Extreme cold continues as February goes out with a roar in Manitoba

WINNIPEG – Most of Manitoba is under a wind chill warning Wednesday morning as March prepares to roar into the province.

“I think March 1 will be very close to a record low temperature,” Morning News weather specialist Mike Koncan said Wednesday morning. Sunday’s high is forecast to be -25 C. The normal for this time of year is a high of -6 C.

An Arctic cold front coming into southern Manitoba Wednesday morning will bring extreme wind chills around -40 by late Wednesday afternoon, Environment Canada said. In those conditions, frostbite can occur on exposed skin in less than 10 minutes, the agency warned.

It will be even colder in northern Manitoba, where the wind chill will range from -45 to -55 on Wednesday morning. Wind chills in the north are expected to moderate slightly in the afternoon but drop again overnight.

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In many areas, the wind chill warning is accompanied by a blowing snow advisory. Strong northerly winds and blowing snow will cause reduced visibility on roads and highways, Environment Canada said.

Winnipeg will experience poor visibility particularly on the outskirts and especially along the North Perimeter Highway.

Blowing and heavy drifting snow conditions are expected to be worst in the Red River Valley, Environment Canada warned. Gusts of 70 to 80 kilometres per hour will be possible, which will reduce visibility to less than one kilometre in open areas, the agency said.

The RCMP issued a driving advisory early Wednesday for several Manitoba highways.

Blowing snow and snow-drifted roads are causing poor driving conditions on Highway 5 from the south junction of Highway 10 to the north junction of the Dauphin bypass, on Highway 10 from the north junction of Riding Mountain National Park to the south junction of Highway 5, on Highway 20 in the Ochre River area, on Highway 274 and on Highway 366 from Highway 5 to Highway 10, RCMP warned.

Drivers are warned to use extra caution, reduce their speed and increase the distance between vehicles.

Winnipeg is forecast to reach a high of -16 C Wednesday with the temperature dropping to -21 C in the afternoon. The wind chill was -29 at 6 a.m. but is expected to drop to -41 Wednesday afternoon, Environment Canada said.

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Extreme wind chill warnings have been issued for:

• Winnipeg
• Brandon, Carberry, Treherne
• Portage la Prairie, Headingley, Brunkild, Carman
• Selkirk, Gimli, Stonewall, Woodlands, Eriksdale
• Morden, Winkler, Altona, Emerson, Morris
• Steinbach, St. Adolphe, Dominion City, Vita, Richer
• Killarney, Pilot Mound, Manitou
• Dauphin, Roblin, Winnipegosis
• Dugald, Beausejour, Grand Beach
• Bissett, Nopiming Provincial Park, Pine Falls,
• Whiteshell, Lac Du Bonnet, Pinawa
• Sprague, Northwest Angle Provincial Forest
• Minnedosa, Neepawa, Russell, Riding Mountain National Park
• Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa, Gladstone
• Arborg, Hecla, Fisher River, Gypsumville, Ashern
• Poplar River
• Berens River, Little Grand Rapids, Bloodvein, Atikaki
• Island Lake, Oxford House, Gods Lake
• Brochet
• Tadoule Lake
• Lynn Lake, Leaf Rapids, Pukatawagan
• Thompson, Nelson House, Split Lake
• Gillam
• Shamattawa
• Churchill
• York
• Norway House, Cross Lake, Wabowden (added at 8 a.m.)
• Kenora, Grassy Narrows, Whitedog, Sioux Narrows, Nestor Falls and Morson in Ontario.

A blowing snow warning has been issued for:

• Winnipeg
• Selkirk, Gimli, Stonewall, Woodlands, Eriksdale
• Portage la Prairie, Headingley, Brunkild, Carman
• Dugald, Beausejour, Grand Beach
• Morden, Winkler, Altona, Emerson, Morris
• Steinbach, St. Adolphe, Dominion City, Vita, Richer

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