PembinaValleyOnline Rainwatchers dusted off their gauges, and had them ready to go to capture the first rainfall of the season on Monday. Although not significant in total, the precipitation was the first time this Spring several millimeters were received generally across the region.

"Monday's showers pushed northward off a low pressure system moving through the U.S., and is the first of several waves this week that will impact Southern Manitoba," explained CMOS Accredited Weathercaster Chris Sumner. "That same low will be responsible for the waves of precipitation we're expecting today and Wednesday before it ultimately merges with the strong low moving across the central and northern Prairies this week. From Wednesday night through Friday, the additional rain and/or snow we see, will be from that combined system which is still on track to bring moisture of some sort to our area during that timeframe."

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Current estimates are for a general 10 to 20mm of rain over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday, with the rain beginning from west to east this morning and expected to start by early to mid-afternoon in the Pembina and Red River Valleys.

The following totals are for Monday, April 15th and are courtesy PembinaValleyOnline Rainwatchers, Environment Canada and the Manitoba Ag Weather Network:Emerson - 10.1mm (4/10)

Emerson - 10.1mm (4/10)
Gnadenfeld/Woodmore - 10mm
Gretna - 9.2mm
Altona (rural) - 8.5mm
Reinland - 7.8 mm
Carman - 7.2mm (3/10th)
Winkler (south of city) - 6.3mm
Kane - 6.1mm
Altona (in town) - 6mm
Elm Creek - 5.9mm
Morris - 5.8mm
Dominion City - 4.8mm
Morden - 4.2mm
Manitou - 4.1mm
Steinbach - 1.8mm
25mm = 1 inch

Sumner noted there still remains uncertainty regarding just how much additional rainfall, or snow, we'll see Wednesday night through Friday.

"And this is related to how the merged system tracks across the area, and whether it will continue to draw on moisture being pulled into it due to a strong southerly flow," he said. "As that moisture flow tapers off, and much colder air is pulled into the system, precipitation will taper off. How quickly, and before how much falls, is the question that remains to be answered. Generally speaking, I expect a few additional millimeters of rain, and some wet snow, Thursday and Friday, but I don't foresee substantial accumulations of either, particularly the snow which will melt on contact, for the most part."

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Temperatures will remain seasonal today and Wednesday, before the cold front associated with the merged low sweeps through the province, pushing daytime highs downward and well below average for the remainder of the week. Highs of 10 to 12 are expected today and tomorrow, with +2+ to +4 likely for Thursday and Friday before warmer conditions return for the weekend as the system exits the region. Averages for mid-April are 12 daytime and 0 overnight.

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