Winter storm watch in effect for western Manitoba with snow and strong winds in the forecast

The rather long andunseasonal stretch of balmy weather that has left some parts of southern Manitoba without snow might be coming to an end as a winter wallop blows into the province this week.

Environment and Climate ChangeCanada is forecasting a strong low-pressure system to roll into eastern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba starting Monday plunging daytime high temperatures, picking winds up and bringing up to 30 centimetres of snow to some parts of the province.

The weather agency said precipitation in many areas of western Manitoba will begin Monday evening with rain and freezing rain. However, as temperatures plummet below the freezing mark and cold air gets wrapped into the system, precipitation will transition into snow.

Daytime highs will sit between the 5 C to 10 C in the wake of the weather event for western Manitoba where a "much colder air mass will be in place," ECCCsaid.

A winter storm watch has been issued for several communities in southwestern Manitoba on Sunday, including Brandon, Dauphin and Virden, for the weather event that is expected to last intoWednesday.

Blizzard conditions are possibly expectedfor some areas of western Manitoba, with snow from the weather event reaching 15 to 30 centimetres, ECCC said.

CBC Manitoba weather specialist Riley Laychuk said Winnipeg is forecast to receive rain throughout most of Tuesday, starting in the morning, and as the temperature drop around the freezing mark in the afternoonprecipitation will phase into snow.

He said Winnipeg is expected to get anywhere between two to five centimetres of snow before it tapers off Wednesday morning.

Winds are also expected to pick up northwest as the system intensifies, with gusts of up to 80 km/h in western Manitoba. Meanwhile, Laychuk said in Winnipeg, winds will pick up between 30 and 50 km/h inside the city.

ECCC said travel is expected to be hazardousand should be avoided if possible as blowing snow is expected to reduce visibility in some parts of western Manitoba.