The snow is here: How much snow fell in Winnipeg and parts of Manitoba?

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Peggy

Not so long ago, some were wondering when Winnipeg would finally see the first significant snowfall of the season. We now have our answer.

A low pressure system brought snow, freezing rain and freezing drizzle to much of southern Manitoba starting Sunday.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) most areas in southern Manitoba ranged between 15 and 20 centimetres of snow, while Winnipeg’s range was a bit wider between 11 and 20 cm.

“Generally speaking, we’re talking about 15 to 20 for most places, but there were a few bands of more intense precipitation. So I think one of them was right over southern Winnipeg, which is why there’s such a range from north to south in the city,” said Natalie Hasell, a warning preparedness meteorologist with ECCC.

The Winnipeg airport received 18 cm, while Brandon’s airport also received the same amount.

Hasell noted snow isn’t rare for December, but the amount of snow we received might be a little more unusual.

“I would say this is a little bit closer to normal (compared to last year), as we do get large storms at this time of year,” said Hasell. “But getting near 20 cm of snow when the average for the month is close to 27, that kind of tells you this was quite a lot of snow in one period.”

The low has moved into North Dakota, but it will still bring intermittent light snow and blowing snow in strong and gusty northwest winds this afternoon to the Red River Valley. Temperatures will also fall this afternoon.

By early Monday evening, northwest winds will diminish just enough to end most blowing snow across southern Manitoba.

Meanwhile, ECCC has continued a snowfall warning and weather advisory this afternoon for parts of northwestern Ontario.

Round two arrives on Tuesday morning with more light snow across southern Manitoba and northwestern Ontario.

Snowfall amounts won’t be as high as the first system, but this one will deliver a blast of bitterly cold Arctic air from the north. Brace yourself for daytime highs only reaching the mid to low 20s on Wednesday and Thursday.

ECCC said extreme wind chills are likely.

“So, pay attention to current conditions, pay attention to the forecast, and to any alerts that might be issued. Have an emergency kit. If you do have to travel, tell people where you’re going and how long it’s going to take you, so that if you don’t show up or don’t call in, somebody knows, and maybe they can do something about it. And again, I’ll repeat, if you are stuck on the highway in either reduced visibility and blowing snow or in extremely cold conditions, stay in your car.”

This will be a brief cold snap, however. Temperatures much closer to normal will return later in the week and on the weekend.

As for the rest of the month, Hasell said a few more systems are expected to roll into southern Manitoba and Winnipeg, meaning more snow is possible.

She also said the province is expecting above-normal precipitation for the winter months.

“I don’t know if that means we’ve already received it and then, you know, we’ll just be fine the rest of the winter. Or, what I more expect is the passage of these low and high systems will continue over our area, and we will continue to see these unsettled, variable times where it warms up in advance of a low, then the low dumps its precipitation, probably snow, as we move forward.”

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