WINNIPEG – All of southern Manitoba is under weather warnings and driving conditions are deteriorating on highways as a winter storm sweeps into the province ahead of another blast of Arctic air.
Travellers are facing poor or even zero visibility as the snow socks in.
The worst of the storm will hit Morden, Winkler, Altona, Emerson, Morris, Steinbach, St. Adolphe, Dominion City, Vita and Richer, which are under blizzard warnings from Environment Canada.
A winter storm warning has been issued for Winnipeg. Brandon, Melita, Killarney, Virden and surrounding areas were added to that warning on Friday morning. Sprague was added to a snowfall warning at about 11:20 a.m.
The provincial road report showed fair to poor visibility due to blowing snow on many highways in southern Manitoba, particularly in the northern Red River Valley, including Winnipeg, at 10:30 a.m. Check conditions on Winnipeg roads on the Global traffic page.
A low pressure system moving into Manitoba from southern Saskatchewan is bringing snow and blowing snow to the region, the warning from Environment Canada says.
Highway 45 from Rossburn to Highway 10 closed Friday afternoon due to poor visibility and driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall is expected along a line stretching from Russell to Selkirk to Whiteshell Provincial Park, with a total of 10 to 15 centimetres of snow falling beginning Friday morning and ending Friday evening.
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After the low-pressure system and the associated snowfall passes by, the winds will shift to the north, gusting at 60 to 70 kilometres per hour, causing poor visibility, Environment Canada said.
The winds will likely be strongest in the Red River Valley, with areas close to the U.S. border likely experiencing the worst of it. Visibility is expected to be near zero at times Friday evening, Environment Canada said.
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Winnipeg and the Manitoba lakes area also have reduced visibility and blowing snow, but not as intense as required for a blizzard warning.
As the winds diminish through the night, Arctic air will again sweep into southern Manitoba.
The forecast high for Winnipeg for Friday is -10 C but the high will drop to -23 C on Saturday and -26 C on Sunday. The wind chill is forecast to be -38 on Saturday.
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Flights through Winnipeg’s Richardson International Airport were delayed with a United Airlines flight from Chicago cancelled. Travellers are advised to check their flight status before leaving home.
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The blizzard warning is in effect for:
- Morden, Winkler, Altona, Emerson, Morris
- Steinbach, St. Adolphe, Dominion City, Vita, Richer
The winter storm warning is in effect for:
- Winnipeg
- Brandon, Carberry, Treherne
- Melita, Boissevain, Turtle Mountain Provincial Park
- Killarney, Pilot Mound, Manitou
- Virden, Souris
- Selkirk, Gimli, Stonewall, Woodlands, Eriksdale
- Portage la Prairie, Headingley, Brunkild, Carman
- Dugald, Beausejour, Grand Beach
The snowfall warning is in effect for:
- Sprague, Northwest Angle Provincial Forest
- Bissett, Nopiming Provincial Park, Pine Falls
- Whiteshell, Lac Du Bonnet, Pinawa
- Arborg, Hecla, Fisher River, Gypsumville, Ashern
- Dauphin, Roblin, Winnipegosis
- Minnedosa, Neepawa, Russell, Riding Mountain National Park
- Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa, Gladstone
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