Winnipeg Snowfall Totals & Accumulation Averages
This page pulls together information on when, how much and how often Winnipeg, Manitoba has snow.
There are data and descriptions here of how many days it snows and the total amount of snowfall that Winnipeg usually gets. There are also monthly and yearly counts of the days that Winnipeg normally has heavy snowstorms and deep snow accumulated on the ground. Plus there's information on when the city can expect its first and last snowfalls of the season.
All the numbers are long-term historical averages based on weather data gathered from 1981 to 2010 at Winnipeg's Richardson International Airport.
How Often it Snows in Winnipeg
This first table lists monthly and yearly totals for amount of snow and how many days it snows at least 0.2 centimetres (0.08 inches).
| Days | Inches | Centimetres | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12.4 | January | 9.3 | 24 |
| 7.7 | February | 4.9 | 12 |
| 7.4 | March | 6.5 | 16 |
| 2.9 | April | 4.2 | 11 |
| 0.6 | May | 1.0 | 3 |
| 0.1 | September | 0.1 | 0 |
| 2.3 | October | 1.9 | 5 |
| 8.6 | November | 7.8 | 20 |
| 11.5 | December | 9.0 | 23 |
| 53.5 | Year | 44.8 | 114 |
When Winnipeg Has Its First & Last Snowfalls
The first snowfall of winter for Winnipeg usually arrives in October or November, but can show up as early as September.
The season's last snowfall typically happens in April although in some years a late snow lands in May or even June.
Winnipeg is normally free of snow every year during July and August.
How Many Snowstorms Winnipeg Gets
Most days of snowfall in Winnipeg leave less than five centimetres (2 inches) of fresh snow on the ground. For six days a year on average, the amount of new snow totals at least five cm.
Big snowstorms of over ten cm a day normally occur twice a year. Major blizzards that dump 25 cm or more in one day only rarely happen here.
| 5 cm 2.0 inches |
10 cm 3.9 inches |
25 cm 9.8 inches | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| February | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| March | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| April | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| May | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| October | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| November | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| December | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Year | 6.1 | 2.0 | 0.1 |
How Much Snow Normally Accumulates in Winnipeg
For about 128 days, or more than one-third of the year, Winnipeg has at least a centimetre of snow on the ground. In mid-winter the snowpack averages around 18 cm deep.
Generally the snow cover begins to build in November and is deepest during late January and February. By the end of April the snow has usually melted.
| 1 cm 0.4 inches |
5 cm 2.0 inches |
10 cm 3.9 inches |
20 cm 7.9 inches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.0 | 26.9 | January | 22.1 | 7.0 |
| 27.4 | 25.6 | February | 20.8 | 9.9 |
| 21.9 | 15.6 | March | 12.0 | 6.1 |
| 3.8 | 2.5 | April | 2.0 | 1.4 |
| 0.2 | 0.0 | May | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1.2 | 0.4 | October | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| 15.3 | 9.3 | November | 4.3 | 2.0 |
| 27.0 | 20.4 | December | 12.6 | 3.5 |
| 127.8 | 100.7 | Year | 73.7 | 29.8 |
Reference
Environment Canada. Meteorological Service of Canada. Canadian Climate Normals. 1981-2010 Climate Normals & Averages.