A winter storm warning remains in effect for southern Manitoba.

Scott Kehler, Chief Scientist of Weatherlogics, says as the system moves up from the south, it has already produced freezing drizzle in areas around Steinbach. He explains this happens when you get some low level clouds with warmer temperatures allowing drizzle drops to form and fall to the ground. Kehler says as the evening progresses, precipitation will primarily fall in the form of snow.

The snow is expected to taper off tomorrow morning, but not before about 15 centimetres of fresh snow falls in Steinbach and area. Kehler admits there is always a bit of uncertainty with these systems because there are heavier bands and lighter bands. He says depending on which ones end up sitting over Steinbach, the snowfall total will vary. For that reason, he suggests the snowfall amount will likely be between 10 and 20 centimetres.

"It does look like the southeast will be hit hardest with snowfall," says Kehler.

He suggests the southeast could include areas between Buffalo Point and Winnipeg.

Meanwhile, the wind is expected to pick up on Saturday morning.

"You will notice that on Friday night and early Saturday morning it won't be too windy as we are just out ahead of a cold front," says Kehler. "But that cold front's going to come through on Saturday morning, winds will switch to northwest and become quite gusty, so we'll end up with a fair amount of blowing snow through the day on Saturday."

Wind speeds are expected to range from 40 km/h to 60 km/h. Kehler says the wind should gradually begin to taper off later in the day on Saturday.

Meanwhile, he does not anticipate the weekend storm will produce blizzard conditions. To meet that criteria, wind speeds of at least 40 km/h are needed for at least four consecutive hours, plus visibility must be reduced to 400 metres or less.

"To get those criteria met I think will be difficult tomorrow just because by the time those winds really pick up the snow will start tapering off," he says.