Colorado low aims to bring worst weather to southern Manitoba

Manitobans should be prepared to enter a winter wonderland as a prolonged snowstorm will begin Tuesday evening.

Today, at 4:32 p.m., Environment Canada released a special weather statement indicating that a Colorado low will be making its way across southeastern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba.

Before the storm arrives in the province, it is expected that some light snow and a freezing drizzle will occur over Manitoba Monday night into Tuesday morning.

"With the above seasonable temperatures in place as the low-pressure system approaches, the snow is expected to be heavier wet snow. The worst conditions are expected to be in the communities along the international border," says the EC statement.

Once the area of low-pressure moves towards the Great Lakes on Wednesday night and into Thursday, there will be some lingering snowfall throughout the southern area of the province.

The expected amount of snowfall is approximately 10-20 cm, with some areas reaching as high as 30 cm by the weekend. However, as the periods of snow will stretch throughout the course of several days, snowfall amounts are expected to stay sub-warning.

Environment Canada warns western Manitoba residents that with the low pressure interacting with the higher terrain of the region, more snowfall is expected.

By Friday and Saturday, conditions will improve as the storm continues eastward. It will be followed by a surge of Arctic air, which will bring back more normal temperatures.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to MBstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports using #MBStorm.