WINNIPEG – It was back to reality Saturday for Manitobans.
After an above-seasonal Friday, the temperature plummeted overnight and between 10 and 15 centimetres of snow was dumped on much of southern Manitoba. Riding Mountain National Park got the worst of it with 19 centimetres.
Many Manitobans woke up to a blowing snow warning and a wind chill warning that lasted for much of Saturday and made the temperature feel more like -30 and colder.
Environment Canada said the snow is done falling but the big concern will be the temperatures. A wind chill warning remains in effect with the temperature expected to dip to -45 overnight in the Red River Valley. The deep freeze is expected to last until at least next Friday with average highs below -20.
The conditions are here because of an Alberta clipper that moved in Friday overnight.
Wind gusts of up to 60 kilometers per hour made for blizzard like conditions Saturday morning.
“We have a low pressure system going through the Dakotas right now and a big high pressure area that’s squeezing up against it, lots of cold air in the north,” said meteorologist Jay Anderson. “When you get them squeezing like that you get a lot of wind and throw in a little snow you get yourself a blizzard or something close to it.”
All of the blowing snow made drifts in open areas, including the Jubilee overpass, where a few drivers offered to lend a helping hand.
Other drivers faced white out conditions both inside and outside the city.
“I don’t recommend highway driving,” said one driver who had driven Highway 6 into the city.
“It was pretty bad on the highway, it was pretty windy,” said another driver.
City plows have already begun clearing main routes and will be working around the clock until the snow is cleared. The declared snow route parking ban begins at midnight instead of 2 a.m. Vehicles found parked on a snow route will receive a $100 ticket and may be towed.
Crews will begin plowing sidewalks at 7 p.m. Saturday. Lane clearing will begin Sunday morning.
“As storms go, this is a bit of a baby,” said Anderson.
For more information on snow clearing, click here.
Comments