Stormy weather blows across Manitoba

Manitobans are bracing for some stormy weather with some wild temperature swings.

Between 10 and 15 centimetres of snow is expected to fall in a band from northwestern Manitoba down to the Whiteshell area. There is also a risk of freezing rain over the southernmost areas.

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​As well, temperatures across much of Manitoba are going to drastically warm up by anywhere from eight to 23 degrees.

It's all due to a low pressure area developing in northern Saskatchewan. The system will rapidly intensify and race southeastward to Red Lake, Ont., by this evening, according to Environment Canada.

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​The Dauphin region is expected to get as warm as 4 C after starting the morning at –14 C, while in the Interlake Region, around Gimli, it is expected to reach 0 C after starting at –23 C.

​Winnipeg, sitting at –22 C just before 7 a.m. (with a wind chill that made it feel more like –33), is forecast to warm up to –2. About about five to 10 cm of snow is expected in the city.

There is also a risk of a brief bout of freezing rain and possibly thunderstorm on Wednesday afternoon, according to CBC meteorologist John Sauder.

The warmer temperatures are being ushered in by strong southern winds that will blow around that new snow, causing visibility issues.

The winds will shift to the north by Thursday and bring back the freeze, dropping temperatures close to –20 C.

Snow clearing

The City of Winnipeg has 300 pieces of equipment working around the clock to deal with the latest storm.

The truck plowing operations started at 10 a.m. with a focus on major routes and regional streets.

There is no word on when residential plowing will begin. The city said it is still trying to clear sidewalks that were supposed to be done by Monday.