Environment Canada has upgraded the winter storm watch for a winter storm warning in the far southeastern areas of Manitoba.

Earlier, the city of Winnipeg and the rest of southeastern Manitoba were issued a winter snow watch, but now as the storm is expected to hit in approximately 24 hours, meteorologists are confident that with the extreme snowfall and blustering winds, it will make for a hard-hitting third winter.

Janelle Gergely from Environment Canada says that Winnipeg is right on the cuff of where the storm watch turns to a warning and will receive closer to 15 cm of snow, meanwhile, areas like Steinbach, Whiteshell and Sprague are more likely to receive up to 25 cm of snow.

With the combination of snow and strong winds, it will create unfavourable road conditions and Manitobans should expect road closures and reduced visibility throughout the next few days and make the necessary precautions.

"I would just keep your eye on the warnings that are currently out," says Gergley. "If we see that visibility goes down for a significant period of time, we might see this winter storm warning change to a blizzard warning."

Despite some expected chaos for the next few days, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

"After the storm is actually looking really quite nice. We have this upper ridge building in and what the means is usually clear skies and warm temperatures."

Gergley says that once this storm has passed, Manitoba can see temperatures well-above average for Easter weekend.

Photo from weather.gc.ca

(Environment Canada)