Winter storm warnings predicting a heavy accumulation of snow remain in effect in parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, though conditions are expected to improve by Monday morning.

Environment Canada predicts that the "Colorado low" system, responsible for dropping a significant amount of snow over the two Prairie Provinces this weekend, will peter off overnight.

Those blustery conditions, however, are now expected to move east into Northern Ontario.

Freezing rain and snow has already started to fall in the Big Trout Lake area, about 580 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, and the agency predicts the weather will spread north towards Fort Severn First Nation.

"The snow will be heavy at times. Additionally, strong winds may result in occasional blowing snow in exposed areas," Environment Canada said in a bulletin issued early Sunday morning.

As a result, Northern Ontario is expected to receive between 15 and 25 centimetres of snow.

Motorists, especially those in the Lake of the Woods region, have been asked to exercise caution as freezing rain is expected to fall in several parts of the region on Sunday. Between five and 10 millimetres of ice accumulation is expected in some areas, Environment Canada said.

Freezing rain warnings are also in effect for parts of southern Quebec, north of the Outaouais area.

Environment Canada predicts northwestern Quebec will bear the brunt of the freezing rain, but areas near the St. Lawrence River could also experience the wintery weather conditions as well.

 The Colorado low systemforecasters say is responsible for the inclement weather began in the American Rocky Mountain state of Montana. It moved across North and South Dakota before setting its sights on Western Canada.

Ten to 30 centimetres of snow fell in southern Saskatchewan as the system made its presence known. An additional two to five centimetres of snow is expected to fall before the low moves on.

In Winnipeg, where residents were expected to receive the worst of the early winter weather, dozens of snow plows and salt trucks were on standby Saturday. Police and firefighters were also on high alert.

Icy road conditions were blamed for a number of collisions on Saturday, including a two-car accident and another incident that ended with a semi-trailer truck rolling into a ditch.

Areas throughout Manitoba were poised to receive between 10 and 20 centimetres of snow before Sunday morning, when conditions were expected to taper off.

Despite the weather warnings, one Winnipegger who spent much of Saturday shovelling snow said he was underwhelmed by the amount of snow the area received.

"I thought there would be more, but it kind of eased off," he said.

With a report from CTV Winnipeg's Rajeev Dhir