More snow Thursday?

After a week of almost daily snowfall, the snow has finally eased over Winnipeg and southern MB today although some flurries are still likely today. About 20 cm of snow has fallen over Winnipeg since last Monday although daily snowfalls have generally been 5 cm or less. Now it looks like another low pressure system will move across the central U.S. Plains over the next couple of days, bringing another round of snow over Southern MB Wednesday night into Thursday. Similar to the storm this past weekend, the bulk of the snowfall with this storm is expected to stay mainly south of the international border (note that a winter storm watch is in effect for North Dakota and Minnesota for Wednesday afternoon into Friday with the potential for 30 cm of snow or more). However there will be an area of snow moving into southern MB Wednesday night into Thursday that could bring 5 to 10 cm of snow over and south of the Trans Canada corridor with higher amounts possible if the storm moves a little further north. Stay tuned!

Rain in the Gauge? Spring must be near!

You may have noticed my station is starting to record "rainfall" today. Well, it's not rain, but actually snow that has accumulated in the rain gauge and is now melting with the milder temperatures and occasional sunshine. This will be a more common occurrence over the next few weeks as temperatures get warmer, and sunshine gets stronger. Just another sign that spring is just around the corner! (although it's hard to see around the corner with all these snowbanks!)

Winter Storm losing strength..

Well, it's looking like this winter storm will not have as much of an impact on Winnipeg and the Red River valley as initially feared, at least not today anyways. The initial wave of snow that was to arrive this morning is a lot less extensive and intense than first thought.. with drier air making it more difficult for the snow to surface. As a result, Winnipeg will end up having only marginal amounts of snow today and tonight.. maybe a couple of cm at most. Also winds aren't as strong here as initally expected so blowing and drifting will not be as bad. The bulk of the snow today and tomorrow should fall northwest of Winnipeg through the Riding Mountain area where 10 to 20 cm is expected today through Saturday. Now, eventually, more significant snow should make its way into Winnipeg as this system slowly moves across the US plains.. but now it looks like the bulk of the snow in Winnipeg won't fall until later Saturday into Saturday night when 5 to 10 cm may fall. By then however winds will be a lot lighter, so blowing and drifting shouldn't be a major problem.

Bottom line.. not as bad as first thought for Winnipeg today.. but snow will eventually make its way in over the weekend.

Winter Storm Watch posted for Southern MB

Looks like more snow on the way for Southern MB! A storm system developing over Montana will spread an area of snow over southern Saskatchewan this afternoon into tonight which will move into southern MB on Friday. The snow should taper off Friday night into Saturday as the main energy of the storm shifts into the central U.S. Plains where a major storm system is expected over the weekend with the potential for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the southern plains. For Southern MB, snow should move into southwestern areas overnight reaching Winnipeg Friday morning. Gusty east to southeast winds up to 60 km/h will accompany the snow giving considerable blowing and drifting snow. The heaviest snowfall accumulations will likely be over the higher elevations west of Winnipeg from the Riding Mtns to Pilot Mound where 10 to 20 cm of snow is possible by Saturday. Further east, including Winnipeg, less snowfall is expected.. with perhaps 5 to 10 cm by Saturday. The problem however will be the winds which will give poor visibilities in snow and blowing snow, especially through Friday afternoon into Friday evening in the Winnipeg area. Stay tuned on this developing storm system. Note.. this storm may bring near blizzard conditions to parts of southern Saskatchewan tonight into Friday.. so be prepared for poor tavelling conditions if you have travel plans out west tomorrow.

Snow moving across Southern MB

A low pressure system crossing Southern MB this morning is bringing a fairly narrow but intense band of heavy snow generally north of the Trans Canada highway. Near zero visibilities are being reported in this swath of heavy snow that extends from Lake Manitoba across the southern interlake area into southern Lake Winnipeg (including the communities of St Laurent, Tuelon, Inwood and Winnipeg Beach). This axis of heavy snow is generally sliding eastward so the heaviest snow should stay just to the north of Winnipeg, mainly confined north of Highway 67. 10 to 15 cm of snow is possible along this swath with snowfall rates of 2 to 3 cm per hour at times. Further south, "wrap around" snow from this system will move in from the west this morning, giving about 2 to 5 cm of new snow generally along and south of the TransCanada, including Winnipeg. Increasing north to northwest winds today will produce blowing and drifting snow, with near blizzard conditions possible this afternoon in open areas over the Red River Valley.