PembinaValleyOnline News

Manitoba’s Emergency Management Organization is providing Manitoba RCMP with the training and authority to issue emergency alerts through the Alert Ready system, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor announced today.

An Alberta clipper moving through the province yesterday tapped into Pacific moisture drawn over the area, leading to showers throughout much of Sunday.

"Freezing drizzle was reported in some areas in the early morning hours, but by mid-morning had switched over to just rain," said CMOS Accredited Weathercaster Chris Sumner. "Our Rainwatchers have indicated those light showers led to accumulating rainfall over the last twenty-four hours."

Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) workers have voted overwhelmingly against their employer's latest offer, extending the province-wide strike that began on August 28th, and involved approximately 1,700 workers at the Crown Corporation. The walkout has affected services such as damage claims and driver road tests.

The latest offer by MPI included raises totalling 12.2 per cent over four years.

Monday marked the start of the 10th week of strike action, making it one of the lengthiest in the history of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU).

After much of the region received to 10 to 20cms of snow last Wednesday night through Friday morning, we're in line for another few centimeters Monday.

"A relatively weak upper level disturbance will slide southward through the province on Monday," explained CMOS Accredited weathercaster Chris Sumner. "We're not expecting a lot of snow from this system, anywhere from what I'd call a dusting up to several centimeters, capping out around 5cms according to the estimates at this point."

The Snowfall warning has ended for the Morden, Winkler, Altona and Morris regions, as well most of southeastern Manitoba to the Ontario border. According to Environment Canada, a few more centimeters fell this morning, on top of the 5 to 10 already received, with the highest amounts near the American and Ontario border. 

As the second round of significant snowfall in as many days works closer to the Pembina Valley, Environment Canada has reissued a Snowfall Warning for the Morden, Winkler, Altona and Morris regions, now joining all of Southeastern Manitoba including communities like Emerson, Vita, Steinbach and Sprague.

We're waking up to a snowy, slushy and slick mess Thursday morning as round one of this week's snowfall begins to taper off this morning. Highways throughout the region are reported as partly snow and slush covered, with fair visibility in blowing snow. The Snowfall warning has ended for much of Southern Manitoba, with only areas east of the Red River remaining.

A Snowfall Warning remains in effect for much of Southern Manitoba from the Saskatchewan border to the Red River. Over the next 24 hours, totals of 10 to 20 cm are expected, with areas closest to the American border seeing the highest amounts, keeping in mind there will be two main waves of snow.

Sprague RCMP continue to investigate the disappearance of 70-year-old Ywanna (Jean) Backman. 

Backman was last seen Friday, October 13th, and RCMP believe last made contact with a friend Sunday, October 15th. 

Whether you call sudden, jarring or dramatic, the significant change in the weather pattern beginning Wednesday will be a snap back to reality for Southern Manitoba after several weeks of generally well above average temperatures. A Special Weather Statement remains in effect for the entire southern half of the province ahead of an early taste of winter in the coming days.