A Snowfall Warning remains in effect for most of Southern Manitoba, with an additional 5 to 15 cm’s on the way throughout Monday and overnight into Tuesday. Estimates peg the first round of snowfall, which began Sunday evening in most locations, around 10 to 15 cm’s in the Red River Valley, with  higher accumulations approaching 30 cms in the Southwestern corner of the province.

“It seemed to take a really long time for this storm to materialize, but a lot of that has to do with how early we were able to provide a heads up on what was to come,” that from CMOS Accredited Weathercaster Chris Sumner Monday morning. “By Sunday afternoon I had received more than a few texts from friends and family wanting to know where this big storm was, and then 730pm arrived, and the heavy wet snow began to fall.”

Some locations in Southern Manitoba reported the ever interesting and quite rare Thunder Snow phenomenon Sunday evening as thunderstorms which developed in North Dakota pushed northward, and the rainfall encountered colder air and turned to snow. Flashes of lightning could be seen filling the sky in the Altona, Plum Coulee and Winkler areas, with a number of reports from the southwest also recorded.

As for what’s to come, Sumner tells us more snow as another wave moves through the province Monday, plus winds will remain gusty from the east, up to 60 kilometers per hour. “Once the snow starts falling again, that will mean significantly reduced visibility, not that I would suggest travelling today in most location considering the number of highway closures and general road conditions.”

This system is expected to move out of the province overnight and into Tuesday, with sunshine and cooler temperatures returning in its wake Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures will be 4 o 5 degrees below average for this time of year, approaching seasonal once again just in time for the weekend. Average daytime highs for this time of year are around -2 or -3.

And will this be the end to the late season snowfall for Southern Manitoba?

“I wouldn’t say that just yet,” adds Sumner. “March is traditionally an unsettled month, and there’s always the potential for more snow. Right now the long range models are not indicating another storm like this, but as always, the weather is always changing.”