Winter has set its sights on the southern Prairies -- parts of which will be getting snow for the first time this year.

A storm system is edging into the area Monday evening, and likely bring snow or a rain/snow mix through Wednesday.

"The highest snowfall amounts will likely be in southern Alberta -- Calgary to Lethbridge, and west towards the foothills -- an area that hasn’t seen more than a few centimetres yet this season," says Gina Ressler, a meteorologist at The Weather Network.

Snowfall warnings were already in effect early Monday morning for southern Alberta, including the cities of Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, with Calgary added by the late morning local time. Current models indicate that city could see as much as 20 cm of snow by Tuesday morning.

At the same time, visibility on the roads may be reduced because of blowing snow. Gusts are expected to reach over 50 km/h in the region.

"The Tuesday morning commute may be especially difficult for Calgarians, with the potential for heavy snow, gusty winds, and low visibility," says Ressler.

Further east, a rain/snow mix is also expected for parts of southern Saskatchewan.

Current models indicate that a rain/snow mix will start infiltrating the southern region Monday. By the evening hours, when temperatures begin to dip, snow will likely dominate.

As much as 17 cm of snowfall can fall in the hardest hit regions by Wednesday. By late morning, most of central Saskatchewan, including the city of Saskatoon, was under a snowfall warning.

Be sure to tune into The Weather Network for our Storm Watch coverage and your local forecasts, and visit our Alerts page for watches and warnings.