Rainwatchers dusted off their gauges yesterday and had them ready to go to capture the first rainfall of the season. Although not significant in total at first, the precipitation was the first time this spring several millimeters were received generally across the region. The showers continued in many areas overnight as well.

"Monday's showers pushed northward off a low-pressure system moving through the U.S., and is the first of several waves this week that will impact Southern Manitoba," explained CMOS Accredited Weathercaster Chris Sumner. "That same low will be responsible for the waves of precipitation we're expecting today and Wednesday before it ultimately merges with the strong low moving across the central and northern Prairies this week. From Wednesday night through Friday, the additional rain and/or snow we see, will be from that combined system which is still on track to bring moisture of some sort to our area during that timeframe."

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Current estimates are for a general 10 to 20mm of rain for Tuesday and Wednesday, with the rain beginning from west to east this morning and expected to start by early to mid-afternoon in the Pembina and Red River Valleys.

The following totals are for Monday, April 15th up to 6 a.m. this morning and come from the Manitoba Ag Weather Network:

Elie - 12.2mm
Starbuck - 10.9mm
St. Claude - 10.4mm
Portage la Prairie - 9.9mm
Elm Creek - 9.0mm
Austin - 8.3mm
Selkirk - 8.3mm
Bagot - 8.2mm
Eriksdale - 7.4mm
Carman - 7.2mm
Carberry - 6.4mm
Holland - 5.9mm
Elm Creek - 5.9mm
Morris - 5.8mm
Plumas - 5.6mm
Amaranth - 5.4mm
Gladstone - 5.3mm
Somerset - 5.1mm
St. Rose - 4.8mm
Neepawa - 4.5mm
Morden - 4.2mm
Manitou - 4.1mm
Steinbach - 1.8mm
25mm = 1 inch

Sumner noted there still remains uncertainty regarding just how much additional rainfall, or snow, we'll see Wednesday night through Friday.

"And this is related to how the merged system tracks across the area, and whether it will continue to draw on moisture being pulled into it due to a strong southerly flow," he said. "As that moisture flow tapers off, and much colder air is pulled into the system, precipitation will taper off. How quickly, and before how much falls, is the question that remains to be answered. Generally speaking, I expect a few additional millimeters of rain, and some wet snow, Thursday and Friday, but I don't foresee substantial accumulations of either, particularly the snow which will melt on contact, for the most part."

road reports and cancellations

Temperatures will remain seasonal today and Wednesday, before the cold front associated with the merged low sweeps through the province, pushing daytime highs downward and well below average for the remainder of the week. Highs of 10 to 12 are expected today and tomorrow, with +2+ to +4 likely for Thursday and Friday before warmer conditions return for the weekend as the system exits the region. Averages for mid-April are around 12 during the day and about -1 overnight.