Snowfall warning issued with 10 to 20 cm expected for parts of southern Manitoba

The idea of seeing accumulating snow before the end of October is already tough to swallow for most, especially considering the above-average temperatures throughout the last several weeks, but Environment Canada issuing a snowfall warning for much of Southern Manitoba is, perhaps, just a little much for this time of year.

10 to 20 cm is expected for portions of southern Manitoba on Wednesday, with additional accumulations expected in the Red River Valley and Southeastern Manitoba Thursday.

"Down near the American border... about 10 to 15 centimeters (of snow) will fall through the afternoon today into tonight," says senior meteorologist Chris Stammers of Environment and Climate Change Canada. 

The Snowfall Warning extends from the Saskatchewan border to the Red River, south of Highway 23, except in Westman where the warning extends to the Souris and Brandon region.

Areas in red were under the snowfall warning as of 4:45 a.m. in Manitoba. (Environment Canada)

A lesser amount is expected to hit the capital, with only about 5 centimeters expected, according to Stammers. 

"Winnipeg is going to be on the northern edge of a band of snow that's going to set up across the province," he says. 

With temperature hovering above zero in the city, Stammers expects a fair bit of that snow to melt, though there may be some areas that sees some accumulation. 

The province could see more snow as a second system makes its through late Thursday into Friday, though there is an element of uncertainty in regard to potential snowfall. 

"Some of the models give us more snow with that one, some of them much less," says Stammers. 

With winter driving conditions just round the corner, Environment and Climate Change Canada reminds motorists to drive to the conditions. 

"Especially outside the city, I would expect conditions to be quite poor this afternoon into tonight," says Stammers.