May: First half warm and dry.
- Summer 🔴: Apparently very hot.
- Jun 16: The season has been favourable for the grains; on this date they are very beautiful and promise an abundant harvest. (Bishop Provencher in St Boniface).
- Aug 8: Our Summer has been stormy. Last month particularly, very frequent storms of thunder & lightning (Thomas Bunn at ''Red River'').
- November 🔴: A later start to winter again like last year, with unusually mild and fine weather in the first half of November. Winter set in in the second half.
- Nov 20: Snow fell in abundance and a deal of north wind with it. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Nov 24: The season has been unusually fine and winter is only now set in fairly (Crofton at Red River settlement).
- December: Appears the weather turned colder and stormy with much snowfall in the start of December.
- Dec 1-2: Snowstorm at Pembina. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Dec 6: Though the weather was severely cold & the ground covered with three feet of snow the Rapids Ch. Was excessively crowded ... The River was not frozen completely so that sometimes horse & sometimes the cariole went through the ice. (Robert James - unsure of exact whereabouts, but likely north of Winnipeg).
1847 🔵
General summary: Colonel J. Crofton provided some weather reports from the Red River Settlement (Winnipeg), otherwise reports from Pembina and Selkirk areas as comparison. It was a much colder year than last year, with a brutally cold January. It was snowier and not quite as cold in February and March. Spring progressed well in April, except for a brief cold spell and some snow mid month. It became summer-like above 20°C after the 25th. Cold weather returned in May however, and was most unusual according to the settlers. A snowstorm on May 9th and 10th. A very dry summer according to Hind (1859) and other reports. Winter arrived a bit early with the first snowstorm in the first few days of November.
General summary: Colonel J. Crofton provided some weather reports from the Red River Settlement (Winnipeg), otherwise reports from Pembina and Selkirk areas as comparison. It was a much colder year than last year, with a brutally cold January. It was snowier and not quite as cold in February and March. Spring progressed well in April, except for a brief cold spell and some snow mid month. It became summer-like above 20°C after the 25th. Cold weather returned in May however, and was most unusual according to the settlers. A snowstorm on May 9th and 10th. A very dry summer according to Hind (1859) and other reports. Winter arrived a bit early with the first snowstorm in the first few days of November.
- January 🔵: A very cold January, in sharp contrast to the year before. It was apparently one of the coldest the settlers ever experienced. It warmed up by the end of the month.
- Jan 20: The cold daily and steadily increased up to the 20th of January last when the Thermometer indicated the lowest point during the Winter, -47F (-43.9°C). (Crofton at Red River settlement)
- Jan 27: The wind has been south to day, and the weather has been milder than usual. The whole of the present month, with the exception of the last three or four days, has been cold to the Extreme. No year within the remembrance of the oldest settlers has been so cold as this has been. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Jan 31: During 22 consecutive days, from the 5th to 26th inclusive, the thermometer never once rose to 0F (-17.8°C). On the coldest day, the 20th, when the thermometer showed -48F at Lower Fort Garry, and -47F at Upper Fort Garry, mercury froze in 15-20 minutes when exposed in bullet moulds. (Donald Gunn near Selkirk/Lower Fort Garry)
- Jan 31: The weather was so mild that the Public road on the river was entirely cut up, by horses running on it as usual, on account of the snow becoming quite soft and nearly thawing. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- February: Became milder with lots of snow on the ground.
- Feb 15: The snow was so deep and the road consequently so bad that the oxen scarcely dragged home one past each. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Feb 23: Weather quite mild during our absence but a great deal of snow; and a good deal of thaw. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- March ❄️: Stormy start to March with lots of snow. Possible long-duration blizzard from the 6th to 8th.
- Mar 2: Snow falls in abundance to day, and the wind being high, we had quite a drifty day. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Mar 6: It has been drifting furiously all this day, and now it is about 9pm it does not appear to abate in the least. (Peter Garrioch at Pembina)
- Mar 7: It has been one of the most stormy drifting days that I have seen since I have been in this country. It is scarcely possible to look out the door without being blinded by the fine snow that was drifting. The wind blew almost a hurricane. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Mar 8: The storm continued nearly the whole night so that the drifts were soi large that I have had several men employed to day in cutting tracks. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- April: Spring progressing well in early April, then it became cold mid month with more snow. Warming back up to near 20°C by the 26th.
- Apr 11: The spring here is most unpleasant. One had a dreadful ride through mud & snow & pools of water. (Robert James - unsure of exact whereabouts).
- Apr 18: The cold weather has returned and we are fearing another fall of snow. It was so cold today, while reading Prayers in Square, that I could hardly keep my teeth from chattering and the men were all trembling. Strange enough, the birds, which a day or two ago, were going northward, have today been flying southward, not finding the water open on Winnipeg, nor the snow off the swamps where they feed. (Crofton at Red River settlement)
- Apr 20: We have had a very stormy day with a heavy fall of snow. (Robert James)
- Apr 24: The thaw continues today, tho' it froze hard during the night. The river cannot now be crossed even on snow shoes. The sun felt warm, and in spite of the melted snow I was able to go some distance up the banks of the Assiniboine, which still set fast, though the water flows over the ice as it streams over the banks. (Crofton at Red River settlement)
- Apr 25: The Red River broke up last night, the ice having been burst by a strong flood, evidently caused by the melting of the snow to the southward ... This morning I had the pleasure of seeing once more open water. In the course of this day the Assiniboine gave way; the ice quietly slipped away, and floated along, till it turned into Red River, then jamming and crashing not a little. (Crofton at Red River settlement)
- Apr 26: The heat today is quite extraordinary. It is summer heat. The thermo rose to 71F (21.7°C)!. .. The ice is flowing fast in very broken masses, down the flooded rivers, and in 2 or 4 days more we shall not have a remnant of ice or snow left. (Crofton at Red River settlement)
- Apr 27: The ice has moved away and the river is now clear. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Apr 28: The south wind and hot sun are melting down the snow and ice rapidly. The prairies are uncovered as far as I can see. (Crofton at Red River settlement)
- May 🔵❄️🏜️: Cold weather returned with even some on the 9th and 10th. Dry conditions afterwards with blowing dust on the 23rd.
- May 9: In the afternoon, the wind suddenly shifted to the North, and it now exceedingly cold, and snow is falling fast. (Crofton at Red River settlement)
- May 12: The north wind still blows cold and keen. The Lakes still are frozen over, but all the rivers and streams are open. The snow, which fell on the 9th and 10th , melted away in the course of yesterday. (Crofton at Red River settlement)
- May 20: The weather today is rather wilder, but cold north winds still chill all nature. The large Lakes are still frozen over. (Crofton at Red River settlement)
- May 23: It is said by the inhabitants, that the present cold and dry weather is most unusual at this season. The wind and whirling dust today almost blinded us, as we stood at Prayer. (Crofton at Red River settlement)
- June 🏜️: Dry with low water levels. Hot weather by around the 22nd. The drought stunted crop growth.
- Jun 7: We have had, at last, today a fall of rain, which has been of more value to the people here than if it had rained gold. (Crofton at Red River settlement)
- Jun 7: We have of late been much inconvenienced by the lowness of the river. Neither boats nor canoes can get near solid ground and the people have to land in the mud where they sink almost up to the knee. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Jun 22: The Thermometer has been 96F (35.6°C) in the shade. Today in the sun it was 118F (47.8°C). (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- July: Some rain finally fell, helping crops to grow.
- Jul 11: At noon the storm came nearer and the thunder was very loud and incessant the rain descended in torrents and hail stones as large as pigeon's eggs fell for some time. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Jul 30: On our prospects as regards the crops here, I an happy to say that there has of late been a very decided improvement- owing principally to the refreshing showers with which at seasonable intervals we have fortunately been favored since about the 4th Instant. (Alex Christie at Fort Garry)
- August:
- Aug 7: Commenced reaping wheat to day. It is not more than a foot high the ears very small...nearly all spring sown wheat has faded owing to the extreme drought of May & June. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- November: Winter arrived a little early with the first snowstorm in the first few days of November.
- Winter began on the octave of All Saints' (first week of November) with a heavy snowfall which did not melt; the ground was not frozen at all (Bishop Provencher in St Boniface).
- Nov 2: The ground is to day covered with snow several inches deep and a cold north wind indicates but too clearly the commencement of winter. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
1848 ❄️
General summary: Not much information available. Appears the winter was quite snowy, resulting in high water levels in mid April. The first half of summer was possibly dry. Winter arrived early, and November was possibly quite snowy.
General summary: Not much information available. Appears the winter was quite snowy, resulting in high water levels in mid April. The first half of summer was possibly dry. Winter arrived early, and November was possibly quite snowy.
- Winter 1847-1848 ❄️: Apparently quite snowy with mountains of drifts by the end of winter. Thawing conditions in the second half of March.
- Jan 14: It has been snowing very fast all day so that the snow is now deeper than ever I saw it before. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Mar 12: I am happy to find that notwithstanding the mountains of drift in which we are entombed, all communications from the outer world is not entirely closed. Such a winter for wind, snow, drift and turbulence. The abundance of snow gives promise of the lacking moisture. (John Bunn at ''Red River'')
- Mar 23: In the afternoon I went to see the wood cutters, and got up to the knees in water. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- April:
- Apr 4: The sun was very powerful today. The ice and snow began to hasten away. The only drawback on the enjoyment of this season is the wretched state of the Roads. The whole Country is one puddle. (Robert James)
- Apr 20: The river is now full of broken ice and quite impassable. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Apr 21: The river is still impassable and the water is rising very fast. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Apr 22: The water has risen very high in the river several Cattle have been swept away. At one time I saw five oxen going down the stream. The river is walled in by immense masses of ice so that it was difficult to get the Cattle out, four or five have been drowned. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- May 23: It has been raining all day. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Jul 18: The grain is fine. The heat has been stifling for a while. It did not rain; potatoes and gardens suffer more than other grains. At least this year we have hay nearby; the spring rains made it grow. We will begin to cut it on the 20th because a police regulation fixes this period to avoid quarrels in the prairies where each one believes himself master (Bishop Provencher in St Boniface).
- November 🔵❄️: Appears to have been cold and very snowy.
- Nov 1: The River being now in a bad state for crossing, and consequently all on the opposite side to the Church are at present unable to attend, until the ice is sufficient strong to admit of walking over. (Smithurst at the Indian Settlement)
- Nov 1: The snow was falling thickly all day. (Robert James)
- Nov 11: The whole of this week I have been confined to home by the State of the Roads. (Robert James)
- Dec 3: The continued fall of snow for the last three days induced me to take the River for the Middle Church. The snow was deep. (Robert James)
1849 🔵💧🌊
General summary: A cold and rainy year with an extremely delayed spring and summer flooding. Based on accounts, the Red River did not overflow its banks at the Red River Settlement but did to the south around Pembina ND. This resulted in a great harvest at Winnipeg based on a few accounts. Weather reports primarily from Reverends Smithurst and James and Bishop Provencher at the Red River Settlement (or Indian Settlement based on some sources) and St Boniface via ''Wading to Pembina 1849 Spring and Summer Weather in the eather in the Valley of the Red River of the North and Some Climatic Implications'''.
General summary: A cold and rainy year with an extremely delayed spring and summer flooding. Based on accounts, the Red River did not overflow its banks at the Red River Settlement but did to the south around Pembina ND. This resulted in a great harvest at Winnipeg based on a few accounts. Weather reports primarily from Reverends Smithurst and James and Bishop Provencher at the Red River Settlement (or Indian Settlement based on some sources) and St Boniface via ''Wading to Pembina 1849 Spring and Summer Weather in the eather in the Valley of the Red River of the North and Some Climatic Implications'''.
- April 🔵❄️: A very cold April making for an extremely delayed spring.
- Apr 18: Horses, oxen and people were still able to cross the ice on the Red River.
- Apr 25: Snowing and drifting all day. Ice conditions and the lateness of the season were hard upon those who depend on fishing.
- Apr 27 to May 2: Heavy snow accompanied by drifting from April 27 to May 2.
- Apr 30: Like January. The ice still upon the River, not the voice of one singing bird is heard.
- May 🔵❄️: The weather began to improve, but it still remained cold in general. Snow returned by the 21st, then weather improved again by the 24th.
- May 3: Marked improvement in weather and agricultural operations proceeded in earnest for the next two weeks.
- May 7: The river finally cleared sufficiently for canoes to cross.
- May 21 and 22: Cold weather and snow returned and continued until at least the next day.
- May 24: Weather turned fine, and seems to have continued this way until the end of the month.
- June 💧🌊: Appears to have been a rainy June given significant overland flooding and high river levels. The weather turned hot in the final couple weeks.
- Jun 17: At Pembina ND: The water of the Red River, which is rising rapidly, makes us fearful; a part of the seed in low grounds will be ruined (source).
- Jun 26: The water is extraordinarily high. All the rivers are inundated. There is already grain in the water and it doesn't appear to have decided to lower yet. It rains often and without doubt much more copiously upstream than here.
- Jun 27: The caravan is gone and the water is extremely high. Pembina is said to drown; it is not possible to travel on the prairie and the water always rises. Much wheat perishes because of frequent rains (via Provencher in St Boniface).
- Jun 29: Extremely hot.
- July 💧⚡: The heat of late June continued into at least the first week of July. Based on Minneapolis, it might have cooled down the remainder of the month. Same as June, appears to have been rainy and stormy, causing muddy ground.
- Jul 1: Extremely hot.
- Jul 8: Last night was one constant awful storm of thunder, lightning, wind and rain. The rain continuing & the ground being almost impassable moderated the attendance at the church.
- Jul 29: A violent storm raged all last night & the whole of today. I have not seen such a fall of rain hitherto in the Country.
- August 💧🌊: Appears the rains continued at least part of the month. Later in the summer and early fall, it appears conditions improved with drier weather and falling water levels which made travel a bit easier.
- Aug 1 at Pembina ND: ''We found the Red River and Pembina River with about twenty feet rise in them, and overflowing their banks'' (Woods Expedition)
- Aug 8: The ground was one swamp with the incessant rains.
- Aug 26: Red River at Pembina seemed to be back into its regular channel (lowered water levels). (Source)
- Aug 28: The water has been so high all summer that there was no way to communicate with Pembina except by water. A company visited M Belcourt's post and they had to leave because there was no appearance of a harvest at Pembina, the water covered the fields. (Provencher)
- Aug 28: Here (at St Boniface) we are currently harvesting an abundant crop, the likes we have never seen (Bishop Provencher in St Boniface).
The 1850s were a period of persistently cold weather, with only brief periods of warmth. 1851 was the only warm year of the decade. 1853 and 1858 were around normal. The period of 1849 to 1851 was exceptionally wet, which helped result in the second worst flood on record in 1852. This flood caused a lot of damage to the area, even more than in 1826 because of the greater population. However, in contrast to 1826, not as many people fled the area in the aftermath because many had formed an attachment to the region. The remainder of the decade had regular precipitation with not much flooding or drought. 1855-56 was potentially a very wet period based on measurements from Donald Gunn. However, I am highly skeptical that the amounts were actually as large as he claimed given the lack of flooding and impacts from wet weather.
1850 🔵💧🌊
General summary: Not much available from Winnipeg specifically, but several reports from the Indian Settlement at Netley Creek north of Winnipeg showed another very late spring with ice on the river not clearing until the first week of May. The summer was again very wet with flooding. The floodwaters had subsided by September. (Source)
General summary: Not much available from Winnipeg specifically, but several reports from the Indian Settlement at Netley Creek north of Winnipeg showed another very late spring with ice on the river not clearing until the first week of May. The summer was again very wet with flooding. The floodwaters had subsided by September. (Source)
- Apr 30 to May 4: Snow still on the ground and the river breaking up.
- May 24: Rain poured down in torrents for several hours last night and it has rained more or less all day so that the plains so deluged with water. The river is excessively high and the current strong (Smithurst at Indian Settlement).
- Jun 15: Great crops last year, there will be none this year in consequence of high water. The water got in my kitchen garden and someone was obliged to leave his house all Pembina under water. (unsure if this was from Red River Settlement or Pembina).
- Jul 17: Water has done damage, it has submerged all the lower lands, some seeded lands flooded, some weren't seeded at all from fear of rising waters in late May (Provencher in St Boniface).
- June: Account from someone who travelled to the Red River Settlement (she could not recall the exact date in June 1850): We had to boat to Fort Garry. The expanse of water over which we voyaged from Pembina to the Red River Settlement was in places 8 miles wide. At night we had to tie up the boats to the trees.
- Late September: Account from a traveller to St Boniface: There has been a flood during the summer, but the waters had gone before the time we came across the plains. It was late September we arrived in St Boniface.
- Nov 18: The ice drifting down the River in large pieces denoting the intensity of the frost. It will be fast in a few days (Robert James).
1851 🔴💧🌊
General summary: The third consecutive summer of heavy rains and flooding. In contrast to the previous couple years, the spring came much earlier in 1851. There are reports the river broke up in the first couple days of April already, and reports of rapid thaws as early as mid March. Most of these reports were from Robert James, but I am unsure of his exact whereabouts. Based on what I could scrape up it appeared he was likely just north of Winnipeg, maybe about St Andrews. (Source)
General summary: The third consecutive summer of heavy rains and flooding. In contrast to the previous couple years, the spring came much earlier in 1851. There are reports the river broke up in the first couple days of April already, and reports of rapid thaws as early as mid March. Most of these reports were from Robert James, but I am unsure of his exact whereabouts. Based on what I could scrape up it appeared he was likely just north of Winnipeg, maybe about St Andrews. (Source)
- March and April 🔴: Appears to have been a warm March with thawing weather in the second half. The only reports available are from Robert James (see above).
- Mar 16: A lovely day. Roads almost impassable from the rapid thaw.
- Mar 19: To my surprise, I found the plains with so little snow upon them that after wretched travelling (in the cariole) I did not reach the cottage.
- Mar 20: Had intended to visit the Bishop today, but was informed of the unsafe state of the River, large openings have appeared in several places.
- Mar 24: Mounted my horse to visit the Bishop. I expected the Plains would be one pool and found both snow and water deep. I perservered at walking pace beyond Middle Church when a tremendous drift crossing the road interrupted my progress.
- Apr 2: The river broke this evening and again we saw open water. It was feared the spring began too early to continue and today the weather became much colder. The ground was again covered with snow after being clear some time.
- July 💧:
- Jul 15: Already for 15 days it has been raining, the water rises and rises (Provencher in St Boniface).
- Jul 21: The abundant rains have damaged the grains. Waters continue to rise and could destroy the crops in low lying areas; already it is the case at Prairie du Cheval Blanc (White Horse Plain - i.e. current location of St Francois Xavier. (Bishop Provencher in St Boniface)
- September 🔴: Based on comments at Pembina and observations from Minneapolis, it was a warm and drier September.
- Sep 11 at Pembina ND: Arrived at Pembina... we came at a halt, standing almost glued fast in the stickly, tenacious mud caused by the rains and floods for three years past.
- Sep 12 at Pembina ND: No farming whatever being done on account of the annual floods in the valley of the Red River, for three years past (1849, 1850, 1851).
- Sep 25 at Pembina ND: Harvest usually takes place here about August 20, and is a full month later this year, the season having been very cold and wet up to Aug 17. The weather fortunately changed, and for a month was very warm and fine.
1852 🔵🌊🔥
General summary: The year featured the second worst flood on record in Winnipeg since at least the early 19th century. Estimates of the amount of water in the flood and the height of the flood showed it similar to the 1997 flood. It was a snowy winter and the spring was delayed. A general cold year, but there were some periods of warmth. Temperatures were quite up and down. The August to early October period was the rainiest, then it turned quite dry the remainder of the year. This resulted in very little snow on the ground in December despite colder than normal weather. Fires and smoke were also an issue in mid October.
General summary: The year featured the second worst flood on record in Winnipeg since at least the early 19th century. Estimates of the amount of water in the flood and the height of the flood showed it similar to the 1997 flood. It was a snowy winter and the spring was delayed. A general cold year, but there were some periods of warmth. Temperatures were quite up and down. The August to early October period was the rainiest, then it turned quite dry the remainder of the year. This resulted in very little snow on the ground in December despite colder than normal weather. Fires and smoke were also an issue in mid October.
- February 🔴: Appears to have been mild, until the weather cooled down toward the end of February. See Minneapolis for some comparison.
- The winter had been unusually fine until the end of February (David Anderson at Red River Settlement; page 9).
- March ❄️: A very stormy snowy March making for very deep snow.
- Mar 27: Up to this date, this month has been the most snowy of the whole winter.
- ''Through the whole of March a great deal of snow had fallen'' (David Anderson; page 9)
- April 🔵🌊: Gradual thaw of snow with rivers breaking up in the last week. The flood began in the last couple days. Month leaning on the colder side owing to the slow thaw and chilly weather mid-month.
- Apr 1: During the whole of last month the weather very stormy with a great deal of snow. Today, there is a little appearance of spring, and indeed has, as regards temperature and the quantity of snow on the ground than there was a month ago. The snow is now very deep and if we have a sudden thaw - there will be a great deal of water on the ground.
- Apr 2: Decided improvement in the weather today; clear, mild and beautiful giving a very clear token of the approach of spring.
- Apr 15: Weather rather chilly, thaw goes on very gradually, freezing at night. Some fears of a flood not without some ground.
- Apr 24: River rose last night about 2 inches ice unmoved. Ice has moved this evening in both rivers (Cowan).
- Apr 25: Ice breaking up and drifting.
- Apr 25: The ice having partially broken up, rendered it unsafe to cross the river. Large masses of ice passed during the evening and the following day. The water had rise much, even before the ice gave way, and continued doing so during the week, there being no outlet for it as yet towards the lake. (Bishop David Anderson at Red River Settlement; page 9)
- Apr 27: Both rivers pretty clear of ice. Small river has fallen a little (Cowan).
- Apr 28: River risen more than a foot during the night. Ice commenced to run about 10am in the Assiniboine and continues. River rising very fast (Cowan).
- May ❄️🌊: The month of the flood. For a full summary of the flood by Alexander Ross, click here, and by David Anderson, click here. The month had ups and downs of temperature. Perhaps most interesting was a dramatic cool down in the middle of the month with snow and very cold temperatures from the 15th to 18th. The month had started fine, with heavy rain on the night of the 5th, then wintry weather returned by the 7th. It warmed up for a few days before cooling down again, and there was a strong thunderstorm during the night on the 13th. The weather greatly improved after the 20th and became hot on the 23rd.
- May 1: Water rising at about the rate of a foot every 24 hours - within about six feet of the land of the fort. Great many people obliged to quit their houses.
- May 3: Water still rises - about 4 inches last night. A great many more people will have to quit their houses again today.
- May 3: ''Some houses opposite to us are already abandoned, their inmates tenting on the little knolls behind.'' Some people have their boats ready to leave. ''From the fort, we hear that more than fifty deserted houses may be seen. Since the melting of the snow, the weather has been remarkably fine, with strong drying winds; so that, with the sky bright overhead, and the ground firm and dry under our feet, the approach of evil in such a form seems almost beyond belief''. (David Anderson at Red River Settlement; pages 10-11)
- May 4: ''Rode up to the Fort; the sight very distressing. The bridges are all giving way, on which Council had expended some last year. Saw Major Caldwell and Mr Black, and made application to the latter for a boat to remove my family and property, should it be rendered necessary''. (David Anderson; page 11)
- May 5: Towards night heavy rain 💧 commenced, the first since the breaking up of the ice. (David Anderson at Red River Settlement; page 16)
- May 6: The rain has cleared the air. (David Anderson, page 17)
- May 6: Water still rises at about the rate of eight inches in 24 hours.
- May 7: The water had risen 8ft above the high water mark of ordinary years, overflowed the banks of the river, and began to spread devastation and ruin: boats and canoes in great request for the saving of lives and property. Some had to take shelter in the garrets, some on stages, some here, some there in little groups, on spots higher than the rest, anxiously waiting a boat, a canoe, a friendly hand to save them from a watery grave. The river had spread to three miles on each side, and rose for several days at the rate of nearly an inch per hour (Alexander Ross).
- May 7: A morning of more wintry ❄️aspect (David Anderson; page 18).
- May 8: Water still rising at rate of between 8 and 9 inches in the 24hours. Very near the fort now.
- May 8: During the forenoon, a little snow ❄️and sleet fell (David Anderson; page 19).
- May 9: Water still rising at rate of 9 inches in 24 hours. Water entered fort at the corner of the east bastion today. Great number of people leave for the hills.
- May 9: A most gorgeous day, with bright sun and a strong south wind. Some arrived to church in large boats. The strength of the south wind is bringing down a prodigious volume of water. (David Anderson; page 20-24)
- May 10: Water rose 5.75 inches in 12 hours. Great many barns and houses drifting down the river.
- May 10: Another beautiful morning. Evening bright and beautiful, sunset brilliant, whole sky without a cloud. The maple trees, now in full leaf. There was rich green foliage above, and the waste of waters all beneath (David Anderson page 26-27)
- May 11: Fine and warm weather. Lovely bright morning. Vegetation bursting forth on all sides. Swallows seen for the first time (David Anderson). From 3pm yesterday to 7am today, water rose 6 inches. At noon, rate of advance of river still on the increase.
- May 12: Half the colony was under water, and had made a clean sweep of all fencing and loose property on both sides of the river, for a distance of 22 miles in length. In all this extent, not a single house was excepted - all was submerged - not an inhabitant but had fled. The crying of children, lowing of cattle, squeaking of pigs, and howling of dogs, completed the strange melancholy scene (Alexander Ross). Water still rising, at about the same rate. Barns, houses and other property floating down.
- May 12: Wind was strong from the SE during the night. This caused a violent current against the house. Weather still bright.
- May 13: Water knee deep all over the fort, water still rising.
- May 13: A tempestuous night with a fearful thunderstorm ⚡, with much vivid lightning and a high wind. A bright morning, the wind falling but still considerable. We had prayers in the kitchen, standing in the water three inches deep. Felt thankful as many had been camped out in the storm. (David Anderson, page 34-35).
- May 14: Rate of rise decreasing - 2 inches being the rise during the last 12 hours, about half the former rate. Water beginning to appear on the house floor.
- May 14: Weather still stormy. It blows hard but it is fair. Very cold. (David Anderson)
- May 15: Snowing and blowing from the north❄️. Very cold. From 7am yesterday to same time today, rise has been 6.5 inches, then it became stationary.
- May 15: The cold of the previous day had almost prepared us to expect the snow and sleet which fell this morning, and continued for some hours: a most wintry aspect for the middle of May. Weather moderated sometime in the afternoon. (David Anderson; page 40, who had now been boated up closer to St Andrews).
- May 16: About 5/8 inch rise from last night to noon today... A fine cold morning (David Anderson; page 40).
- May 17: Yesterday morning to this morning the rise has been about 10 inches, that being the depth on the house floor. On the store floor it is 13 inches deep.
- May 18: Still blowing hard from the north and very cold. Rise since yesterday about 2 inches. The night was tempestuous (David Anderson).
- May 19: The water gained upon us all day. A rise in the Assiniboine of 5.5 inches during the night.
- May 19: A bright and milder morning, with a westerly wind. Lots of ploughing work being on done on fields that weren't flooded. (David Anderson)
- May 20: Water stationary. In the evening the mosquitoes 🦟were thick, but this was the only occasion they were troublesome (David Anderson, page 54).
- May 21: Water starting to fall. Calm weather in the evening (D. Anderson)
- May 22: The water was at its height, still 18 inches lower than in 1826. One man only lost his life. Some few horses, horned cattle, and pigs, in the hurry and bustle, were likewise drowned. The water had spread out on each side of the river 6 miles, for a distance of 14 miles in length. Not a house was excepted. 3,500 souls abandoned their all, and took to the open plains. (Alexander Ross)
- May 22: Beautiful morning. It was like a sunrise at sea, only with the addition of the fresh green of the trees about the house (David Anderson, who had returned to his house at the Red River Settlement; page 57).
- May 23: Beautiful weather. Water fallen 2 inches since yesterday.
- May 23: Intensely hot. (David Anderson, page 59)
- May 24 and 25: Water fallen another 2 inches.
- May 24: The day was very fine, nearly as warm as yesterday. (David Anderson)
- May 25: Beautiful. Still hot and scorching. (David Anderson)
- May 26: Water still falling gradually. Off the house floor after being there 11 days.
- May 26: Thunder⚡ and slight rain in the afternoon (David Anderson, page 68).
- May 27: A little refreshing rain 💧 and a fine evening (David Anderson, page 69).
- May 28: This morning a shower 💧 came on and we returned home drenched. (David Anderson, page 70).
- May 29: A lovely morning after the storm. (David Anderson, page 72).
- May 30: A morning of very heavy rain 💧. (David Anderson, page 75)
- May 27 to 31: Water falling.
- Provencher's personal account of the flood of 1852 in St Boniface: ''The flood took away the houses, the barns, the stables, the bridges, the fences, with many household losses, etc. There was five feet of water around my house; another two or three inches and it would be on my floor. I did not go out, but I was like on a ship on the open sea and I heard day and night waves, pushed by furious winds, beat against the walls of the first floor, as I have heard them in my overseas travels. The water rose until May 20. People and beasts had taken refuge far away in the prairie; no one perished. We couldn't sow barley until the end of June, as well as potatoes; all this will ripen if we have a favourable season. The water has risen, it is said, 1 foot or 18 inches less than in 1826, but it has caused infinitely more damage because the population is greater. Some grain has been lost. The church and my house served as a public shed; all the other houses were in danger of being washed away.''
- June 🌊:
- Jun 1: A few families want to leave the settlement for fear of too few provisions in the coming winter as a result of the flood and concerns for the future of their children and themselves. Three families to go to the US, two by ship, 40 have signed a petition to be removed to some other part of the Dominion. However, Anderson went to Sturgeon Creek the following day and conversed with many in the encampment there and found most don't plan to leave (David Anderson, page 80).
- Jun 3: The land is fast reappearing. At my home, what should be a garden is covered in mud and some of the flower bulbs are only just coming out now that the waters have receded (David Anderson).
- Jun 5: Somewhat stormy (David Anderson, page 85).
- Jun 6: The morning was unpropitious and showery. At 4:30pm, the rain had increased. Heavy rain continued all evening (David Anderson page 86 and 93).
- Jun 8: The morning very stormy. Strong gale of north wind. (David Anderson, page 96).
- Jun 9: There's mention of one casualty from the flood. (David Anderson, page 101)
- Jun 10: Lovely day, more like summer. (David Anderson)
- Jun 12: The falling of water allowed many of the people to approach their cheerless homes about the 12th of June (Alexander Ross).
- Jun 13: Lovely calm evening with bright sunset. (David Anderson)
- July 🔴🏜️: The weather became quite dry and warm. There was a brief few days of cooler weather and showers from the 7th to 12th. 3 days of rain.
- Jul 4: Clear and calm, very warm. Thermometer said to be 96°F (35.6°C) in the shade
- Jul 5: Very warm, strong S wind.
- Jul 7: Cloudy and not too warm.
- Jul 8: Cloudy with afternoon rain.
- Jul 9: Rain in afternoon, wind E.
- Jul 11: Showery and cold, strong E wind.
- Jul 12: Strong N wind.
- Jul 14 to 19: Mostly clear, very sultry. Wind mostly S.
- Jul 20: Cloudy forenoon, otherwise clear.
- Jul 21 to 24: Warm to very warm. Wind variable.
- Jul 25: Clear and pleasantly cool, wind NE.
- Jul 26: Cloudy, wind S. Very warm.
- Jul 27: Remarkably sultry, crops much in want of rain.
- Jul 28: Wind W, warm.
- Jul 29: Strong N wind.
- August: The rains returned in August with 8 or 9 days of rain and 4 days of thunderstorms reported. A chillier start to August.
- Aug 1: Cloudy, strong wind S. Appearance of rain toward evening.
- Aug 2: Cloudy, moderate wind. Rain fell at last pretty plentifully in the evening, much needed to replenish the parched earth.
- Aug 3: Cloudy, strong NW wind. In the evening, gale from NW with heavy rain at intervals.
- Aug 4: Rain in the morning, afterwards fine. Strong NE wind.
- Aug 5: Wind NW, moderate.
- Aug 6: Cloudy, light W wind. Cool.
- Aug 7 and 8: Wind N.
- Aug 9: Cloudy and rather cool. There was said to a slight frost last night. Calm.
- Aug 10: Clear and warm, wind S light.
- Aug 11: Very warm, thermometer 90+F. Wind SW.
- Aug 12: Cloudy and sultry. A little thunder and winds in the evening.
- Aug 13: A little evening rain, wind N strong.
- Aug 14: Wind N moderate.
- Aug 16: Cloudy, strong NW wind.
- Aug 17: Very sultry.
- Aug 18 and 19: Cloudy.
- Aug 20: Clear, strong S wind.
- Aug 21: Showery morning. Heavy rain in the afternoon with some loud peals of thunder - rain will be of much benefit to the crops.
- Aug 22: Cloudy, wind NW. Very heavy squall of wind and rain took place in the afternoon.
- Aug 27: Clear and warm, strong SW wind.
- Aug 28: Clear with moderate S wind. A thunderstorm with heavy rain in the evening.
- Aug 30: Cloudy with a storm in the evening.
- September 🔵❄️🔥: Turning quite chilly and rainy after the 9th, with even some snow on the 25th. 10 days with rain reported.
- Sep 1: Rain, moderate N wind.
- Sep 7: Warm for the season. Favourable for ripening of the late sown crops.
- Sep 8: Warm and clear, moderate NW wind.
- Sep 9: Clear and mild.
- Sep 10: Cloudy with some rain in the afternoon.
- Sep 11: Cloudy, moderate N wind.
- Sep 12: Cloudy with rain at times. Cold. Number of geese flying southward.
- Sep 13: Cold and cloudy. Moderate N wind.
- Sep 14: Clear with sharp frost last night.
- Sep 16: Raining, light S wind.
- Sep 17: Still raining frequently, moderate W wind.
- Sep 18: Showery, moderate W wind.
- Sep 19: Cloudy with evening rain, wind E.
- Sep 20: Showery and dark, wind E.
- Sep 21 and 22: Cloudy.
- Sep 24: Clear, moderate W wind.
- Sep 25: Stormy N wind. A little rain. A little snow❄️ in the evening.
- Sep 26: Cold and cloudy, N wind. Great many geese flying south.
- Sep 27: Cold and cloudy, moderate W wind.
- Sep 29: Mild smoky🔥 day. Light S wind.
- Sep 30: Sultry. Heavy rain in the evening. Wind calm.
- October 🔥: Starting out chilly and rainy, then a turn to mild dry weather mid-month. This milder weather featured fires and smoky skies from the 16th to 22nd. The final week was cold with a snowstorm. 7 days with rain, 1 with snow.
- Oct 1: Cloudy, moderate W wind.
- Oct 2: Stormy and heavy rain all day. Wind variable.
- Oct 3: Still wet and stormy.
- Oct 4 and 5: Moderate to strong W wind.
- Oct 6: Cloudy. Wind E. Some rain fell in the evening and during the night.
- Oct 7: Cloudy, sometimes rain. Frosty night.
- Oct 9 and 10: Cool and cloudy with a little rain. Light W wind.
- Oct 11: Sharp frost last night, stormy N wind.
- Oct 12: Clear and frosty, moderate SW wind.
- Oct 13: Frosty, moderate N wind.
- Oct 14 and 15: Clear and fine. Light S wind.
- Oct 16 and 17: Mild and very smoky🔥. Wind SW.
- Oct 18: Dense smoke🔥 from the plains to the south, showing large fire raging in that quarter.
- Oct 19: Still dark and smoky🔥. Light W wind.
- Oct 20: Cloudy forenoon, afternoon clears. Wind NE. Fire still raging in the plains but distant.
- Oct 21 and 22: Change of wind to SW has again brought dense smoke🔥 over us.
- Oct 23: Cloudy, some rain in the afternoon.
- Oct 24 and 25: Cold and cloudy. Raw. Wind NE.
- Oct 26: A quantity of snow fell during the night, which we may call the first of the season. Cloudy.
- Oct 27: Clear and frosty.
- Oct 28: A pretty sharp frost last night. Cloudy, moderate N wind.
- Oct 29: Still cloudy, moderate S wind.
- Oct 30: Cloudy and calm, not much frost.
- Oct 31: Light easterly wind, clear.
- November 🔵🏜️: Mostly cold with little to no snow on the ground most of the month, then turning mild and a little more snow in the last ten days. 4 days with snow reported.
- Nov 2: Clear and fine, not cold.
- Nov 3: Sharp frost last night. Cloudy. Light E wind.
- Nov 4 and 5: Rather cold. Cloudy. Wind N to NE.
- Nov 8: Cloudy with a little snow. Wind NE.
- Nov 9: Cold and cloudy, wind E.
- Nov 10: Assiniboine full of drift ice. Moderate E wind.
- Nov 11: Assiniboine frozen across a little above this. Cloudy, wind E.
- Nov 13: Cold continues but no snow.
- Nov 14: Clear and cold, wind N. People seen crossing the ice of main river today.
- Nov 15: Clear and cold for the early season.
- Nov 18: Cloudy with slight sprinkling of snow.
- Nov 19: Clear and cold. Still no snow for sleighing.
- Nov 20: Too little snow for travelling fires east & west main river. (W. Cowan)
- Nov 21: Mild and clear.
- Nov 23: Mild with a little snow last night.
- Nov 24: Mild, moderate E wind. Considerable quantity of snow fell last night and is still falling this evening. Much required to make better roads.
- Nov 25 to 28: Cloudy. Wind variable and moderate.
- Nov 30: Cloudy, moderate S wind.
- December 🔵: Mild first few days, then turning cold the remainder of the month. Not much snow on the ground until a snowstorm on the 16th and 17th. 4 days with snow.
- Dec 1 and 2: Cloudy, misty and mild. Wind S.
- Dec 3 and 4: Cloudy and moderate W wind. Roads much in want of snow, but one slight fall has yet taken place this winter.
- Dec 6: Clear and moderately cold. Wind SW.
- Dec 9: Cloudy and raw. Wind variable.
- Dec 11: Rather cold, a little snow.
- Dec 12: Cold, wind N moderate. -7F (-21.7°C) at 8am.
- Dec 13: Clear and cloudy, -20F (-28.9°C).
- Dec 14: Cloudy, a little snow. Strong N wind.
- Dec 15: Cloudy light N wind. -18F (-27.8°C).
- Dec 16: Very stormy with snow and drifting snow. Wind N.
- Dec 17: The same rough weather as yesterday.
- Dec 18: Clear, wind N light. -21F (-29.4°C).
- Dec 19: Clear, light N wind. -22F (-30.0°C).
- Dec 20: Clear and cold. Light W wind. -33F (-36.1°C).
- Dec 21: Clear and cold. Light W wind. -34F (-36.7°C).
- Dec 22: Cloudy, moderate N wind. -15F (-26.1°C).
- Dec 23: Moderately cold, clear.
- Dec 24 and 25: Clear, cold and calm.
- Dec 26: Clear and cold, moderate W wind.
- Dec 28: Rather cold, clear.
- Dec 29: Clear and cold. -30F (-34.4°C).
- Dec 30 and 31: Still very cold, wind moderate.
1853 💨🔥🌫️
General summary: Ups and downs of temperature with periods of dryness and wetness. An early spring in March, but also an early winter in late October. Very mild January and very little snow over the winter. Ground was almost bare at the end of January, an unusual occurrence. A damaging wind event in early April. Rainy June with very wet ground, but drier weather the remainder of summer made for a decent harvest. Smoke and fires in October. 5 consecutive days of fog in November.
General summary: Ups and downs of temperature with periods of dryness and wetness. An early spring in March, but also an early winter in late October. Very mild January and very little snow over the winter. Ground was almost bare at the end of January, an unusual occurrence. A damaging wind event in early April. Rainy June with very wet ground, but drier weather the remainder of summer made for a decent harvest. Smoke and fires in October. 5 consecutive days of fog in November.
- January 🔴🏜️: Rather mild with some thaws and even a day with rain. Only about 6 days were described as cold. About 16 days described as mild. It is a possibility that only 7 to 12 days had temperatures below -20°C. The big story was the lack of snow with almost no snow on the ground even at the end of the month. Only 1 or 2 days with snow.
- Jan 1: Strong frost, clear day.
- Jan 2: Clear and cold.
- Jan 4: Rather milder than it has been for some time past.
- Jan 5: Very mild and fine. Moderate S wind. +41F (5.0°C) at noon in the shade.
- Jan 6: Clear, strong W wind. +40F (4.4°C).
- Jan 7 to 9: Mild and fine, not cold.
- Jan 10: Moderate W wind.
- Jan 11: Very stormy, SE wind. Cloudy. 22F (-5.6°C).
- Jan 12: Mild, strong S wind.
- Jan 13: S wind.
- Jan 14: Clear, not cold.
- Jan 15: Cold and clear, wind moderate.
- Jan 16: Stormy, a little snow. Wind N.
- Jan 17: Clear and calm, -5F (-20.6°C).
- Jan 18: Moderate S wind.
- Jan 20: Splendid, calm and mild. So little snow has yet fallen that the roads are in some places almost impassable by sleigh.
- Jan 21: Fine and clear, not cold.
- Jan 23: Very mild and calm, roads almost bare.
- Jan 24: Clear with sharp frost, wind W.
- Jan 25: Rather cold.
- Jan 26: Clear, sharp S wind.
- Jan 27: Clear, -2F (-18.9°C).
- Jan 28: Moderate S wind.
- Jan 29 and 30: Beautiful and mild, light south wind. Clear.
- Jan 31: Cloudy with strong S wind. Some rain fell today. The ground in most places is bare of snow. A very unusual thing this late in the season.
- February 🔵: Mostly cold, with some warmth on the first day and the final week, enough for some thawing and some rain. 4 days with a little snow.
- Feb 1: Some rain fell in the night. Cloudy. Strong S wind.
- Feb 2: Cloudy with a little snow.
- Feb 3: Strong N wind.
- Feb 4: Cold and clear, wind N. -34F (-36.7°C).
- Feb 5: Cold and stormy, a little snow.
- Feb 6: Cold, moderate S wind.
- Feb 7: Cold and cloudy, moderate N wind.
- Feb 8: Very cold, wind N.
- Feb 9: Stormy with a little snow.
- Feb 10: Mild, a little snow in the afternoon.
- Feb 11: Cold and clear, wind N. -23F (-30.6°C).
- Feb 12 and 13: Cold and clear, moderate W wind on the 12th.
- Feb 15: Still clear and rather cold.
- Feb 17: Clear and moderately cold, wind W.
- Feb 18: Clear and not very cold.
- Feb 20: Clear and fine, rather cold.
- Feb 21: Strong NW wind.
- Feb 23: Clear, calm and mild.
- Feb 24 and 25: Moderate W wind.
- Feb 26: Very mild, quite calm.
- Feb 27: Mild with thick mist, wind W.
- Feb 28: Thawing fast, light W wind.
- March 🔴: First half mostly cold, then second half very mild making for an early spring. Appears the snow was likely gone by late March and spring birds were seen.
- Mar 1 and 2: Cold and clear, wind N to NW.
- Mar 3: Cloudy, moderate W wind.
- Mar 4: Mild, some snow fell in the night.
- Mar 5: Very mild, light SE wind. Some more snow fell today.
- Mar 6: Cloudy with a little snow.
- Mar 7: Clear sharp weather, wind NW.
- Mar 8: Clear and cold, wind variable.
- Mar 9: Clear and cold, W wind.
- Mar 10: Clear and not quite as cold.
- Mar 13: Clear and cold, wind S.
- Mar 14: Still cold and clear, strong S wind.
- Mar 15: Clear, wind S.
- Mar 16: Clear, not so cold.
- Mar 17: Mild, moderate S wind.
- Mar 18 and 19: Very mild, wind light.
- Mar 20: Cloudy and mild, a little snow at times. Thawing for some days, during day rode over plains very bare (W. Cowan).
- Mar 21: Snow nearly gone, clear and very mild.
- Mar 22: Stil milld, moderate W wind. Ducks and summer birds said to have been seen.
- Mar 23: Mild, strong W wind.
- Mar 24: Clear and calm, colder than yesterday.
- Mar 25: Clear, not much frost.
- Mar 26: ''The winter was not severe, and there was little snow. It is already almost gone'' (Provencher in St Boniface)
- Mar 27: Mild and still clear, wind W.
- Mar 28 and 29: Very mild, light S wind. Ducks and geese first seen on 29th.
- Mar 30: Mild.
- Mar 31: Cloudy, very mild. No frost last night.
- April 💨: Ups and downs in temperature. First week mild, then colder until mid month when it became warm again. Cold with snow the final week. 1 day with rain, 1 with snow. A damaging wind event struck the area on the 8th. Fires the first week and rivers free of ice by mid month.
- Apr 1 and 2: Clear and mild. Moderate wind, S on 1st, W on 2nd.
- Apr 3: Very mild and clear, wind westerly.
- Apr 4: Cloudy and very mild. Light S wind. Fires burning briskly on the prairie.
- Apr 5: Raining all day. Wind NE.
- Apr 6: Mild and clear, strong W wind.
- Apr 7: Clear, strong W wind.
- Apr 8 💨: Cold with a heavy gale from the NW. A number of accidents and considerable injury to property took place today from the wind. Early morning, some of the steeples from the church left. One of our boats was caught up and rolled over several times with considerable injury. Shortly after, the chimney in the jails took fire, and the sparks falling on the woods yards set the wood in a blaze which was extinguished with some difficulty. A number of houses are partially, or wholly damaged, wind mills, boats etc, and other damage done throughout the settlement. The river has risen about a foot a day for the last two days.
- Apr 9: Moderate N wind.
- Apr 10: Clear and mild.
- Apr 11: Rather cold, moderate W wind.
- Apr 12: Wind variable. Ice on both rivers drifted rapidly about 9 pm, when it stopped somewhere below. The water has risen rapidly.
- Apr 13: Ice still sticks fast. Water rising fast.
- Apr 14: Mild, clear and calm.
- Apr 15: Clear and rather cold, wind N. Ice seems to have all left Red River last night. Ice in assiniboine left this evening and rushing out fast.
- Apr 16: Moderate S wind.
- Apr 17: Warm and clear.
- Apr 18: Still very mild.
- Apr 20: Great number of wild geese going north. Cloudy, moderate S wind.
- Apr 21: Sultry, cloudy and calm.
- Apr 22: Very mild.
- Apr 23: Clear and mild, southerly wind.
- Apr 24: Same fine weather continues.
- Apr 25: Cool, moderate N wind.
- Apr 26: Snowing, strong E wind.
- Apr 27 and 29: Cold, raw and clear. Wind NE to E.
- Apr 30: Cloudy and stormy, wind E.
- May: Seems like a fairly typical May with some warmth and cooler days. First thunderstorm of the season on May 28. 5 days with rain mentioned.
- May 1: Heavy rains all day, strong E wind.
- May 2 to 8: Clear and fine with warm days and cold nights.
- May 9: Cold for the season.
- May 10: Clear and warm. Moderate N wind.
- May 13: Clear and warm. Wind southerly.
- May 14: Rainy, moderate E wind.
- May 15: Showery and raw, moderate N wind.
- May 16: Cold and cloudy, moderate N wind.
- May 20: Very warm, wind variable. +85F (29.4°C).
- May 21: Clear and cooler, wind variable.
- May 22: Cloudy with a little rain. Wind SE.
- May 24: Very sultry, moderate S wind.
- May 25 to 26: Clear and warm, strong S wind.
- May 27: Still very fine with southerly wind.
- May 28: A thunderstorm with rain in the afternoon, much wanted for the crops.
- May 29 and 30: Clear, strong W wind.
- May 31: Warm and fine.
- June 💧: A rainy June with 11 days of rain mentioned. The first half was on the warmer side then the second half became cool and wet. 1 thunderstorm mentioned.
- Jun 1: Clear and warm, wind S.
- Jun 2: Clear, strong S wind.
- Jun 3: Clear and pleasant.
- Jun 4: Cloudy, moderate SE wind.
- Jun 5: Heavy rain during the day.
- Jun 6: Cloudy with a shower or two of rain.
- Jun 8: Cloudy, strong S wind.
- Jun 9: Clear and fine.
- Jun 10: Still warm and fine.
- Jun 12: Early part of day fine, but in the evening we were visited by a very heavy thunderstorm with a deluge of rain and gales of wind.
- Jun 13: Cloudy, sometimes a little rain.
- Jun 15: Clear and fine, W wind. Warm.
- Jun 16: Cooler.
- Jun 17: Rain in morning, strong S wind.
- Jun 22 and 23: Rainy, windy and cold.
- Jun 26: Cloudy with occasional showers, calm.
- Jun 27: Rainy and rather cold.
- Jun 28: Still disagreeable. Causing some injury to crops.
- Jun 29: Still unfavourable, ground very wet.
- Jun 30: Clear and temperate.
- July: Appears to be a typical July, maybe a tad cooler than normal. 4 days of rain in the first half (including 2 thunderstorms), then turning dry in the second half.
- Jul 1: Warm and fine.
- Jul 2: Very heavy rain this morning till about noon when it cleared up.
- Jul 3: Cool and clear.
- Jul 5: Warm and fine.
- Jul 6: Rainy.
- Jul 7: Warm.
- Jul 9: Bright and warm.
- Jul 10: Cloudy.
- Jul 11: Warm and fine.
- Jul 12: Very warm. Had a heavy thunderstorm with wind and rain which lasted about an hour and a half.
- Jul 13: Clear and fine, another evening thunderstorm.
- Jul 14: Cool and clear.
- Jul 15 to 21: Warm and dry, good for the crops.
- Jul 24: Fine weather for the crops.
- Jul 27: Very warm, the warmest we have had this season.
- Jul 29: Appearance of crops is beautiful.
- Jul 30: Very warm.
- Jul 31: Warm and fine.
- August: Favourable weather for crops. There was a spell of hot weather in the middle of the month, followed by cool wetter weather with an early freeze. 3 days with rain mentioned.
- Aug 5: Warm and fine.
- Aug 7: A house was struck and much damaged by lightning during the night of 7-8th. Miraculous that occupants survived.
- Aug 11: Exceedingly warm.
- Aug 14: Exceedingly sultry.
- Aug 19: Very warm and highly favourable for the crops.
- Aug 22: Rainy and windy.
- Aug 27: Rainy cool last night. Freezing a little but not sufficiently to injure the crops.
- Aug 30: Warm during the day and cool at night. Still beautiful.
- September: Not much detail available temperature-wise. Appears to be cooler but hard to say. 4 days with rain mentioned, all in the first half.
- Sep 3: Showery.
- Sep 4: Heavy rain in the afternoon.
- Sep 5: Cloudy and raw.
- Sep 7: Rainy.
- Sep 10: Clear and fine.
- Sep 12: Beautiful harvest weather.
- Sep 13: Still fine.
- Sep 15: Rainy.
- Sep 18: Beautifully clear.
- Sep 26: Beautiful autumn weather.
- Sep 28: Cold and cloudy.
- Sep 30: Warm, clear and fine.
- October 🔵❄️🔥: The writing becomes difficult to read at times. Fires and smoke during the month. Appears to be a cool October overall, especially in the final two weeks when there was some snow.
- Oct 2: Beautiful
- Oct 7: Fine and clear, wild fowl heading south.
- Oct 8: Cold and overcast.
- Oct 10: Still fine.
- Oct 12: Very fine, but hazy all around from smoke 🔥 of fires in the plains.
- Oct 15: Seems to say something about smoke but nearly illegible.
- Oct 16: Cold in the morning but mild in the afternoon.
- Oct 20: Rather chilly and cloudy.
- Oct 22: Cold and snowing a little today for the first time this season ❄️.
- Oct 23: Very bleak (hard to read - if this is what it says it would suggest continued cold and snowy weather).
- Oct 24: Very wintry looking and snowing thickly ❄️.
- Oct 25: Still cold with every appearance of winter.
- Oct 26: Good deal of ice drifting down the Assiniboine.
- Oct 27: Cold still holds.
- Oct 28: Somewhat milder but the snow still on the ground.
- Oct 29: Weather still softening and snow disappearing.
- Oct 30: Extensive fires in the plains 🔥, mild weather again.
- Oct 31: Cold. It appears the fires have done a great deal of damage.
- November 🔵 🌫️: An early winter. November leaning on the colder side it appears, with some milder weather toward the end. 6 days with snow. An extended period of foggy weather from the 16th to 20th.
- Nov 1: Snowing a little with every appearance of winter.
- Nov 2: Still cold.
- Nov 3: Rivers setting fast.
- Nov 4: Rivers frozen and people crossing on foot.
- Nov 6: Clear and sharp.
- Nov 7: Snowing and blowing.
- Nov 8 and 9: Cloudy, snowing at times.
- Nov 10: Cloudy.
- Nov 11: Cloudy, snowing at times.
- Nov 16 to 20: Raw and foggy, disagreeable weather.
- Nov 21: Much colder, wind N and blowing fresh, clearing out the fog.
- Nov 23: Considerable fall of snow last night. First of any consequence this season.
- Nov 24: Raw.
- Nov 26 and 27: Comparatively mild.
- Nov 29: Very sharp 30F (-1.1°C)... Hard to read so not sure if it says this exactly.
- Nov 30: Fine and clear.
- December: First half very mild, second half very cold. No snow mentioned until the very end of the month when a heavy snowstorm is mentioned. 2 days of snow.
- Dec 2: Clear and fine.
- Dec 3 and 5: Cloudy.
- Dec 4: Mild.
- Dec 7: One of the finest weather days... Not sure what the rest says, hard to read.
- Dec 9: Still very fine.
- Dec 11 and 13: Still fine and mild.
- Dec 18: Very cold.
- Dec 19: Still very sharp.
- Dec 24: Clear and moderately cold.
- Dec 25 and 26: Clear and cold.
- Dec 27: Very cold.
- Dec 28: Cold with a little snow.
- Dec 29: Heavy snowstorm.
- Dec 30: Cold and blowing.
- Dec 31: Cold and clear.
1854 ❄️💨🔥
General summary: Potentially record-breaking cold in January during a lengthy cold snap. Overall, a cold winter with a decent amount of snow, a lot of blowing snow and strong cold fronts. Spring came on time, albeit with still some lingering extreme cold in late March at times. A period of cold weather in the first half of May brought an unusual amount of snow, and also heavy rains. Warmer and dry to start June, then regular weather reports end after the 12th. Based on a comment in mid August, it appears much of the summer was dry, until some timely rains arrived in August. The fall was warm with a delayed start to winter, and there was very little snow in December with even some prairie fires.
General summary: Potentially record-breaking cold in January during a lengthy cold snap. Overall, a cold winter with a decent amount of snow, a lot of blowing snow and strong cold fronts. Spring came on time, albeit with still some lingering extreme cold in late March at times. A period of cold weather in the first half of May brought an unusual amount of snow, and also heavy rains. Warmer and dry to start June, then regular weather reports end after the 12th. Based on a comment in mid August, it appears much of the summer was dry, until some timely rains arrived in August. The fall was warm with a delayed start to winter, and there was very little snow in December with even some prairie fires.
- January 🔵: A very cold January featuring a brutal cold snap from about the 11th to 26th. It's possible almost every day in this period dropped below -30°C, and several even dropped below -40°C. It was potentially the coldest January weather ever recorded in the area. On the 22nd, the thermometer showed -44.4°C which would tie the January record for the period of 1873 to present. One thermometer even showed -47.8°C which would easily beat the all-time January record. 5 or 6 days with snow and at least 5 with drifting snow. A brief mild spell early in the month even dropped a bit of rain but a vicious cold front followed.
- Jan 1: Cold, snowing a little in the morning.
- Jan 2: Cold and blowing, snowing a little.
- Jan 3: Very mild in the morning with a few drops of rain. In the afternoon, a violent gale of wind with very heavy drift.
- Jan 4: Very cold.
- Jan 5: Cold and clear.
- Jan 6: Somewhat milder.
- Jan 7: Cold and clear.
- Jan 8: Cold.
- Jan 9: Cold and snowing heavily.
- Jan 10: Tolerably mild but overcast.
- Jan 11 and 13: Very cold and drifting.
- Jan 12: Very cold and stormy.
- Jan 14: Cold and clear.
- Jan 15: Still very severe.
- Jan 16: Still very severe. -30F (-34.4°C).
- Jan 17: Still very severe. -34F (-36.7°C).
- Jan 18: Still very severe. -40F (-40.0°C).
- Jan 19: Still very cold and calm. -41.5°C (-40.8°C).
- Jan 20: Clear. -27F (-32.8°C). During the night a little snow fell.
- Jan 21: Blowing a little. -45.5°C at 7am (-43.1°C).
- Jan 22: -48F (-44.4°C). By Major Caldwell's -54F (-47.8°C).
- Jan 23 to 26: Still very cold.
- Jan 27 and 28: Cloudy. Unusually small number of people at the Fort this month except for a very few days.
- Jan 29: Mild and clear.
- Jan 30: Very mild and cloudy.
- Jan 31: Very mild and snowing a little. Afternoon, blew very hard with heavy drift.
- February 🔵: Mostly cold, but milder and more mild days than in January. Only 2 days with snow mentioned plus one stormy.
- Feb 1: Cold again, -22F (-30.0°C).
- Feb 2: -40F (-40.0°C).
- Feb 3: Cold and cloudy.
- Feb 4: Mild.
- Feb 5: Clear and moderately cold.
- Feb 6: Comparatively mild and snowing slightly.
- Feb 7: Snowing occasionally with wind but mild. Afternoon blowing very hard with thick drifts.
- Feb 8: Cold.
- Feb 9: Clear, -33F (-36.1°C).
- Feb 10: Still very cold.
- Feb 11: Clear and tolerably mild.
- Feb 12: Cold, blowing and cold.
- Feb 13: Clear, -27F (-32.8°C).
- Feb 14: Cold.
- Feb 15: Cold and blowing.
- Feb 16: Still very cold, -33F (-36.1°C).
- Feb 18: Clear but moderately cold.
- Feb 19: Mild and pleasant.
- Feb 21: Mild but in the evening very stormy and drifting.
- Feb 22: Clear, storm in morning. -22F (-30.0°C). Mild in middle of day.
- Feb 23: Blew very hard last night, tolerably mild.
- Feb 24: Fine and mild.
- Feb 26 to 28: Fine and moderately cold.
- March ❄️💨: Abnormally mild first half with a few days warm enough for thawing. Considerable ups and downs in the second half bouncing between near -30°C and above freezing. This see-saw pattern produced some vicious cold fronts again. Very high drifts from continued blowing snow and some heavy snowfall events throughout the winter. At least 5 days with snow in March and about 11 with either snow, blowing or stormy conditions.
- Mar 1: Still very fine.
- Mar 2 and 3: Snowing and drifting heavily. The Fort very full of snow, some drifts reaching to the gallery and almost over the hall.
- Mar4 and 5: Fine and tolerably mild.
- Mar 6: Blowing in the evening.
- Mar 7: Storming hard but not cold.
- Mar 8: Fine and thawing slightly.
- Mar 9: Snowing a little but mild.
- Mar 11: Blowing and thawing.
- Mar 12 and 13: Still very fine but the nights continue frosty.
- Mar 14: Mild, clear and fine.
- Mar 15: Mild, clear and fine. Thawing very much.
- Mar 16: Mild, clear and fine. Gale in the evening with very thick drift.
- Mar 17: Cold, clear, -17F (-27.2°C). In the early part of the last night, a violent storm of wind 💨 with a perfect deluge of drifting snow. Mills injured by wind.
- Mar 18: -22F (-30.0°C), though tolerably mild towards mid day. Overcast and blowing in the evening.
- Mar 19: Fine and clear.
- Mar 20: Mild.
- Mar 21: Still mild. Foggy.
- Mar 22: Thawing a good deal today. Roads getting bad.
- Mar 23: Colder and clear.
- Mar 25: Clear and sharp, freezing hard.
- Mar 26 : Clear and still very cold. -15F (-26.1°C). The feeling there has not been a colder day this winter - the continuance of this cold weather up to so late a date, will likely fire us a very sudden thaw - when it begins.
- Mar 27: Still very cold.
- Mar 28: Cloudy, thawing in the afternoon with air considerably milder.
- Mar 29: Had about 3 inches (7.6 cm) of snow in the course of the night. Milder today.
- Mar 30: Have had 3 inches (7.6 cm) more snow last night. Still cold and wintry looking.
- Mar 31: Cold and clear. Water in river rising owing to recent warmer weather most likely upstream from here. Roads getting bad. We have now had a steady continuance of winter for five months.
- April 🔴: Some ups and downs in temperature, but seemed to lean toward warmer in April. Final week was chilly. No snow mentioned. 2 days with heavy rain.
- Apr 1: Some appearance of a mild change, but still cold.
- Apr 2: Blowing hard from the S but thawing a great deal.
- Apr 3: Fine soft weather.
- Apr 4: Thawing fast, soft southerly breeze.
- Apr 5: Heavy rain in the afternoon, snow disappearing fast.
- Apr 6: Clear, mild and fine.
- Apr 7: Very fine.
- Apr 9: It froze pretty hard last night, but today is warm.
- Apr 12: Rather sharp but clear and fine. Excepting the deeper drifts, all the snow has now disappeared from the plains.
- Apr 13: Mild and fine.
- Apr 15: Very fine.
- Apr 16: Ice on main river breaking up and beginning to move off.
- Apr 17: Red River running clear of ice, Assiniboine ice still holding on.
- Apr 18: Warm, Assiniboine ice going.
- Apr 19: Very fine and warm.
- Apr 20: Ground drying up very fast.
- Apr 22: Heavy rain last night, cloudy today.
- Apr 23: Cloudy and mild.
- Apr 25: Strong southerly breeze.
- Apr 27: Pretty sharp frost last night, Beautifully clear today.
- Apr 30: Chilly and clear.
- May 🔵💧❄️: Cold and stormy first half with heavy rains, thunderstorms and snow. There was at least 3 inches (8 cm) of snow, and likely even more. Second half was warmer with occasional rains.
- May 1: Freezing hard last night.
- May 3: Very strong SW breeze.
- May 4: Very bleak, cold wind. As it continues dry, all outdoor work goes on without interruptions.
- May 5: About 2 inches (5 cm) of snow fell this afternoon.
- May 7: Heavy rain last night with thunder.
- May 8: Another heavy fall of rain last night.
- May 9: More heavy rain.
- May 10: Snowing, cold and raw.
- May 11: Still wintry looking, with fully an inch (3 cm) of snow on the ground. (This would be from yesterday's snow, suggesting there was more than an inch of snow that fell, given there would be a lot of melting in May).
- May 12: Weather getting fine.
- May 13: Stilly chilly and cloudy.
- May 15: Very fine and drying the ground well.
- May 16: Warm, finest day of the season.
- May 18: Heavy rain.
- May 19: Still cloudy and chilly.
- May 20: Rainy.
- May 21: Fine.
- May 23: Warm and fine.
- May 28: Rainy in the forenoon, but cleared up in the after part of the day.
- May 30: Warm and fine.
- June 🔴🏜️: Became dry and warm. Reports only available up to the 12th. No rain mentioned in these first 12 days.
- June 2 to 4: Warm to very warm.
- Jun 7: Weather continues so very dry, the crops beginning to suffer a little in consequence
- Jun 8 and 9: Still warm and dry.
- Jun 12: Exceedingly warm.
- August: Some timely rains helped alleviate the dry conditions of the summer.
- Aug 14: Owing to dry weather there was every appearance of a failure of the wheat crop but the fields have been plentifully watered since and there is an abundant crop. (Rev. John Black at Red River Settlement)
- October 🔴🏜️: Mild with little precipitation. (Cowan)
- November and December 🔴 🏜️🔥: Relatively mild until late November. Assiniboine and Red River froze on the 11th. Very little snow mentioned in December (Cowan)
- ''There was grief in the Red River Settlement this fall. The weather was damp and foggy with no snow ... Arctic winds came in November but still there was no snow. A prairie fire swept the over haylands from Upper to Lower Fort Garry. But snow didn't even come in December and the last day of the year witnessed another prairie fire''. (Knox, Kildonans area)
1855 🔵💧
General summary: Weather was reported daily by Donald Gunn during his stay at the Lower Fort Garry (Selkirk area) from June to December. He reported excessive rains close to 1000 mm for the year, which are hard to believe. There is reason to doubt that the amounts were this high given the lack of comments about flooding or wet grounds. Regardless, due to frequency of rainfall, particularly from July to September, it does appear to have been rainier than normal - I just don't believe to the extent of amounts that Donald Gunn reported. An explanation of measurement procedures is available here. He also measured temperature three times per day - at 7am, 2pm and 9pm. I have used the maximum of these three measurements as an estimation of the daily high temperature. In reality, the daily high temperature will be a little higher than shown because the high is normally in between 2pm and 9pm. Regardless, they provide an idea of whether a month was warmer or cooler than normal. I do not know how the temperature was measured exactly. In general, a cold year. August and December were exceptionally cold, reminiscent to August 2004 and December 1879. Both months featured some values close to record lows. Temperatures not too bad otherwise, with warmth in June and September.
General summary: Weather was reported daily by Donald Gunn during his stay at the Lower Fort Garry (Selkirk area) from June to December. He reported excessive rains close to 1000 mm for the year, which are hard to believe. There is reason to doubt that the amounts were this high given the lack of comments about flooding or wet grounds. Regardless, due to frequency of rainfall, particularly from July to September, it does appear to have been rainier than normal - I just don't believe to the extent of amounts that Donald Gunn reported. An explanation of measurement procedures is available here. He also measured temperature three times per day - at 7am, 2pm and 9pm. I have used the maximum of these three measurements as an estimation of the daily high temperature. In reality, the daily high temperature will be a little higher than shown because the high is normally in between 2pm and 9pm. Regardless, they provide an idea of whether a month was warmer or cooler than normal. I do not know how the temperature was measured exactly. In general, a cold year. August and December were exceptionally cold, reminiscent to August 2004 and December 1879. Both months featured some values close to record lows. Temperatures not too bad otherwise, with warmth in June and September.
- January: The weather turned very cold on the 2nd. Snowfalls on only 5 days but two of these were heavy (January 11 and 16). (W. Cowan)
- March and April: Strong thawing began in the last week of March and continued into April. Considerable snow and rain fell between March 30 and April 11. The ice on the Assiniboine at the Red River Settlement broke up and cleared April 19-22. (W. Cowan)
- May: May at Red River was cool with several heavy falls of rain, particularly mid-month and during the last week.
- June 🔴: A warm June, more typical of July. At least 5 days above 30°C. Dry in the first half, then becoming wet in the second half. 7 days with rain and 3 with thunderstorms. There is a comment about fires east of the lake (I assume Lake Winnipeg) mid month, a symptom of drier conditions earlier in June. At least 152 mm of rain measured (I'm skeptical of this value).
- Average high temperature based on the three daily measurements = 24.9°C.
- Jun 30: Wind blew strongly from the north.
- Jun 29: Cloudy, light wind.
- Jun 28: Thunderstorm; heavy rain, mingled with hail; three inches of rain.
- Jun 27: Wind light.
- Jun 26: SW wind blowing hard in the forenoon.
- Jun 25: Last night, heavy rain for a short time. One inch of rain.
- Jun 24: Thunder and light shower.
- Jun 23: Wind light. 32.2°C at 2pm.
- Jun 22: Calm and clear.
- Jun 21: Wind light, few clouds.
- Jun 20: Calm. Few drops of rain.
- Jun 19: 31.1°C at 2pm.
- Jun 18: Wind light variable. Very sultry. Thunder. One inch of rain.
- Jun 17: Calm. Thick clouds near the horizon. One inch of rain fell today. 30.0°C at 2pm.
- Jun 16: Fires in the forest on the east side of the lake (I assume Lake Winnipeg). Few clouds.
- Jun 15: Calm and without clouds all day. 33.3°C at 2pm.
- Jun 14: Morning overcast, evening clear. 31.1°C at 2pm.
- Jun 13: In the morning, light clouds. In the afternoon, overcast.
- Jun 12: Clear and calm.
- Jun 11: Light breeze.
- Jun 10: Blowing freshly from 8am to 7pm. Very few clouds.
- Jun 9: The wind rose about 10 am and blew a stiff breeze. A few clouds in the height of the day.
- Jun 8: Blew pretty strongly in the height of the day.
- Jun 7: A few clouds, light wind.
- Jun 5: Few drops of rain.
- Jun 4: Overcast, light variable wind.
- Jun 3: Clear and calm.
- Jun 2: A few scattered clouds. Light wind.
- Jun 1: No clouds.
- July 💧: Near normal July temperature-wise. At least 4 days above 30°C. Rainy with 11 days of rain and 5 days of thunderstorms. Donald Gunn measured over 300 mm of rain which I find hard to believe. No comments about flooding, saturated ground or effects on agriculture. Take these rainfall amounts with a grain of salt as a result.
- Average high temperature based on the three daily measurements = 25.7°C.
- Jul 2: Smart shower fell. Some fraction of an inch fell (can't read the fraction).
- Jul 3: Clear, light wind.
- Jul 4: Light north breeze, very few clouds.
- Jul 5: Light breeze, very few clouds.
- Jul 6: Light breeze.
- Jul 7: Fresh breeze. Loud thunder. Rain with 3 inches (plus a fraction of an inch that I can't read).
- Jul 8: Cloudy.
- Jul 9: Light cloud, strawberries plentiful.
- Jul 10: Thunderstorm. Some fraction of an inch fell (can't read the fraction).
- Jul 11: Light breeze.
- Jul 12: Light breeze, clear. Wheat out of the shot belly.
- Jul 13: Overcast.
- Jul 14: Light breeze, a few clouds.
- Jul 15: Blowing hard, thunderstorm. A boy killed by lightning.
- Jul 16: Wind light.
- Jul 17: Thunderstorms, raining all day. 3 inches fell.
- Jul 18: Rained all night, 2 inches fell.
- Jul 19: Light shower during the night.
- Jul 20: Calm, begun hay cutting.
- Jul 21: Light clouds.
- Jul 22: Fresh breeze.
- Jul 23: Cloudy.
- Jul 24 and 25: Wind south, blowing freshly.
- Jul 26: Thunderstorms, 1 inch of rain.
- Jul 27: Fresh north breeze.
- Jul 28: Light clouds. Rain by 9pm.
- Jul 29: Rain until 3am. 3 inches fell.
- Jul 30: Raining during the night, 2 inches fell.
- Jul 31: Wind from the south and west.
- August 🔵💧: A cold August, with likely no days above 30°C, and continuous below normal conditions. The 15th and 16th were close to record breaking cold, with temperatures only in the low to mid teens in the afternoon. A slight frost was also recorded on the 29th. Rainy with 9 or 10 days of rain. The 7th to 15th had almost daily rain. No mention of thunderstorms. Donald Gunn measured over 300 mm which again I am skeptical of. Pools of water on ground were reported on the 9th, otherwise no other evidence of significant flooding or impacts to agriculture. In fact, crops were doing quite well, with the harvest progressing well. The combination of cool and wet weather reminds me of August 2004.
- Average high temperature based on the three daily measurements = 20.5°C.
- Aug 1: Light wind, barley harvest commenced based on some sources.
- Aug 2: Loose clouds, wind very light.
- Aug 3: Light N wind.
- Aug 5: Clear, light wind.
- Aug 7: Heavy clouds, winds blowing freshly all day with heavy rain.
- Aug 8: From 7am yesterday to 6am this morning, 5 inches of rain fell. Barley harvest commenced again according to Gunn.
- Aug 9: Heavy clouds, pools of water on the ground.
- Aug 10: Heavy clouds, wind variable. Rain by 11pm.
- Aug 11: Rained until 8am this morning, 5.25 inches fell.
- Aug 12: Heavy clouds. Rain fell on each side but none here.
- Aug 13: Calm, few clouds.
- Aug 14: Raining from 4am to 7pm, 2 inches fell.
- Aug 15: Light showers. Wheat harvest commencing.
- Aug 16: The first dry day for some time. The wheat crops are keeping green.
- Aug 17: Blowing very hard from the south, no clouds.
- Aug 18: Blowing freshly, a few clouds.
- Aug 19: Nearly overcast.
- Aug 20: Thick bank of clouds rose at the south, part of which went to the north by the east, and part by the west.
- Aug 22: Light showers.
- Aug 23: Clear and calm, wheat harvest progressing well.
- Aug 24: Slight rain.
- Aug 25: Cloudy.
- Aug 26: A few clouds.
- Aug 27: Overcast.
- Aug 28: Showers of rain from 10am to 3pm. 1/4 inch fell. Wind north.
- Aug 29: Clear and clam. Slight frost but it did no injury to the wheat.
- September 🔴💧: September temperatures were similar to August, but because of falling daily normals, September was actually warmer than normal especially for the time. Rainy weather continued with 9 days of rain. Donald Gunn recorded over 125 mm of rain (unsure of accuracy, might be too high as well).
- Average high temperature based on the three daily measurements = 20.1°C.
- Sep 4 and 6: 27.8°C at 2pm.
- Sep 5: Light winds with a few drops of rain.
- Sep 7: Cloudy with a few drops of rain in the morning.
- Sep 8: Thick fog in the first part of the day, clearing up about 9am.
- Sep 9: Light S wind. Clear.
- Sep 10: Few drops of rain in the evening.
- Sep 11: Blowing freshly from the north. Cloudy. Poplar leaves falling.
- Sep 12: Grey frost this morning. Finished cutting wheat.
- Sep 19: Raining during the night, people making hay.
- Sep 22: Thick foggy weather. Raining during the day, one inch fell.
- Sep 23: Raining during the night, one inch fell.
- Sep 24: Rain during the night, one inch fell.
- Sep 25: Rain during the night.
- Sep 26: Wind NW. Geese flying south.
- Sep 27: Blowing strongly from the S.
- Sep 28: Cloudy, a few drops of rain.
- Sep 29: Clear and fine.
- October 🔥: Ups and downs of temperature, averaging out to near normal. At least 5 days above 20°C, occurring as late as the 13th. Some smoke was reported on the 13th as well. The first cold spell brought the first snows of the season in the first week. The second cool down in the second half of the month was more intense with temperatures below freezing during the afternoon, enough to freeze the topsoil. A nice rebound of temperatures in the final week. Precipitation was meagre, with only 2 or 3 days with snow. No rain was mentioned.
- Average high temperature based on the three daily measurements = 9.9°C.
- Oct 1: 21.1°C at 2pm.
- Oct 4: Snow fell last night.
- Oct 5: Cloudy. Some snow on the ground. (Suggests maybe more snow fell last night)
- Oct 7: Wild geese flying to the south.
- Oct 8: White fish spawning in the river.
- Oct 9: Taking up potatoes. Wild geese flying to the south.
- Oct 10: Cloudy, blowing strongly.
- Oct 11: Hard frost this morning.
- Oct 12: Blowing hard from the south, 20.0°C at 2pm.
- Oct 13: Sky covered with smoke 🔥. 20.0°C at 2pm.
- Oct 14: Grey frost.
- Oct 15: Cloudy.
- Oct 17: Fine.
- Oct 19: Cloudy.
- Oct 20: Snowing during the day. -6.7°C at 9pm.
- Oct 22: Wind E.
- Oct 23: Ice along the river, mild in the evening (-1.1°C at 9pm).
- Oct 24: -7.2°C at 7am.
- Oct 25: The ground frozen these few days back, cloudy.
- Oct 27 to 29: Cloudy.
- November 💧: A November that was perhaps a bit warmer than normal for the time, but not exceptionally. There was a rain event on the 3rd which might have dropped an unusual amount of rain. Donald Gunn recorded 63.5 mm, which I find suspiciously high, but regardless is a sign of a decent rain event. 6 days with snow mentioned the remainder of the month. About 7 inches of snow fell (18 cm) according to Gunn. A warm spell in the final week brought unusually mild nights, some only dropping to near -5°C, and days which were warm enough to thaw some snow. At least 4 or 5 nights dipped below -20°C.
- Average high temperature based on the three daily measurements = Close to -2°C. (Accounting for missing measurements 4th to 7th).
- Snowfall = 18 cm.
- Nov 1: Southerly wind.
- Nov 3: 2.5 inches of rain fell.
- Nov 8: Some snow fell last night.
- Nov 9: Cloudy. The snow which fell on the night of the 7th went off today.
- Nov 10: Cloudy.
- Nov 11: About one inch of snow fell last night. Snowing during the day.
- Nov 12: Cloudy. About five inches of snow fell these two days past.
- Nov 13: One half the river frozen up this morning; 2pm, river frozen over.
- Nov 14: People crossing the river.
- Nov 15: Snowing all day.
- Nov 16: Cloudy.
- Nov 17: Sleet and snow.
- Nov 18: Cloudy. -20.0°C at 7am.
- Nov 19: Cloudy. -21.7°C at 7am.
- Nov 20: Cloudy, 2 inches of snow fell. Wind N. -22.2°C at 9pm.
- Nov 21: -24.4°C at 7am.
- Nov 27: Snow melting. 3.9°C at at 2pm.
- Nov 28: Fog similar to which prevails in the swampy country.
- Nov 30: Snow thawing. 2.2°C at 2pm and 9pm. -1.1°C at 7am.
- December 🔵: Brutally cold December, one of the coldest of all time. Reminiscent of 1879. Similar to 1879, the worst of the cold was around Christmas. Six consecutive days from the 23rd to 28th potentially did not exceed -30°C. At least five days dipped below -40°C, and potentially up to six. Some records were possibly broken during this cold snap. Even Minneapolis dipped below -37°C, one of its coldest days ever recorded. At least 12 days dipped below -30°C throughout the month. At least 5 days with snow.
- Average high temperature based on the three daily measurements = About -18°C. (Accounting for two days missing in the first week).
- Snowfall = 20 cm.
- Dec 1 to 3: Wind south.
- Dec 7: Snowing this morning, 1 inch.
- Dec 15: Snowing and drifting all day, wind N.
- Dec 17: Snow fell.
- Dec 19: Blew hard at night. 2 inches of snow fell. -30.0°C at 7am.
- Dec 21: Snowing during the day. -31.1°C at 7am.
- Dec 22: Hazy sky. Temperatures falling rapidly late in the day, to -33.3°C at 9pm.
- Dec 23: Hazy sky. Scarcely perceptible S wind. Others have marked the haze on the continuance of cold. -42.2°C at 7am and 9pm. -34.4°C at 2pm.
- Dec 24: Calm. -44.4°C at 7am. -34.4°C at 2pm. 🥶
- Dec 25: Thick haze. Wind scarcely perceptible. -42.2°C at 7am, -33.3°C at 2pm.
- Dec 26: -38.9°C at 7am. -31.7°C at 2pm.
- Dec 27: -40.0°C at 9pm. -31.7°C at 2pm.
- Dec 28: Light S wind. -41.1°C at 7am, -31.7°C at 2pm.
- Dec 29: -31.7°C at 7am.
- Dec 30: -35.6°C at 7am.
- Dec 31: -33.9°C at 7am and 9pm. ''The coldest weather that has been these 35 years past.''
1856 🔵 💧
General summary: Donald Gunn daily observations continue until May 1856 at Lower Fort Garry (Selkirk area). The winter of 1855-1856 was brutal with several cold snaps, most notably the late December cold snap. Snowfall on the other hand, was actually less than normal. But without many thaws, what fell would have just accumulated throughout the winter. Becoming more normal in April and May, with an average arrival of spring. A rainy June and July, followed by a dry August, which produced a wonderful harvest.
General summary: Donald Gunn daily observations continue until May 1856 at Lower Fort Garry (Selkirk area). The winter of 1855-1856 was brutal with several cold snaps, most notably the late December cold snap. Snowfall on the other hand, was actually less than normal. But without many thaws, what fell would have just accumulated throughout the winter. Becoming more normal in April and May, with an average arrival of spring. A rainy June and July, followed by a dry August, which produced a wonderful harvest.
- January 🔵: Very cold January with at least 12 days below -30°C and at least one below -40°C. Very few days managed to exceed -10°C. Only 2 days with snow mentioned and at least 3 with blowing or drifting snow. Only 13 cm fell, which is around half of normal.
- Average high temperature based on the three daily measurements = -19°C.
- Snowfall = About 13 cm.
- Jan 1: Wind SW. -30.0°C at 9pm.
- Jan 2: Clear, wind N. -37.8°C at 9pm.
- Jan 3: Clear, wind S. Blue bank of haze at the horizon. -40.0°C at 7am, -31.1°C at 2pm and 9pm.
- Jan 4: Clear, wind SW. -37.8°C at 9pm.
- Jan 5: Cloudy, wind S. 3 inches of snow fell. Blowing hard. -30.6°C at 7am.
- Jan 6: Clear, wind W. -33.3°C at 9pm.
- Jan 7: Clear, wind NW. -37.8°C at 7am and 9pm, -33.3°C at 2pm.
- Jan 8: Fine, calm, wind NW. -38.9°C at 7am, -31.7°C at 2pm.
- Jan 9: Calm, wind W. -31.1°C at 9pm.
- Jan 10: Wind SW. -33.3°C at 7am. ''This winter has been the coldest ever experienced by the oldest settlers, for the last month the temperatures ranged from 40 to 49° below zero (°F)'' (William Ross).
- Jan 11 and 12: Wind S. Cloudy on the 12th.
- Jan 13 and 14: Wind N and SW respectively.
- Jan 15 and 16: Clear, wind S.
- Jan 17 to 20: Wind N. Clear on the 18th, cloudy on the 19th and 20th.
- Jan 21 and 22: Clear, wind SW.
- Jan 23: Partly cloudy, wind NW.
- Jan 24: Wind N. -32.2°C at 9pm.
- Jan 25 to 27: Clear, wind S.
- Jan 28: Cloudy, wind N. Blowing and drifting hard.
- Jan 29 and 30: Wind SW. -30.0°C at 7am on the 30th.
- Jan 31: Wind NW. Snowing and drifting.
- February 🔵: A cold February overall, but not excessively so, especially for the time. A period of above freezing temperatures still occurred on the 19th and 20th. At least 8 days dipped below -30°C. Only 4 days with snow mentioned, totalling 15 cm, which is around or slightly below normal.
- Average high temperature based on the three daily measurements = -14°C. (Two days missing unaccounted for)
- Snowfall = About 15 cm.
- Feb 1: Wind NW. -36.7°C at 9pm.
- Feb 2: Wind W. -37.8°C at 7am.
- Feb 3: Cloudy, wind SW. Some snow falling. -36.7°C at 7am.
- Feb 4 and 5: Wind SW. Clear and -31.1°C at 7am on the 5th.
- Feb 6: Cloudy in part of day, wind NW. -30.0°C at 9pm.
- Feb 7: Wind S. -36.7°C at 7 am.
- Feb 8: Cloudy, wind W.
- Feb 9: Snowed from 8am to 4pm, 1 inch fell.
- Feb 11: Wind NW, some flakes of snow falling. -32.2°C at 9pm.
- Feb 12: -31.1°C at at 9pm.
- Feb 14: Cloudy, wind SW.
- Feb 15 to 17: Wind N to NW. Cloudy on the 16th and 17th.
- Feb 18: Cloudy, wind S, blowing stiffly.
- Feb 19 and 20: Wind W. Clear on the 19th. 1.7°C at 2pm on the 20th.
- Feb 21 to 23: Wind NW to SW.
- Feb 24: Wind NW. 3 inches of snow fell during the day.
- Feb 25: Wind SW, clear.
- Feb 28: Wind N.
- March 🔵: A very cold March with at least 4 days below -30°C. It dipped below -35°C on the 8th. Despite the cold, it still managed to warm up nicely between the 16th and 22nd, reaching over 6°C on the 21st. Apparently, much of the snow had melted thanks to this warm spell, given the fact that not much had fallen through the winter. It only dipped back into the -20s during the final week however. Around 16 cm of snow but it all fell in the first 3 days. Only 3 days with snow mentioned.
- Average high temperature based on the three daily measurements = -7°C.
- Snowfall = About 16 cm.
- Mar 1: Snowing from 10am to 5pm, 2 inches fell.
- Mar 2: Snowing from 6pm.
- Mar 3: Snowing until 4am. 2.5 inches fell.
- Mar 4: Wind W.
- Mar 7: Wind NW. -31.1°C at 9pm.
- Mar 8: Calm. -35.6°C at 7am.
- Mar 9: -30.0°C at 7am.
- Mar 10: Clear, wind S. -31.1°C at 7am.
- Mar 11 to 13: Wind W to N
- Mar 14 to 19: Wind S to SW.
- Mar 20: Wind S. Barking crows make their appearance about the 20th.
- Mar 21: Wind S. 6.7°C at 2pm.
- Mar 22: Wind SE, snow very soft.
- Mar 23 to 27: Wind NW to SW. Clear and calm on the 24th. -26.1°C at 7am on the 27th.
- April: The weather finally improved in April with near normal temperatures overall. 4 days with rain and 1 with snow mentioned. 8 cm of snow fell, which is right around normal. Donald Gunn measured over 150 mm of rain which is highly suspect. I would completely disregard these rainfall amounts. No signs of flooding or excessively wet conditions based on his comments.
- Average high temperature based on the three daily measurements = 9°C.
- Snowfall = About 8 cm.
- Apr 1: Thawing. 7.8°C at 2pm.
- Apr 2: Two geese seen today. Snow very soft. Wind N.
- Apr 3 to 8: Wind S. Heavy rain with 2 inches.
- Apr 14: Cloudy.
- Apr 15: Cloudy, raining all night with 4 inches. Snowing in the evening with 3 inches.
- Apr 17: Wind NW. The ice began to break up on the river.
- Apr 18 to 20: Clear, wind S.
- Apr 21: Ice driving. Frogs were heard today for the first time.
- Apr 22: Sturgeon taken in nets in the river.
- Apr 23: Wind SE.
- Apr 24 and 25: Wind S then N with some rain.
- Apr 28: Wind N. Sowing wheat. Frost last night.
- Apr 29: Cloudy, wind SE. Frost last night.
- May: Near to slightly above normal temperatures overall. Unfortunately, no measurements were available in the first 8 days. 3 days with rain mentioned. Gunn again measured over 100 mm which is highly suspect. 1 day with snow, which was associated with a sharp cold front on the 10th which sent temperatures tumbling late in the day. 1 day with thunderstorms mentioned.
- Average high temperature based on the three daily measurements = 20°C (from the 9th to 31st).
- Snowfall = About a centimetre.
- May 1 and 7: Busily occupied in sowing wheat.
- May 9: Abundance of flowers and wild geese in the plain. Maple in leaf. Gooseberry bushes the same.
- May 10: About half an inch of snow fell, most likely in the evening. Dropping like a rock from 23.3°C at 2pm to 0.0°C at 9pm, indicating a vicious cold front.
- May 11: Wind N.
- May 14: Wind switched to N about noon and became cold.
- May 19: Few drops of rain.
- May 21: Heavy thunder. Thick clouds. Little rain.
- May 26: 4 inches of rain fell.
- June and July 💧: Appears to have been quite rainy.
- Jun 30: The unusual quantity of water which poured into every stream caused serious injury to many of the bridges (Oliver at Red River Settlement).
- July: July was extremely wet. Our hay ground in the parks, and everywhere else, was drowned. (Henrietta Black at Red River Settlement)
- August: Drier conditions which greatly improved the agricultural situation.
- November and December ❄️: Appears to have been snowy based on a comment from William Kirby. Also cold, especially in December, according to Minneapolis and an early freeze up in early November.
- Nov 3: Freeze up of the Red River (Abraham Cowley near Selkirk).
- Dec 24: The snow was exceedingly deep in the open plains, but the day was mild. (William Kirby)
1857 🔵❄️🌊🦗
General summary: Not a lot of information is available for 1857. However, based on what's available (primarily from this source) and based on Minneapolis, it was a very cold year with yet another brutally cold winter. This time, it was also an extremely delayed spring, which was in contrast to 1856 when the spring came on time. The rivers did not break up until early May. An unusually large snowstorm in mid May also further delayed spring by dumping nearly 30 cm and the melting snow caused some flooding. It is said that high water levels continued into June and July, suggesting possibly rainy weather, but there's not much evidence. Later in the year, it appears there was a cold November followed by mild weather in December. Note that there are many references from Abraham Cowley, who was at Dynevor near Selkirk, north of Winnipeg. Some from Jemima Ross of Fort/Point Douglas near Downtown Winnipeg.
General summary: Not a lot of information is available for 1857. However, based on what's available (primarily from this source) and based on Minneapolis, it was a very cold year with yet another brutally cold winter. This time, it was also an extremely delayed spring, which was in contrast to 1856 when the spring came on time. The rivers did not break up until early May. An unusually large snowstorm in mid May also further delayed spring by dumping nearly 30 cm and the melting snow caused some flooding. It is said that high water levels continued into June and July, suggesting possibly rainy weather, but there's not much evidence. Later in the year, it appears there was a cold November followed by mild weather in December. Note that there are many references from Abraham Cowley, who was at Dynevor near Selkirk, north of Winnipeg. Some from Jemima Ross of Fort/Point Douglas near Downtown Winnipeg.
- March: After a very cold and snowy winter, spring seemed to bring a tease with warm thawing weather in the second half of March. This melted much of the snow and even brought rain on the 30th.
- Mar 9: The winter very cold and snow very deep. There is talk about a flood this spring. (Jemima Ross)
- Mar 15: Snow sleet & rain have been alternately falling the whole day. (William Kirby)
- Mar 16: Still as wet as yesterday. The snow is melting down to pools of water and the ground is becoming quite bare and soft. The spring has never been known to set in so early as this before. (William Kirby)
- Mar 23: A very difficult job to get on and off the river on account of the great rise in the water which the thaw has made (William Kirby).
- Mar 30: The general thaw seems to have commenced in earnest, it has been raining considerably today and very much of the snow is already melted by the warmth of the past week (Abraham Cowley).
- April 🔵❄️: Cold and snowy weather returned the first week of April and lasted the remainder of the month. This resulted in an extremely delayed spring, despite a tease in March.
- Apr 4: An exceedingly rough and boisterous day. The snow and drift were so bad that one had the greatest difficulty in standing against it (William Kirby).
- Apr 8: We have had a severe winter. Still frosty. Still much snow. River still sound. (Rev. John Black of Kildonan (north side of Winnipeg))
- Apr 12: The weather this morning was very wintry, wind high with snow and cold. (Abraham Cowley)
- Apr 13: A good deal of snow has fallen today (Abraham Cowley).
- Apr 24: The great change in the temperature of the atmosphere may perhaps induce many to go out. The thaw seems to be very general and the snow is melting away very rapidly. Ducks were flying about the fields today (Abraham Cowley).
- Apr 28: The journey down (to the Indian Settlement north of Winnipeg) was still on the frozen river but there being much water on the surface from the melted snow the ride was far from pleasant. Nor do I think that it will be very safe in a few days as already during the short time in which it has been thawing the flowing in of the water from the land has cut and carved out innumerable slices rendering it a little treacherous along shore. There was a little open water opposite the school house. (Abraham Cowley)
- Apr 30: The thaw has so far prevailed as to enable us to remove a little turf... The season for sowing our seeds will be short indeed the winter being so protracted. Although much snow has been thawed on the land near the houses yet far out they tell me winter still holds its sway and even here people have been hauling hay upon the frozen river with oxen and hay frames just as in the depth of winter. (Abraham Cowley)
- May 🔵❄️🌊: A very cold May with potentially one of the largest May snowstorms ever recorded, from the 8th to 9th. Nearly 30 cm was reported by Jemima Ross of Fort Douglas not far from Winnipeg Downtown. The cold snowy spring did result in some flooding, enough to cause some people to evacuate their homes and causing some damage. The minutes of the Council of Assiniboia had noted that a new bridge on the La Salle River was affected by floodwaters.
- May 2: Ox hauling hay across the river still, and I myself crossed the river as well. (Abraham Cowley)
- May 6: River broken. Land on the bank in good order, that further up the field still wet. (Abraham Cowley)
- Mar 7: Rain came on late evening. Much floating ice. (Cowley)
- May 8: Very wintery weather, frost, snow and quite a gale. (Abraham Cowley)
- May 9: The storm has not subsided. Thermometer less than 28F (-2.2°C) at Noon. Snow drifted to nearly the top of one of the fences say 4 ft. (Cowley)
- May 9: We had near a foot deep of snow this morning it was drifting and snowing so much since last night and the ice passing us thick since last week I never seen the like of so much ice going down the river, the water very high rising still is just where the old oven was we will be getting afraid if it rises much higher we were as busy this whole week pulling up our wood out of the water and we are not done yet-We have not begun to plough yet though it is so late of the year (Letter from Jemima Ross of Colony Gardens, which was the Ross Family House in Point/Fort Douglas near Winnipeg Downtown (140 Meade St today but at the time the house was at the foot of Market Avenue)).
- May 9: I left home about 10 am and did not reach (St John's - Maybe the church?) till 4 in the afternoon a distance of 13 miles. I never had such a journey. It had been thawing all the former part of the week which made the roads like a lake, last night the wind changed to the north which immediately brought frost and snow this continued all day. The surface of the road was just a crust of snow and ice. The wind blew furiously bringing with it snow and sleet or rather particles of ice for it literally cut my face (William Kirby).
- May 12: The season for sowing is so far gone that although the land is very wet we must plough. The water here has risen to such a height that I imagine the country about the Bishop's is nearly under water. Large quantities of driftwood is being daily carried down by the stream indicating that the river has overflown its banks somewhere (Abraham Cowley).
- May 13: Did a little in the garden, the heat very great the snow must soon disappear. (William Kirby)
- May 14: Heard that many of the low farms above are flooded and that the Scotch people have fled from their houses and I am inclined to believe it as the water here is so high. (Abraham Cowley)
- May 15: Water still rising (Abraham Cowley)
- May 16: The snow has nearly disappeared, another warm day will melt it all no doubt and then perhaps the temperature will be more uniform... Owing to the very wet state of the land farming operations have been more difficult this year (Abraham Cowley).
- May 28: I avail myself of an opportunity by canoe part of the way not liking to swim my . horse the water being so high & rather cold (Cowley)
- June and summer 🔵🦗: Appears that unseasonably cool weather continued into June. July temperatures unknown. River levels may have remained higher than normal in June and July as well, based on reports from an expedition at Pembina ND mentioning high water on July 25 and a letter from John Bunn of the Red River Settlement on August 10 which mentioned high waters earlier in the season.
- Jun 28: Owing to the very melancholy state of the weather and the great difficulty of crossing the river in a storm we had very few at church today (Abraham Cowley).
- Jul 25 at Pembina: Red River itself is at this time flooded about five feet above its usual level, the depth of water now being 14 or 15 feet (Palliser).
- Aug 10: High water and a late spring all but deprived us of a prospect of a crop. And now that our prospects have exceeded our utmost expectations, we are in hourly dread of a visitation from a plague of locusts which, having completed the destruction of Minnesota, are within 20 miles of the settlement. (Letter from John Bunn of the Red River Settlement). Another source mentioning grasshopper issues.
- November:
- Nov 13: Red River frozen over. (The Norwester)
- Nov 16: Red River could be crossed on foot. (The Norwester)
1858
General summary: A quiet year overall, not much in terms of impact and extremes were mentioned. Precipitation seemed to be around average. Temperatures were warm in the winter, except for some cold in February. Not much snow either particularly early in the winter. Spring also came very early with remarkably warm weather in March. The weather became cold again in April and May with some snow. The summer had regular showers and thunderstorms and average temperatures. Cold dull weather in October and November with some snow. With some periods of cold and warmth, and near normal in between, the year appeared to be around average for temperatures. A mention of grasshopper issues, but grasshoppers were not mentioned in the Red River Journal, so there doesn't appear to have been much impact or concern.
General summary: A quiet year overall, not much in terms of impact and extremes were mentioned. Precipitation seemed to be around average. Temperatures were warm in the winter, except for some cold in February. Not much snow either particularly early in the winter. Spring also came very early with remarkably warm weather in March. The weather became cold again in April and May with some snow. The summer had regular showers and thunderstorms and average temperatures. Cold dull weather in October and November with some snow. With some periods of cold and warmth, and near normal in between, the year appeared to be around average for temperatures. A mention of grasshopper issues, but grasshoppers were not mentioned in the Red River Journal, so there doesn't appear to have been much impact or concern.
- Winter 1857-1858 🔴: Mild throughout, except about the middle of February, when as will be seen by the register, the thermometer indicated -37F (-38.3°C), but only on one occasion. The greatest average depth of snow on the prairies did not exceed one foot. (The NorWester) Periodic thawing and little precipitation in December and January.
- March 🔴: Remarkably mild with thawing conditions most days after the 5th. The Red River was rising on the 22nd and breaking up on the 25th.
- Mar 23: The season is particularly mild & the general thaw seems to have commenced. The ice is strong but there is much water along shore & it is unpleasant getting on it. (Cowley)
- Mar 31: The spring has set in earlier than usual. The snow is mostly gone-the creeks are all running and the ice on the River has started here today-what it was never known to do in March before-Last year it was the 2nd of May. (Rev John Black at Frog Plain which is in Riverbend neighbourhood Winnipeg).
- April ❄️: Winter made a comeback with cooler snowier weather.
- Apr 4: The River is just upon the point of breaking up & crossing is extremely dangerous. The weather today is perhaps more boisterous than it has been on any other day during this winter. The Wind veered to the North & blew quite a gale during a heavy storm . of snow. (Cowley)
- Apr 5: It has been very cold & snowy all day. (Kirby)
- Apr 17: Winter in another severe snow storm has made probably its last effort for this season. (Kirby)
- May 🔵: Chilly May, with a spell of cold weather from about the 6th to 15th which included some snow. 5 days with rain mentioned and 1 day with thunderstorms.
- May 1: Fine and clear, wind S blowing fresh.
- May 2: Clear, very strong SE wind.
- May 3: Warm and fine, wind SE fresh breeze.
- May 4: Cloudy. Wind S then N in the afternoon (with a cold front).
- May 6: Cold and cloudy, wind NW. Drizzling rain in the afternoon.
- May 7: Clear and fine, wind W.
- May 8 to 10: Cold and clear, wind N.
- May 11: Cloudy with squalls of wind and a light shower in the forenoon. Wind N.
- May 12: Cold and cloudy, wind N.
- May 13: Snowing all day, wind N blowing fresh. A winterly day snow falling fast the land covered. The Spring has been most favourable for farming operations (Cowley).
- May 14: Cold, wind N.
- May 15: Warmer, wind SW blowing fresh.
- May 16: Wind SW, strong breeze. Variable weather.
- May 17: Cloudy, wind S blowing fresh.
- May 18 and 19: Wind NW then SW.
- May 20: Warm and fine, wind S.
- May 21: Overcast, wind S.
- May 22: Cloudy, wind N.
- May 23: Fine, wind S.
- May 24 and 25: Warm and fine, wind S.
- May 26: Cloudy in the afternoon; in the evening, a heavy shower. Wind S.
- May 27: Fine, wind W.
- May 28: Heavy rain all day, thundered very much during the night. Little work done outside.
- May 29: Wind variable with occasional heavy showers.
- May 30: Wind southerly blowing fresh.
- May 31: Fine, wind S.
- June: First half cool with not much rain. Second half warm and wet weather with frequent rain and thunderstorms. 9 or 10 days with rain and 5 with thunderstorms mentioned.
- Jun 1: Cold and cloudy, wind N.
- Jun 2: Light S breeze.
- Jun 3: Cloudy, wind N.
- Jun 4: Overcast with a shower or two.
- Jun 5: Fine, wind W.
- Jun 6: Cloudy with occasional shower. Wind NW.
- Jun 7: Fine, wind S.
- Jun 8 and 9: Wind N. Cold on the 9th.
- Jun 10 and 11: Wind W.
- Jun 12 and 13: Wind S. Fine.
- Jun 14: Cloudy, wind S.
- Jun 15 and 16: Wind S then N.
- Jun 17: Wind N, cloudy with a little rain in the evening.
- Jun 18: Wind N, cloudy with a little rain in the afternoon.
- Jun 19: Warm, wind S.
- Jun 20: Cloudy, a thunderstorm in the afternoon. Wind S.
- Jun 21: Very warm. Wind S. A thunderstorm in the evening.
- Jun 22: Thunderstorm in the evening, wind variable.
- Jun 23: Light S breeze. Fine.
- Jun 24: Cloudy, wind W.
- Jun 25: Thunder and heavy rain in the evening. Wind W.
- Jun 26: Thunder and rain in the evening. Warm, cloudy, wind SW.
- Jun 27: Warm, cloudy. Wind N light.
- Jun 28: Wind S. Warm damp weather (not sure if this means it was raining).
- Jun 29 and 30: Wind S. Cloudy on the 29th.
- July: Nothing too unusual mentioned. 4 to 6 days with rain and 3 with thunderstorms.
- Jul 1: Warm, wind S.
- Jul 3: Cloudy, wind N.
- Jul 4: Rain and thunder in the morning, wind S.
- Jul 5: Warm, wind S.
- Jul 6: Thunder in the evening, wind S.
- Jul 7: Wind N and cooler.
- Jul 8: Cloudy, wind N.
- Jul 9: Wind W.
- Jul 10: Wind S.
- Jul 11: Fine, wind SE.
- Jul 12: Wind S.
- Jul 13: Sultry, thunder in course of the night. Wind S.
- Jul 14: Wind N blowing fresh.
- Jul 15 to 17: Wind S to SE.
- Jul 18: Warm and fine, wind S.
- Jul 19: Sultry, wind S.
- Jul 20 to 22: Wind N. Clear and fine the 20th, cloudy the 22nd.
- Jul 23: Sultry, wind S.
- Jul 24: Cloudy, wind N.
- Jul 25: Cloudy and raining all the forenoon. Wind N.
- Jul 28: Raining heavily in the evening, wind N.
- Jul 29: Raining in the morning. Wind N.
- Jul 30: Cloudy, wind N.
- Jul 31: Wind W.
- August: Not much indication of temperatures. Appears to have been warm in the middle and cooler toward the end. Regular rain, with 8 days with rain and 5 with thunderstorms mentioned.
- Aug 1: Raining all day, wind N.
- Aug 2: Raining in the morning, wind N.
- Aug 3 and 4: Wind N.
- Aug 5: Heavy thunderstorm in the evening. Wind variable.
- Aug 6: Thunder and heaving rain in the morning. Wind SE.
- Aug 7: Clear, wind SE.
- Aug 8: Warm and clear, wind SW.
- Aug 9: Strong W breeze.
- Aug 10: Thunder and rain in the morning, wind S.
- Aug 11: Very sultry, wind S.
- Aug 12: Heavy storm in the evening. Cloudy. Wind variable.
- Aug 14 to 15: Wind S, fine and clear.
- Aug 16: Very warm, wind S. Considerable quantity of barley has been cut down and several settlers have commenced cutting wheat.
- Aug 20: Wind N blowing fresh.
- Aug 22: Clear and fine, wind S.
- Aug 23: Cloudy, wind N.
- Aug 25: Heavy thunderstorm in the evening. Overcast.
- Aug 26: Cold. Wind N. Overcast with rain in the forenoon.
- Aug 31: Wind S.
- September: No indication of temperatures. First week rainy and stormy, then becoming dry. A thunderstorm on the 26th. 5 days with rain mentioned.
- Sep 1 and 2: Wind variable (1st) then N (2nd).
- Sep 3: Wet drizzling weather, wind NW.
- Sep 4: Wet weather, wind N.
- Sep 5: Wet stormy weather, wind W.
- Sep 6: Occasional showers, wind W.
- Sep 7: Fine, wind W.
- Sep 8: Wind S.
- Sep 10 to 12: Wind N. Fine on the 12th.
- Sep 13: Wind S.
- Sep 14: Wind N.
- Sep 16: Cloudy. Wind N.
- Sep 17 to 19: Wind S. Cloudy on the 17th.
- Sep 20 to 22: Wind N to NW. Cloudy on the 20th.
- Sep 26: Cloudy with thunder and showers of rain in the forenoon. Wind N.
- Sep 29: Wind S, stiff breeze.
- October 🔵: Leaning toward cold, but doesn't appear to be super cold. A couple snowfall events. 3 days with rain mentioned. A generally dull, cloudy month. Brief warm spell around the 21st.
- Oct 1: Wind N very light.
- Oct 2: Heavy wet weather, wind N.
- Oct 3 and 4: Wind N, cloudy on the 3rd.
- Oct 5: Wind SE blowing fresh and cloudy.
- Oct 6: Cloudy with sleet in the afternoon. Wind N.
- Oct 7: A good deal of snow fell last night. Cold. Wind NW.
- Oct 8: Snow disappearing rapidly. Wind NW.
- Oct 9: Cloudy, wind W.
- Oct 10: Dull heavy weather, wind N.
- Oct 11: Cloudy with a heavy rain in the afternoon. Wind N.
- Oct 12 and 13: Wind N. Cloudy on the 12th.
- Oct 14: Fine, wind NW.
- Oct 15 and 16: Wind NE. Cloudy on the 15th.
- Oct 17: Cloudy heavy weather with a fall of snow in the night. Wind NE.
- Oct 18 and 19: Wind N. Cold on the 18th.
- Oct 20: Fine, wind SW.
- Oct 21: Warm and fine, wind S.
- Oct 22 and 23: Clear and fine, wind S.
- Oct 24: Wet heavy weather, rained heavily last night. Wind N.
- Oct 25 to 27: Cloudy, wind N.
- Oct 28: Fine, wind NE.
- Oct 29 and 30: Wind N. Clear on the 29th.
- Oct 31: Cloudy, wind N.
- November 🔵: Largely cold, with a brief warm spell around the 20th. Snowy with 7 days of snow. Red River froze the 11-12th.
- Nov 1 and 2: Overcast, wind N.
- Nov 3 and 4: Clear.
- Nov 6: Overcast and cold, wind NW.
- Nov 7: Very cold, blowing fresh with a little snow. Wind NW.
- Nov 8: Very cold with a little snow, cloudy, wind N.
- Nov 9: Cold and cloudy, blowing very strong from the N.
- Nov 10: Cold and cloudy, wind NW.
- Nov 11: Snowing a little, wind S.
- Nov 12: Cloudy, wind N.
- Nov 14: Cold, wind N.
- Nov 15: Cloudy.
- Nov 16: Cold and snowing. Blowing fresh from the S.
- Nov 17: Cold and clear, wind N.
- Nov 18: Clear, wind S.
- Nov 19: Warm, wind S.
- Nov 20: Wind S.
- Nov 21: Warm and cloudy, wind S.
- Nov 22: Wind S.
- Nov 23: Wind NW.
- Nov 24: Snowing a little, wind NW.
- Nov 25: Snowed a good deal through the night. Cold. Wind N. Clear.
- Nov 26: Clear and fine, wind N.
- Nov 27: Cloudy, wind N.
- Nov 28: Snowing all day, wind NE.
- Nov 29 and 30: Cloudy, wind N.
- December: Not much indication of temperature. Appears it leaned toward cold in the first half and mild in the second half. Not a lot of snow. 5 days with snow and 3 with blowing snow mentioned.
- Dec 1 and 2: Cold, wind NW.
- Dec 3 and 4: Cloudy, wind N.
- Dec 5: Wind NE blowing fresh, with a little snow.
- Dec 6 and 7: Clear and cold, wind S.
- Dec 8 and 9: Wind S.
- Dec 10: Blowing and drifting during the night, cloudy.
- Dec 11: Wind NW with a little snow.
- Dec 12: Snowing all day, wind NW.
- Dec 13: wind N.
- Dec 14 to 16: Wind S. Clear on the 14th.
- Dec 17 and 18: Cloudy, wind N.
- Dec 19: Mild, wind W.
- Dec 22: Snowing and drifting, wind N.
- Dec 23: Clear and fine, wind NW.
- Dec 24: Wind N blowing fresh with drift.
- Dec 25: Cloudy, wind N.
- Dec 26: Clear and fine, wind NW.
- Dec 28: Snowing a little, wind N.
- Dec 29: Cloudy heavy weather, wind N.
- Dec 30 and 31: Wind northerly, dull heavy weather.
1859 🔵
General summary: A cold year with an extremely delayed spring, a cold June, frost in late August, a cold fall, and an early winter with possibly record cold in early December. Winter 1858-59 wasn't too severe. Regular rains in the summer again, becoming dry in the fall.
General summary: A cold year with an extremely delayed spring, a cold June, frost in late August, a cold fall, and an early winter with possibly record cold in early December. Winter 1858-59 wasn't too severe. Regular rains in the summer again, becoming dry in the fall.
- January: Probably averaging near to slightly above normal. A period of sharp cold around the 7th, then becoming generally mild from about the 10th to 19th. Another period of sharp cold the 20-21st. 4 days with snow and 4 with blowing/drifting snow mentioned. There was enough snow on the ground for sleighing.
- Jan 1 and 2: Wind N, cloudy on the 1st.
- Jan 4: Wind variable with snow.
- Jan 5 and 6: Wind N.
- Jan 7: Very cold, wind E. Clear. -40F (-40.0°C).
- Jan 8: Wind N, -23F to -7F (-30.6°C to -21.7°C).
- Jan 9: Snowing in the afternoon. -19F (-28.3°C) in the morning.
- Jan 10: Wind SE. 23F (-5.0°C).
- Jan 11: -9F to -14F (-22.8°C to -10.0°C).
- Jan 12: 15F to 32F (-9.4°C to 0.0°C).
- Jan 13: Wind S, 15F (-9.4°C).
- Jan 14: Wind N. 0F (-17.8°C) in the morning.
- Jan 15: Wind N, 1F (-17.2°C).
- Jan 16: Wind N, stormy with snow. -5F (-20.6°C).
- Jan 17: Clear, wind S. -3F (-19.4°C) in the morning.
- Jan 18: Warm, 7F in the morning (-13.9°C). Wind S.
- Jan 19: Wind S, 36F (2.2°C).
- Jan 20: Wind N, blowing fresh. -22F (-30.0°C).
- Jan 21: Wind N and drifting. -25F (-31.7°C).
- Jan 22: Wind N blowing fresh with drift.
- Jan 23 to 26: Wind N. Fine on the 23rd.
- Jan 27: Wind N, blowing and drifting.
- Jan 28: Snowing and drifting. Wind N. 6F to 3F (-14.4°C to -16.1°C).
- Jan 29: Cold, wind N. -20F (-28.9°C).
- Jan 30: Wind N, milder.
- Jan 31: Wind N, -7F (-21.7°C).
- February: First half mostly cold then milder in the second half. Not much snow with only 2 days of snow mentioned, but 5 days of blowing or drifting snow.
- Feb 1: Blowing and drifting, wind N. -10F (-23.3°C).
- Feb 2: Snow and drifting, wind N. -1F (-18.3°C).
- Feb 3: Clear, wind N. -25F (-31.7°C).
- Feb 4: Men carting snow out of the square. Wind N. -23F (-30.6°C).
- Feb 5: Wind SE. -17F (-27.2°C).
- Feb 6: Cloudy, wind N.
- Feb 7: Blowing and drifting. Men clearing snow out of the square. 16F (-8.9°C).
- Feb 8: Blowing and drifting, wind N.
- Feb 9: More moderate, -25F (-31.7°C).
- Feb 10: Clear and cold, -30F (-34.4°C). Wind S.
- Feb 11: Wind SE. -30F (-34.4°C).
- Feb 12: Wind N, clear.
- Feb 13: Wind S, clear.
- Feb 14: Wind S, 0F (-17.8°C). Taking snow out of the yard. Enough snow on ground for sleighs.
- Feb 15: Fine, wind SE.
- Feb 16: Wind S, 26F (-3.3°C).
- Feb 17: Fine, wind SW.
- Feb 20: Fine, -5F (-20.6°C) in morning, wind S.
- Feb 22 to 24, 26 and 28: Wind N.
- Feb 25: Snowing and drifting all day, wind N.
- Feb 27: Cloudy, wind NE.
- March: First 3 weeks were quite mild with even a couple thawing days, then becoming quite cold the remainder of the month. 3 days with snow and 1 with blowing/drifting snow mentioned.
- Mar 1: Wind N.
- Mar 2 and 3: Wind S.
- Mar 4: Wind S, 11F (-11.7°C) in the morning.
- Mar 5: Wind S, 18F (-7.8°C).
- Mar 6: Thawing. Overcast, wind S.
- Mar 7: Mild, wind SE. Cloudy.
- Mar 8: Wind S.
- Mar 9: Wind N.
- Mar 10: Wind N. -2F (-18.9°C).
- Mar 11: Wind N, clear. -5F (-20.6°C).
- Mar 12: Wind N.
- Mar 13: Warm and fine, wind S.
- Mar 14: Thawing. Fine and clear, wind S.
- Mar 15: Wind S. Cloudy in evening.
- Mar 16: Snowed heavily during the night. Wind NW.
- Mar 17: Wind N.
- Mar 18 to 20: Wind S. Cloudy on the 20th.
- Mar 21: Very mild. Snowed most of the day. Wind W.
- Mar 22: Fine, wind S.
- Mar 23: Cold. Cloudy with snow and drifting. Wind N.
- Mar 24: Cold and cloudy, wind N. People clearing out snow from the fort.
- Mar 25: Cold and clear, wind N.
- Mar 26: Wind N.
- Mar 27: Wind SE.
- Mar 28 to 31: Cold, wind N.
- April 🔵❄️: Very cold April with northerly winds almost the entire month, making for an extremely delayed spring. The winter snow pack was still on the ground to the depth of a foot on the 27th, suggesting one of the latest spring melts on record. The weather may have started to warm up in the final few days as winds switched to southerly. No rain, 4 or 5 days with snow and 3 with drifting snow mentioned.
- Apr 1 to 5: Cold, wind N. Travel by sleigh still possible. Overcast on the 5th.
- Apr 6: Snowing in the morning, wind N.
- Apr 7: Very cold, clear, wind N.
- Apr 8: Cold and clear, wind W.
- Apr 9 and 10: Cloudy, wind N.
- Apr 11: Thawing a good deal with snow and sleet. Wind N.
- Apr 12: Thawing a good deal, wind W.
- Apr 13: Wind N.
- Apr 14 and 15: Snowing and drifting, wind N blowing a gale.
- Apr 16: Weather more moderate, wind N.
- Apr 16: Clear and drifting all day. Plenty of snow in the woods and very winter-like. No water on the ice yet. (S. Taylor at Red River Settlement)
- Apr 17: Cool, cloudy, wind N.
- Apr 18: Overcast morning, clearing up in the afternoon. Wind N. People clearing out snow from the fort.
- Apr 19: Snowing all day, wind NE.
- Apr 20 to 23: Wind N to NW. Clear on the 20-21st.
- Apr 24: Wind S. S. Taylor: Clear, cold, not thawing.
- Apr 25: Wind N. S. Taylor: 5 geese seen.
- Apr 26 to 30: Wind S.
- Apr 27: ''The winter's snow was covering the ground to the depth of a foot, while the rivers were still ice-bound'' (at the Red River Settlement) (Captain Blakiston, seen in the Winnipeg Tribune).
- Apr 27: Great quantity of snow thawed away. The river covered with water - it wasn't yesterday. (S. Taylor at Red River Settlement)
- May: Starting out warm, then on the cooler side afterwards. 4 days with rain and the first thunderstorm on the 22nd.
- May 1: Warm and fine, wind S.
- May 2 and 3: Wind S. Cloudy on the 3rd. S. Taylor: Warm. Ground dried up fast.
- May 4: Warm and fine. Raining a little in the morning. Wind N.
- May 5: First thunder and lightning the night of 5th. (S. Taylor)
- May 6: Some rain but not much. (S. Taylor)
- May 5 to 7: Wind N.
- May 9 and 10: Wind S.
- May 11: Overcast with showers of rain, wind S blowing strong.
- May 12: Very cold, wind N.
- May 13 and 14: Wind S, blowing fresh. River continues rising.
- May 15: Cloudy, wind S blowing very strong.
- May 16: Wind S blowing fresh, river fallen a little.
- May 17 and 18: Wind N.
- May 19: Wind S blowing very strong.
- May 20: Wind W blowing fresh.
- May 21: Wind NW.
- May 22: Thunder of rain in the afternoon. Wind N blowing fresh all day.
- May 23: Cloudy, wind NW blowing fresh.
- May 24: Raining all day, wind N.
- May 25: Clear and fine, wind S.
- May 26: Warm, wind S.
- May 28: Wind S.
- May 29: Wind S, cloudy in the afternoon.
- May 30 and 31: Overcast, wind variable.
- June 🔵: Chilly with not a single day described as warm. 2 days mentioned cold weather. Nearly every day in the first half of the month had northerly winds and it was rainy with 4 or 5 days of rain. The second half was drier with only 1 or 2 additional days of rain, and winds had switched to a prevailing southerly.
- Jun 1: Raining heavily all the forenoon. Wind variable. Samuel Taylor: Thunder and big hail at dinnertime.
- Jun 2: Heavy showers, wind N.
- Jun 3: Wind N.
- Jun 5: Raining heavily with thunder in the evening. Wind N.
- Jun 6: Wind N.
- Jun 7: Raining all day, wind N.
- Jun 8: Cold, wind variable.
- Jun 9 and 10: Wind N.
- Jun 11: Cold and overcast, wind E.
- Jun 13: Cloudy, wind N.
- Jun 14: Raining heavily all day, wind N.
- Jun 16: Fine, wind S.
- Jun 17, 18 and 20: Wind S.
- Jun 19: Cloudy, wind S blowing fresh.
- Jun 23: Wind SE, light breeze. Samuel Taylor: Heavy shower of hail and loud thunder at dinnertime.
- Jun 24 and 25: Wind SE to S.
- Jun 26 and 27: Wind S. Fine on the 26th.
- Jun 28: Heavy rain and thunder in the morning. Wind N.
- Jun 29: Fine, wind S.
- Jun 30: Wind S.
- July: Some summer warmth finally arrived. No comments were made after 21st, so don't know what kind of weather was happening late in the month. Before then, there were 6 days with rain mentioned and 4 with thunderstorms. Based on Minneapolis, and the switch to strong N winds on the 21st, it's possible the latter part of the month was cooler again.
- Jul 1: Thunder and heavy rain in the morning, wind SW blowing very strong.
- Jul 2: Cloudy, wind N.
- Jul 3: Fine, wind SE.
- Jul 6: Wind S.
- Jul 7: Very sultry, wind S.
- Jul 8: Overcast, wind SE.
- Jul 9: Thunder and heavy rain in the afternoon, wind S. Samuel Taylor: Loud thunder and rain and very hot all day.
- Jul 10: Thunder and rain at night. Samuel Taylor: Fine, a little cool, wind NE.
- Jul 11: Very sultry, wind SW.
- Jul 12: Overcast.
- Jul 13: Heavy rain and thunder in the morning. Wind S.
- Jul 14: Wind S.
- Jul 15: Sultry. Raining very heavily in the morning. Wind S.
- Jul 16: Very warm, wind S.
- Jul 18 and 19: Wind S.
- Jul 20: Cloudy with heavy rain in the afternoon. Wind NW.
- Jul 21: Clear, wind N blowing very strong.
- August 🔵: Weather reports lacking some detail at times. Appears to have been warm to start the month. Winds primarily southerly in the first half of the month. The first half also had no rain mentioned. Cooler and rainier after the 20th, but still only 2 or 3 days with rain mentioned and 2 days with frost. It might have been a dry August as a result depending on how much rain fell on these days and whether or not some rain days were omitted by the writer.
- Aug 1 to 4: Wind S to SW. Fine on the 3rd.
- Aug 5: Very warm, wind S.
- Aug 6: Wind SE.
- Aug 7: Overcast in the forenoon.
- Aug 8: Wind NW.
- Aug 9 to 13: Wind S.
- Aug 14 and 15: Wind S to SE blowing fresh.
- Aug 16 and 17: Wind S. Cloudy on the 16th.
- Aug 21: Raining all day, wind N.
- Aug 22: Cloudy and damp in the morning, wind N.
- Aug 23: Wind S.
- Aug 25: Wind NW.
- Aug 26: Frost but it did no harm (Samuel Taylor).
- Aug 28: Wind SW blowing fresh.
- Aug 29: Wind W.
- Aug 31: A very heavy shower of rain in the afternoon. Wind W blowing fresh. Samuel Taylor: Frost in morning, making potatoes a little black.
- September: Only 3 days with a weather report in the first half, then regular reports start up again in the second half. The first week was cold, then not as cold the remainder of the month.
- Sep 2: Cold weather. I am unsure if it also says wet weather, it is hard to read. Samuel Taylor said plenty of heavy rain.
- Sep 4: Cold and cloudy, wind N.
- Sep 11: Fine.
- Sep 16: Warm and cloudy, wind S.
- Sep 17: Cloudy, wind N.
- Sep 18: Dull heavy weather, Raining heavily last night and this morning. Wind N.
- Sep 19: Wind N.
- Sep 20 and 21: Wind S, fine on the 20th.
- Sep 23 and 24: Wind S fresh breeze. Hard to read but Samuel Taylor seems to say thunder in the morning no rain on the 24th.
- Sep 25: Wind S.
- Sep 26: Cloudy, wind N.
- Sep 27: Wind S.
- Sep 28: Overcast with a thunderstorm and some rain in the evening. Wind S. (Hard to read the thunderstorm part, so not 100% sure that's what it says).
- Sep 29: Overcast, wind S.
- Sep 30: Wind N blowing very strong.
- October 🔵🏜️: Cold with northerly winds almost the entire month. Quite dry, with only 3 days with a little snow mid month. No rain mentioned.
- Oct 1: Wind N blowing fresh.
- Oct 2 to 4: Wind N to NW. Fine on the 2nd.
- Oct 5: Very cold, wind NW.
- Oct 6 to 8: Cold, wind N.
- Oct 9: Fine, wind NW.
- Oct 11: Cloudy, wind NW.
- Oct 12: Warm, wind variable.
- Oct 13: Wind N.
- Oct 14: Snowed a little in the morning, but it thawed in course of the day. Wind N.
- Oct 15: Cloudy, wind S.
- Oct 16 and 17: Cold and cloudy. Wind SW on the 17th.
- Oct 18: Wind SE.
- Oct 19: Fine, wind N.
- Oct 20: Cold and cloudy with a little light snow. Wind N.
- Oct 21: Snowed a little last night, wind N.
- Oct 22 and 23: Cloudy, wind N.
- Oct 24: Fine and clear.
- Oct 25: Cold, wind N.
- Oct 27, 28 and 31: Wind N.
- Oct 29 and 30: Cold, wind N. Clear on the 30th.
- November 🔵: An early winter. Rivers frozen in the first week thanks to cold weather of late. Almost the entire first half of the month had northerly winds and cold weather. Some milder weather starting mid month, before becoming cold again in the final few days. 4 days with snow mentioned and there was a decent amount, enough for sledding.
- Nov 1: Wind N.
- Nov 3 and 4: Cold and cloudy, wind N.
- Nov 5: Wind N. Red River frozen (according to The NorWester).
- Nov 6: Wind N. The ice took in the Assiniboine, and the main river is also frozen away from the point.
- Nov 7: Heavy dull weather, but not cold. Wind N.
- Nov 8 and 9: Wind N.
- Nov 10: Snowing all day, wind N. ''Great fall of snow, hardly any before'' (Samuel Taylor).
- Nov 11: Snowing heavily all day, wind N. Not cold.
- Nov 12: Cold and clear, wind N.
- Nov 13 and 14: Clear in the morning, cloudy afterwards. Wind N.
- Nov 15: Mild, wind SE.
- Nov 16: Overcast, wind S.
- Nov 17 and 18: Wind N.
- Nov 19: Heavy snow, wind N. People using sleds.
- Nov 20: Snowing all day, wind E.
- Nov 21: Very mild, wind S.
- Nov 22: Colder and clear.
- Nov 23: Overcast, wind N.
- Nov 24: Very mild, overcast, wind N.
- Nov 25: Colder, wind N.
- Nov 26: Cold and cloudy, wind N.
- Nov 27 and 28: Cloudy, wind E.
- Nov 29: Cold, wind W. Fine.
- Nov 30: Cold and clear, wind W.
- December 🔵: The first week was very cold, potentially record breaking. Some of the coldest temperatures ever measured that early in the season. A sudden turn to milder weather afterward which might have lasted a few days to a week, then primarily colder conditions the rest of the month. 5 days with snow mentioned and 5 days with blowing and drifting snow, suggesting a decent amount of snow had accumulated so far this winter.
- Dec 1: Clear, wind NW. -32F (-35.6°C).
- Dec 2: Clear and cold, wind S. -35F (-37.2°C).
- Dec 3: A little snow, wind N. A little milder.
- Dec 4: Snowing and drifting, very bad weather. Wind N.
- Dec 5: Very cold, wind NW.
- Dec 6: Cold, wind N.
- Dec 7: Clear and cold, wind S. Within the walls of the Upper Fort, the mercury was down to -39F (-39.4°C). Near the Lower Fort (Selkirk), the spirit thermometer registered -45F (-42.8°C). (From the NorWester). The extreme cold also occurred in Minneapolis on the 6th and 7th with record lows which still stand in 2022.
- Dec 8: Wind SW blowing fresh, snowing in the morning. More moderate and mild in the afternoon. A sudden change took place, and -2F was the lowest point indicated (The NorWester).
- Dec 9: Mild, wind S.
- Dec 10: Very mild, wind W.
- Dec 11: Snowing and drifting in the forenoon. Moderated by evening.
- Dec 12: Cold, snowing and drifting in the morning, wind NE.
- Dec 13: Cold, clear, wind SE light breeze.
- Dec 14: Cold, clear and fine, but blowing fresh.
- Dec 16 and 17: Milder, wind N. Overcast on the 17th.
- Dec 18 to 21: Cold, wind N.
- Dec 22: Cold, wind S.
- Dec 23 to 28: Somewhat milder starting the 24th, wind N. Fine Christmas weather. Men clearing away snow on the 26th.
- Dec 29: Blowing and drifting, wind N.
- Dec 30: Wind N.
- Dec 31: Cold and blowing, wind N.
The 1860s were stunningly cold overall, and perhaps the coldest decade ever recorded. Growing seasons were short with frost almost every August. In 1863, the only frosts ever recorded in July occurred. In 1866 there was a snowstorm on June 9. In 1868, there was a 20 cm snowstorm in late September with ponds frozen.
There were periods of drought from 1862 to 1865 and
The 1860s were dominated by cold summers with frost and shorter growing seasons. Drought and grasshoppers from 1862 to 1864, with low water levels inhibiting boat travel and mill grinding. Drought again in 1868.
There were periods of drought from 1862 to 1865 and
The 1860s were dominated by cold summers with frost and shorter growing seasons. Drought and grasshoppers from 1862 to 1864, with low water levels inhibiting boat travel and mill grinding. Drought again in 1868.
1860 💧⚡🏜️🔥
General summary: Winter 1859-1860 was not very cold. In fact, the snow disappeared earlier than normal, on March 18th (only to be replaced by more snow later on). April and May were around average with some cold days and some warm days. Drier than normal conditions resulted in very low water levels in April and May. The agricultural season started wonderful with crops thriving in May thanks to dry weather but with timely rains. This changed in June when heavy frequent rains caused river levels to rise and caused damage to potato crops. The rains did not subside until late in August. In addition, a severe hailstorm hit the area in mid July. An early fall, with cool temperatures in August and cold with frequent and early frosts in September. Despite the rains, hail and early frosts, crops did well overall. October was very warm and dry with sunny skies and smoky conditions. Winter's permanent arrival was somewhat delayed, with a permanent snow pack not beginning until November 28.
General summary: Winter 1859-1860 was not very cold. In fact, the snow disappeared earlier than normal, on March 18th (only to be replaced by more snow later on). April and May were around average with some cold days and some warm days. Drier than normal conditions resulted in very low water levels in April and May. The agricultural season started wonderful with crops thriving in May thanks to dry weather but with timely rains. This changed in June when heavy frequent rains caused river levels to rise and caused damage to potato crops. The rains did not subside until late in August. In addition, a severe hailstorm hit the area in mid July. An early fall, with cool temperatures in August and cold with frequent and early frosts in September. Despite the rains, hail and early frosts, crops did well overall. October was very warm and dry with sunny skies and smoky conditions. Winter's permanent arrival was somewhat delayed, with a permanent snow pack not beginning until November 28.
- January 🔴🏜️: The first ten days were mostly cold with only brief warmups. Then, it became mostly mild. From the 14th to 28th, only 4 days went below 0F (-17.8°C). The ten remaining days in this period were mostly above 20F (-6.7°C ... It's hard to read the value whether it's 10F or 20F I'm unsure) at 7am and even higher in the afternoon (some days possibly above freezing). It became cold again in the very last few days. Any mentions of temperature measurements are pulled from the NorWester (another another page), the method and exact source of measurement not clear. No snowfall is mentioned which is quite unusual. I doubt there was none, there probably was some but not enough worth mentioning. 1 day of rain (or freezing rain) mentioned. 2 days with blowing/drifting snow.
- Jan 1: Very cold, wind N. -38F (-38.9°C) at 7am, -21F (-29.4°C) at noon.
- Jan 2: -3F (-19.4°C) at 7am.
- Jan 4: Cold and clear, wind N. -23F (-30.6°C) at 7am, -5F (-20.6°C) at noon.
- Jan 5: Wind N.
- Jan 6: Milder, cloudy, wind N.
- Jan 7 to 9: Wind N. Cloudy on the 7th and 8th. Cold.
- Jan 10: Very cold, wind N.
- Jan 11: Wind N.
- Jan 12: Wind S. Overcast. -26F (-32.2°C) at 7am.
- Jan 13: Wind S. -3F (-19.4°C) at 7am.
- Jan 14: Wind N. As mild and pleasant as spring-time. 15F (-9.4°C) at 7am. A slight of shower of rain 💧 in the forenoon. (Was it freezing rain?) Note that Samuel Taylor said it was clear sky all day.
- Jan 15: Mild, wind variable.
- Jan 16: Wind N. Temperature fell an unknown distance below 0F (-17.8°C).
- Jan 17: Wind N. Cloudy. Mild.
- Jan 18: Wind S. Temperature fell an unknown distance below 0F (-17.8°C).
- Jan 21: Wind S. Mild.
- Jan 22 and 23: Wind N. Mild.
- Jan 24: Overcast and stormy, wind N. Mild.
- Jan 25: Cold, wind N. Temperature fell an unknown distance below 0F (-17.8°C).
- Jan 26: Moderate N wind. -18F (-27.8°C).
- Jan 27: Blowing fresh and drifting, wind N.
- Jan 28: Mild and overcast, wind SW. 22F (-5.6°C) at noon.
- Jan 29: Very cold, clear, wind N. (In the -20s°C, too hard to read the exact value)
- Jan 30: Very cold. Wind N blowing a gale with heavy drift. (Below -28°C at both 7am and noon, too hard to read the exact value)
- Jan 31: Cold and clear, wind S. (In the -20s°C, too hard to read the exact value)
- February: First half mostly cold, second half mostly mild. At least 4 to 6 days below -30°C. 5 days with snow + 2 days stormy, and 6 days with blowing/drifting snow. The graph of temperatures below is based on measurements reported in The NorWester. I'm not sure who and how measured these exactly. It is also difficult to read some of the values so some could possibly be a few degrees off. Also, the temperature was only measured 3 times a day, at 7am, noon and 7pm. Therefore, the daily high temperature would actually be a little higher than displayed, since the high is usually in the afternoon.
- Feb 5: Snowing and blowing in the afternoon. Fine morning. Wind variable.
- Feb 6: Wind S.
- Feb 7: Wind variable.
- Feb 8: Snowing and drifting, wind N.
- Feb 9: Very cold, wind N blowing fresh.
- Feb 10: Snowing and drifting, wind N.
- Feb 11: Cold and stormy in the afternoon, wind variable.
- Feb 12: Fine, wind N.
- Feb 13: Wind N.
- Feb 14: Cold and stormy, wind N.
- Feb 15: Cold and clear, wind N. -25.6°C at noon.
- Feb 16: Very cold, cloudy in the evening, wind N. -31.7°C at 7am.
- Feb 17: Wind SE.
- Feb 18: Fine, wind S.
- Feb 19: Snowing and drifting, wind N blowing fresh.
- Feb 20: Fine, wind S. 0.0°C at noon.
- Feb 21: Very stormy in the afternoon, wind variable. 0.6°C at noon. Samuel Taylor: Snowing and blowing hard, terrible wind and drift all night.
- Feb 22: Wind N blowing a gale with heavy drift.
- Feb 23: Wind S.
- Feb 24: Fine, wind S.
- Feb 25: Cloudy, wind E.
- Feb 26: Mild, fine, wind S.
- Feb 27 and 28: Wind S.
- Feb 29: Warm and fine, wind S.
- March 🔴: A very warm March for the time, but only near to slightly above normal by 21st century standards. A warm spell mid month, however, was enough to melt all the snow, producing one of the earliest spring melts on record. The ground was bare by the 18th, but was immediately followed by a snowstorm during the night into the 19th. The warmth set creeks running and the river became unsafe with water rising, unusually early in the season. Ducks and geese were also seen. 5 days with snow mentioned plus 2 stormy, and 2 with drifting snow. Temperature measurements were available for most of the month 3 times per day, at 7am, noon and 7pm. The graph below displays the maximum of these three measurements. The real daily maximum would be up to a few degrees warmer in reality, since the high is usually in the afternoon. At least 4 days below -20°C. Measurements seen in the NorWester.
- Mar 1: Snowing and drifting, wind N.
- Mar 2: Snowing heavily in the evening. People clearing snow out of the fort. Wind E. -22.8°C at 7am.
- Mar 3: Wind N blowing a gale with snow and heavy drift in the morning, more moderate in the afternoon.
- Mar 4: Cold and stormy, wind N.-26.7°C at 7am.
- Mar 5: Fine, wind S.
- Mar 6: Warm and fine. People clearing snow out of the fort. Wind S. 5.0°C at noon.
- Mar 7: Fine, wind S. People clearing snow out of the fort.
- Mar 8 and 9: Wind N, fine on the 8th. -22.2°C at 7am on the 9th.
- Mar 10 and 11: Wind S, fine on the 11th. Mild. Snow in morning of 11th, clearing up about 9am (Samuel Taylor).
- Mar 12: Stormy in the morning, wind N. -20°C at 7am.
- Mar 13: Fine, light N wind.
- Mar 14: Fine, wind S. Very mild, melting the snow fast (Samuel Taylor).
- Mar 15 and 16: Thawing very much, wind S. 8.3°C at noon on the 15th.
- Mar 17: Warm and snow melting fast, wind S. 10.6°C at noon, 4.4°C at 7am, 3.3°C at 7pm. 3 geese seen.
- Mar 18: Ground bare of snow everywhere and water rising in river.
- Mar 19: Snowed during last night (only a little according to Samuel Taylor). Colder, wind N. People clearing snow out of the fort.
- Mar 20: Colder, wind NW.
- Mar 21: Thawing, overcast, wind variable.
- Mar 22: Overcast, wind N.
- Mar 23 and 24: Colder, overcast, wind N to NW. Some parts of roads entirely bare, some large drifts remain (Samuel Taylor).
- Mar 25 to 27: Fine, wind S except variable the 25th.
- Mar 28: Fine, wind N.
- Mar 29: Warm and fine, wind S.
- Mar 30: Wind S.
- Mar 31: Wind N blowing fresh.
- April ❄️: Averaging near to a little colder than normal. But there was still some warmth, especially around the 21st to 28th. There were two or three snowstorms. The first rain of the season was recorded on the 29th. 3 days with snow and there was a decent amount based on comments. 21 of 30 days had northerly winds. The chilliness and snows apparently did not have much impact on agriculture thankfully (NorWester). Owing to the earliness of the melt of winter snow, the rivers were abnormally low in the latter parts of April. On the 28th, it was said that the Red River was at its lowest for the season in at least 15 to 20 years (NorWester). Mentions of temperature are from the NorWester, and the measurements were taken three times daily, at 7am, noon and 7pm, at Fort Garry by Lance Sergeant Bedson of the Royal Canadian Rifles.
- Maximum temperature = 22.2°C.
- Minimum temperature = -12.2°C.
- Average of daily 7am, noon and 7pm temperatures = 3.1°C. Suggests an April around normal for the time, and a bit cold by 21st century standards.
- Apr 1 to 6: Wind N.
- Apr 4: Rain morning, snow PM hours. (Samuel Taylor)
- Apr 5: Snow. (Samuel Taylor)
- Apr 6: Fine, river getting bad. (Samuel Taylor)
- Apr 7: Wind W.
- Apr 8 to 10: Wind N. Ice getting very bad. Not much snow left on ground (Samuel Taylor).
- Apr 11: Cold with a fall of snow last night ❄️. Wind N.
- Apr 13: Very cold. Wind N. Average of 7am, noon and 7pm temperatures was -6.7°C, the lowest of the month.
- Apr 14: Cold. Wind N. Snow nearly all away. River has been rising for a long time past. Where seeds only require a slight depth, some farmers have begun plowing. (NorWester)
- Apr 15: Wind variable, cloudy afternoon.
- Apr 16: A heavy snowstorm ❄️ last night which continued during most of the day. Wind N. Snowing and drifting thick until dinnertime then improving.
- Apr 17: Wind N. Samuel Taylor could not work on his grounds due to so much snow falling the day before.
- Apr 18: Wind S blowing fresh. River opens by dissolving the ice, the water being very low there has been too little strength of current to remove it, a very unusual case (Abraham Cowley near Selkirk).
- Apr 19: Wind N.
- Apr 20: Very cold, wind N.
- Apr 21: Milder, wind NE. Samuel Taylor mentions very low water levels.
- Apr 22 to 24: Wind S. Rather cold on the 22nd.
- Apr 25: Warm, wind S.
- Apr 26: Wind N. Samuel Taylor: Terrible windy weather almost every day.
- Apr 27: Wind N blowing fresh and colder.
- Apr 28: Warm, wind S blowing a gale. Farmers busy the past week doing their work (NorWester). Average of 7am, noon and 7pm temperatures was 17.2°C, the highest of the month.
- Apr 29: Snowing ❄️ in the afternoon and evening. Wind N blowing a gale. This was the last snow of the season, and there was also the first rain of the season today.
- Apr 30: Cold, wind N.
- May: Averaging around normal for temperatures; a bit warmer than normal in the first half and a bit cooler in the second half. 3 or 4 days with rain mentioned, two of them rained all day and one rained heavily. Mentions of temperature from the same source as April (NorWester). Crops were apparently thriving from the spring weather, which was dry but with timely precipitation (NorWester).
- Maximum temperature = 31.1°C. (at 3pm on the 12th)
- Minimum temperature occurred on the 1st and 6th.
- Average of daily 7am, noon and 7pm temperatures = 11.7°C. Suggests a May around normal.
- May 1: Cold and cloudy, wind blowing very strong. Average of 7am, noon and 7pm temperatures was 3.9°C, the lowest of the month.
- May 2: Wind S.
- May 3: Wind S blowing a gale.
- May 4: Wind SE.
- May 5: Thunder ⚡ in the forenoon. Wind SE blowing a gale.
- May 6: Cold, wind N. Blowing hard.
- May 7: Cold and cloudy, wind N.
- May 8: Cold and stormy, wind N.
- May 9: Milder, wind N.
- May 10: Wind SE blowing a gale.
- May 11: Wind S.
- May 12: Very warm, wind S. 31.1°C at 3pm. Average of 7am, noon and 7pm temperatures was 22.8°C, tied the highest of the month.
- May 13: Warm and, fine. Average of 7am, noon and 7pm temperatures was 22.8°C, tied the highest of the month.
- May 15 and 16: Wind N. Cloudy on the 15th.
- May 17: Raining 💧 heavily all day.
- May 18: Fine, wind S.
- May 19: Cold, wind N.
- May 20: Fine, wind S.
- May 21: Cloudy, wind S.
- May 22 and 23: Wind N.
- May 24: Cloudy, wind NE.
- May 25: Raining 💧 all day and blowing fresh from the N.
- May 26: Fine, wind N. Samuel Taylor: Thunder ⚡ in the afternoon but little to no rain 💧.
- May 27: Cold and cloudy, wind N. Samuel Taylor: Began to clear up after middle of day.
- May 28 to 30: Wind N.
- May 31: Very warm, wind S.
- June 💧: Abnormally rainy with frequent showers. The rain was welcomed at first, after a dry spring. However, by the end of the month, the rivers had risen and concerns for some crops increased. The coolest weather in the first week, the warmest in the middle of the month. Temperatures retrieved from the NorWester. Weathe reports from Samuel Taylor unless otherwise noted.
- Maximum measured temperature = 29.4°C (at noon on the 15th - was likely higher in the afternoon).
- Minimum measured temperature was on the 7th.
- Average of the daily 7am, noon and 7pm temperatures = 18.1°C. Suggests at best a near normal June.
- Highest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was 23.3°C on the 21st.
- Lowest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was 10.0°C on the 6th.
- Jun 5: Fine shower of rain in the morning then a warm sun.
- Jun 6: Small thunder squall after dinner.
- Jun 9: Very hot.
- Jun 10: Fine and warm. Crop looks pretty now.
- Jun 14: On all hands it is admitted that a season more favourable than the present for the growth of the wheat crop has never been known in Red River. Showers are plentiful and sunshine abundant... The river continues to rise rapidly though for the season it is unusually low. (NorWester)
- Jun 16: Heavy rain and thunder night of the 16th.
- Jun 17: Dark cloudy with some rain. A great rain after dinner.
- Jun 17: A very great quantity of water has fallen, the valley in our field was so filled with water that it produced quite a rapid current (Cowley near Selkirk)
- Jun 18: Fine dry day.
- Jun 24: Fine.
- Jun 28: The water has risen steadily during the present month, and is now higher than at any time previous this year. Those who failed to get their timber down in May on account of the shallowness of the river are now bestirring themselves. (Norwester) Some mail carriers travelling from NW Ontario found the rivers quite swollen along their journey by the heavy rains. (source)
- ''The present month has been rainy. We have had showers throughout, at short intervals. The first week, rain was very much required, and was welcome even the second; but farmers think that during the last fortnight we could have dispensed with it advantageously for sunshine and a clear sky. If the wet weather continues much long, the potato crop will suffer. Cereals are luxuriant and promise well thus far, and hay-making will be a good business - the grass being more than ordinarily advanced for this season.'' (NorWester)
- July 💧⚡: Wet weather continued, causing damage to potato crops primarily. A severe thunderstorm with hail and strong winds pummelled the area on the 14th, smashing windows and levelling crops. Not much indication of temperatures, but likely near to slightly colder than normal.
- Maximum measured temperature = 28.3°C at noon on the 14th - likely higher in the afternoon.
- Minimum measured temperature was on the 31st.
- Average of the daily 7am, noon and 7pm temperatures = 19.4°C. Suggests at best a near normal July, and possibly a bit colder than normal.
- Highest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was 24.4°C on the 13th and 14th.
- Lowest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was 14.4°C on the 8th.
- Jul 1: Small shower of rain, cleared up about 9am, then was a bright fine day. Wind S. (Samuel Taylor)
- Jul 3: Very rainy. (Samuel Taylor)
- Jul 7 and 8: Great rain all day. (Samuel Taylor)
- Jul 14 ⚡: In the evening, a severe hailstorm visited this place. The afternoon had been calm and beautiful; but about 6pm, a very inky-looking cloud loomed up to westward, passed along rapidly in a NE direction, and discharged its content in the Lower District in a drenching shower, accompanied by a storm of wind and hail. Some windows were broken in St John's Parish, where the storm was most felt; but the growing crops sustained the principal portion of the damage. Wheat and barley, which had attained a vigorous growth, and were fast ripening, were in a few instances completely swept down. Some of Mr. Morrison Macbeath's wheat, which stood 5 feet high, was levelled with the ground, and presented a most deplorable aspect when the storm had passed away. It is feared that much of the grain thus injured will not recover. (NorWester)
- Jul 14: The first half of July, we regret to say, has been a continuance in an aggravated form of the same wet season. The crops which started up vigorously and looked so healthy and luxuriant a fortnight ago, are suffering. Potatoes have been the most injured, but wheat and barley are also drooping. (NorWester)
- Jul 15: Rather dark and cloudy, fine and cool. Wind NW. (Samuel Taylor)
- August 🔵💧: The rains may have continued into August. However, the 18th to 28th period was drier, sunnier and more favourable, but occasional heavy showers still continued. Appears to have been a slightly cooler than normal August. Evenings were described as cool to even cold. Temperatures via the NorWester. Birds caused some damage to crops.
- Maximum measured temperature = 27.2°C at noon on the 5th - likely higher in the afternoon.
- Minimum measured temperature on the 31st.
- Average of the daily 7am, noon and 7pm temperatures = 17.2°C. Suggests a bit colder than normal August.
- Highest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was 24.4°C, date unspecified.
- Lowest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was 13.9°C on the 9th, 10th and 31st.
- Aug 2: I head many people say that they never remember such a summer for rain; it is indeed been wonderful all through. (Samuel Taylor)
- Aug 22: Still very rainy weather. (Samuel Taylor)
- Aug 24: Some rain every day. (Samuel Taylor)
- Aug 28: A few mornings ago the Settlement was overshadowed by a fog 🌫️ of peasoup thickness. A more disagreeable visitor had not been seen here for a twelvemonth, and we hope another year will elapse before we look upon its like again. (NorWester)
- Aug 28: On the whole, the weather has been favourable during the last ten days. Contrasted with the previous storms of rain, we might almost say that it has been quite dry. The sun has shone out brilliantly and has given a golden tinge to the full-eared grain. ''Sunny days after rain''. The wheat everywhere fast ripening, and in some places there was reaping as early as the 16th. Barley was cut long before that, and is by this time all stowed away. The evenings are cool - almost cold - and not a few are apprehensive that some wheat may get nipped. The birds are very troublesome - especially blackbirds and crows. We examined a field of barley, eight bushels sowing, and we verily believe that not on half-bushel will be the return, so completely is it destroyed by birds. Still, if an early frost does not set in, we shall have a very abundant harvest. Haymaking is drawing to a close. (NorWester)
- Aug 31: ''I hear many people say that they never remember such a summer for rain. It is indeed been wonderful all through. 22nd still very rainy weather, 24th some rain every day.'' (Samuel Taylor at Red River Settlement).
- September 🔵: ''Cloudy and cold'' (NorWester). Frequent frosts, which began in the second week of September, about a week earlier than normal for the time. Crops did very well this season overall. Occasional heavy showers fell during the harvest, but did not damper things too much.
- Maximum measured temperature = 22.8°C on the 2nd - likely higher in the afternoon.
- Minimum measured temperature = -3.9°C on the 28th (hard to read the date but it is 2+another number+''th'').
- Average of the daily 7am, noon and 7pm temperatures = 10.6°C. Suggests a cold September.
- Highest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was 17.2°C on the 2nd.
- Lowest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was 1.7°C, date unspecified.
- Sep 12: We are told that at Fort Garry the quicksilver was down to 32F (0.0°C) at 4am this morning; but the temperature became higher as the day wore on, and by noon the weather was very warm and pleasant. (NorWester)
- Sep 14: There has been a hard frost during the past three or four nights. The morning and evenings were very cold, reminding one rather early of the advent of winter. (NorWester)
- Sep 14: Harvesting in this Settlement may now be said to be all but concluded. The weather has been, perhaps, fully as fine as could be expected. An occasional heavy shower fell, impeding operations for a few hours; but soon the fields were again occupied by labourers, and the grain fell fast by sickles, cradles and reapers. The opinion generally prevails that the harvest will be much in excess of any former season. The area of cultivation is larger; and, though summer has been, throughout unusually rainy - though birds have been numerous and destruction - and some fields of wheat are so backward that it is feared the grain will be killed by the frost - still, the damage likely to result from these causes will not, it is believed greatly lessen the anticipated returns. Doubtless, injury will be inflicted by the frost, which set in last week. It was, we understand, unusually early this Fall - Sep 15 being generally the period of its first appearance. But reapers are now coming into such general use, that the quantity of grain left standing till it has been frozen will in all probability, be very small. In our present notice, we must principally confine ourselves to the Lower Settlement, concerning which we have received some information (NorWester).
- ''It has been a very rainy harvest, but a very good crop.'' (Samuel Taylor)
- Sep 28: Autumn has begun and almost every night there are severe frosts. The rich, verdant summer foliage is blanched, and the ground is covered with it. Geese and ducks are daily coming in from the night, in large flocks. (NorWester)
- Sep 30: Cold with sometimes rain, wind S. (Samuel Taylor)
- October 🔴🏜️🔥: A very warm, dry and smoky October, especially for the time. The only real cold weather was from the 10th to 13th when the first snow of the season fell. At least 18 or 19 days exceeded 10°C. The most abnormally mild weather was from the 14th to 23rd when it reached over 20°C. At least two days exceeded 20°C in this period and possibly as many as five if it warmed enough in the afternoon from 18°C at noon. Temperatures for Winnipeg were measured at Fort Garry by Lance Sergeant Bedson of the Royal Canadian Rifles, and found in the NorWester. The dryness and warmth resulted in many fires and days of smoky skies. For comparison, the Minneapolis area also recorded unusually sunny and fine weather in October, which also resulted in fires and smoke.
- Maximum measured temperature = 22.2°C at noon on the 20th - likely higher in the afternoon.
- Minimum measured temperature = -6.1°C at 7am on the 25th and 26th.
- Average of the daily 7am, noon and 6pm temperatures = 7.3°C. Suggests a warm October.
- Highest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was 15.0°C on the 20th.
- Lowest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was -0.6°C on the 25th.
- Oct 1: Fine. (Samuel Taylor)
- Around Oct 4: Thunder and lightning. (he was not sure which day it was, but said it was two or three days back around the 6th). (Samuel Taylor)
- Oct 7: Fine and clear. (Samuel Taylor)
- Oct 10: The first snow this season. It was a very slight sprinkling, and soon disappeared. It was the precursor of some days of cold weather. (NorWester)
- Oct 14: Fine clear weather. (Samuel Taylor)
- Oct 20: Fine pretty weather. (Samuel Taylor)
- Oct 25 and 29: Fine weather. (Samuel Taylor)
- Oct 29 🔥: Warm sunny weather of the most delightful kind has prevailed here of late. The soft hazy appearance of the atmosphere peculiar to the present season invests the landscape with a dreamy shadowy indistinctness, hiding in part its decaying charms, and lending it a thousands others, not less attractive. The sunshine has been unremitting, and of that mildness so characteristic of a Red River autumn when, ina ddition to the natural decrease of light, we must take into account the increasing smoke that overspreads the country. Prairie fires run in all directions at this period, and let the wind come from whatever quarter it may, we have still a copious supply of smoke. Blue-ish grey tinge in the atmosphere.
- Oct 29 continued 🔥: As we write this, there is a magnificent line of flame sweeping over the arid plains behind. It is a grand sight on a dark and windy night. The flames roll on with surprising speed and brilliancy, and the heavens overhead are brightly red. These fires are, in many cases, set off in order to consume the decaying grasses of the year, and leave the surface of the ground clear for next year's growth. In other instances, however, they are accidental - the grass being so dry that it is scarcely safe even to fire off a gun. Whatever may be the advantage of prairie fires, they have one very palpable disadvantage - they destroy an immense quantity of wood. This is a serious matter, for the country is naturally poor enough in this respect. One feels sorry to see our few forests disappearing year by year in this way. (NorWester)
- November: The warmth of October dramatically ended the 2nd of November with rain, snow and cold winds. However, it wasn't unusually cold. It jus felt cold compared to October. Temperatures averaged near to even above normal for the first three weeks of November. Apparently, the snow that fell early in November had even disappeared in the warmer weather. As a result, until the 28th, there was not enough snow for sleighing. Abnormal cold finally arrived after the 21st, with a cold snap from the 22nd to 27th, dropping temperatures below -20°C at night. A storm system brought a brief warmup, and a heavy fall of snow on the 28th. Overall, November actually averaged above normal for the time, but a little colder by 21st century standards. (NorWester) Weather reports from Samuel Taylor unless otherwise noted.
- Maximum measured temperature = 6.7°C on the 1st.
- Minimum measured temperature = -25.6°C on the 24th.
- Average of the daily 7am, noon and 6pm temperatures = -5.4°C. Suggests a November above normal for the time, but below normal by today's standards.
- Highest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was 2.2°C on the 1st and 12th.
- Lowest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was -21.1°C on the 24th.
- Nov 2: Dark, cloudy and cold with a pelting rain all day, followed by snow which fell unremittingly for 24 hours. Wind N. (NorWester)
- Nov 3: Snowing.
- Nov 4: Snowing and blowing from NW.
- Nov 5: The ice set fast, partially, in the morning. (NorWester)
- Nov 11: Fine dark day and mild. Here there is open water on the river.
- Nov 12: Mild.
- Nov 13: Very fine and no snow - it all melted away.
- Nov 15: Not the slightest trace or resemblance remains of the lovely October. The ground is entirely covered with snow, and presents a very lively, refreshing appearance. (I am not sure if this was a description of the 15th or not, given Samuel Taylor's comment about all the snow melting away on the 13th). Many were taken by surprise by the sudden switch to winter starting the 2nd. Much of autumn's preparations had yet to be made. Those plain-hunters who had not yet arrived found themselves in a sad plight, driving their clumsy, squeaking carts through snow-drifts. (NorWester)
- Nov 17: Appears to be a fire in the distance, perhaps near Oak Hammock, wind S at the time. About 10 o'clock the wind shifted to NW and it snowed thick.
- Nov 18: Wind NW blowing strong, rather cloudy but still fine. No ice in the river.
- Nov 19: River set fast upon the night of the 19th.
- Nov 28: Heavy fall of snow. (NorWester)
- December: Not much snow until the 28th when a snowstorm hit. Not much indication of temperatures, but possibly near to slightly colder than normal. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor. Temperatures from the NorWester:
- Maximum measured temperature = -1.1°C on the 18th at noon and 27th.
- Minimum measured temperature = -34.4°C on the 13th.
- Average of the daily 7am, noon and 6pm temperatures = -16.4°C. Suggests an average or slightly colder than normal December.
- Highest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was -2.8°C on the 18th and 27th.
- Lowest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was -27.8°C on the 13th.
- Dec 9: Fine, very little snow on the ground.
- Dec 17: Mild.
- Might have been a night with snow between the 17th and 22nd but he was travelling somewhere outside the Winnipeg area. Probably not much if any because he said the snow was still shallow immediately afterwards.
- Dec 28: A great quantity of snow fell, blowing and drifting hard.
- Dec 30: Cold and clear.
1861 🔵 💧⚡❄️🌊
General summary: Winter 1860-1861 was snowier and longer than normal, but less severe than usual in terms of cold. Mild weather even brought some rain in late February. The snow melted away in the second half of April, following in its wake a large flood which forced many people to leave their homes for higher ground. Great damage was done, such as sweeping away bridges and destroying buildings. The flood was similar to the 2009 flood. The flood was worsened by wet and snowy spring weather. Rainy weather with high water levels continued in June and July, before much drier weather arrived in August and September. The harvest was below average due to a late season and flooding, but the dry weather during harvest time helped to salvage the situation somewhat. Cool weather continued in the summer as well. September was chilly with many frosts, and even some snow on the 29th. Continued dry weather fueled many fires in September and October with smoke at times. Winter started softly, with not much cold nor snow in November and December.
General summary: Winter 1860-1861 was snowier and longer than normal, but less severe than usual in terms of cold. Mild weather even brought some rain in late February. The snow melted away in the second half of April, following in its wake a large flood which forced many people to leave their homes for higher ground. Great damage was done, such as sweeping away bridges and destroying buildings. The flood was similar to the 2009 flood. The flood was worsened by wet and snowy spring weather. Rainy weather with high water levels continued in June and July, before much drier weather arrived in August and September. The harvest was below average due to a late season and flooding, but the dry weather during harvest time helped to salvage the situation somewhat. Cool weather continued in the summer as well. September was chilly with many frosts, and even some snow on the 29th. Continued dry weather fueled many fires in September and October with smoke at times. Winter started softly, with not much cold nor snow in November and December.
- January: The first week of January was the coldest week of the winter (temperatures from the NorWester) . Alternating cold and mild throughout the month. Appears to be a decent amount of snow.
- Maximum measured temperature = -3.3°C on the 13th.
- Minimum measured temperature = -32.8°C on the 10th.
- Average of the daily 7am, noon and 6pm temperatures = -18.3°C. Suggests a mild January for the time but cold by 21st century standards.
- Highest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was -7.2°C on the 13th.
- Lowest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was -27.2°C on the 9th and 10th.
- Jan 1: Mild and fine.
- Jan 3: Cold and fine.
- Jan 4 and 6: Fine.
- Jan 10: Snowing very thick, fine and no wind.
- Jan 18: Mild and fine, no wind.
- Jan 22: Mild, soft day.
- Jan 23: Snowy.
- Jan 24: Wind and drift but not cold.
- Jan 27: Rather cold, fine, wind S.
- Jan 28: Windy, snowy day.
- Last few days of January were very cold.
- February 🔴💧: The first week of February was the second coldest week of the winter (temperatures from the NorWester). Overall, it was a warm February with even some rain toward the end of the month. Appears there was a decent amount of snow as well. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Maximum measured temperature = 5.0°C on the 28th at noon - possibly even warmer in the afternoon.
- Minimum measured temperature = -40.0°C on the 7th. Samuel Taylor measured -43.3°C.
- Average of the daily 7am, noon and 6pm temperatures = -11.7°C. Suggests a warm February.
- Highest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was 0.6°C on the 28th.
- Lowest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was -33.3°C on the 7th.
- Feb 8: Not so cold.
- Feb 9: Fine clear mild day.
- Feb 10: Fine. A little snow fell first in the morning, but not cold. Wind S.
- Feb 11: Mild.
- Feb 16: Fine.
- Feb 22: Snowing thick all day and drifting. Wind NE.
- Feb 24: Blowing from the S and drifting all day.
- Feb 26: We welcomed our first showers of rain at intervals throughout the day. (NorWester)
- Feb 28: Great quantity of snow fell before dinnertime but then it cleared up.
- Mar 1: For a week or two past, we have had delicious weather - precisely such as we look for in April, and such, indeed, as often leads us to doubt whether we are not mistaking our letters as we write ''February''. (NorWester)
- March 🔵❄️: Temperature measurements from NorWester. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement. It was a snowy March with deep snow cover by the end of the month, setting the stage for a spring flood. It was cold, with soft spring weather not arriving until the very last couple days.
- Maximum measured temperature = 6.7°C on the 31st.
- Minimum measured temperature = -26.7°C on the 4th, 6th and 25th.
- Average of the daily 7am, noon and 6pm temperatures = -11.7°C. Suggests a cold March, except possibly near normal for the time.
- Highest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was 1.7°C on the 31st (difficult to read the value).
- Lowest daily average of the 3 temperature measurements was -21.7°C on the 4th and 16th.
- Mar 6: Fine.
- Mar 12: Snowing thick. There is now a great quantity of snow upon the ground.
- Mar 16: Cold and clear, windy.
- Mar 17: Cold, wind S.
- Mar 18: Snowing thick, wind S.
- Mar 19: Snowing thick.
- Mar 22: Cold and windy.
- Mar 24: Snowing. It is as winter like yet as it was any time in winter, and the snow is very deep.
- Mar 30: Beginning of the first soft weather.
- Mar 31: Fine day, soft weather.
- April 🔵💧❄️🌊: A late spring with rising water levels. Rainy and snowy, a general wet spring. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Apr 1: Rather a rainy 💧 day.
- Apr 5: Plenty of water on the ground.
- Apr 6: Plenty of water. Raining 💧 a little mostly all day. We have not seen the sun this two or three days back.
- Apr 7: Very soft and snowing ❄️ thick, some geese seen up at the Rapids.
- Apr 9: Found the water so deep that we had to just come back.
- Apr 13: It began to snow ❄️ thick soon after dinner.
- Apr 14: Fine and clear, wind NNW all day.
- Apr 15: River began to break up in the evening but stopped during the night.
- Apr 15: The roads are in a dreadful state at present and very few people are to be seen moving about. The abundant snow has resulted in lake and swamps the whole country over. Vegetation is just beginning to sprout; ducks and geese are being welcomed on all hands; creeks are pouring their volumes into the river; and the signs of the times generally make us feel that spring is upon us. (NorWester)
- Apr 19 and 20: Pretty, fine day.
- Apr 21: Warm and fine, wind S.
- Apr 25: The water is high now and plenty of wood going down every day, and many people left their houses now owing to the high water. Water is still rising.
- Apr 30: Water still rising. A very wet rainy 💧 spring the like has not been seen this many years back.
- May 🔵💧❄️🌊: A major flood after significant amounts of snow over the winter and rainy wet spring weather. Waters rose until the 8th, became steady, then began to fall the night of the 10th. The river returned back into its channel in the second half of May. There was considerable damage done by the flood to buildings and bridges. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- May 1 to 3: Fine weather, water rising.
- May 1: The general flood which is overspreading the country will necessitate a temporary suspension in the publication of The Nor-Wester. If the waters continues to rise any longer, we shall be compelled to migrate with the multitude to distant ridges. Should they recede we shall continue uninterruptedly; but there may be difficulty in the delivery, as nearly all the bridges are swept away. (NorWester)
- May 1: As we write, the waters of the Red River have almost rolled in at our doors; and there is every indication that we are on the even of a great flood. Already the settlers have been flitting from the river-banks in all directions. Timid settlers have packed up, set their homesteads in order, and are off; even the boldest think it is high time to prepare for the worst. The unusually large quantity of snow ❄️ which fell during the winter has entirely disappeared within the past fortnight (i.e. the past two weeks). The creeks have been all swollen to the size of rivers; and the main river has received from this source and from its numerous larger tributaries such copious supplies that since ever the ice commenced to break up, the channel has been constantly widening and deepening until the waters have all but overtopped even the highest portions of the banks. Six and sometimes twelve inches of a rise between sundown and sunrise, brought matters to a crisis with very many before long. Fourteen days passed in this way, with no change save the increasing imminence of a general flood. On the east bank of Red River, all the buildings in St Boniface, at least, are surrounded by water. Most of the occupants have taken flight: but a few are here and there cooped up in upper stories. The La Seine River by now formed a junction with the main river, making the latter in some parts more than half a mile wide. (NorWester)
- May 4: Rain 💧.
- May 10: Water began to fall the night of the 10th and afterwards.
- May 12: Fine, clear and dry. Wind W.
- May 14: Rain 💧 and snow ❄️ the forepart of the day.
- May 16: The spring has been so wet 💧 and inclement that there has been very little farming done, whether or not someone's field was underwater. (W. MacTavish at Fort Garry)
- May 18: Have not had one real warm day yet this spring but every now and again rain and sleet and often times snow.
- May 19: Cold, wind E.
- May 20: First real fine warm day of the spring.
- May 22: Lightning and thunder ⚡ the night of the 22nd but no rain.
- May 24: Warm.
- May 26: Blowing strong from N but fine.
- May 31: Thunder and lightning ⚡ the night of the 31st and some rain 💧.
- Jun 1: The recent flood having destroyed many of the bridges, there is very serious difficulty in moving in any direction. Foot passengers can get along the houses, by appropriating canoes at the various creeks: but it is almost impossible for vehicles and conveyances of any description to keep the public road between Upper Fort Garry and St Paul's Church. The remaining bridges that withstood the flood are not very safe though usable. We were happy to see that on the eve of the flood, large quantities of stones were put on some of the bridges in order to save them.
- Jun 1: We can now say that the flood has come and gone. It fell short of former floods in quantity of water and consequent destructiveness; but was still sufficient to cause much loss of property and much suffering. The upper part of the Settlement, extending from around Fort Garry, and the Red River to Pointe Coupée (now called Ste Adolphe) suffered the most. That district being generally of a lower level than the parts below Fort Garry (if we except Point Douglas) was therefore under a greater depth of water. Its inhabitants have lost heavily. Their lands will for the most part remain uncultivated this year, not only because the season will be advanced too far before they are in a fit state to farm, but also because all the fencing has been carried off and cannot be replaced before next winter. Thus they are left to rely mainly upon the plain-hunt and fishing for their future supplies.
- On the point of land opposite Fort Garry, there has been considerable loss. Schubert's establishment is gone; Jerrold's is gone, and a great deal of moveable property belonging to Mulligan, Harkness, McDougal and others. Point Douglas has been all but rendered worthless. The best of the soil has been washed off by a terrible cross-current and buildings destroyed. The eastern corner of Fort Garry was in water. The couvent and college of St Boniface were in water a foot deep. The flooding extended downwards to about St Paul's church, and showed how remarkably level was the intervening district up to Fort Garry. There was not a foot or two of difference between any two points.
- There was a steady rise of water until May 8, when the first pause was observed. The next day a fall of one inch. In a week, it once more slipped into the customary channel, and stray parties could then be seen everyday wending their way back from the distance ridges to their hearths and homes.
- Jun 1: Much grain has been sown below Fort Garry, even in the flooded parts; but very very little above it. Taking into account the fact that in the unflooded portions a larger quantity than usual has been cast into the ground to meet the misfortune of the less favoured districts, we believe that about as much grain will be raised this year, in the Settlement, as last year; and that as farmers had large quantities of wheat on hand just before the flood which they could not dispose of, prices will be fully as low this year as last.
- We do not think that the country below Fort Garry will ever be flooded again, for experience shows clearly that each successive flood has indicated far less depth on the plains than its predecessors -a fact fully accounted for by the rapid widening of the river channel. There may be the same volume of water in each flood, or very nearly so, and the ever-increasing width of the river will explain the disparity of depth on the main land. (NorWester)
- June 🔵💧⚡: Cool with several heavy thunderstorms which mostly occurred at night. These storms drowned some of the crops and kept river levels high. Samuel Taylor reported 6 days with heavy thunderstorms at the Red River Settlement.
- Jun 1: Fine, wind W.
- Jun 2: Fine, rather cloudy. Wind W.
- Jun 6 to 9: Plenty of rain, thunder and lightning the nights of the 6th, 7th and 8th, and the morning of the 9th.
- Jun 8: Fine but hot.
- Jun 16: Terrible lightning and loud thunder the night of the 16th.
- Jun 23: Fine day, but terrible lightning and thunder with heavy rain and hail in the night.
- Jun 26: Windy.
- Jun 30: Fine. A great many people's wheat and potatoes drowned this week or two back, a great deal of the bank of the river fallen about this time the like is never been known I believe.
- Jul 1: We have had very rainy weather during the past three weeks. The crops are suffering somewhat. In low grounds, they have taken a yellow tinge and seem to be passing through a sore trial. Among our French friends, potatoes have suffered greatly already. We have had but very little really warm weather so far. The spring has been a long, raw, and disagreeable one. Very few will be able to commence haymaking at the usual date of Jul 20, on account of the immense lakes still covering the back pastures. (NorWester)
- July 💧⚡: Appears the stormy weather continued, at least in the first week or two. Might have turned dry in the second half of the month. Possible the cool weather continued as well, but not much evidence. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Jul 4: There was a fearful storm ⚡ on the night of the 3rd. Among other effects, nearly one-half of the prison wall was thrown down. The Governor of Gaol at once set men to repair the damage, and the work was completed on the 19th. Some years ago, the front wall was similarly injured. The repairs are only temporary, however, and an entirely new and substantial palisading must soon replace the present one, which is too old to stand long. (NorWester)
- Jul 4: Terrible lightning and loud thunder the night of the 3rd and heavy rain I never saw the like and many people say the same.
- Jul 4 to 7: Rain.
- Jul 15: We have been in great trouble this year with our public roads. First of all, came the general flood. Then, the continual, if not continuous, raining, which has been almost as effectual as the flood in making the roads impassable. This continual rain is really becoming a serious matter, on account of its effects upon the forthcoming harvest. (NorWester)
- August 🏜️: The weather dramatically turned drier in August with very fine dry weather in time for the harvest. The first week was hot, then became cooler.
- Aug 1 to 7: Fine, dry and some days very hot. (Samuel Taylor)
- Aug 15: The crops that looked so well a few weeks ago do not present the same hopeful appearance at present. They are considerably mildewed in some parts of the Settlement. The weather has been favourable in all respects but one - that it is too much at extremes - excessive heat during the day, and at eventide sudden transitions to cold. (NorWester)
- Samuel Taylor mentioned that whenever the wind would be north or northwest, it would cause flooding to low grounds near the lake and up the river, suggesting Lake Winnipeg water levels were quite high.
- September 🔵❄️🔥: Dry, moderately cool weather. First frost on the 8th, but no damage. The harvest was at least somewhat below average given the flooding and wetness earlier in the season. However, it could have been much worse if it wasn't for the dry sunny weather. September was dry until the last week when frequent rain arrived, and even snow on the 29th. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Sep 8: First frost noticed. The grain was too far advanced to receive any serious injury, and we are informed by several that it has not received any at all.
- Sep 14: The harvesting may be said to be now over. There is still some grain standing; but 90% at least must be cut down, and a great part housed or in some manner put away. Harvesting has been later than usual this year, in those parts that were flooded; still, we are happy to say that the lateness has not operated so injuriously on the harvest as was once feared. In the lower half of the Settlement, there will be fully as large a return as last year. There was more sown this year, but it did not thrive quite as well; so that with reference to the amount sown the result is not so good as last year - absolutely, it is. As a general thing, the people on the Assiniboine will have an average return. On the main river, above Fort Garry, the habitants will feel the effects of the flood. Some have very good crops some rather indifferent. (NorWester)
- Sep 23: Thunder the night of the 23rd but not much rain.
- Sep 25: Raining hard.
- Sep 27: Raining all day.
- Sep 29: Ground covered with snow ❄️.
- Oct 1: We have never seen a more favourable season than this for harvesting and haymaking. For the last six or eight weeks, the weather has been remarkably good. Clear sunshiny days have been abundant: dry and moderately cool weather, the rule. And well it is that it has been so, or Red River would have suffered severely. The late spring required a warm dry summer, or the crops would have signally failed. Take the Settlement, as a whole, and we must pronounce the returns as greatly inferior this year to last. This is owing to the flood and the delay caused in commencing operations. The spring moreover, was cold and raw. During the last three weeks people have been busy in hauling home they hay. As might be expected, the annual Fall frosts are sweeping over our prairies. Some days last week, the sun was quite dimmed by the smoke 🔥, causing a hazy, blueish grey appearance which is by no means unpleasant. (Sounds like the fires were deliberately set by farmers to burn off the old grass. (NorWester)
- October 🏜️🔥: Dry weather for the most part. Fires continued, which some might have been deliberately set, causing some damage. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Oct 5: Rain in the morning, cleared up about breakfast time then a fine day.
- Oct 10: We had our second fall of snow of the season. It continued throughout the day; but disappeared almost as fast as it fell. (NorWester)
- Oct 12: Fine.
- Oct 24: Great fire burnt much hay. Blowing hard.
- Oct 30: The finest fall that anyone remembers.
- Nov 1: During the last two weeks, our vast level prairies have been overrun by magnificent fires 🔥. The long rich grass covering them is now dry, and as the ground is also pretty dry. The fires are advantageous in so far as clearing off the old grass, and preparing the soil for a clear growth next year; but injuriers in destroying our scanty fuel, and burning people's hay. Immense destruction of property has been the result of the late fires all along. From about Lower Fort Garry up to the Sturgeon Creek, serious damage has been done to settlers. Some have lost all their hay, others, have lost horses. (NorWester)
- November 🏜️: Not very cold, and not much snow. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Nov 7 and 8: Fine weather still yet.
- Nov 9: The ground as dark as in summer. In the afternoon, snow fell thick and fast without melting, and next morning some drew to church in carioles. (NorWester)
- Nov 10: Fine, no snow yet.
- Nov 11: River set fast.
- Nov 13: Still fine.
- Nov 15: Since the 10th, we have had fine weather. (NorWester)
- Nov 17: Fine, very little snow yet.
- Nov 19: Soft, snowy day.
- Nov 20: Soft wet snow but not cold.
- Nov 24: Fine, calm, dark.
- Late November: Very fine weather.
- Nov 30: Winter has fairly set in, but is, so far, very pleasant. The weather is not very severe - indeed, it is rather mild. The river is frozen over, but the ice is too weak for carioling. (NorWester)
- December 🔴🏜️: First couple days quite cold, then mild most of the remainder of the month. Almost no snow fell. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Dec 1: Rather cold.
- Dec 6 to 11: Fine and very little snow yet.
- Dec 15: Fine, clear and warm.
- Dec 20: Hardly any snow since the 20th of November. Some people haven't gone out for fish yet for want of snow.
- Dec 22: Mild, dark and fine.
- Dec 24: The winter thus far has been remarkably fine. The lowest the thermometer has yet indicated is -21F (-29.4°C). The average has been 10 or 15F (-12.2°C to -9.4°C). (NorWester)
- Dec 29: Fine, clear and not cold.
1862 🔵🏜️
General summary: A very cold January and February with very little snow. Abundant snowfalls did not arrived until the first half of March, but then it became mild by mid March with almost all the snow melting off. However, this appearance of an early spring was only a tease. Cold and snowy weather returned in April, making for a delayed spring. The settlement was struggling a little as seed and food ran low due to an insufficient harvest the year before. Warmer weather came in May, however, drought conditions became a problem in May and June. Very little rain fell until some heavier rains arrived June 30th. Overall, the harvest was very good, aided by dry fine weather during the harvest. Winter came early with cold snowy weather in late October. However, some mild weather melted off much of the snow in November. With very little snow and mild weather the remainder of the year, there wasn't much snow on the ground by late December.
General summary: A very cold January and February with very little snow. Abundant snowfalls did not arrived until the first half of March, but then it became mild by mid March with almost all the snow melting off. However, this appearance of an early spring was only a tease. Cold and snowy weather returned in April, making for a delayed spring. The settlement was struggling a little as seed and food ran low due to an insufficient harvest the year before. Warmer weather came in May, however, drought conditions became a problem in May and June. Very little rain fell until some heavier rains arrived June 30th. Overall, the harvest was very good, aided by dry fine weather during the harvest. Winter came early with cold snowy weather in late October. However, some mild weather melted off much of the snow in November. With very little snow and mild weather the remainder of the year, there wasn't much snow on the ground by late December.
- January 🔵🏜️: Cold, with a brief mild spell around the 19th. No snow mentioned. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Jan 1: Fine but rather cold.
- Jan 12: Clear and sharp.
- Jan 13 to 17: Very cold.
- Jan 18: Fine, a little mild.
- Jan 19: Mild.
- Jan 25: Very cold.
- February 🔵🏜️: Extremely cold almost the entire month. There were likely several nights below -40C. Also dry with no snow mentioned. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Feb 1 and 2: Fine but rather cold, wind NNW.
- Feb 3 to 8: Very cold, especially at night. Fine and clear on the 8th.
- Feb 9: Fine and clear but not cold. Wind S. Very little snow in the woods yet.
- Feb 12 to 16: Very cold, sometimes -49F (-45C). He said he travelled to the Pines, which are the forests somewhere northeast or east of Winnipeg. Extreme cold corroborated by Minneapolis which had lows below -37C.
- Feb 28: There has been no warm or soft weather yet, this has been the coldest winter that has been this many years it is said.
- March: Began cold and stormy, then by mid month turned very mild with much of the snow melting away. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Mar 1 and 2: Fine, not very cold.
- Mar 4: Terrible day of wind and drift all day. There was no drift banks until then.
- Mar 6: The first mild soft day we have had yet this winter.
- Mar 11: Blowing and drifting.
- Mar 15: Pretty and soft weather. Some thawing.
- Mar 16: Fine and clear. Some thawing.
- Mar 17: Warm, soft and pretty.
- Mar 21: Warm.
- Mar 23: A fine warm day; some parts of the roads are getting bad now, and the fields are getting bare.
- Mar 24: Snowing thick and blowing hard, then a small rain after dinner and towards evening pretty calm.
- Mar 26: Roads getting bad.
- Mar 28: Thunder going on the 28th at night. (Not exactly clear to me if he is referring to a thunderstorm, or the name of something or someone)
- Mar 29: The snow is melting now, fast.
- Mar 30: Cold N wind, cloudy.
- Mar 31: Fine.
- Late March according to April 16 NorWester: Three weeks ago (from Apr 16), there was every indication of summer weather. The air was mild - snow had totally disappeared in many places - the liberated streamlets were brawling in their haste riverward - an advance guard of rooks had made its appearance, as pioneers of the grand army of feathered tribes which migrate to the north.
- Late March: Spring is upon us in right earnest. The weather is delightfully genial. The snow is off the ice for the most part, and the creeks are beginning to run. Carrioling by land is at an end, and will soon cease upon the ice, too. (NorWester)
- April 🔵❄️: Chilly and snowy, making for a delayed spring. The insufficient harvest last year beginning to cause suffering as supplies run out. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Apr 1: Snowy, soft, wind SE.
- Apr 2: Snowing thick, wind N.
- Apr 4: Snowing thick. Snow deep.
- Apr 5: Cold and windy.
- Apr 6: Fine, clear, thawing a little.
- Apr 13: Dark, raining at times. Dirty walking.
- Apr 15: Snow is soft in the woods now. Began to snow thick. 5 geese seen flying.
- Apr 16: It appears that we are to have a late spring. Snow again mantles the ground and the air is chill. Unsettled damp weather prevails - neither hot nor cold; but a very disagreeable mixture of both. The river ice is yet set fast, and here travellers in sleighs and cutters find the only passable road just now. Where the snow is not dissolved into water through which your horse has to splash up to his knees, it is so soft that he sinks through to the ice every step he takes. (NorWester)
- Apr 16: We have, time and again, adverted to the evil consequences of last year's flooding. Another phase is just presenting itself to view. A large number of people are destitute of seedwheat for the current year, and unless they get assistance from others, will have to go without a crop. In many cases, they have no bread even now. The times are really hard in Red River, and, to our certain knowledge, there is at this moment very serious destitution in some districts. This is the very worst season for the poor. The failure of the crops last year has caused the general scarcity, and this state of things must continue until the summer's hunt and the summer's harvest furnish their supplies. (NorWester)
- Apr 18: Cloudy, cleared up about 11am. Strong N wind.
- Apr 22: River is still strong.
- Apr 26: Ice broke up, down below the Rapids, but Mr. Bunn came across the river on his horse.
- Apr 27: Fine and dry, ground nice and dry now. Plowing beginning these last few days.
- Apr 28: I walked across the river on a horse.
- Apr 29: As we came home the river began to break up opposite the school and downwards.
- Apr 30: Fine, dry weather. The people of the Settlement have not yet fairly commenced farming. Some ventured to plow a little, but they do not work in earnest. It is rather soon. The weather is very chilly, the soil at a few inches' depth is quite wet and cold. The weather is certainly improving. Since a week it has become clear and sunshiny; but it is, emphatically, a late backward spring. (NorWester)
- May 🏜️: Spring made a grand appearance in the first couple weeks of May with warmer sunnier weather, allowing farmers to make much progress on the fields. There was a brief cool down with some snow mid month. A very dry May with barely any rain, however, stunted the initial growth of crops. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- May 2: The ice is now leaving the river here. (Cowley near Selkirk).
- May 4: Pretty.
- May 5: Warm and fine.
- May 9: Warm.
- May 11: Very hot, ground now very dry. Fine showers and thunder today at intervals.
- May 13: Pretty.
- May 14: Windy. The weather has been delightful so far this May. The torpor of winter has been succeeded by a splendid transition scene, all life, light and loveliness. As it were by enchantment, we have been transferred from the cold winds and deep snow to a glorious springtime. The river had only opened. Day after day the ice was crashing past in it grand annual procession, when, already, spring burst upon us. The hot rays of the sun poured down, bedecking the trees with blossoms and making the ground fit for the grain. The red light of the innumerable fires flashed along the horizon, by day and by night, and a delicious haze softened the landscape. (NorWester)
- May 14: The past two weeks have been a very busy one with our farmers. A large crop has been put down. The weather was extremely favourable during seed time. From about Apr 22, it has been delightfully clear and genial. So much so, that farmers were anxiously hoping for rain since the beginning of last week. (NorWester)
- May 15: Cold N wind with some snow.
- May 17: Cold N wind.
- May 18: Pretty.
- May 25: Very warm, thunder and a little rain after dinner time. Rain is now much needed.
- May 29: Hardly any rain to be seen now the weather is dry and warm now.
- June 🏜️: Continued dry overall, but there were occasional rains and thunderstorms. The most significant rain didn't come until the 30th. There were some late frosts, suggesting cool weather. It was occasionally hot. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Jun 1: Pretty.
- Jun 3: Hot.
- Jun 4: The crops require rain very much now the ground is so dry.
- Jun 5 ⚡: At Lower Fort Garry, we had a good shower with loud thunder and big hail.... But not much near the Upper Fort.
- Jun 8: Hot. Every person wishing for rain.
- Jun 10: Rain, thunder and lightning night of the 10th.
- Jun 13: Wind N.
- Jun 15: Windy. Sometimes cloudy with a few drops of rain and at other times clear.
- Jun 16: Fine rainy day until 11am then it cleared up.
- Jun 17: Great rain most of the day.
- Jun 18: Great frost but no damage done.
- Jun 19: Little shower and thunder. It is remarkably dry ever since the river opened and hot.
- Jun 23: Very hot and dry.
- Jun 29: Fine cool NW wind.
- Jun 30: Great frost. Plenty of thunder and lightning and heavy rain in the night of the 30th.
- July 🏜️⚡: The rains finally came down in early July, improving the prospects for the crops. River levels remained too low for steamboats. A localized hailstorm caused some damage on the 26th. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Jul 4: ''Blood'' heat. Plenty of rain and thunder the night of the 4th.
- Jul 6: Pretty, wind S.
- Jul 9: The crops are looking pretty well, but not first rate. At Portage la Prairie they were never better than this year. In some parts of the lower Assiniboine, and in St Andrew's Parish, they are also represented as very promising; but taking the Settlement as a whole, the crop will not be a heavy one. This is owing to want of rain at the early stages of growth. Within the last month, there has been quite enough, but the month before when it was so much required, there was not a single shower. The two-fold consequence was soon apparent - part of the seed did not spring up at all, during the first three or four weeks, and what did grow was very stunted. The potato crop is excellent, and promises t o yield a large return. (NorWester)
- Jul 11: Hot.
- Week of Jul 13th: Hot and dry.
- Jul 20: Some thunder the night of the 19th and morning of the 20th, but hardly any rain. Still hot.
- Jul 23: The low water kept The International two days and a half at Goose Rapids. (NorWester)
- Jul 26: A hail storm ⚡ which crossed St Paul's Parish did considerable damage over a breadth of 3 or 4 miles. (NorWester) (I think this is located somewhere between Winnipeg and St Andrews)
- August 🏜️: Dry overall but there was some rain and thunderstorms. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Aug 6: Barley was cut 10 or 12 days ago. It is now fully ripe everywhere, and it is of an excellent quality. The wheat crop will soon be ready too. (NorWester)
- Aug 9: Thunder and bright lightning the night of the 9th.
- Aug 10: Dark and cloudy but cleared up at noon.
- Aug 11 to 14: Travelled to Netley Creek. Fine days but rain at night sometimes.
- Aug 15: Fine.
- Aug 19: Fine and dry.
- Aug 24: Thunder and lightning in the night of 23rd and on the 24th until 11am, then it cleared.
- Aug 27: Pretty wheat, none are frozen. Dry weather all summer and harvest.
- September: A very good harvest. Appears river levels were still lower than usual, suggesting an overall drier than normal summer. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Sep 11: We are happy to be able to state that this year's harvest is a very good one. With some slight exceptions, farmers throughout the Settlement are rejoicing in prospective abundance. The hail did some damage in St Pauls Parish, and we understand that, in the St Francois Xavier district, the crops have turned out rather indifferently; it must also be admitted that in some parts, the fields have suffered from mildew; but after making every allowance for drawbacks, we have still a very gratifying result. We greatly needed a good harvest, for the effect of last year's partial flooding is still felt. The Settlement is, at this moment as short of grain as it can well be. (NorWester)
- Sep 11: We cannot be far astray, however, in supposing that the steamboat must be detained by the lowness of the river. (NorWester)
- Sep 12: First frost of season. It made the potatoes black.
- Sep 13: Rain all day.
- Sep 19: Thunder and lightning in the night of the 19th.
- Sep 20: Warm and fine.
- Sep 21: Fine and clear.
- October 🔵❄️🔥: Cold October with an early winter. (NorWester) Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Oct 1: Rain and thunder.
- Oct 11: Pretty day.
- Oct 12: Pretty cold, wind N.
- Oct 18: The river froze over.
- Oct 20 and 21: The winds furious. Fires 🔥 have been raging in all parts of the prairies around the Settlement. One let off opposite Point Douglas by some scoundrel ran wildly down along the Settlement to St Andrews doing a vast amount of damage. Someone lost all his winter's hay. (NorWester)
- Oct 23: A great fall of snow, the first snow this fall. Very windy weather this fall.
- Oct 25: Ice thick in the river all day.
- Oct 26: Snow melted fast away. Ice on river very strong.
- Oct 30: The snowfall of 23rd had almost disappeared when a second fall fell today. (NorWester)
- Oct 31: The river broke up after the 18th, but again set fast today. (NorWester)
- November: First half cold, then it became abnormally mild which melted all the snow. Some new snow on the 24th, but not much. Becoming cold again in the last couple days. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Nov 1: Ice getting strong enough for people to skate on it.
- Nov 2: Blowing strong in morning, great lot of snow fell about dinnertime. Mild and cloudy towards evening.
- Nov 4: Of late, the weather has become quite cold. The snow of Oct 30 seems to have ushered in a permanent coating. (NorWester)
- Nov 8: No snow on the ice, it was as smooth as glass.
- Nov 9: Some snow.
- Nov 14: Cold and calm. Now we have some snow on the ground.
- Nov 16: Fine.
- Nov 17 to 19: Such fine pretty clear weather nearly all the snow is thawed away.
- Nov 20: Warm and clear. Road covered with water owing to the warm weather.
- Nov 22: Warm and clear. No snow again. No mittens needed.
- Nov 23: Fine.
- Nov 24: Snow.
- Nov 25 and 27: Fine.
- Nov 30: Cold and cloudy.
- December 🔴 🏜️: Very little snow with not a single mention of snowfall. Very mild, especially after the 10th. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Dec 2 and 4: Very little snow yet.
- Dec 11: Mild and fine, hardly any snow yet.
- Dec 14: Mild, fine and clear. Still hardly any snow.
- Dec 19: A pretty day and clear hardly any snow, bad hauling.
- Dec 20: Mild and cloudy.
- Dec 21: Clear, not cold.
- Dec 25: Warm, fine and clear. Everyone going about without mittens.
- Dec 28: A fine mild dark day, still little snow.
- Dec 30: Warm and clear. Same weather every day now.
- Dec 31: Warm, wind S.
1863 🔵 🏜️🔥
General summary: Very limited quantity of snow fell during the winter of 1862-1863 (NorWester) and it was quite mild. Even lightning and some rain was seen on the 22nd of March. Spring came on time, except for a snowstorm mid April which set spring back a little longer. The weather became very dry after the storm with almost no precipitation until the 28th of May when it became rainier into June. Dry weather returned in July and August, making for a very dry year. Lots of fires and smoke as well, which did do some damage. The drought also did damage, but the harvest was still average. The summer was not hot, except for a few brief hot spells. Frost occurred in late June, mid July and mid to late August. No other summer on record has had so much frost. Dry weather continued in September with many fires. Then winter set in hard in October with cold and snowy weather. A very early winter as a result. It became milder in November and December however,
General summary: Very limited quantity of snow fell during the winter of 1862-1863 (NorWester) and it was quite mild. Even lightning and some rain was seen on the 22nd of March. Spring came on time, except for a snowstorm mid April which set spring back a little longer. The weather became very dry after the storm with almost no precipitation until the 28th of May when it became rainier into June. Dry weather returned in July and August, making for a very dry year. Lots of fires and smoke as well, which did do some damage. The drought also did damage, but the harvest was still average. The summer was not hot, except for a few brief hot spells. Frost occurred in late June, mid July and mid to late August. No other summer on record has had so much frost. Dry weather continued in September with many fires. Then winter set in hard in October with cold and snowy weather. A very early winter as a result. It became milder in November and December however,
- January 🔴 🏜️: Very mild with not much snow. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Jan 1: Warm, fine, calm and clear. Still little snow.
- Jan 2: Calm, clear and did not require any mittens.
- Jan 3: Warm, fine and clear.
- Jan 4: Fine and clear, a little colder than it has been this while back.
- Jan 12: Cold.
- Jan 16: Snowing.
- Jan 17: Mild and snowy.
- Jan 18: Clear and blowing but not very cold.
- Jan 20: Mild.
- Jan 22: Warm and clear.
- Jan 24: Pretty mild and clear.
- Jan 25: Mild and clear.
- Jan 26: Fine.
- February: Quite cold the first week then becoming mild. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Feb 3: -36F (-37.8°C).
- Feb 5: Windy.
- Feb 6: Snowy, windy.
- Feb 7: Cold.
- Feb 8: Clear, fine, calm.
- Feb 15: Clear, fine. Snow pretty deep now.
- Feb 19: Fine.
- Feb 22: Terrible strong S wind. Not cold.
- Feb 23: Warm, soft.
- Feb 26: Very soft, warm.
- Feb 28: Calm, clear, warm.
- March ⚡: Alternating cold and mild, suggesting a near normal March, maybe a bit warm for the time. Not much snow, only 2 days of snow mentioned. Even some rain and lightning at night about the 22nd. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Mar 1: Clear, pretty warm, calm.
- Mar 3: Cold.
- Mar 5: Cold, windy.
- Mar 7: Mild and snowy.
- Mar 8: Cold.
- Mar 15: Very soft.
- Mar 16: Mild and dark.
- May 18: Fine.
- Mar 19: Warm.
- Mar 20: Geese first seen (NorWester).
- Mar 22: Soft, dark, wind E. Rain and lightning ⚡ at night.
- Mar 24: Cold and fine.
- Mar 27: Cold morning.
- Mar 28: Roads getting bad.
- Mar 29: Wind S blowing strong.
- Mar 30: Snowy and windy.
- April ❄️: Started fairly mild and pleasant with spring arriving on schedule. Almost or all the snow had melted until another snowstorm hit the 18th and 19th. It then took a few extra days for snow to disappear. The rivers unusually low for the season and creeks almost dry given minimal amounts of snow over the winter. Warm weather in the final week. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Apr 1: Water first seen on the river.
- Apr 2: Blowing hard.
- Apr 3: Heard geese.
- Apr 5: Warm.
- Apr 8: Thunder and lightning in night of the 8th.
- Apr 10: Windy.
- Apr 11: Ground drying fast.
- Apr 12: Wind S blowing hard.
- Apr 13: Warm, no snow. Spring has fairly set in. The weather have been very fine and mild. The snow has almost entirely disappeared. During the past two weeks, cattle have been out grazing on the prairies, and there have been ducks and other harbingers of summer. The roads are not dry yet; but, considering the season, they are unusually good. They very limited quantity of snow that fell during the past winter has had something to do with this as well as with the moderate flow of our creeks and rivulets. (NorWester). The company began to plow.
- Apr 15: River ice broke up and began to drift down current. (Norwester)
- Apr 16: Pretty day. Ice driving down.
- Apr 17: Rain, cold N wind. Ice clearing out.
- Apr 18 and 19: Very bad weather ❄️ - snow and sleet, with a very heavy NE wind. (Norwester). Rain mixed with wet snow and very windy on 19th.
- Apr 20: Cleared up. Roads became almost impassable with the reappearance of the sun, and remained impassable until the 23rd. (Norwester)
- Apr 21 to 23: Some plowing and starting to sow.
- Apr 23: Warm, dry.
- Apr 26: Hot.
- Apr 30: Pretty day.
- May 🏜️: Very dry weather with only light sprinkles of rain most of the month. More organised showers finally arrived starting the 28th. A mix of cold and hot days, suggesting possibly near normal temperatures on average, or even a bit warmer than normal. Weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- May 1: Pretty, very dry.
- May 5: Fine and calm.
- May 6: Windy and dry.
- May 7: Strong wind all day.
- May 10: Warm and dry.
- May 11: A little rain, cloudy dark day. Cold.
- May 15: Cold wind.
- May 17: Strong frost and thick fog in the morning, then a clear warm day.
- May 19: Hot, dry day. The weather is really unusually dry, the wheat looks not very well.
- May 20: Lightning and thunder in the evening and a few drops of rain.
- May 21 and 22: Looked rain-like but then there wasn't any.
- May 23: Hot, calm and clear.
- May 24: Warm, still dry.
- May 25 to 27: Hot to very hot.
- May 28: A little rain in the night of the 28th.
- May 30: A fine shower in the afternoon.
- May 31: Windy.
- June 🔵: Some hot weather mid month, otherwise leaning on the cooler side with even some frost on the 29th. Some rain finally came with at least 6 days of rain. Apparently, it thundered often but it did not always produce rain. Unless otherwise noted, weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement.
- Jun 1: Fine rainy day.
- Jun 2: Since May 28 there have been several refreshing showers and it is still cloudy. Having over five weeks of dry weather, this rain was very much needed. (NorWester)
- Jun 3: Fine.
- Jun 7: Pretty day.
- Jun 8 and 9: A fine shower in the night of the 8th and morning of the 9th. A little more rain and thunder at dinnertime on the 9th.
- Jun 13: Loud thunder the night of the 13th but not much rain.
- Jun 14: Very hot. Potatoes and wheat begin to look pretty well.
- Jun 18 and 19: A fine rain the night of 18th and morning of 19th. Temperature low, soil thoroughly recovered from the scorching heats of last week. (NorWester)
- Jun 20: Plenty of rain first part of the day. We have had excellent weather for the crops this month. (NorWester)
- Jun 21: Cool, fine, dry and windy from the N.
- Jun 22 to 27: Fine, dry weather.
- Jun 29: Frost.
- July 🔵🏜️🔥: Started very hot in the first week, then became abnormally cold with extremely rare July frost. Many people had their wheat and potatoes frozen badly. Minnesota also recorded several frosts from the 11th to 15th which damaged crops. It was also very dry with only 3 days having a little rain mentioned. Unless otherwise noted, weather reports are from Samuel Taylor at the Red River Settlement.
- Jul 1: Hot and dry. This is the driest summer that any one can remember. The wheat looks short and thin.
- Jul 4: ''Blood'' heat. 101F (38.3°C) in the shade. (NorWester)
- Jul 5 to 7: ''Blood'' heat.
- Jul 11: There was a frost in the AM hours.
- Jul 15: The want of rain is becoming a serious matter with farmers. The season, on the whole, has thus far been a very dry one, and in some parts cereal crops look parched. Overpowering heat the last few days. The potato crop is looking well. Great fires must be raging E of us, for the wind from that quarter has been flooding the country with a dense smoke 🔥 during the last couple weeks. Some have it that the vast forest region towards Lake of the Woods is one mass of fires, and that the destruction of pines will be appalling. (NorWester)
- Jul 16: There was a frost in the AM hours.
- Jul 17: Heavy wind and low water in the river.
- Jul 18: A little rain. Wind S.
- Jul 19: Wind N.
- Jul 21: A little rain.
- Jul 25: A little rain.
- Jul 26 to 31: Fine weather.
- August 🔵🔥: Abnormally cold weather again with several frosts (Samuel Taylor). Some rain in the first half of the month, then no mention of rain afterwards. Many fires burning, particularly late in the month.
- Aug 1: Warm and fine.
- Aug 3: Plenty of rain and thunder.
- Aug 5: The Great Lakes and Midwest regions have been having a very dry summer as well with fires. (NorWester)
- Aug 12 to 14: Several showers of rain.
- Aug 13 and 14: Frosts both mornings but did no harm.
- Aug 15: There was a strong frost. Some wheat and potatoes were frozen.
- Aug 22: Frost last night has affected the vegetation.
- Aug 24: A great frost last night, ground white this morning. It froze most all the wheat and barley in the settlement.
- Late August: Fires 🔥 running in the grounds behind St Boniface Cathedral burned much hay. (NorWester)
- Aug 30: Still wonderful dry weather. A great deal of fires 🔥 burning now, we have not heard what is going on yet.
- September 🏜️: Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Sep 1: Hot and fine.
- Sep 2: Several of the farmers settled along the Assiniboine suffered severely by the recent prairies fires. Heavy hay losses by the fires. (NorWester)
- Sep 10: The great work of the year is now over, and farmers are rejoicing in the prospect of speedily realising the golden fruits of their toils. The crops have indicated a good average yields. The straw is short, but, in general, the quality of the grain is most excellent. So far as we can at present ascertain, there is much more grain in the settlement this year than last. We believe the potato crop will be lighter. (NorWester)
- Sep 15 and 16: Rain.
- Sep 18: Fine.
- Sep 30: Such a fine harvest, nobody remembers the like, but the watermills are all dry and will not be able to grind this fall, perhaps.
- Sep 30: The losses by prairie fires 🔥 this year have been very great. Hardly a day has passed but conflagrations have been seen sweeping over the plains on either side of the river, and the farmer who has not lost some hay in this way counts himself very fortunate, indeed. It is said that some of these fires were let go designedly; but we would hope this is not the case. (NorWester)
- October🔵❄️: Very cold and snowy with an extraordinarily early winter. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Oct 2: A rather cold wind.
- Oct 3: A great fall of snow in the morning.
- Oct 4: Snow again in the morning.
- Oct 12: Very fine weather ever since the first snow fell.
- Oct 13: Not cold.
- Oct 17: Strong N wind and rain in the night.
- Oct 18: Wet snow falling all day, calmer towards evening.
- Oct 19: Soft wet snow.
- Oct 20: Wild snowy day, blowing hard and geese flying thick.
- Oct 22: River frozen over. Calm.
- Oct 24: Plenty of snow on ground.
- Oct 25: Fine, wind S. Plenty of snow on the ground yet.
- Oct 31: Fine, clear and mild.
- November: Somewhat milder weather, until snow and colder temperatures in the final few days. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Nov 1: Snowing all day but not cold. Snowing thick in the evening.
- Nov 8: Fine dark day, not cold.
- Nov 14: Fine mild weather ever since the river set fast.
- Nov 15: Mild and clear, wind S.
- Nov 16: Mild and fine.
- Nov 17: Soft and clear.
- Nov 18: Fine.
- Nov 26: Terrible gale of wind and drift.
- Nov 27: Cold and calm.
- Nov 30: Snowing a little, cloudy.
- December 🔴: Mild overall, especially for the time. There were three periods of cold weather: about the 4th, mid month around the 13th and 16th, and the coldest weather was the 29th to 31st. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Dec 1: Mild and clear.
- Dec 2: Fine.
- Dec 3: Very soft, clear.
- Dec 4: Rather cold.
- Dec 5: Warm, clear and fine.
- Dec 6: Mild, clear, blowing hard from the WSW.
- Dec 7: Fine, clear.
- Dec 8: Mild.
- Dec 9: Snowing thick.
- Dec 13: Cold and clear.
- Dec 16: Cold, sharp morning.
- Dec 19: Wind S, snowing and blowing in the evening.
- Dec 20: Wind S, blowing strong. Cloudy.
- Dec 21: Fine.
- Dec 22: Mild, dark, calm.
- Dec 23: Mild and clear but blowing strong.
- Dec 24: Mild and clear.
- Dec 25: Mild and clear, the woods all white with rime.
- Dec 26: Fine.
- Dec 28: Mild, clear and calm.
- Dec 29: Cold, windy.
- Dec 30 and 31: Very cold.
1864 🏜️🦗🔥
General summary: A rather flip floppy winter, jumping from extreme cold to extreme warmth. The warm spells brought unusual rainfalls and rapid thawing in January and February. There wasn't much snow over the winter either. Spring was delayed, however, with cold weather in April and early May. It was again another year of severe drought, the third in a row. Very dry weather in May and from mid July to late August. There was possibly barely a drop of rain for over a month, rather unusual for mid-summer. The drought not only stunted the growth of grasses and crops, but also resulted in many fires and grasshoppers. Strong winds in August as well, with a possible haboob (dust storm) on August 14. The summer was apparently hot, especially from mid July to late August, with numerous days above 30°C and possibly even some above 37°C. Some precipitation returned in the fall, but wasn't very significant. September was chilly with an early snowfall on the 23rd. Winter started indecisively. There was cold weather to start November and even a 10-15 cm snowstorm on the 15th, but very mild weather afterwards melted all the snow and there was even rain on November 27. Not much indication about December, but it was possibly colder than normal with maybe a snowstorm at some point in the first few days.
General summary: A rather flip floppy winter, jumping from extreme cold to extreme warmth. The warm spells brought unusual rainfalls and rapid thawing in January and February. There wasn't much snow over the winter either. Spring was delayed, however, with cold weather in April and early May. It was again another year of severe drought, the third in a row. Very dry weather in May and from mid July to late August. There was possibly barely a drop of rain for over a month, rather unusual for mid-summer. The drought not only stunted the growth of grasses and crops, but also resulted in many fires and grasshoppers. Strong winds in August as well, with a possible haboob (dust storm) on August 14. The summer was apparently hot, especially from mid July to late August, with numerous days above 30°C and possibly even some above 37°C. Some precipitation returned in the fall, but wasn't very significant. September was chilly with an early snowfall on the 23rd. Winter started indecisively. There was cold weather to start November and even a 10-15 cm snowstorm on the 15th, but very mild weather afterwards melted all the snow and there was even rain on November 27. Not much indication about December, but it was possibly colder than normal with maybe a snowstorm at some point in the first few days.
- January 💧: An extremely bipolar month with very cold weather in the first couple weeks, then very mild weather the last couple weeks. Rain and melting snow occurred during the warm spell. Samuel Taylor did not mention any falling snow until the 30th and 31st. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Jan 1: Clear and sharp cold. -46F (-43.3°C).
- Jan 2: Pretty cold.
- Jan 3: Cold and clear, wind SW.
- Jan 7: Clear, calm and fine.
- Jan 23: Mild.
- Jan 24: Mild and cloudy, wind S.
- Jan 25: Raining 💧. Plenty of water round the house.
- Jan 26: Mild, soft spring-like weather. Plenty of water round the house.
- Jan 27: Mild, soft spring-like weather.
- Jan 29: Warm, clear and calm.
- Jan 30: Snowing thick.
- Jan 31: Snowing at times a little. Blowing pretty hard from the S.
- February 🔴 💧: Mild overall, but there were two sharp cold spells, from about the 15th to 18th and 27th to 29th. The mildest weather was in the first week, and from the 22nd to 25th. Rain fell and snow was melting in both these warm spells, an unusual occurrence especially for the time. Very little snow fell, in fact, Samuel Taylor didn't mention any. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Feb 3: Mild with a little rain 💧.
- Feb 4: Mild, clear, fine and calm.
- Feb 9: Fine.
- Feb 11: Windy.
- Feb 12: Mild and fine.
- Feb 13: Very windy.
- Feb 14: Mild and pretty. Wind S.
- Feb 15: Cold and clear, blowing and drifting.
- Feb 16: Very cold.
- Feb 17: Cold.
- Feb 18: Cold, clear and calm.
- Feb 19: Mild, clear and soft.
- Feb 21: Blowing and drifting, wind S. Not cold.
- Feb 22: Very warm and clear, snow melting fast.
- Feb 23: Very soft.
- Feb 24: Rainy 💧 forepart of the day, then wet snow from the east in the evening.
- Feb 25: Soft.
- Feb 26: Windy.
- Feb 27: Cold, blowing very hard.
- Feb 28: Very cold and clear. Blowing. Wind NW.
- Feb 29: Very cold, wind N.
- March 🔵: Chilly and dry overall. There were brief warm spells around the 12th to 16th, on the 27th and possibly between the 1st and 5th. Not much snow fell it appears. On the 17th and 18th, it was quite slippery but it is not clear what caused the slippery conditions. Samuel Taylor mentions rime, but it is not clear if that refers to freezing rain/drizzle or fog-deposited ice. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Mar 1: Rather cold, fine. Wind NW.
- Mar 5: Real cold and stormy day. The snow is disappearing and we expect an early spring. (Abraham Cowley near Selkirk)
- Mar 6: Rather cold and cloudy. Fine and calm.
- Mar 7: Fine.
- Mar 9: Cold and clear.
- Mar 12: Soft.
- Mar 15: Soft and clear.
- Mar 17: One of the coldest days we have felt this season, owing to the heavy wind and rime. (unsure if this refers to freezing rain/drizzle or ice from fog)
- Mar 18: Cold and slippery. Could not haul logs due to the slipperiness. (unsure if this is due to yesterday's events or meltwater freezing up)
- Mar 19: Cold, sharp and windy.
- Mar 20: Still cold. Clear and calm.
- Mar 21: Cold, wind S.
- Mar 22: Terrible windy day.
- Mar 25: Cold and clear. Wind NW. Very little snow on the ground. Roads as good yet as any time in the winter. Up this Settlement, the snow is almost done.
- Mar 26: Cold and clear.
- Mar 27: Calm until dinnertime, thawing the snow a little, but then the wind came on cold from the N.
- Mar 28: Cold and windy.
- Mar 29 to 31: Still cold.
- April 🔵: A delayed spring with mostly chilly weather in April. There were brief warm spells at times and the ice did break up starting the 21st, with water levels rising but not significantly. Another snowstorm on the 25th, stopping work on the fields for a couple days. Overall though, there wasn't much precipitation. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Apr 1: A little wet snow all day.
- Apr 2: A little soft.
- Apr 3: Clear, wind N. Thawing a little.
- Apr 4 and 5: Very soft with plenty of water, the first real warm day this spring.
- Apr 6: Hard frost. Cold. Geese and ducks seen. Geese first seen (NorWester).
- Apr 10: Fine and clear, wind E.
- Apr 13: Spring's arrival has been unusually gradual this year. We have had fine warm sunny days and then again the icy breath of winter has chilled us by a cold north wind, which prevailed steadily for more than three weeks. Here and there the cattle feed on small patches of the prairie where the snow has been melted off. Our annual feathered visitors come slowly from the south as yet: the weather being on the whole rather uninviting; but stray bands of geese and ducks occasionally make their appearance. (NorWester)
- Apr 14: Some began to sow wheat.
- Apr 15 and 16: Wind S. A little rain after sunset on the 16th.
- Apr 17: Cold and clear, wind N.
- Apr 19: A few drops of rain the night of the 19th.
- Apr 21: Pretty. Ice beginning to break up a little.
- Apr 23: River quite clear.
- Apr 24: Pretty but blowing hard. NorWester: The days of late are warm, bright and pleasant. River is higher than anticipated, though the rise has not been so sudden and great as in previous seasons.
- Apr 25: Snowing and blowing. Someone plowing had to stop owing to the snow.
- Apr 27: Pretty.
- Apr 27 to 30: Sowing wheat. Weather fine.
- May 🏜️: Very dry with little precipitation. Low water levels. Cold to start, then becoming hot around the 18t and 20th. Chilly again to close the month with frost on the 27th. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- May 1: Snowing at times, cold wind N.
- May 9: Very cold, especially in the morning. Blowing hard from the NW.
- Mid May: Watermills cannot grind for want of water.
- May 14: A little thunder and lightning in the evening but no rain at all. Generally strong gales of wind every day.
- May 15: A few drops of rain.
- May 18: Very hot.
- May 20: Hot. Very dry. Rare to find water in the swamps now. Becoming the third dry summer in a row. Steam boat will not be able to run for want of water.
- May 27: Frost.
- May 29: Fine but dry. Looks rain-like but very little rain fell after all.
- June: The rains finally came which helped the crops a little. Water levels still low. At least 9 or 10 days with rain. Cold to start, the becoming hot mid month. Cooler to close the month again. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Jun 1: A little rain in the morning.
- Jun 4: Rained pretty heavy all night of the 4th.
- Jun 5: Rain in the morning. Some small dry hail at different times during the day. Cold strong N wind till nearly evening, then a little calm.
- Jun 7: Very dry weather still, some people's wheat look well and others looks miserable owing to the grubs.
- Jun 12: Strong S wind. Dry.
- Jun 14: A fine shower.
- Jun 15: Good shower the night of the 15th.
- Jun 16: Water low in river.
- Jun 18: Best shower we have had in this Settlement perhaps two years back at about dinner time. Loud thunder as well.
- Jun 19: Fine shower in the evening.
- Jun 21: Hot.
- Jun 25: A little rain.
- Jun 26: Cool, fine and clear. Wind N.
- Jun 28: Heavy shower of rain. Rain of late has helped the wheat look better.
- July 🔴 🦗: Rainy in the first half, dry in the second half. The hottest weather during the drier weather mid to late month. A great number of grasshoppers flocked to the area, causing damage to crops. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted. It appears he may have been near Lower Fort Garry most of the month.
- Jul 1 and 2: Warm and pretty.
- Jul 2: The drought is being protracted to an alarming extent. The weather is scorching and no indications of rain. Already are the crops failing and all kinds of vegetation is severely affected. It is now over two years since we have had any considerable amount of rain. (NorWester)
- Jul 3: A fine shower. Wind NW.
- Jul 4: Heavy shower. Wheat and potatoes now look well.
- Jul 7: Great number of grasshoppers came down recently, destroying some crops. Plenty of rain this whole week past.
- Jul 11 and 12: Heavy rain and thunder.
- Jul 13: Week before last, the grasshoppers began their work of destruction on the Assiniboine River, and now we are told that all the farms from St Francois Xavier to Fort Garry have been stripped and only blackened fields appear where promising young crops were lately seen. We hear also that great damage has been done among the French settlers on the Red River above the Fort, and in the closing days of last week great clouds of them were observed flying to the NE and unfortunately large numbers of them alighted in the district extending between the two Forts on both sides of the river, where they are now devouring the grains crops rapidly. The barley falls first, then they strip the leaves from the wheat and finally cut them down also, gnawing through the stalk just below the ear. The potatoes have hitherto been spared. (NorWester)
- Jul 16: Hot and fine.
- Jul 18: Hot and dry.
- Jul 21: Some days many grasshoppers, other days none.
- Jul 23: Plenty of grasshoppers.
- Jul 23: On the 20th the hay cutting usually commences but as the growth of the grass this year was retarded by drought the 27th was fixed upon as a better time for the commencement. (Cowley)
- Jul 31: Warm, wind N.
- August 🔴🏜️🦗🔥💨: Extremely dry weather with no rain mentioned until the last couple days. There were numerous fires burning up hay. A brief but intense dust storm hit the area on the 14th, possibly in the form of a haboob. The strong wind associated with this caused some damage and threw some objects. Crops were damaged or retarded in growth by grasshoppers, grubs and dry weather. It was also apparently hot with many days above 30°C, and possibly some above 37°C. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- First few days: Fine, pretty and dry.
- Aug 9: Fine. Some wheat really drying up in the hot sun and wind. Have not had rain in a long time.
- Aug 12: Fire is burning hay in all directions - the earth is burning the like never been known. Potatoes are very small and will be until we get more rain.
- Aug 14: Terrible squall of wind 💨 blinding people with dust.
- Aug 14 💨: There was every appearance of a good rattling thunderstorm; but instead thereof we were visited with a regular hurricane which, though not on the largest scale, was large enough to inflict not a little damage. The sky became dark as pitch and for fully ten minutes we were completely enveloped in clouds of dust, of great density which were swept along by the hurricane with much force, overthrowing wheat and hay stacks and various small wooden outbuildings and carrying them a considerable distance. (NorWester)
- Aug 18: Destructive fires have raged over the plains this month. Along the Assiniboine and Red they caused considerable loss, burning much of the hay belonging to settlers on both sides of the rivers, and in some instances, we believe, part of the their crops. We are told that the quantity of hay consumed was very large, and we heard of some instances along the Assiniboine in which the unfortunate sufferers will not, in all probability, be able to replace the hay thus burned. (NorWester)
- Aug 18: The oldest inhabitant does not remember a summer of such extraordinary, long-continued heat as we have experienced this year in Assiniboia. One day of sultry, scorching hot weather follows another with almost as much undeviating regularity. The thermometers have indicated from 87 to 90, 97, and even 100 degrees in shade! Within the past 40 or 50 years such a summer of heat and wind has never been known in Rupert's Land. When the sky became overcast with clouds, in most instances the grateful rain was carried beyond us by high winds, and the land remained parched, so that over a great portion of the Settlement the crops were burned up. We also suffered a positive loss by the great swarms of grasshoppers. Despite some smart showers in June and July there is barely enough herbage on the plains to feed the cattle. The cattle have to march back once or twice a day to drink at the river - and even the bears have to follow suit. We saw a bear not long since marching past St John's Cathedral, quite coolly, on his way to quench his thirst at the river. (NorWester)
- Aug 26: Windy.
- Aug 30: Heavy rain from dinner till nearly the middle of the night 31st.
- Sep 1: We are convinced, and it is very generally believed, that a large number of the fires originate from the various campfires left alit on the prairies. Parties camp everywhere in the plains, cook and eat their meals, and then march off; and we venture to say that in 99% they never put their fires out before leaving. The consequence is that the smouldering flames, fanned by the wind, soon spread themselves, and catching the dry grass or twigs in the vicinity, light up such conflagrations. (NorWester)
- The heat of the summer of 1864 at Red River was so extreme that nobody in the settlement remembered such another. The thermometer sometimes continued for a considerable portion of the afternoon at 100°F in the shade. The river sank and the International made only 1 trip, that being the first she had been able to accomplish for nearly 2 years, during which she had lain, unharmed throughout the Indian War at Georgetown and Fort Abercrombie. (J.J Hargrave)
- September 🔵❄️: Some rains arrived in the first half of the month. The first snowflakes fell on the 23rd and the first frost on the 18th. Appears the month was overall colder than normal, with an occasional warm or hot day. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Sep 4: Rather rainy and cloudy.
- Sep 6: Rainy and dark.
- Sep 7: Pretty.
- Sep 8: Hot.
- Sep 11: Blowing hard, wind E and rain-like all day.
- Sep 18: The first frost.
- Sep 23: The first shower of snow.
- Sep 27: Pretty day. Calm.
- Sep 29: Very pretty.
- October: Not as cold as recent years, but still chilly overall. Occasional rain and snow make it not too dry of a month. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Oct 1: Rainy and windy. Water still very low.
- Oct 2: Rather rainy and dark. Water rising.
- Oct 8: Fine weather every day lately.
- Oct 9: High winds blew down a partially-finished building. The accident was speedily remedied. (NorWester)
- Oct 12: Fine. Not too cold not too hot.
- Oct 19: Snow and rain.
- Oct 20: Snow from morning until dinnertime.
- Oct 21 and 22: Pretty, wind S. Almost calm.
- Oct 23: Warm, clear and calm. Water still low.
- Oct 24 to 26: Pretty, fine.
- Oct 27 and 28: Rain all day, cloudy and dark.
- Oct 29: Dry we ather.
- Oct 30: Snow on the ground but not cold. Dark afternoon.
- November 🔴: Leaning on the colder side in the first week or two with the river freezing a couple of times, and froze permanently by the 9th. Mild the remainder of the month, for the most part, with even some rain on the 27th, which resulted in very icy roads the 28th. The first major snowstorm on the 15th with possibly around 15 cm. This snow all melted away with the mild weather afterwards, however. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Nov 1: Clear and calm. Ice nearly all over the river for the first time but it opened again.
- Nov 2: Calm, pretty.
- Nov 2: The ploughs are in motion. The soil is dry. This hardness and dryness prevents the depth of tillage which ought to obtain on fields preparing for the autumn seeding of wheat. (NorWester)
- Nov 3: River set fast for the first time but was too thin to be permanent, and it was open again.
- Nov 4: Pretty.
- Nov 6: Calm and pretty. Some ice on the river but again cleared out.
- Nov 9: River frozen over. Weather past couple days wintry-ish with occasional cutting winds sweeping across the plains. A couple days ago there was some slight snow showers, but then it moderated a little. (NorWester)
- Nov 10: People crossing river on foot.
- Nov 11 and 12: Very pretty. Very little snow yet.
- Nov 13: Fine.
- Nov 14: Very little snow has up to this time, fallen in the Settlement, so that wheeled vehicles still are seen on the highway, and cutters and carrioles have not yet been taken out. The weather too, is unusually mild for the time of year. (Norwester)
- Nov 15: 5 or 6 inches of snow (13 to 15 cm) lays on the ground this morning, and it was still coming down steadily. (Norwester)
- Nov 16: First day of sleighing. (Norwester)
- Nov 24: Dark and mild this long time.
- Nov 26: Such mild weather of late that the snow has all but disappeared off the roads, and sleighing is abandoned. (NorWester)
- Nov 27: Rained from dinner till night. Heavy fall of rain this evening. (NorWester)
- Nov 28: Hard frost after the rain last night has sheathed the roads in ice this morning. (NorWester)
- Nov 29: Pretty.
- Nov 30: Pretty.
- December 🔵: Not a lot of detail available. Appears it was mostly cold, with some brief milder periods, particularly around Christmas. There must have been a snowstorm at some point in the first few days as Cowley reported deep snow cover on the 3rd. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted. Less detail than usual because he was travelling to catch fish west of Winnipeg, in the Portage and Poplar Point areas, for a good part of the month.
- Dec 1: Fine.
- Dec 3: The weather has again become cold & wintry; the heavens overcast & dull. A considerable quantity of snow covers the ground (Cowley near Selkirk).
- Dec 15: Pretty.
- Dec 20: Storm of wind from the N (at Poplar Point).
- Dec 22: Sharp (Portage area).
- Dec 23 and 24: Calm clear, mild day (Between Poplar Point and Winnipeg).
- Dec 25: Pretty, clear, not cold (back at Red River Settlement area).
- Dec 27: Very cold windy weather.
1865 🦗
General summary: A wetter year than last year, but it still appears it may have been a bit drier than normal. More snow than last year over the winter. February was again very mild with some rain. Significant snowstorms around February 20 and March 2. Spring was again delayed, with cold snowy weather in April. A major storm system brought significant precipitation between April 3rd and 6th. Heavy rain fell for two days, followed by, anecdotally, the worst blizzard in 20 years. Drier weather in May, July and August. Rainy in June with a significant thunderstorm on the 1st. Grasshoppers were problematic again over the whole summer. However, crops did well overall with one of the best harvests in years. The summer might have been chilly, but there wasn't much information available on temperatures. Early frosts in mid August. Rainy weather in the first couple weeks of September, then mostly dry the remainder of the year. Cold weather froze the rivers early in late October. However, abnormally warm weather in November resulted in a very late permanent freeze up of the rivers in the last couple days of November. The first snow was Nov 3 but the first snow to stick wasn't until Nov 28. The weather turned dramatically colder in December.
General summary: A wetter year than last year, but it still appears it may have been a bit drier than normal. More snow than last year over the winter. February was again very mild with some rain. Significant snowstorms around February 20 and March 2. Spring was again delayed, with cold snowy weather in April. A major storm system brought significant precipitation between April 3rd and 6th. Heavy rain fell for two days, followed by, anecdotally, the worst blizzard in 20 years. Drier weather in May, July and August. Rainy in June with a significant thunderstorm on the 1st. Grasshoppers were problematic again over the whole summer. However, crops did well overall with one of the best harvests in years. The summer might have been chilly, but there wasn't much information available on temperatures. Early frosts in mid August. Rainy weather in the first couple weeks of September, then mostly dry the remainder of the year. Cold weather froze the rivers early in late October. However, abnormally warm weather in November resulted in a very late permanent freeze up of the rivers in the last couple days of November. The first snow was Nov 3 but the first snow to stick wasn't until Nov 28. The weather turned dramatically colder in December.
- January: Ups and down of temperature. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Jan 1: Rather cold and pretty clear.
- Jan 2: Mild and clear.
- Jan 3: Pretty.
- Jan 4: Windy with some snow.
- Jan 5 and 6: Pretty.
- Jan 7: Mild and pretty.
- Jan 8: Cold, dark and windy.
- Jan 11: Mild, clear, fine and calm.
- Jan 13 and 14: Fine.
- Jan 15: Clear, pretty.
- Jan 19: Pretty.
- Jan 21: Snowy and dark.
- Jan 22: Rather cold, wind N. Cloudy forenoon, cleared up towards evening. Snow is pretty deep in the woods now.
- Jan 30: Warm and pretty.
- February 🔴💧❄️: Generally mild weather with even some rain on the 2nd. A significant snowstorm on the 20th and 21st. Provisions becoming scarce as a result of drought last year. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Feb 2: Mild and soft. Rather rainy 💧.
- Feb 4: Calm, clear and pretty.
- Feb 6: ''The winter so far has been what might be termed an average one. More snow that last year, but hardly any variation is noticeable in the general temperature. It ranges from 0F and above, to -10F, -15F and at rare intervals -20F and -30F. '' (NorWester)
- Feb 6: Pretty evening.
- Feb 20: Snowy and soft.
- Feb 21: Snowing thick.
- Feb 21: A heavy snow storm, a large addition to our winter's stock. (Cowley near Selkirk).
- Feb 26: Clear and pretty, wind N.
- Feb 28: Great many people complaining for want of provisions right now.
- March ❄️: First half quite cold then becoming quite mild in the second half. Significant snowstorms on the 1st-2nd and 12th. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Mar 1: Snowy and drifting.
- Mar 2: Snowing and drifting all day.
- Mar 4: There has been a great storm & fall of snow this week (Cowley near Selkirk).
- Mar 4 and 5: Rather cold and clear.
- Mar 6: Clear.
- Mar 9: Sharp cold and clear.
- Mar 10: Cold.
- Mar 11: Cold and clear.
- Mar 12: Great lot of snow fell in the morning, it cleared up after breakfast then it was cold and clear.
- Mar 14 and 15: First little mild weather that we have had.
- Mar 17 and 18: Mild.
- Mar 19: Warm and pretty.
- Mar 25: Soft. Roads bad. Fall of snow the night of the 25th.
- Mar 26: Cleared up in the morning, very soft. We have had very warm soft weather every day since it began the 14th. Saw a goose today.
- Mar 27: Wet snow falling thick.
- Mar 29: Snow was all off in some places, and in some places it was deep.
- Mar 30: Soft and windy. Saw 5 geese.
- Mar 31: Blowing hard.
- April 🔵💧❄️: Very warm first couple days, then very stormy weather dumped a lot of rain on the 3rd and 4th and apparently produced the worst blizzard in two decades on the 6th. The weather became milder after the storm with gradually thawing snow. Cold weather the final week with more snow. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Apr 1: Very warm.
- Apr 2: Very pretty, soft and warm.
- Apr 3: Rain began about 11am and rained heavy all night. Plenty of geese, ducks, rooks, robins and many other kinds of summer birds about.
- Apr 4: Rained heavily all day until nearly the evening when it began to snow.
- Apr 6: The worst day we had the whole winter for snow and drift, and a regular storm of wind. Travelling to someone's house, could not see the woods at each side of the road.
- Apr 6: Snowstorm today is believed to have been the most severe occurring here for 20 years. There was a perfect hurricane for 24 hours, and the snow flew in clouds, so that it was impossible to see 20 yards in any direction outdoors. Before the storm, the weather had been mild and spring-like. (NorWester)
- Apr 7 and 8: Cold.
- Apr 9: Cold and clear, wind S.
- Apr 10: Pretty clear night for the lunar eclipse.
- Apr 16: Fine. Roads bad now. Bad times for provisions in many parts of the Settlement. Since the storm on the 6th, it has been mild and spring-like.
- Apr 18: Fine, roads bad.
- Apr 20: Clear windy day.
- Apr 21 to 23: Pretty.
- Apr 22: Ice began to break at Lower Fort Garry.
- Apr 23: River began to break down below M. Bunns house at Victoria Cottage.
- Apr 24: Geese first seen (NorWester).
- Apr 25: Cold frosty mornings still.
- Apr 26: Last week, some persons commenced ploughing. It is a later beginning than last year. (NorWester)
- Apr 28: Snowing all day.
- Apr 30: Snow in the morning.
- May 🏜️🦗: Quite dry with only a few days of rain showers. This wasn't a major issue given a snowy winter and April, which provided the ground with much moisture. In addition, the first half of the month was rather chilly. The second half warmer, particularly in the final couple days when it became very hot. Grasshoppers returned, eating a little bit at the wheat. River levels were apparently high in late April and early May, but clearly not enough to cause any impact since there's little comment about it. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- May 13: Small shower in PM hours. Plenty of young grasshoppers to be found in our parks now.
- May 15 and 16: First real warm days we have had.
- May 17: Hot.
- May 20: Sometimes it looks very cloudy and rain-like and we hear thunder several times but little or no rain falls. (unclear if talking about only today, or today and several days past).
- May 22: We had a great frost, which cut some of the wheat in the outer parks. The grasshoppers left their eggs in the ground the last summer, and now the young ones are swarming thick all over, they are now nearly about as big as sugar flies, and are begun to cut the wheat some time since.
- May 23: Sometimes the weather is hot and very little rain, yet the crops look very pretty now all over, and the grass and woods look well also.
- May 30: Very hot.
- May 31: Very hot, rained a little.
- June 💧🦗: Grasshoppers causing troubles again, eating away at some crops. It was a rainy June with several days of rain. A heavy thunderstorm, one of the heaviest in years, hit about June 1st. Not much comment about temperatures, but it doesn't appear to have been a very warm June. Leaning on the cooler side. A late frost on the 6th. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Jun 1: ⚡Began to rain after dinner, but in the evening it began to thunder and there was the heaviest fall of rain that has been for three or four years back, and wonderful bright lightning which killed two oxen up at the Frog Plain (Riverbend neighbourhood in north Winnipeg). Some trees were struck by lightning as well. (NorWester) (Note that it is unclear if there were two days of thunderstorms or just one)
- First week: The rain made the grasshoppers much stronger instead of killing them. They are very numerous all over and destroying some people's wheat badly. There are plenty of grubs cutting the wheat also.
- Jul 4: See the NorWester: ''The Grasshopper Invasion''.
- Jun 5: Vegetation never looked better than it has since the late heavy rains. The crops are coming on splendidly, and were it not for these pests the gasshoppers, an abundant harvest might be confidently expected. The grasshoppers are ruthlessly cutting down whole fields of grain. This, it is held, is the third year of their present visit, and a similar result is expected (where there is very little damage in the 3rd year). (NorWester)
- Jun 6: Frost.
- Jun 10: Wheat and potatoes look well. Great number of grasshoppers came here.
- Jun 11: Pretty.
- Jun 16: Warm and rainy.
- Jun 17: Fine and dry.
- Jun 18: Occasional showers of small rain.
- Jun 20: Great deal of rain this week.
- Jun 24: Rainy. Grasshoppers are cutting some people's crops very much indeed they have cleaned every blade up of some fields. None can fly yet.
- Jun 25: Rainy, dark and cloudy. Ground wet.
- Jun 29: Fine. Grasshoppers cutting and cleaning both wheat and potatoes in many parts of the settlement.
- July 🏜️🦗: Not much detail. Appears to have been dry overall. Grasshoppers remain. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Jul 1 and 2: Hot, clear, fine and pretty.
- Jul 13: Pretty and calm. Some wheat looks well but some have no potatoes yet, owing to the swarms of grasshoppers. They are flying about every day.
- Jul 16: Warm and fine.
- Jul 30: Warm, wind S.
- Jul 31: Fine.
- August 🔵🏜️🦗: Appears to have been mostly dry. Mostly chilly, with a few hot days. Unusually early frosts on the 16th and 20th. Grasshoppers remain but seem to move off mid month. Minneapolis was abnormally cold the entire summer from June to August. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Aug 1: Grasshoppers remain at Lower Fort Garry but not doing any harm.
- Aug 6: Very warm, pretty.
- Aug 12: Still many grasshoppers.
- Aug 13: Warm with some rain and thunder.
- Aug 14: Hot, fine and dry.
- Aug 15: Pretty cool evening.
- Aug 16: Frost.
- Aug 18: Loud thunder and bright lightning.
- Aug 19: Warm.
- Aug 20: Frost. Most of the grasshoppers are off now.
- Aug 22: Very hot.
- Aug 27: Pretty.
- Aug 28: Fine.
- September: The harvest was better than expected given the grasshoppers all summer. Rainy first couple weeks, then becoming dry. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Sep 1: Pretty.
- Sep 2: Raining.
- Sep 3: Raining sometimes, cloudy.
- Sep 4 to 8: Fine.
- Sep 9: Plenty of rain in the morning with loud thunder.
- Sep 10: Cloudy and windy.
- Sep 11 to 14: Fine and dry.
- Sep 17: Pretty.
- Sep 18: Fine, dry weather all week.
- Sep 21: It is a satisfaction to know now that the crop is in, that to all those not victimized by the grasshoppers it has yielded abundantly, and we find on enquiry that the amount destroyed by the grasshoppers was much less than was anticipated and the loss has fallen upon a class of thrifty Scotch farmers who will feel its want much less than many other of the shiftless portions of our community. (NorWester)
- Sep 24 and 25: Pretty.
- Sep 30: Frost, otherwise fine.
- October 🏜️: Appears to be mostly dry. Cold second half of the month with an early freeze up of the rivers. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Oct 1: Very pretty. Frost. Wind N.
- Oct 2: Fine.
- Oct 3 to 8: Pretty.
- Oct 15: Strong frost. Pretty. Wind S all day.
- Oct 19: Pretty. Calm and clear.
- Oct 26: Parts of the river frozen over the night of 26th, but opened in the day time.
- Oct 29: Clear and pretty. Wind S. All the river covered over with ice down here this two or three days back.
- Oct 31: Fishermen cannot get into the river for ice, it is now strong. Weather cold.
- November 🔴: Very mild with little to no snow through to the 27th. Winter snow pack began on the 28th, and it was around that time that the river finally became frozen over permanently - one of the latest starts to winter on record, particularly for the century. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Nov 1: Fine.
- Nov 3: First shower of snow we have had this fall.
- Nov 4: Snow melted off in the morning.
- Nov 5: Pretty, wind S.
- Nov 6: Mild all week.
- Nov 11 and 12: Ice broke up and the river cleared out.
- Nov 15: Warm and pretty. Wind S. Ground thawed and soft as it was in summer.
- Nov 19: Raining, cloudy and dark. Not cold.
- Nov 20: Cleared up and was warm. Whole week has been clear and warm.
- Nov 22: Not a spoonful of snow yet.
- Nov 25: Warm and pretty. Mittens or coat not required while building. Fine late fall we have had. Many people say they don't remember the like before.
- Nov 26: Warm, pretty and clear. No snow on ground.
- Nov 27: Pretty.
- Nov 28: Nearly 3 inches of snow on the ground in the morning. River nearly all fast.
- December 🔵: Mostly cold. Possibly not much snow, but there isn't much detail. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Dec 1: Rather cold, clear.
- Dec 4: Pretty.
- Dec 6: Fine.
- Dec 10: Pretty.
- Dec 11: Fine but cold these few days back.
- Dec 13: Cold.
- Dec 17: Cold, clear and pretty.
- Dec 18: Very cold this whole week and wind from S.
- Dec 21: Cold.
- Dec 24: Clear, pretty, not very cold. Wind S.
- Dec 25: Pretty and not cold. Fine weather most of the whole week.
- Dec 31: Blowing and drifting and rather cold towards evening.
1866 🔵💧❄️⚡🦗
General summary: A very cold year filled with unusual weather events. The most unusual events included a snowstorm on June 9th, unusually early snowflakes on September 17 and two possible thunderstorm events in December, including a late event on the 22nd. Almost the entire year was cold. The mildest weather relative to normal was from late September to mid October, and in mid November and parts of December. Some periods of mild weather also occurred from the 23rd to 28th of January and in July. The summer was very short overall. The area was free of frost for only 2 months, and free of snow for only 3 months. Winter was prolonged with cold snowy weather in April. Winter also arrived early with cold snowy weather in the second half of October. Warmer weather in November did melt away much of the snow. December was flip floppy with periods of cold and warm weather. Rain and possible thunderstorms on December 2 and 22. There was also a possible early thunderstorm on April 3. Compared to the past few years, 1866 was also rainy, particularly in June and early July, and from mid August to mid September.
General summary: A very cold year filled with unusual weather events. The most unusual events included a snowstorm on June 9th, unusually early snowflakes on September 17 and two possible thunderstorm events in December, including a late event on the 22nd. Almost the entire year was cold. The mildest weather relative to normal was from late September to mid October, and in mid November and parts of December. Some periods of mild weather also occurred from the 23rd to 28th of January and in July. The summer was very short overall. The area was free of frost for only 2 months, and free of snow for only 3 months. Winter was prolonged with cold snowy weather in April. Winter also arrived early with cold snowy weather in the second half of October. Warmer weather in November did melt away much of the snow. December was flip floppy with periods of cold and warm weather. Rain and possible thunderstorms on December 2 and 22. There was also a possible early thunderstorm on April 3. Compared to the past few years, 1866 was also rainy, particularly in June and early July, and from mid August to mid September.
- January: Mostly cold, but a period of warm weather from the 23rd to 28th, enough to melt the snow a little. Not much snow mentioned until the 29th. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Jan 1: Cold, wind S. Fine weather all this week but rather cold.
- Jan 5: Calm and pretty.
- Jan 6: Pretty.
- Jan 7: Calm, pretty and clear.
- Jan 8 to 12: Fine weather.
- Jan 13: Cold.
- Jan 14 and 15: Fine.
- Jan 21: Clear and rather cold.
- Jan 22: Fine.
- Jan 23 to 28: Clear warm days, everything wet.
- Jan 29: Soft in the morning, but in the evening it began to snow thick and got cold.
- Jan 31: Cold and clear.
- February 🔵❄️: Mostly cold, except for a brief warm up the last couple days which was enough to melt some snow. Appears this month had the most snow of the winter. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Feb 1: Cold, fine and clear.
- Feb 3: Very cold. Snow not deep at all yet.
- Feb 5: Fine.
- Feb 6 and 7: Rather cold.
- Feb 8: Great fall of snow and a great gale of wind from the S.
- Feb 9: Fine.
- Feb 10: Very pretty.
- Feb 11: Clear, calm and pretty.
- Feb 12: Pretty.
- Feb 17: Pretty. There is now a good quantity of snow on the ground.
- Feb 18: Clear, sharp, wind N. Rather cold now.
- Feb 19: Whole week very windy and cold.
- Feb 26 to 28: Very clear. Snow melted away very much.
- March 🔵❄️: Cold and not warming up until the last 4 days when it finally began to thaw. A significant snowstorm from the 1st to 3rd, and more snow on the 8th. Snow was described as quite deep afterwards. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Mar 1: Wind switched to N and it got cold. Began to snow before bedtime and it snowed and drifted most of three days.
- Mar 2 and 3: Snowed and drifted most of days. Snow is deep now.
- Mar 4: Fine, clear and calm. Rather warm.
- Mar 7: Pretty.
- Mar 8: Snowy but not very cold.
- Mar 12 to 14: Pretty cold.
- Mar 15: Pretty. Weather still keeping cold, the snow is deep.
- Mar 18: Pretty and clear, but rather cold. Wind N.
- Mar 24: Still cold. We have had no warm days yet, and there is a general complaint all over for hay, and none to get to buy any where.
- Mar 25: Pretty, not very cold. Snow deep now.
- Mar 27: Weather began to be a little warm.
- Mar 28 to 30: Some water on the public road.
- Mar 31: Real soft day. Some water on the public road.
- April 🔵❄️: Another late spring with cold snowy weather. There was some warm weather after the 20th, enough to allow people to plow and sow their fields. The river did not fully break up this month. Apparently a thunderstorm on the 3rd, which I find bizarre, but not impossible I suppose. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Apr 1: Warm, dark and cloudy.
- Apr 2: Snowy, wet.
- Apr 3: After dinner, the thunder went several times and bright lightning.
- Apr 4: Still cold, not thawing much yet.
- Apr 6: Pretty. Snow is deep in the woods.
- Apr 8: Pretty, thawing a little. Geese first seen (NorWester).
- Apr 9 to 12: Cold frosty mornings yet.
- Apr 13 and 14: Began to thaw the snow pretty fast. Geese seen some time since.
- Apr 15: Strong warm S wind. Working down the snow.
- Apr 16: Rain most part of the day, making plenty of water.
- Apr 17 to 19: Pretty warm.
- Apr 20: Great fall of wet snow.
- Apr 21: Warm and clear, plenty of water on the roads.
- Apr 22: Clear and warm.
- Apr 26: Company began to plow.
- Apr 27: Company began to sow wheat.
- Apr 28: Some of the ice began to break at the fort a little only.
- Apr 29: Fine, hard frost.
- Apr 30: Fine.
- May 🔵: Mostly cold with even a late snowfall on the 20th. The ice did not break up until the 3rd and 4th. A rather dry May as well, with only a few days of rain. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- May 1: Fine farming day.
- May 2: About a quarter mile of open water from a little above the fort gate down to below Clouston's Water Mill.
- May 3 and 4: Ice cleared out.
- May 4: Roads pretty good now.
- May 11 and 12: Rainy.
- May 13: Fine. Strong frost in the morning.
- May 15: Pretty.
- May 16: Bright lightning the night of 16th.
- May 20: Cold, strong N wind. Snowing a little in the morning.
- May 21: Great frost, but hot through the day, but the wind generally N and cold.
- May 27: Fine. Strong N wind.
- May 30: Great number of grasshoppers.
- May 31: Great frost.
- June 🔵💧❄️⚡🦗: Possibly one of the coldest Junes on record with persistent northerly winds. Also wet with frequent rain and thunderstorms. Two days saw hail. A snowstorm on June 9th was likely the biggest on record for the month, and it was followed by a harsh frost the 10th. There were also grasshoppers again. Luckily, little to no damage to crops was experienced. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Jun 1: Very hot.
- Jun 2: Thunder but little or no rain. We need rain much now.
- Jun 4 and 5: Heavy rain.
- Jun 6 and 7: Rain and thunder.
- Jun 9: Ground covered with snow ❄️ and snowing thick now and again during the day.
- Jun 8 and 9: The Fort Ellice Journal (near St Lazare MB) also reported snowfall beginning around noon the 8th and continuing until around 8am the 9th.
- Jun 10: Great frost. Cold N wind all day. Wheat unhurt.
- Jun 11: ''Have had very rainy weather, prospect of good crops if grasshoppers do not devour them'' (William Inkster at Red River)
- Jun 11: Plenty of little grasshoppers.
- Jun 13: Wheat looks well all through the settlement. Good deal of rain these few days back, the wind keeps N very much this long time.
- Jun 17: Fine, calm, clear and warm.
- Jun 18 and 19: Pretty.
- Jun 20: Terrible thunder and bright lightning and heavy rain and hail.
- Jun 23: Great night of thunder and lightning on the 23rd. Some big hail fell amongst the rain.
- Jun 24: Very great gale of wind. Cloudy now and again.
- Last week; Whole week has been windy with sometimes rain and thunder and bright lightning.
- July 🦗: Not much detail. Appears showery the first week, then drier. Hottest weather the last week. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted. ''July brought swarms of grasshoppers'' - unknown source, found in Winnipeg Tribune Aug 31 1935 pg39.
- Jul 1: Pretty.
- Jul 2: Fine.
- Jul 5: Still showers and thunder now and again. Crops look well now all over, some wheat looks thick owing to much rain.
- Jul 16 to 22: Pretty.
- Jul 18: Grasshoppers began to fly.
- Around Jul 26: Three of the hottest days that has been for some two or three years back.
- Jul 28: Wheat never looked better, potatoes also. Grasshoppers flying thick, going westwards.
- Jul 29: Hot.
- August 🔵💧🦗: Abnormally cold, often getting close to frost. Some patchy frost the 15th and more general frost the 24th. They did no damage luckily. Quite rainy mid month as well. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Aug 2: Fine.
- Aug 3: Pretty.
- Aug 5: Warm and fine. Crops looks well all over.
- Aug 7: Heavy rain which laid down the wheat a good deal.
- Aug 11: Some grasshoppers still flying around.
- Aug 12: Wheat changing colour and never looked better than now.
- Aug 15: Frost at the hay, but none at home. But, it has been very near a frost some times.
- Aug 18 and 19: Several showers of rain through this week, especially on the 18th and 19th. It laid some thick long wheat to the ground. Had to put a fire in our stove in the evening for the first time since spring. On the 19th, began to thunder and rain. Rainy day.
- Aug 20: Rainy until dinner, when it did clear up a little.
- Aug 24: Frost, but it did not hurt.
- Aug 31: Rain after dinner.
- September 🔵💧❄️: Chilly, rainy and windy much of the month. First snow on the 17th. Became dry afterwards, with warmer weather in the last few days. Appears the crops did well overall, with a healthy harvest. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Sep 1: Pretty.
- Sep 2: Warm. A shower about 3:30 pm.
- Sep 3: Pretty until after dinner, then it came on a heavy shower of rain and some hail along with it.
- Sep 4: Rainy and calm.
- Sep 4: ''Heavy crops here'' (John Black at Red River)
- Sep 8 and 10: Pretty.
- Sep 11: Pretty, then a great wind in the afternoon and heavy rain in the night of the 11th.
- Sep 12: Shower of hail in the afternoon. Geese flying thick. Heavy rain in the night of the 12th.
- Sep 13: Heavy rain in the morning and rain most of the day. ''A great rain''.
- Sep 14: Very strong frost.
- Sep 15: Rain most of the day.
- Sep 16: Fine and clear. Frost. Lately it has been windy and rainy.
- Sep 17: Windy. Shower of snow in the PM hours. Plenty of geese flying now.
- Sep 20 to 22: Fine.
- Sep 23: Wind N and cloudy. Rather cold.
- Sep 28: Fine, clear and calm weather all week. No frost this few mornings back. Warm today.
- Sep 29 and 30: Warm, clear and calm.
- October 🔵❄️: First half milder and drier. Became quite cold and snowy in the second half, with the river freezing over by the 31st. It was cold enough for people to skate on the ice on little ponds in the last week. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Oct 3: Clear, pretty and calm. A general thanksgiving all over the settlement on account of the good crop.
- Oct 14: Pretty.
- Oct 15: Fine, but began to rain and snow.
- Oct 16: Geese are flying south. - Portage La Prairie Diary retrieved via Winnipeg Tribune Aug 31 1935 pg39.
- Oct 24: Cold and snowy. Everything frozen.
- Oct 27: Rather mild. Boys skating on the little lake below our house some days ago.
- Oct 29: Great fall of snow. Very soft all day. Cloudy and calm. Very dirty walking.
- Oct 30: Cold morning and the ground covered with snow. ''Everyone is convinced that winter has already started'' - Portage la Prairie Diary
- Oct 31: River frozen over.
- November: Started quite cold, but then warmed up. This caused the ice on the rivers to clear out, with ice here and there at times. Did not set fast for good until the 18th or so. Some rain on the 7th, and even thunderstorms at Portage la Prairie. There were several days with snow but it doesn't appear there was a significant amount. A lot melted owing to mild weather as well. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Nov 1: Calm snowy day. Rather cold. River frozen but it opened again.
- Nov 3: Warm - Portage la Prairie Diary from Winnipeg Tribune Aug 31 1935 pg39.
- Nov 4: Plenty of people walking on river, the ice strong.
- Nov 6: Warm and calm.
- Nov 7: Warm. Ice broke up and cleared out. Good deal of rain. Rain and thunder ⚡ - Portage la Prairie Diary.
- Nov 8: Great fall of snow after breakfast. Ground very wet.
- Nov 9: Ground very dirty and wet.
- Nov 10: Ground frozen pretty hard.
- Nov 11: Calm dark mild day. Ice floating here and there.
- Nov 12: Fine. River open.
- Nov 14: Ducks flying.
- Nov 15: Rather snowy.
- Nov 16: Warm and fine, but thawing hardly any snow.
- Nov 17: Very pretty. Dirty walking.
- Nov 18: Pretty, clear, calm and warm. River fast again but weak.
- Nov 19 and 20: Fine.
- Nov 21: Snowy morning, wind S.
- Nov 24: Mild and clear.
- Nov 25: Mild, clear and calm.
- Nov 27: Cold, cloudy and windy.
- Nov 28: Cold and windy.
- Nov 29 and 30: Fine.
- December 💧⚡: Ups and downs in temperature. Starting mild the first week, with even some rain and possible thunderstorms on the 2nd. Cold from about the 7th to 14th. There was very little snow on the ground in the first half of the month which made travel and hauling difficult. Became quite snowy from the 15th to 20th. Mild weather continued until about the 22nd or 23rd, when it then became cold the remainder of the month. This transition period featured heavy rain early morning on the 22nd and apparently even thunderstorms. If these thunderstorms actually occurred, they would be the latest on record. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Dec 1: Pretty. Hardly any snow.
- Dec 2: Warm with rain 💧 at dinnertime. Some people say they heard thunder ⚡.
- Dec 6: Really warm. Snow wet indeed most of the ground is bare.
- Dec 7: A little cold.
- Dec 8: Cold and windy.
- Dec 9: Cold, cloudy and windy.
- Dec 10: Cold.
- Dec 11: Cold and clear. There is so little snow yet that the roads are slippery and bad to drive on, especially after the rain we had a few evenings since.
- Dec 12: Rather cold. Cannot haul hay or wood for want of snow.
- Dec 13: Cold and clear.
- Dec 14: Pretty.
- Dec 15: Mild and cloudy. Snowy. Bad hauling, not enough snow.
- Dec 16: Pretty mild and cloudy. A very little snow falling towards evening.
- Dec 17: Pretty mild and snowing.
- Dec 18: Snowy and blowing strong.
- Dec 18: Sleighs can finally be used (they couldn't up to now because of lack of snow) - Portage la Prairie Diary from Winnipeg Tribune Aug 31 1935 pg39.
- Dec 19: Cold and clear.
- Dec 20: Snowing thick and blowing hard from the S.
- Dec 21: Windy.
- Dec 22: Heavy rain 💧 in the morning, then snowed thick after breakfast. Dark cloudy day and calm. Several people heard thunder ⚡ before it rained hard.
- Dec 23: Pretty clear morning but after dinner it got cloudy and snowing a little in the afternoon.
- Dec 24: Clear and sharp.
- Dec 29: Cold and clear.
- Dec 30: Rather cold and clear.
- Dec 31: Cold.
1867 🔵💧
General summary: A very cold year again, especially from January to May. The spring was again delayed with cold snowy weather in both April and May. Doesn't appear it was a particularly snowy winter. However, it appears the summer was very wet.
General summary: A very cold year again, especially from January to May. The spring was again delayed with cold snowy weather in both April and May. Doesn't appear it was a particularly snowy winter. However, it appears the summer was very wet.
- January 🔵: Mostly cold, with a mild day or two here and there. Not much comment about snowfall, suggesting not much fell. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Jan 1: Cold, wind S.
- Jan 3: Fine.
- Jan 12: Pretty and calm.
- Jan 13: Rather cold, clear and fine.
- Jan 14: Mild, rather snowy morning.
- Jan 15: Very cold.
- Jan 19 and 20: Pretty.
- Jan 23: Fine.
- Jan 27: Pretty.
- Jan 28 and 29: Cold.
- February 🔵: Bouncing around between cold and mild, but leaning toward the colder side. Not much mention of snow, except around the 22nd when much snow fell. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Feb 2: Mild and pretty.
- Feb 3: Mild.
- Feb 8 and 9: Weather cold this whole week, especially the 8th and 9th.
- Feb 10: Pretty cold and calm. Cloudy after dinner.
- Feb 11: Cold and clear.
- Feb 14: Weather is pretty fine, some days mild.
- Feb 17: Cold and cloudy.
- Feb 18: Cold and windy.
- Feb 22: Good deal of snow fell. This whole week has been very cold.
- Feb 24: Blowing strong from the S. Clear.
- Feb 25: Pretty mild all day.
- Feb 26: Cold.
- March 🔵: A very cold March. Finally, it began to warm up by and after the 25th. Not snowfall mentioned after the 1st. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted. Note that Minneapolis recorded one of its coldest Marches on record.
- Mar 1: Cold and snowy, blowing hard all day.
- Mar 2: Clear, fine and pretty.
- Mar 4: Cold, indeed the whole week was cold, especially in the morning.
- Mar 10: Rather cold and clear, wind S.
- Mar 11: Sharp and clear. Weather has been very sharp the whole week, clear and windy.
- Mar 17: Cold and pretty.
- Mar 18: Cold.
- Mar 24: Cold and clear, wind S. We have had no warm weather yet and hay supplies little.
- Mar 25: Pretty. Weather a little soft for the first time.
- Mar 28: Warm, fine and soft.
- Mar 29 to 31: Warm. Rooks seen.
- April 🔵: Cold overall, with some milder weather mid month. The last week was cold with snow and rain. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.
- Apr 1: Very soft. Snow is wasting fast now, roads getting bad.
- Apr 6: Geese first seen (NorWester).
- Apr 12: Snow nearly all off now. Ice on river getting bad. We saw geese and ducks some days ago.
- Apr 18: Fine.
- Apr 19: Fine morning. Rained a little after dinner. It began to snow in the evening.
- Apr 20: Pretty morning. Ice getting bad.
- Apr 21: Pretty. Wind E.
- Apr 22: Cold.
- Apr 23: Snowing
- Apr 26: Ice began to move down a little.
- Apr 27: Cold. River cleared up to a point.
- Apr 28: Raining a little and blowing strong.
- Apr 30: Snowing and drifting and cold.
- May 🔵❄️: Quite chilly and also wet weather. A snowstorm on the 3rd and 4th with the ground covered with snow in the morning of the 5th. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted. Daily reports from Samuel Taylor ended this month.
- May 1: Fine.
- Mar 2: Fine. Sowing wheat.
- May 3: Rain and snow. Snowing thick after dinner.
- May 4: Snow.
- May 5: Ground covered with snow. Not plowing yet as the ground is wet. Blowing hard all day.
- May 7: Fine. Thunder and lightning the night of the 7th. Not loud.
- May 9: Fine.
- May 12: Pretty.
- May 13: Fine shower of rain.
- May 14: Rain all day, wind N.
- May 17 and 18: Pretty.
- June:
- July:
- August 💧: We have had a miserable wet summer with rain that has done a great deal of damage to crops in the Red River Settlement where a large part ofthe French Settlement has been completely flooded and many of their houses carried away. (Walter Trail)
- September:
- October:
- Oct 31: River set fast near Selkirk but only temporarily as it opened up later on. (Cowan near Selkirk)
- November:
- December:
1868 🔵⚡🦗
1868 was a tough year for the area as crops, fisheries and hunting all suffered due to drought and grasshoppers. "The crop of 1868 was a complete failure - even seeds having to be imported'' (NorWester). Even the fisheries of Lake Winnipeg were said to be total failure (NorWester). Hunters could not find any buffalo, and had to kill their own oxen for food. (NorWester) In addition, it was a stormy July with a vicious thunderstorm on July 3rd which caused great damage. Buildings were demolished and trees uprooted. It was either a tornado or a nocturnal derecho/bow echo. Winter ended late and started early. A good 15 cm or so fell mid April. Very cold September and October, with possibly 20 cm of snow in late September based on one account.
1868 was a tough year for the area as crops, fisheries and hunting all suffered due to drought and grasshoppers. "The crop of 1868 was a complete failure - even seeds having to be imported'' (NorWester). Even the fisheries of Lake Winnipeg were said to be total failure (NorWester). Hunters could not find any buffalo, and had to kill their own oxen for food. (NorWester) In addition, it was a stormy July with a vicious thunderstorm on July 3rd which caused great damage. Buildings were demolished and trees uprooted. It was either a tornado or a nocturnal derecho/bow echo. Winter ended late and started early. A good 15 cm or so fell mid April. Very cold September and October, with possibly 20 cm of snow in late September based on one account.
- January:
- Jan 19: All the sleighs are now in from Abercrombie, the unusual depth of snow has however compelled many to leave whole or parts of loads on the way down (NorWester).
- March 🏜️: Very little snowfall through to at least the 29th.
- Mar 29: Hardly a particle of snow has felled since February 15, and the amount of snow was sufficient to ensure good sleighing until within the last two weeks (NorWester). The snow is rapidly disappearing and every indication betokens an early spring with no great amount of high water. (NorWester)
- Mar 29: Plain road very bare, down by river good (Cowan near Selkirk).
- April 🔵❄️: Mostly cold the first half with a snowstorm on the 15th and 16th. Warmer after the storm, with river opening up the 27th. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted. Note that there is some inconsistency around the 22-23 as Cowan reports 10-15 cm of snow on the 22nd, but Samuel Taylor reports warm weather that week .
- Apr 15 and 16: Snowing and drifting thick and cold.
- Apr 17 and 18: Clear and a little warm.
- Apr 22: Snowing ground white... Snow on plains nearly 6 inches (Cowan near Selkirk).
- Apr 23: Pretty. Warm weather this week. Someone sowed wheat.
- Apr 24: Bannatyne says river very low above does not believe steamer will run (Cowan near Selkirk).
- Apr 26: Ice bad now, some people crossed the ice this morning but it is dangerous.
- Apr 27: River opened.
- Apr 28: Raining heavily this afternoon (Cowan near Selkirk).
- May 🦗: First half on the warmer side. Grasshoppers swarming. Weather reports from Samuel Taylor, unless otherwise noted.:
- May 2: Fine. Some rain and thunder the night of the 2nd. Company began to sow wheat.
- May 3: Fine. Grasshoppers are swarming.
- May 8: Warm and fine.
- May 11: Warm. Grasshoppers coming up.
- May 23: The Steamer International arrived from Georgetown on Tuesday last week. They report the Rivers high, so much so as to necessitate rafts over all the streams except those above Grand Forks (NorWester).
- June: Not much information available. Appears it was warm to hot mid month, and again after the 21st, with a brief cool down around the 20th.
- Jun 11 to 17: This week, the weather was remarkably hot, especially for so early in the season. Ranging as high as 90F (32°C) in the shade. (NorWester)
- Jun 13: The water in the Red River is falling fast and the Steamboat people do not expect to get above Goose Rapids (NorWester).
- Jun 20 to 26: Unknown hour of measurement: 16.7°C (20th), 17.2°C (21st), 24.4°C (22nd), 25.6°C (23rd, 24th and 26th) and 26.1°C (25th). (NorWester)
- July 🔴⚡: Appears to have been a warm or hot July with frequent thunderstorms. On July 3rd, a vicious thunderstorm during the overnight caused great damage to the settlement. Buildings were demolished and trees uprooted, and livestock were killed, crops destroyed and one man lost his life after being crushed by falling debris. It was described as the worst ever to hit. It is unclear to me if it was a tornado or a derecho/bow echo storm.
- Jul 2: Thunder ⚡ of rain in the morning. Hot and sultry during the day. Appearance of clouds in the evening again foreshadowed storms later at night (NorWester).
- Jul 3 ⚡: At about an hour before sunrise, our settlement was startled by the advent of a hurricane, who like has not been experienced among us since the institution of the Colony. At about 2am, people were aroused by the discharges of lightning and thunder, which seemed to come from every point in the heavens. Flash constantly succeeded flash until the electrical display was truly magnificent and awe inspiring. About half past 2 am, the rain began to fall in torrents, continuing for another hour, when suddenly, amid a lull in the elemental strife, the tornado burst upon us. The wind storm lasted for about an hour, during which time buildings were thrown down: others unroofed; some lifted bodily from their foundations; while the motion of some of the largest; has been described by the inmates, as like the ''rocking of a canoe on the water''. Fences were overthrown for miles; and such of our largest trees as were not uprooted and overthrown, were lashed to and fro like reads in an ordinary gale. The fury of the storm had ended itself by sunrise, and until then we had little opportunity of looking about us to see what loss our neighbours had assumed. The first object was the new Episcopal Church in a state of ruin - prostrated completely. The building has been completely enclosed and the carpenters had been engaged upon the interior during the past week. The church was raised bodily and thrown instantly to the ground a mass of broken timber. Someone was crushed by the falling timbers. A large and heavy store was moved bodily from its foundation some eight inches. A distillery at Sturgeon Creek was demolished. This storm has been the most eerione ever witnessed in this country. The storm also killed livestock and destroyed crops. (NorWester)
- Jul 18: The weather during the past week has been very hot and sultry, the thermometer ranging from 80F to 90F in the shade (27C to 32C). We have had several heavy falls of rain during the week accompanied with thunder and lightning ⚡. The weather at present seems to be more settled. (NorWester)
- August:
- Aug 11: ''Within the whole colony not one bushel of any kind of grain will be harvested. The potato crop will be very meagre also. Everything is destroyed by the grasshoppers; neither grain nor vegetable of any kind are to be found in our gardens or fields. Moreover, the buffalo hunters, instead of furnishing their their large share of food and leather, arrived starving from their usual hunting grounds. Their friends, the farmers, having no harvest are unable to assist them, so we have the dreadful prospect of thousands being reduced to famine. The stock of various provisions is, I may say, completely exhausted in every quarter.'' (Bishop of St Boniface, via NorWester).
- September 🔵❄️: Based on a comment on September 30, and Minneapolis, it appears to have been a stunningly cold September. Freezing temperatures late in the month resulted in substantial snowfall and even froze the small lakes. If there was truly 20 cm of snow, it would be the snowiest September on record. Without a secondary source to corroborate, however, it is difficult for me to confirm whether it actually happened (I even wonder if it was in late Oct rather than late Sep - more investigation needed).
- Sep 15: Our equinoxial storms are some two weeks earlier this year than usual. We have had intermittent rains, of a few hours duration, for the last ten days. (NorWester).
- Sep 26: It is a most remarkable season, and every aged man might with truth say on this occasion, that in all his experience he has never known such a disagreeable autumn - Portage la Prairie Diary from Winnipeg Tribune Aug 31 1935 pg39.
- Sep 30: The weather has been unusually cold for this time of year. All the small lakes have been and are still frozen. There were eight inches of snow at Red River when Mr. McDonald left there with our carts, and while coming up his servant got one of his feet frozen very badly, but it is too early for winter, surely (Walter Traill - unsure of exact location along the Red River where he reported the snow).
- October 🔵❄️: In purple are comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg). Not many comments available from Winnipeg itself. Appears to have been a cold October and quite cloudy and dull. Rainy at times in the first half, then a heavy fall of snow the 29th.
- Early Oct: The slight fall of snow experienced by us early in October seems to have been pretty widespread, we gather from our exchanges that it visited various parts of Canada, Minnesota and Northern Missouri. (NorWester)
- Oct 1: Rainy morning, fine afternoon. Some people working in garden and some are boating firewood from across the river.
- Oct 2: Frosty morning and a very fine clear mild day.
- Oct 3: High south wind.
- Oct 4: Cloudy and smoky, wind SW.
- Oct 5: Stormy, wind S.
- Oct 6: Heavy rain with north wind all day.
- Oct 7: Dry chilly weather, roads very dusty.
- Oct 8: Fine clear.
- Oct 9: Rainy and cloudy.
- Oct 10 and 11: Cloudy and damp.
- Oct 12 to 14: Fine.
- Oct 15: Changeable showery weather.
- Oct 16: Fine and frosty.
- Oct 17: Clear and cold, wind S. River levels very low.
- Oct 18: Dull cloudy weather.
- Oct 19: Fine, calm and cloudy.
- Oct 20: Cold with a little snow. Wind N.
- Oct 21 and 22: Cold and cloudy. Wind S on the 22nd.
- Oct 23: Same but rather milder.
- Oct 24: Cloudy, wind N.
- Oct 24: ''No appearance of our delightful and balmy Indian Summer as yet'' (NorWester)
- Oct 25: Raw and cloudy.
- Oct 26: Cloudy, wind N.
- Oct 27: Cold and clear, wind N.
- Oct 28: Cold, wind E. Ice forming in spots.
- Oct 29: Cold, wind E. Heavy fall of snow this morning, fell during the night.
- Oct 30: Mild and cloudy. Snow melting.
- Oct 31: Cold, cloudy.
- November: In purple are comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg). Not many comments available from Winnipeg itself. Appears the month started cold, then became milder after the 18th. Might have been quite a bit of snow in the first half.
- Nov 1: River set fast down here (Samuel Taylor). Raw cold weather, wind S. River froze over this morning.
- Nov 2 to 6: Fine. (Samuel Taylor)
- Nov 2: Mild, fine and clear. Calm.
- Nov 3: Fine.
- Nov 4: A fall of snow with strong wind last night. Cold.
- Nov 5: Cold and clear.
- Nov 6: Fine.
- Nov 7: Cold and clear. People beginning to cross the ice.
- Nov 7ish: The weather has been unusually changeable of late. We have had no prairies fires this season as yet. Something very unusual. (NorWester)
- Nov 8: Fine and clear.
- Nov 9: Cloudy and calm.
- Nov 10: Slight fall of snow last night. Fine today.
- Nov 11: Snowing a little and cloud.
- Nov 12: Stormy.
- Nov 13: Cold, cloudy and windy.
- Nov 14: Cold. Fall of snow during the night.
- Nov 15: A very heavy fall of snow today.
- Nov 16: Cold. Blowing. Snowing a little and drifting.
- Nov 17 and 18: Cold and windy.
- Nov 19: Rather milder.
- Nov 20 and 21: Mild, fine and clear.
- Nov 22: Cold and clear.
- Nov 23 and 24: Cloudy, very damp.
- Nov 25: Clear and fine.
- Nov 26: Cold and clear.
- Nov 27: Mild and windy.
- Nov 28: Strong S wind.
- Nov 29: Fine and clear.
- Nov 30: Dull and cloudy.
- December: In purple are comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg). Other reports from James Stewart, via the NorWester, unless otherwise noted. Ups and downs in temperature; cold the 1st, mild about the 4th to 7th, cold to very cold 8th to 11th, mild to thawing weather 12th to 19th, and cold from about the 22nd to at least the 24th. The warm spell mid month ended with a significant snowstorm the 19th to 21st.
- Dec 1: Cold, fine and clear.
- Dec 2 and 3: Fine and clear.
- Dec 4: Mild and fine.
- Dec 5 and 6: Mild and cloudy.
- Dec 7: Mild and cloudy. Snowing.
- Dec 8 and 9: Cold and clear.
- Dec 10: Very cold. -30F (-34.4°C).
- Dec 11: Cold and cloudy.
- Dec 12: Milder.
- Dec 13: About -3.9°C at noon and cloudy. Mild and cloudy.
- Dec 14: 5.6°C at 1pm and cloudy. -14.4°C at 7am, so there was a quick warmup during the morning. Mild and cloudy.
- Dec 15: About -3.3°C at noon and a mix of sun and cloud. Mild, wind S.
- Dec 16: About 4.4°C at noon and mainly cloudy, Very mild, snow melting.
- Dec 17: About -5.6°C at noon and mainly cloudy. Mild.
- Dec 18: About -8.3°C at noon and cloudy. Rather colder, cloudy.
- Dec 19: About -4.4°C at noon and cloudy. Snowy.
- Dec 20: Stormy snowy.
- Dec 21: Snowy and cloudy.
- Dec 21: Dr. Brown reports the late heavy fall of snow to be sufficient for the transportation of any freight requiring to be brought in from Abercrombie. It is badly drifted in some places, but as a general thing, the roads will be good (NorWester).
- Dec 22: Cold and cloudy.
- Dec 23 and 24: Cold and clear.
- Dec 25 to 30: Fine and clear.
- Dec 31: Snowy.
1869 🔵🔥🦗
General summary: Winter 1868-1869 was overall mild and pleasant, especially for the time. Although a decent amount of snow had fallen early in the winter, not much fell in January and February. The spring was slow to arrive as cold weather in April prolonged winter conditions. The summer was overall chilly and considered one of the coolest in some years. Some frost in June. Rains were also regular throughout the summer, making for a plentiful fall harvest despite numerous grasshoppers in some parts. July was very smoky with 8 days of smoke. Smoke continued in early August. September was rainy. Winter came early with unseasonably cold snowy weather in October. The river froze Oct 24. Milder weather broke up the river again on Nov 2, before refreezing on Nov 7. November was generally cold, while December was flip floppy with abnormally mild weather in between periods of extreme cold.
General summary: Winter 1868-1869 was overall mild and pleasant, especially for the time. Although a decent amount of snow had fallen early in the winter, not much fell in January and February. The spring was slow to arrive as cold weather in April prolonged winter conditions. The summer was overall chilly and considered one of the coolest in some years. Some frost in June. Rains were also regular throughout the summer, making for a plentiful fall harvest despite numerous grasshoppers in some parts. July was very smoky with 8 days of smoke. Smoke continued in early August. September was rainy. Winter came early with unseasonably cold snowy weather in October. The river froze Oct 24. Milder weather broke up the river again on Nov 2, before refreezing on Nov 7. November was generally cold, while December was flip floppy with abnormally mild weather in between periods of extreme cold.
- January 🔴❄️: Very mild January, especially for the time. A significant snow storm in the first couple days dumped over 20 cm. This storm had actuallly began on Dec 31. Snowfall amounts were small the remainder of the month. A 7.6 cm snowfall on the 31st is considered suspect given the duration of snow being only 2.5 hours (possible if snowfall rates were really high). In total, 38 cm of snow for the month. See Minneapolis for some comparison. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project, James Stewart via the NorWester (1, 2), and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm.
February 🏜️: Mostly mild through to the 16th, then very cold the remainder of the month. It was warm enough for a bit of melting snow mid month. Overall, it was a mild February for the time, but probably near normal by today's standards. Only about 7 cm of snow recorded. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project, James Stewart via the NorWester (1, 2), and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm.
- Feb 28: This has been the mildest winter known in this country for 20 years. The weather has, in general, been dry and healthy and not excessively cold. (DR)
March 🔵: Abnormally cold first half with frequent strong winds making for rough weather conditions. Becoming milder with melting snow in the second half. Rains on the 27th and 28th. There were two strong cold fronts on the 22nd and 28th, which ushered in brief cool downs. On the 28th, the front even brought some thunderstorms west of Winnipeg. Snowfall was around average with 20 cm. According to the NorWester, the first geese were seen on March 19th, which was the earliest in at least 6 years. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project, James Stewart via the NorWester (1, 2, 3), Samuel Taylor Journals, and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm.
April 🔵: Chilly the first 18 days, except for a brief warm spell the 14th which brought strong south winds and temperatures in the double digits for the first time. Snow and cold weather returned the 15th and 16th. Mostly mild to warm weather after the 18th, with the warmest weather the 27th when temperatures reached the mid twenties. This was followed by more snow the 29th. In total, there was 7.4 cm of snow during the month. Appears it was a dry month overall, but don't know how much rain fell. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project, James Stewart via the NorWester (1, 2, 3, 4), and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm.
- Apr 3ish (likely written in the few days before): Spring seems to have set in in earnest; the snow is fast disappearing, and water is standing everywhere in our streets making it very disagreeable to get about. (NorWester)
- Apr 17ish (likely written before the snow of the 15-16th): The snow disappeared from our plains, and the rivers rapidly breaking up. The roads are getting dry and in another week the plows will be in the ground. Prairie fires have been raging in every direction for the last ten days. (NorWester)
- May ⚡: Appears to have been a fairly normal May with ups and downs in temperature, and occasional rains. More thunderstorm activity than usual in the first half with 3 days seeing storms. Total 4 days with thunderstorms. Heavy thunderstorms on the 9th. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project, James Stewart via the NorWester (1, 2, 3, 4), and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm.
June 🔵: A chilly June with at least two nights of frost, which did some damage to vegetables. Several days failed to reach 20°C. Rainfall was near normal, with about 14 days of rain and 6 days with thunderstorms. Became hot and humid in the final few days with heavy fog in the morning on a couple occasions. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project, James Stewart via the NorWester (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm.
- Jun 26: ''This is a remarkably cool summer. Many of the old settlers do not remember having seen one so cold. However, the growing crops present very luxuriant in appearance.'' (NorWester)
- July ⚡🔥🦗: Very smoky with at least 8 days of smoky skies. At least 8 days with thunderstorms and at least 8 days with rain. The month was drier than normal, but had a brief wet period from the 12th to 15th. Cooler than normal overall, but not severely so. There was hot weather in the first couple days with temperatures as high as 34°C. However, a sharp cold front drastically dropped temperatures into the teens on the 3rd before warming up again the 4th. Very cool weather again on the 10th and 12-13th. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project, James Stewart via the NorWester (1, 2, 3), and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm.
- Jul 17ish: We have been blessed during the past three days with copious showers of rain. This was much needed as owing to the dry weather of the past few weeks the crops and especially the gardens are beginning to suffer. Everything looks bright now however (NorWester).
August 🔵💧🔥🦗: Weather dry until mid month when it became rainier. In fact, heavy thunderstorms dumped 53 mm on the 15th. In total, about 91 mm of rain fell during the month. Overall, it appears to have been cooler than normal. Smoky skies in the first week, and grasshoppers made their reappearance. However, with crops doing so well they did not do much damage. It was one of the best harvests in years. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project, James Stewart via the NorWester (1, 2, 3, 4), and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm.
- Aug 15 ⚡: ''We are sorry to learn that the rains have damaged the grain crops by throwing them down in some portions of the Settlement, especially along the Red River below this town. Never before have the crops looked better than they have this summer, and as in many instances the wheat has attained from five or six inches to six feet in height, with heavy well-filled heads, it is little wonder that some has been thrown down. The damage is not great however, and in all probability there will be little loss in grain, but the reaping will be more troublesome.'' (NorWester)
- September 💧⚡: Rather dry the first 13 days then it became quite wet with 47 mm of rain from the 14th to 16th. More rainy stormy weather from the 21st to 24th. In total, about 71 mm of rain at Winnipeg and 3 days with thunderstorms. Ups and downs in temperature. Exceeded 30°C on the 8t, but remained in the single digits on the 16th and 24th-26th. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project, James Stewart via the NorWester (1, 2, 3), and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm. The first frost date is uncertain due to conflicting data.
- Sep 13: ''A late and pleasant autumn is anticipated to make up for our unusually cold summer''. ''The weather continues very pleasant indeed''. (NorWester)
- Sep 13: ''There has been heavy rains somewhere up the country. The Red River has risen, during the last week, some two feet, and we learn that almost all of the bridges which crossed the small streams between this and Georgetown (in the US) have been carried away. '' (NorWester)
- Sep 21: The equinoctial gales are upon us and have been during the past week. A considerable amount of rain has fallen, being about two inches, mean depth, and there can be little doubt that some damage has ensued to the crops ... This together with our cool summer retarded the grain somewhat in its growth (NorWester).
- Sep 28: Fine weather has once more set in and we trust it will continue for some time. The late "wet spell" has been very unfavourable for many of the farmers between this and Portage la Prairie, in getting in their wheat crop (NorWester)
- October 🔵❄️: Very cold, especially from around the 8th to 26th. Abnormally cold weather around the 21st to 26th was enough to freeze up the rivers. It is possible that most of these six days did not manage to go above freezing. Frequent snowfall as well with at least 5 days of snow mentioned in the general area throughout the month. Milder weather with even some rain in the final few days. In purple are comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg). Reports from James Stewart, via the NorWester (1), unless otherwise noted.
- Oct 1 and 2: Dry and cloudy.
- Oct 3: Chilly and dry, wind N.
- Oct 4 and 5: Dry.
- Oct 6: Mild and fine.
- Oct 7: Windy and dry.
- Oct 8 and 9: Cold and cloudy, wind N.
- Oct 9 to 18: The Honourable Joseph Howe was unfortunate enough to arrive at the Settlement for a visit ''during a season of the coldest weather, which for the time of year, has seldom, if ever, been witnessed''. (NorWester)
- Oct 10 and 11: Fine.
- Oct 12: Chilly and cloudy.
- Oct 13: Snow all day, which stopped the hauling of grain.
- Oct 14 and 15: Hard frost. Cold and cloudy till afternoon when it cleared up. Men could not work the fields.
- Oct 16: Cold, stormy and dry.
- Oct 17: 2.8°C at noon and mainly cloudy with a moderate NW wind. Cold and cloudy.
- Oct 18: 1.7°C at noon with a light NW wind. Cold and cloudy.
- Oct 19: 3.3°C at noon and sunny with a moderate S wind. Cold and dry. Some ice floating in the river this morning.
- Oct 20: 3.9°C at noon and and cloudy with a light NW wind. Snowy. Hauling in the morning but were obliged to stop on account of the snow. No ice floating.
- Oct 21: -3.3°C at noon and cloudy with a moderate N wind. Cold and cloudy.
- Oct 22: -8.9°C at 7am. -5.0°C at noon and a mix of sun and cloud. Light SW wind. Cold and snowy.
- Oct 23: 1.7 mm of snow-water-equivalent since the 17th. -5.6°C at noon and cloudy with a moderate NW wind. Cold and snowy. River fast down below. Ice still floating downstream, but getting thicker and stronger.
- Oct 24: Red River froze (Red River Settlement - Fort Garry Journal of Occurrences). Cold and cloudy. River froze this morning opposite this place.
- Oct 25: Cold and snowy.
- Oct 26: Cold, wind S.
- Oct 27: Mild, wind S.
- Oct 28: Mild. Rain last night.
- Oct 29 and 30: Mild.
- Oct 31: Very mild and calm.
- November 🔵: The month started a bit milder with some rain and the river breaking up. It refroze the 7th with colder but still changeable weather. Mostly cold after the 17th, with only some brief milder weather around the 24th to 26th. A decent amount of snow. 10 to 15 cm was on the ground by the 20th to 23rd. Another storm on the 28th and 29th, but no amounts reported. In purple are comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg). Reports from Alexander Begg at Red River Settlement, or the NorWester unless otherwise noted.
- Nov 1: Fine.
- Nov 2: Red River broke up. (Red River Settlement - Fort Garry Journal of Occurrences) Warm and fine, wind S. Ice broke up again.
- Nov 3: Rainy.
- Nov 4: Rather colder.
- Nov 5: Mild and very fine.
- Nov 6: Rather colder again.
- Nov 7: Red River refroze. (Red River Settlement - Fort Garry Journal of Occurrences) Cold, river set fast again.
- Nov 8 and 9: Cold and snowy.
- Nov 10: Milder.
- Nov 11 and 12: Mild.
- Nov 13: Snowing a little.
- Nov 14: -4.4°C at 7am and cloudy. Calm, wind S. Mild and fine.
- Nov 15: -1.7°C at 7am and cloudy with some snow. Light E wind. Mild and snowy.
- Nov 16: Not too cold. Pleasant and clear. -2.8°C at 7am and cloudy, light NW wind. Mild and cloudy.
- Nov 17: Cold but good weather. -5.6°C at 7am and cloudy with light N wind. Cloudy.
- Nov 18: Cold. Sleighing occurring. -9.4°C at 7am and cloudy with light N wind. Cold N wind.
- Nov 19: Heavy snow storm today with a high driving wind. -13.3°C at 7am and cloudy, light S wind. Snowy.
- Nov 20: Continues cold with half a foot of snow on the ground. Not sleighing on the river yet. -16.7°C at 7am and cloudy. Calm, wind N. Cold and clear.
- Nov 21: Not too cold. Clear. Cold, clear and fine.
- Nov 22: Not too cold. Clear and pleasant. Towards evening it go to be very sharp and frosty. Cold, clear and fine.
- Nov 23: Clear, frosty but pleasant. Although the weather has been cloudy the past two weeks, a very small quantity of snow has fallen. We have now about 4 inches (10 cm) in depth, and the sleighing will be tolerably good upon the highways. The ice upon the rivers is not yet sufficiently thick and continuous to afford a good road. (NorWester) Fine and clear.
- Nov 24: Rather mild and pleasant. Cloudy.
- Nov 25: Mild and pleasant, growing cold towards evening. Cloudy.
- Nov 26: Mild and pleasant all day. Cold and clear.
- Nov 27: Cold and cloudy. Cold and clear.
- Nov 28: Blustering - disagreeable - snowing hard. Snowy.
- Nov 29: Still stormy - snowing and blowing. Snowy.
- Nov 30: Clear and frosty. Cold and clear.
- December: Ups and downs in temperature. Cold the first 2-3 days, then mild from the 4th to 16th, very cold from the 17th to 24th (as low as -37°C), then finally quite mild the remainder of the month. Only one day with snow mentioned by Alexander Begg, but the Lower Fort Garry Journal recorded two additional snow days (3 in total between the two locations). Unknown how much snow fell, therefore, difficult to confirm if it was indeed a very dry month. In purple are comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg). Reports from Alexander Begg at Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Dec 1: Cold, clear and frosty.
- Dec 2: Still cold.
- Dec 3: Milder.
- Dec 4: Mild and snowing.
- Dec 5 and 6: Mild and pleasant.
- Dec 7: Mild and warm. Clear.
- Dec 8: Mild but blowing somewhat. Strong S wind.
- Dec 9: Mild and pleasant.
- Dec 10 and 11: Mild and foggy.
- Dec 12: Not too cold, and pleasant, bright and cheerful.
- Dec 13 to 16: Mild and pleasant. Snowy on the 14th and 16th.
- Dec 17: Colder but pleasant. Cloudy.
- Dec 18 and 19: Cold, clear and frosty.
- Dec 20: Continues very cold but pleasant. -35F (-37.2°C) (New Nation).
- Dec 21: Considered the coldest day of the season yet felt here.
- Dec 22: Very cold and frosty. -35F (-37.2°C) (New Nation)
- Dec 23: Continues very cold, sharp and frosty with a high wind.
- Dec 24: Still frosty and cold.
- Dec 25: Mild and pleasant.
- Dec 26: Beautifully mild and pleasant.
- Dec 27: Mild and pleasant.
- Dec 28: A little colder than yesterday but pleasant.
- Dec 29: Very mild and pleasant.
- Dec 30: The mildest day we have as yet experienced this winter.
- Dec 31: Mild and pleasant.
1870 🔴❄️⚡🔥🦟🦗
General summary: The first warm year in two decades. The year had actually started very cold and stormy in January. Milder weather in February, but three storms produced at times blizzard conditions and dumped immense quantities of snow. The newspaper reported nearly three feet (nearly 90 cm) of snow on the ground by the end of February. An early spring melted off the snow quickly but gradually in the second half of March and early April. The rivers were high in April but not above flood stage thankfully. April was very warm with smoky skies. The early spring also brought spring birds, greening grass and an early river break up in early April. Warm weather continued in May and June. The second half of June was, in fact, very hot with likely multiple days above 30°C. Some highs reaching 39°C and 40°C were recorded in the general area, which would potentially be the hottest June days on record. May and early June were rainy and stormy, but dry weather prevailed from mid June to mid July. A sudden cool down in early July also brought potentially the only known snowfall in July on record on the 12th. Unfortunately, only one source mentioned snow and frost, therefore, it is difficult to say for sure if it happened. A severe thunderstorm on July 19th dumped large hail in some areas, particularly in St Andrews where hen-egg sized hail broke windows. Rainy and cool weather in August, but rebounding nicely in September with warm and dry weather. Smoky skies returned in early October thanks to the warm dry weather. Cooler in late October and early November, but very mild weather returned in late November and December. Again, possibly record warmth in late November with highs reaching double digits on the 24th. All the snow had melted, resulting in no snow on the ground to start December. Finally, the first cold snap of the winter occurred between the 18th and 28th with lows below -30°C. It was short lived, with mild weather returning in the last couple days of December. Regular snowfalls in December replenished the ground with snow.
General summary: The first warm year in two decades. The year had actually started very cold and stormy in January. Milder weather in February, but three storms produced at times blizzard conditions and dumped immense quantities of snow. The newspaper reported nearly three feet (nearly 90 cm) of snow on the ground by the end of February. An early spring melted off the snow quickly but gradually in the second half of March and early April. The rivers were high in April but not above flood stage thankfully. April was very warm with smoky skies. The early spring also brought spring birds, greening grass and an early river break up in early April. Warm weather continued in May and June. The second half of June was, in fact, very hot with likely multiple days above 30°C. Some highs reaching 39°C and 40°C were recorded in the general area, which would potentially be the hottest June days on record. May and early June were rainy and stormy, but dry weather prevailed from mid June to mid July. A sudden cool down in early July also brought potentially the only known snowfall in July on record on the 12th. Unfortunately, only one source mentioned snow and frost, therefore, it is difficult to say for sure if it happened. A severe thunderstorm on July 19th dumped large hail in some areas, particularly in St Andrews where hen-egg sized hail broke windows. Rainy and cool weather in August, but rebounding nicely in September with warm and dry weather. Smoky skies returned in early October thanks to the warm dry weather. Cooler in late October and early November, but very mild weather returned in late November and December. Again, possibly record warmth in late November with highs reaching double digits on the 24th. All the snow had melted, resulting in no snow on the ground to start December. Finally, the first cold snap of the winter occurred between the 18th and 28th with lows below -30°C. It was short lived, with mild weather returning in the last couple days of December. Regular snowfalls in December replenished the ground with snow.
- January 🔵: Extremely cold and stormy January with windy blustery weather. Mild until about the 4th, then it became cold through to about the 26th. Mild the remainder of the month. Snow mostly appears to have fallen the 1st and 24th-25th. However, frequently strong winds made for stormy weather with blowing/drifting snow the 4th-7th, 14th, 16th, 18th and 22nd-25th. In purple are supplementary comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg). Reports from Alexander Begg at Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Jan 1: Slightly snowing and blustering somewhat. Wind high part of the day.
- Jan 2: Not too cold, pleasant.
- Jan 3: Mild and pleasant.
- Jan 4: Somewhat blustering and towards evening it became very rough.
- Jan 5: Rough blustering and cold. Wind very high and snow drifting. Cleared up towards evening.
- Jan 6: Sharp during the day but not unpleasant. Became boisterous towards evening.
- Jan 7: Extremely cold and very blustering in the morning. In the evening, became extremely cold and the wind dying away.
- Jan 8: Still cold and frosty.
- Jan 9: Still cold but pleasant. -21F (-29.4°C) the night of 9th (New Nation). Clear and cold.
- Jan 10: Sharp but pleasant. Very cold.
- Jan 11 and 12: Biting cold. On the 12th, -32F (-35.6°C) (New Nation). Clear.
- Jan 13: Still very sharp and frosty.
- Jan 14: Blustering and cold. Milder.
- Jan 15: In the morning, very cold. Towards noon, warmer and very pleasant and continued so all day till evening when it became again very sharp and frosty.
- Jan 16: Very cold and blustering. Extreme cold, stormy.
- Jan 17: Very cold.
- Jan 18: Still cold and blustering.
- Jan 19: -20F (-28.9°C) at one point during the day. (New Nation Newspaper) Milder.
- Jan 20: Not quite as cold as yesterday but still cold enough to make it disagreeable standing out any length of time in the open air.
- Jan 21: Continued cold.
- Jan 22: Continued cold and stormy.
- Jan 23: Cold and blustering. -35.5F (-37.5°C), the coldest day of the winter so far (New Nation)
- Jan 24: Not quite so cold but blustering. Snowy and cold.
- Jan 25: The most stormy day experienced this winter. Drifting dreadfully.
- Jan 26: Clear but frosty.
- Jan 27: Continues cold.
- Jan 28: Milder. ''The weather this entire week has been very severe. Quite a fall of snow ❄️ occurred rendering the roads heavy'' (New Nation).
- Jan 29: Very mild and pleasant.
- Jan 30 and 31: Mild and pleasant. On the 30th, snowy morning and cleared about noon.
- February ❄️: Ups and downs in temperature. Cold first three days, then very mild about the 4th to 10th. Cold again from about the 15th to 21st. Mostly mild the remainder of the month. Very snowy and stormy with an immense quantity of snow on the ground by the end of the month. The newspaper reported nearly three feet of snow on the ground (nearly 90 cm). This was in large part due to a major snow storm on the 26th and 27th, which might have dumped over 30 cm. Also, major storms on the 3rd and 11th. Both these days were described as the stormiest this winter and the stormiest in years. The storm on the 11th was likely a blizzard. Lower Fort Garry also reported stormy weather the 8th and 13th. In purple are supplementary comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg). Reports from Alexander Begg at Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted.
- Feb 1: Cold and blustering.
- Feb 2: Sharp and frosty but not unpleasant.
- Feb 3 ❄️: One of the stormiest days experienced this winter.
- Feb 4: Clear and pleasant.
- Feb 5: Rather warm for the season and very pleasant.
- Feb 6: Warmest day experienced this winter. Fine and clear.
- Feb 7 and 8: Still mild and pleasant. On the 8th, very stormy. The 7th, fine and clear.
- Feb 9: Still very mild.
- Feb 10: Mild and cloudy.
- Feb 10ish: The weather during the past week has been unusually mild, at the lowest but 7F (-13.9°C). The winds prevailing here so drifted the roads as to make travelling almost impracticable. The barometer at present is the lowest recorded during the season, a rather fair mark for a storm. (New Nation)
- Feb 11 ❄️: The stormiest day that has been experienced for many years - at one time it was impossible to see across the street from the drifting snow.
- Feb 12: Clear and bright. Cold.
- Feb 13: Rather blustering but not very cold. Stormy.
- Feb 14: Clear and frosty in the morning, but towards noon it became warm and pleasant.
- Feb 15: Rather cold but not unpleasant.
- Feb 16 and 17: Frosty and bright. Cold.
- Feb 18: Very cold and clear.
- Feb 19 and 20: Clear and frosty. Cold.
- Feb 21: Very cold, frosty and clear.
- Feb 22: Mild and very pleasant, cold however towards night.
- Feb 23: Not cold but pleasant. Mild and fine.
- Feb 24: Beautifully mild and pleasant.
- Feb 25: Mild and pleasant.
- Feb 26 ❄️: Fine in the morning but in the afternoon, a severe snow storm came on. A very heavy fall of snow today.
- Feb 27 ❄️: Severe snow storm raged all day. Many people on account of the large quantity of snow that has fallen this winter predict a flood in the spring.
- Feb 27: We were visited by a fall of snow of some feet in depth, quite an unparalleled thing at this season. Concerns about a spring flood. The snow now covers the plain to the depth of nearly three feet upon the level. (New Nation) Snowy
- Feb 28: Warm, clear and bright. Immense quantity of snow that had fallen made the roads very heavy and travelling difficult.
- March : Mostly cold the first half of the month; a bit mild the first few days however. Mostly warm spring-like weather in the second half of March with a rapid melt of snow. There was a lot of snow, however, so it took a while to melt it. There was also another significant winter storm the 14th-15th with possibly another blizzard. Stormy weather the 8th and 23rd as well. Some rain on the 28th. However, snowfall was below normal with only 5.6 cm or so. The table below summarizes the weather of the month based on Alexander Begg at Red River Settlement and the Open Data Rescue Project. Comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk are added as well. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm. Some comments from the New Nation (1) newspaper are also included. Note that there were different opinions of the first week of March: Alexander calling it warm while Lower Fort Garry called it cold. However, based on the temperatures from the Open Data Rescue Project, it was more on the cold side than warm.
- April 🔴🏜️🔥: A very warm April, especially for the time. The only caveat was a brief but dramatic cold snap with snow and blowing snow from the 13th to 15th. The snow quickly melted away with a return to warmth on the 17th. However, the cold snap was severe with temperatures falling below -12°C at night and hovering around -6°C during the afternoon. In fact, it went from a high of 21°C to a high of -6°C in only two days. The winter snow had likely completely melted away in the first week, and the river ice had cleared out after the 9th. Spring birds arrived early and the grasses started turning green as early as the 7th. This made for an abnormally early spring for the time. There were numerous fires in the Prairies as well, with seven days of hazy or smoky skies mentioned. 4 days with rain mentioned, but it was an overall dry month. About 8 mm of rain and 4 cm of snow. The table below summarizes the weather of the month based on Alexander Begg at Red River Settlement and the Open Data Rescue Project. Comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk are added as well. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm. Some comments from the New Nation (1, 2) newspaper are also included.
- Apr 6: The opening days of this month have ushered in spring. Already the snow which lay on the ground two and three feet deep four days ago, has disappeared in very many places. Large patches of prairie grass are visible everywhere; the creeks run noisily; and the river, frozen in many places, three feet thick, with a snowy covering of a couple of feet more, is fast getting rid of its encumbrances. The snow has turned to water, for the most part. The spring birds also begin to make their appearance. At present the prospect outdoors is anything but splendid. Mud and a superabundance of surface water abound (New Nation).
- May 🔴💧⚡: Warm and very rainy with several thunderstorms. 152.4 mm of rain was recorded, according to the Open Data Rescue Project. As of 2022, this would be a 6th rainiest May on record (post-1869). 15 or 16 days with rain and 5 days with thunderstorms mentioned. There were two brief cool spells, particularly from the 6th to 9th and 15th to 23rd. A bit of snow on the 20th. Hot summer-like weather the first three days (near-record breaking), the 12th-13th and the last week. It reached over 30°C on the 29th, which was followed by heavy thunderstorms which dumped over 45 mm of rain. Another heavy thunderstorm dumped over 36 mm on the 17th. The table below summarizes the weather of the month based on Alexander Begg at Red River Settlement and the Open Data Rescue Project. Comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk are added as well. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm.
- June 🔴🦟: Very hot June overall. Hot on the 1st, then a storm heralded cooler air. Cool weather from the 2nd to 7th. Became extremely hot after the 13th, and the heat continued through to the end of the month. Lower Fort Garry even reported 40.0°C on the 27th. Even at Winnipeg, temperatures as high as 38.9°C were recorded in the shade. The rainy stormy weather of May continued into the first week of June, and then it became mostly dry the remainder of the month. Only a slight shower on the 17th and a heavy thunderstorm on the 22nd. There were storms nearby on the 18th and 21st, but none reported at Winnipeg specifically. Many mosquitoes. Thanks to a warm rainy spring, vegetation was well developed for this early in the season. Reports from Alexander Begg at Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted. In purple are supplementary comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg).
- Jun 1: Sultry and warm. In the evening, a thunder ⚡ shower which cooled the air. Strong S wind, cloudy.
- Jun 2: Fine and cool. Cloudy.
- Jun 3: Cool and pleasant. Cleared up.
- Jun 4: Pleasant. Looked a little threatening towards night. Clear.
- Jun 5: The greatest storm ⚡ raged today that has occurred this summer. Rainy.
- Jun 6: Continued bad although not so much as yesterday. Rainy.
- Jun 7: Continued chilly and unpleasant all day. Heavy rain during the night.
- Jun 8: Better. Fine.
- Jun 9: Continued fine and pleasant. Warm and fine.
- Jun 10: Continued fine. Warm and fine.
- Jun 10: Someone brought to town the other day a few fine ripe wild strawberries, which he gathered on the side of the road. This is the earliest season for fruit we have had for some years. Wild plums are already pretty far advanced in size, and the trees bearing heavily. We are glad to be able to state, that from all quarters we have the most favourable accounts of the crops - in face they never looked more promising. (New Nation)
- Jun 11: Still fine and pleasant.
- Jun 12: Weather in the morning threatened to turn out a very sultry day - but it continued fine and pleasant without being too warm. Very warm.
- Jun 13: Fine - cool and pleasant. Warm.
- Jun 14: Warmest day of the season.
- Jun 15: Warm. 95F (35.0°C) most of the day with very little wind, almost amounting to suffocation (New Nation). Very warm.
- Jun 16: Still very warm. Very warm, wind S.
- Jun 17: Continued warm with a sprinkling of rain in the afternoon. Intensely warm for the last week (New Nation). Warm, rain in the evening.
- Jun 18: Warm and pleasant.
- Jun 18: At High Bluff west of Winnipeg: During a storm, a boy was killed by lightning ⚡ at High Bluff. (New Nation)
- Jun 19 to 21: Fine and pleasant. Very warm. On the 21st: Heavy thunderstorm ⚡ last night. An ox killed by lightning. Very warm, wind S.
- Jun 22: Exceedingly warm. In the late afternoon, we had a very severe thunderstorm ⚡ which lasted for some time. Mosquitoes very bad this season. Very warm, thunder and heavy rain in the afternoon.
- Jun 23: Continued warm. Very warm.
- Jun 24: Still very warm and sultry. Mosquitoes continued very bad - especially at night.
- Jun 25 to 30: Warm to very warm.
- Jun 26: Very warm, thermometer 100F (37.8°C) in the shade at 3pm.
- Jun 27: Still exceedingly warm. Thermometer 104F (40.0°C) at 7pm.
- Jul 1: The heat for the last ten days has been unusually intense - the thermometer reaching as high one day as 102F (38.9°C) in the shade. The oldest inhabitant says they have never experienced such a continuation of excessive heat in Red River. Several times the clouds have given good indications of a coming storm and cooler weather, but nothing more. The natural dryness of our atmosphere, with the hot south winds, produces extraordinary thirst. (New Nation)
- July ❄️⚡🦗: The hot weather of June came dramatically to an end in early July with much cooler weather from about the 3rd to 15th. The only known report of July snow on record occurred on the 12th. It is a little puzzling what would cause such an occurrence, especially given it had been a fairly warm summer up to that point. There were occasional rains in July, but the weather was mostly very dry from mid June to mid July. There was a severe thunderstorm on the 19th which caused great damage in the area, with hail as large as hen eggs, particularly around St Andrews. Grasshoppers also reappeared and did some damage locally. Reports from Alexander Begg at Red River Settlement unless otherwise noted. In purple are supplementary comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg).
- Jul 1 and 2: Warm to very warm.
- Jul 3: Still fine. Clouded up a little in the afternoon but cleared away afterwards. Cool and fine.
- Jul 4: Threatening clouds several times but we had no rain. Cool and fine.
- Jul 5: Still warm. Showery.
- Jul 6: Still fine.
- Jul 7: Fine, warm pleasant.
- Jul 8: Still fine and pleasant. Clear, wind S.
- Jul 9: Continued fine with a slight shower towards the afternoon. Clear, wind N.
- Jul 10: Fine with a fine shower towards noon. Cloudy.
- Jul 11: Weather took a sudden change to cold, or rather chilly. Heavy rain last night. Today, cloudy.
- Jul 12 ❄️: Slight frost last evening and a very slight fall of snow this morning. Cloudy.
- Jul 13: Continues chilly. Grasshoppers 🦗 in some parts have done and are doing a great deal of damage to the settlement while they have not visited other portions of it. They are now beginning to take wing and will probably leave the settlement in a few days. The want of rain is much felt in some parts of the settlement. Cool and fine.
- Jul 14: A little warmer today. Cool and fine.
- Jul 15: Still warmer and more pleasant. Rain set in about noon then poured in good earnest this evening (New Nation). Cool and cloudy. Rain this afternoon and fine rain this evening.
- Jul 16: Turned out fine and pleasant. Clear and fine, wind S.
- Jul 17: Warm and pleasant.
- Jul 18: Pleasant. Signs of approaching storms caused by the heat.
- Jul 19 ⚡: Very warm with thunder showers in the afternoon. A tremendous storm of hail occurred down the settlement. The hail stones in some places being as large as hens eggs. Great numbers of windows were broken.
- Jul 19: In the afternoon, a hurricane of wind, with a few drops of rain, came upon us suddenly from the NE but only lasted for about 30 min, and did no damage that we hear of in this neighbourhood; but at St Andrews, about the same hour, they experienced the storm, with a heavy fall of hailstones of a very large sized and of all shapes, some larger than a hen's egg, others of a triangular shape. In about 15 minutes, the ground was covered white as in winter; this was accompanied immediately afterwards by a heavy fall of rain. We hear of considerable damage being done by the hail, in the shape of broken glass, etc. (New Nation)
- Jul 20: Still warm but pleasant.
- Jul 21: Very warm.
- Jul 22: Very warm during the day.
- Jul 23: Fine and pleasant. Rain last night.
- Jul 24: Very warm.
- Jul 25: Cloudy.
- Jul 26: Rain last night, today fine.
- Jul 27 to 31: Fine.
- August 🔵💧: Rainy and chilly August, a sharp change from early in the summer when it was hot and dry. In purple are comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg). Unfortunately, very little information was available from Winnipeg itself. At least 11 days with rain at Lower Fort Garry and only 1 day was described as warm. There was one comment from around Aug 28 by Sir W.F. Butler which described ankle-deep water and mud at the Red River Colony due to rains and storms through the night,.
- Aug 1: Fine.
- Aug 2: Thunderstorms with heavy rain last night. Fine weather today.
- Aug 3: Fine.
- Aug 4: Fine, clear and dry.
- Aug 5: Fine.
- Aug 6: Showery.
- Aug 7: Fine.
- Aug 8: Showery.
- Aug 9 and 10: Fine.
- Aug 11: Showery.
- Aug 12: Fine.
- Aug 13: Warm and fine.
- Aug 14 and 15: Fine.
- Aug 16 and 17: Showery.
- Aug 18 and 19: Raw and windy.
- Aug 20: Fine.
- Aug 21: Cloudy, rainy afternoon.
- Aug 22: Fine.
- Aug 23: Rain last night. Fine weather today.
- Aug 24: Rainy.
- Aug 25: Rain until middle of the day.
- Aug 26 to 30: Fine.
- Aug 28: When night again fell, the whole force had reached a spot six miles from the rebel fort. And what a night of rain and storm then broke upon the Red River Expedition!...the surface of the ground became ankle-deep in mud and water (Sir W.F. Butler)
- Aug 31: Rainy.
- September 🔴: The weather turned warm sometime around early or mid September and continued much of the remainder of the month. A very pleasant September as a result, with no frost mentioned. It's even possible that September was warmer than August, or at the very least similar. No rain mentioned after the 14th. The rainy weather of August did continue between Sep 5 and 7, and one more day on the 14th. In purple are comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg).
- Sep 1 to 4: Fine.
- Sep 5 to 7: Rainy. ''Dirty'' on the 7th.
- Sep 8: Clear.
- Sep 9 to 13: Fine.
- Sep 14: Rainy. Some of the men had to work indoors while it rained.
- Sep 15 and 16: Fine.
- Sep 17: Very warm.
- Sep 18 and 19: Warm.
- Sep 20: Cloudy.
- Sep 21 to 28: Fine. Mostly clear.
- Sep 29 and 30: Continues warm and fine.
- October 🔥: First half warm, second half cool. Intense smoke and fires in the first week. The fires were so intense and numerous that the sky was lit up like day during the night. Rain on the 5th extinguished much of the fires. but became mild again with a bit more smoke until mid month. The first snowflakes in the area on the 16th and 17th. The first snowstorm on the 26th with 6 cm. The table below summarizes the weather of the month based on the Manitoban and Northwest Herald (1, 2) and the Open Data Rescue Project. Comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk are added as well. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm.
- November 🔴🏜️🔥: Very mild, especially for the time. Ups and downs between mild and chilly the first 3 weeks, but it failed to reach -20°C. Becoming very mild after the 22nd. Potentially record breaking warmth. A high of 10.0°C was recorded on the 24th, which would be the second latest occurrence of double digits on record in Winnipeg if accurate. Although some snow did fall in the first three weeks, it all melted away in the last week, with no snow on the ground on the 30th. Not a lot of snow had fallen anyway, with only around 10cm, which is below normal for November. It was so mild and dry that prairie fires popped up again in the last few days, an extremely rare occurrence that late in the season. The table below summarizes the weather of the month based on the Manitoban and Northwest Herald (1, 2, 3, 4) and the Open Data Rescue Project. Comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk are added as well. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm.
- December 🔥: Mild for the time, but not too far from normal by today's standards. The only real cold was from the 19th to 28th, when there were at least 6 days below -30°C. Mild the remainder of the month, except for brief cold the 6th-7th. At least 4 days above freezing, including temperatures above 4°C in the first couple days. Possible freezing drizzle/rain the 10th and 16th. Regular snow fell, but the month had started out with no snow on the ground and prairie fires. It appears at least 18 cm fell based on what's available, however on some days only snow-water equivalent was available. The table below summarizes the weather of the month based on the Manitoban and Northwest Herald (1, 2, 3, 4) and the Open Data Rescue Project. Comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk are added as well. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm.
1871 ⚡
General summary: Winter 1870-1871 was milder and quieter than usual for the time. However, some colder snowier weather in April only prolonged the winter. Summer came early with hot weather in May and June. At least 5 days exceeded 30°C in May. It was overall a warm and rainy summer with frequent thunderstorms. At least 17 days in 1871 exceeded 30°C. It was likely even higher but missing data in August and September makes it impossible to confirm the exact number. Intense severe thunderstorms struck the region on June 25, July 24 and August 10. Each of these events dumped large hail and produced damaging winds. Both June and August received over 100 mm of rain. Cold weather returned in the fall with a cold October, November and December. The second half of November through to New Year's was exceptionally cold, some of the coldest weather ever recorded in that period. There was also a decent amount of snow.
General summary: Winter 1870-1871 was milder and quieter than usual for the time. However, some colder snowier weather in April only prolonged the winter. Summer came early with hot weather in May and June. At least 5 days exceeded 30°C in May. It was overall a warm and rainy summer with frequent thunderstorms. At least 17 days in 1871 exceeded 30°C. It was likely even higher but missing data in August and September makes it impossible to confirm the exact number. Intense severe thunderstorms struck the region on June 25, July 24 and August 10. Each of these events dumped large hail and produced damaging winds. Both June and August received over 100 mm of rain. Cold weather returned in the fall with a cold October, November and December. The second half of November through to New Year's was exceptionally cold, some of the coldest weather ever recorded in that period. There was also a decent amount of snow.
- January: Ups and downs in temperature with over 15 cm of snow. In purple are comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg). Other reports from the Manitoban and Northwest Herald (1, 2, 3), unless otherwise noted.
- Jan 1: -1.1°C at 7am and cloudy with moderate N wind. Very stormy.
- Jan 2: -17.2°C at 7am and cloudy with light S wind.
- Jan 3: -32.2°C at 7am and clear with light S wind.
- Jan 4: -18.3°C at 7am and cloudy with moderate SE wind. 2.5 cm of snow ❄️.
- Jan 5: -20.0°C at 7am and mainly clear with moderate NW wind.
- Jan 6: -31.1°C at 7am and clear with light W wind.
- Jan 7: -18.3°C at 7am and cloudy with light SE wind. 1.3 cm of snow ❄️.
- Jan 8: -21.1°C at 7am and cloudy with light S wind. -3.9°C at 1pm.
- Jan 9: -10.6°C at 7am and cloudy with light SE wind. 0.6 cm of snow ❄️.
- Jan 10: -15.0°C at 7am and cloudy with light NW wind.
- Jan 11: -28.9°C at 7am and cloudy with strong N wind. Very stormy and cold.
- Jan 12: -25.6°C at 7am and cloudy with moderate N wind. 1.9 cm of snow ❄️. Very stormy and cold.
- Jan 13: -32.8°C at 7am and clear with light NW wind.
- Jan 14: -23.3°C at 7am and cloudy with light S wind. 3.8 cm of snow ❄️.
- Jan 15: -22.2°C at 7am and cloudy with light N wind.
- Jan 16: -21.7°C at 7am and cloudy with light N wind. 1.9 cm of snow ❄️. Very cold and stormy.
- Jan 17: -34.4°C at 7am and clear with light W wind.
- Jan 18: -26.1°C at 7am and mainly cloudy with moderate SE wind. -15.6°C at 1pm.
- Jan 19: -16.7°C at 7am and cloudy with light NE wind.
- Jan 20: -26.1°C at 7am and cloudy with light E wind. 3.2 cm of snow ❄️.
- Jan 21: -24.4°C at 7am and cloudy with light NE wind.
- Jan 22 and 23: Cold.
- Jan 24: Cold and clear.
- Jan 25: Snowy.
- Jan 26 to 30: Cold.
- Jan 31: Fine and mild.
- Jan 31: In the evening, a slight wind storm accompanied by snow ❄️, and the roads are consequently full of drifts; but not such as to materially interfere with travel. Recently, the weather has been very moderate and pleasant for the season otherwise (MB News-Letter).
- February 🔴: Mostly mild, except for a few cold days, especially from the 10th to 12th during a sharp but brief cold snap. Occasional strong winds and storms carved out large drifts around a metre deep. In purple are comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg).
- Feb 1 and 2: Stormy.
- Feb 3 to 5: Milder.
- Feb 6: Cold, clear and fine.
- Feb 7: Snowy.
- Feb 8: Clear.
- Feb 9: Cold and clear.
- Feb 10 to 12: Very cold.
- Feb 13: A little moderate.
- Feb 14: Moderate.
- Feb 15 and 16: Fine.
- Feb 17 and 18: Colder.
- Feb 19: Mild and fine.
- Feb 20: Fine.
- Feb 21: Mild and fine with a little snow.
- Feb 22: Mild and fine but stormy.
- Feb 22: Wild and stormy, but not very cold. The snow was blown into drifts three and four feet deep in some places (Manitoban and Northwest Herald).
- Feb 23: Very mild and clear.
- Feb 24: Colder.
- Feb 25: Fine.
- Feb 26: Very mild.
- Feb 27: Stormy.
- Feb 28: Strong N wind with snow and drift.
- March 🔴: No information available from Winnipeg. In purple are comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg). Appears to have been mostly mild, with occasionally stormy weather in the first half of the month.
- Mar 1: Cold and cloudy.
- Mar 2: Stormy.
- Mar 3: Strong S wind.
- Mar 4: Fine.
- Mar 5: Clear and fine. Snow melting.
- Mar 6: Strong S winds. Snow melting.
- Mar 7: Cloudy.
- Mar 8: Stormy.
- Mar 9: Very stormy.
- Mar 10: Stormy.
- Mar 11 to 13: Moderate.
- Mar 14 to 19: Fine.
- Mar 20: Fine, snow melting. Ducks seen.
- Mar 21: Very fine.
- Mar 22: Very mild.
- Mar 23 to 30: Fine.
- Mar 31: Cloudy.
- April ❄️: Cooler weather with a few snowstorms. A heavy snow storm on the 20th, with snow also the 8th and 28th. The river broke up by the 24th but jammed, causing minor flooding along the shores. Water levels fell rapidly afterwards. Despite the snowstorms, it appears the snow melted fairly rapidly as the weather was quite changeable, from warmth to cold to warmth. In purple are comments from the Lower Fort Garry Journal (near Selkirk, therefore not Winnipeg).
- Apr 1 and 2: Fine.
- Apr 3 and 4: Cloudy.
- Apr 5: Clear and fine.
- Apr 6 and 7: Cold and cloudy.
- Apr 8: Very stormy and snowy.
- Apr 9 and 10: Cold and clear.
- Apr 11: Fine, snow melting. Commenced the garden.
- Apr 12 to 16: Fine.
- Apr 17 to 19: Cloudy.
- Apr 20: Heavy snow storm.
- Apr 21: Snow melting.
- Apr 22: Fine, ice cracked.
- Apr 23: Fine. Ice broke to some extent but did not clear out.
- Apr 24: Fine. Ice cleared out from here but stopped below - and caused the water to rise so much that it came up over the lower floor of the steam mill.
- Apr 25 and 26: Fine.
- Apr 27: Rainy and cloudy. River falling fast.
- Apr 28: Snowy.
- Apr 29: Cleared up.
- Apr 30: Fine. The roads very bad and almost impassable.
- Apr 30: 5.0°C at 7am and clear with light SW wind. (Manitoban and Northwest Herald)
- May 🔴⚡: A very warm May, possibly one of the warmest of all time. Remarkable heat in the final week with at least 5 consecutive days above 30°C. The nights were incredibly warm, offering little refreshment from the heat. At 7am, temperatures ranged from 25 to 27°C four mornings in a row. No frost or snow was mentioned in Winnipeg, except hard frost was reported at Selkirk on the 22nd. 46.2 mm of rain was recorded, which would have been around average. 4 days with thunderstorms, which was more than normal. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project, James Stewart via the Manitoban and Northwest Herald (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. Note that the high and low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm.
- June 🔴💧⚡: A little warmer than normal and rainy. 109.5 mm of rain fell. 10 days with rain and 7 with thunderstorms. There was a damaging thunderstorm on the 25th when strong winds demolished some buildings. This had put a dramatic end to a two-day heat wave with temperatures in the low 30s. The warm and rainy weather was perfect for the crops. However, there were two days with frost; the frost of the 14th being the most damaging to potato crops. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project, James Stewart via the Manitoban and Northwest Herald (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. Note that the low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm. The high temperatures are the actual daily highs - not based on only three measurements.
- July 🔴⚡: Warm July with 8 days with thunderstorms and 11 days with rain. Rainfall was below normal however, with only 32 mm. The first three weeks of July were, in fact, very dry, with only about 5 mm of rain. 8 days exceeded 30°C, with a maximum of 37.8°C on the 12th. One thunderstorm dropped ''heavy'' hailstones on the 24th at 11pm. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project, James Stewart via the Manitoban and Northwest Herald (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. Note that the low temperatures are based on only three daily measurements at 7am, 2pm and 9pm. The high temperatures are the actual daily highs - not based on only three measurements.
- August 💧⚡: Very wet and stormy with more than 110 mm of rain. Unfortunately, not much information available this month. Heavy thunderstorms dumped 44.5 mm of rain on both the 1st and 10th. Based on Lower Fort Garry, it might have been rainy in the last week as well when no data are available at Winnipeg. Possibly one of the rainiest Augusts on record as a result. One thunderstorm on the 10th also caused a lot of damage again from damaging winds and hail. Some crops were beat down by the storm. The temperature story is unclear, but appears to have been very warm in the first half, then cooler in the second half. A temperature of 37.2°C was measured on the 9th. The table below summarizes the month's available data using reports and data from James Stewart via the Manitoban and Northwest Herald (1, 2, 3), and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk.
- Aug 10 ⚡: A most terrible hurricane has hit the Province. The wind was blowing with great violence. An uninterrupted succession of lightning comprised the ever-illuminated firmament. At the top of St Norbert, a considerable amount of hail fell which did a lot of damage to the harvest. The hailstones were of extraordinary size; we were told they were bigger than eggs. It was a veritable avalanche ice chunks. (From Le Métis Newspaper - translated from French)
- September 🏜️🔥: Much drier weather, drying things up. The river was said to be low mid month. Raging fires produced smoky skies and burned down some buildings in the last few days. Some cattle and horses were burned to death. Not much indication of temperature other than cold weather from about the 16th to 19th. In purple are reports from the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk (not Winnipeg).
- Sep 1 and 2: Fine.
- Sep 3: Showery and cloudy.
- Sep 4 to 6: Fine
- Sep 7: Very stormy.
- Sep 7: The water is so low in the Red River that steamboats will probably soon be unable to travel. (Le Métis Newspaper - translated from French)
- Sep 8: Cloudy. Wind N.
- Sep 9: Fine. Frost this morning.
- Sep 10 to 15: Fine to very fine.
- Sep 16: Chilly.
- Sep 17: Raw and chilly.
- Sep 18: Cold and raw.
- Sep 19: Cold with a hard frost.
- Sep 20 to 24: Fine.
- Sep 25: Showery.
- Sep 26 and 27: Fine.
- Sep 28: Very stormy. Fires raging in the plains at a fearful rate.
- Sep 29: Stormy.
- Sep 30: Fine. An immense number of people have lost their hay by the fire and in some instances cattle and horses have been burned to death and houses destroyed.
- Oct 1: Very heavy smoke during the past week from the burning Prairies. Many farmers have suffered heavily by the loss of horses and cattle. Three houses were burned down. (Open Data Rescue Project)
- October 🔵🔥: Fires continued to rage in the first few days, until welcomed rains extinguished them. It was a rather chilly October, but not extremely so. However, the river froze over already by Halloween during cold weather in the last week of the month which was accompanied by the first accumulating snowfall on the 29th. A period of warm weather from the 18th to 24th brought dry weather which aided in producing more fires and smoke. Overall, precipitation was around normal, if not a tad lesser than normal. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. Most of the high and low temperatures are true - in other words, not based on only 3 daily measurements.
- November 🔵❄️: Very cold with an average daily maximum of -7.2°C. The first 12 days were typical or even a bit mild. But then, all hell broke loose with intense cold flooding into the region as well as significant snowfall. 32 cm of snow fell, primarily in the 13th to 20th period. 3 days dipped below -30°C in the last week and 7 days failed to exceed -20°C. Minneapolis was also very cold, signaling a fairly widespread outbreak of abnormal cold. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. All the high and low temperatures are true - in other words, not based on only 3 daily measurements.
- December 🔵: Very cold with only a brief reprieve from the cold around the 11th and 15th. At least 10 days below -30°C and 12 days failed to exceed -20°C. Snowfall amounts are a bit uncertain given the data sources are a bit confusing. From the best of my interpretation, it appears snowfall was around normal - 25 cm. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. All the highs and 28 of 31 low temperatures are true - in other words, not based on only 3 daily measurements.
1872
General summary:
General summary:
- January: Mostly mild the first three weeks then very cold last ten days. A fairly typical January historically speaking, maybe a bit mild for the time but a bit chilly by today's standards. Snowfall below normal with only 13 cm. 1 or 2 days with freezing rain. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. All the high and low temperatures are true - in other words, not based on only 3 daily measurements.
- February: Cold first half then milder second half. Snowfall below normal again with only 9 cm. Similar to January, February was pretty typical temperature-wise historically speaking, but a bit mild for the time and a bit chilly by today's standards. The table and graph below summarize the month using reports and data from the Open Data Rescue Project and the Lower Fort Garry Journal near Selkirk. All the high and low temperatures are true - in other words, not based on only 3 daily measurements.