Your weekend weather

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/04/2014 (3659 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What with Easter sneaking up on us once again, the Weather Column would like to kick off your weekend forecast with an emotional rendition of one of our favourite holiday classics from way back in 1950.

Get ready to feel uplifted, because it goes a little something like this: “Here comes Peter Cottontail, Hoppin’ down the bunny trail, Hippity Hoppity … WHAMMO! OH NO! PETER COTTONTAIL HAS FALLEN INTO A POTHOLE! YIKES! THAT IS ONE VERY ANGRY-LOOKING BUNNY!”

OK, while Peter Cottontail climbs out of that giant seasonal crater, let’s take a few minutes to talk about the weather, which is starting to look a lot like spring, depending on where you happen to live in this province.

In Winnipeg, the folks at Environment Canada say we’re looking at a pleasant high of 8 C today — compared with the normal high of 12 C at this festive time of year — with a lot of clouds, rain ending in the morning, then followed by more clouds with a 40 per cent chance of showers and southeast winds gusting up to 50 km/h.

It should be spot-on normal Easter Sunday, with a high of 12 C and sunny skies. On Easter Monday, we’re talking a high of 10 C and cloudy with a (Yikes!) 70 per cent chance of showers.

But my buddy Dale Marciski from Environment Canada warns a storm system tracking across southern Saskatchewan could bring some (sit down before you read this next bit) spring snow to areas in west central Manitoba overnight and early today, with between 15 and 20 centimetres around Riding Mountain National Park, Dauphin, and the Parkland areas. It’s possible as much as 25 centimetres could cover the parklands.

“Since many people will be travelling this weekend, those going to the west or north should check the latest weather and highway conditions,” is what Dale wisely advised.

On the upside, there are baskets brimming with fun Easter activities hopping down the pothole-laden trail in your area. First, let’s talk Easter-egg hunts. There’s one going on at Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre, along with spring crafts and (prepare to be bowled over) Bunny Bingo.

The Western Canada Aviation Museum is also holding egg hunts today and Sunday and admission is just $5. And there’s another egg hunt set for Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. at FortWhyte Alive.

If you’d rather collect autographs than chocolate eggs, try visiting the Park Theatre today starting at 11 a.m. for an up-close and personal session with notorious baseball legend Pete Rose. Tickets are $40 at www.theparktheatervideo.com or at Music Trader.

In our view, however, if you really want to capture the spirit of the season, we suggest you head down to centre court at The Forks today and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and release your inner outer-space geek, if you catch our drift.

We’re talking about the Star Wars vs. Star Trek shindig, featuring costume contests, scavenger hunts, totally nerdy debates — “Resolved: Capt. Kirk would have made mincemeat out of Han Solo!” — trivia contests, videos and (this is a direct quote) “FREE Jedi classes from River City Jedi and more.”

So, let the Force be with you this weekend, and if you don’t mind, maybe you could use some of your Jedi mind-control powers to help the Montreal Canadiens lay another beating on the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL playoffs. It’s what Obi-Wan Kenobi would have wanted.

Also, do not forget to check out our deeply moving Easter weather video starring Creepy Santa, my three-foot-tall stuffed Santa doll. Just scan the Blippar symbol in this column or visit www.winnipegfreepress.com.

Whatever you and your loved ones decide to do this weekend, keep an eye out for good old Peter Cottontail, because when we last saw him he was talking to a lawyer about a wrongful-injury lawsuit. An Easter Bunny suffering from whiplash is not a pretty sight.

Have a safe and happy Easter weekend. Now go wash the chocolate goop off your face before the kids figure out you’ve been raiding their (bad word) baskets.

doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca