The Portage la Prairie area isn't in the crosshairs of a winter storm tracking towards Manitoba Easter weekend. But Environment Canada says southern Manitoba will still see effects of the low-pressure system.

Meteorologist Natalie Hasell says central Manitoba and parts of northern Manitoba will take the brunt of the winter storm system moving across the Prairies. It will arrive in Manitoba sometime overnight Thursday. The system will initially bring warmth to the Portage area with a forecast high of 20 C on Good Friday, but also precipitation and a chance of thunderstorms.

"The trigger for these thunderstorms is directly associated with this low," Hasell says. "And we'll also see stronger winds. Not especially strong, not warning criteria, but stronger than we're seeing right now."

As the system moves further north Saturday, trailing winds will drop temperatures. That could bring an Easter Sunday snowfall of up to five centimetres to Portage, Hasell says. She also reminds holiday travellers with the sharp temperature drop expected Saturday, all wet precipitation Friday and early Saturday could freeze and create challenging road conditions.

Temperatures will drop to as low as -9 C Saturday overnight, with a chilly High of -3 C forecast for Easter Sunday, before returning to seasonal norms early next week.