‘Winterpeg’ sees first significant snowfall

Environment and Climate Change Canada says Winnipeg’s current snowfall is the first significant accumulation of the season — and it might stick around.

The province has seen a warm fall, but on Monday, temperatures dropped to a low of minus-9 Celsius with the wind chill, making it feel like minus-17 C.

The snow is the result of a low-pressure system that walloped much of the Prairies. Manitoba only caught the tail end, but the system is still bringing with it a fair amount of snow.

Christy Climenhaga, a scientist with the national forecaster, says it’s a signal to take the snow shovels out of storage.

“It definitely seems like we’ve started to see that change,” Climenhaga said. “It was a very, very mild fall so far. A very warm September and October. And it looks like we’re now starting to get into the more typical winter weather that you’d expect in much of Manitoba.”