Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement for Southern Manitoba as a Colorado Low begins to move into the province, bringing a mixed bag of precipitation with it.  

A sharp rain-snow line is expected to develop parallel and south of Lake Manitoba and arc northeast towards Lake Winnipeg and the Ontario border. However, the weather agency says uncertainty exists on the exact position of this boundary.

Periods of snow will begin this evening in southeastern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba through the Interlake, and end Thursday evening. Total accumulations of 10 to 15 cm in 24 hours are expected, with the exception of up to 25 cm near the Riding Mountains. Environment Canada expects to issue snowfall warnings likely starting this afternoon for portions of western Manitoba.

For the Red River Valley and southeastern Manitoba, precipitation will start as rain this evening. The rain-snow line is expected to move eastward on Thursday afternoon which is when rain will begin to switch to snow. Snow will continue until Friday Morning. There will also be a risk of freezing rain in the vicinity of this rain-snow line, and Environment Canada cautions that with the transition of rain to snow and the recent mild temperatures, roads and sidewalks will become slippery. 

Precipitation totals are uncertain due to the exact position and timing of the rain-snow line across the Red River Valley. Rainfall totals of around 5 to 15 mm and snowfall totals of 5 to 10 cm are expected for the Red River Valley and points eastwards, with the higher rainfall amounts expected near the Ontario border as rain takes longer to transition to snow.

A return to colder, although still above seasonal, temperatures is forecast for the weekend into next week.