Clem Kaley was shoveling snow on his sidewalk in Winnipeg for an hour on Wednesday. He said he had another hour ahead of him and intends to do it again on Thursday. “It’s crazy, but this is Winnipeg for you,” Mr Culley laughed. The capital, Manitoba, was flooded with snow on Wednesday, and gusts of wind made the sight – and the shovel – a huge challenge in a city that is well accustomed to winter weather, even when it rains in April. Much of southern and central Manitoba remains under storm warning, according to Environment Canada, with gusts of up to 70 kilometers per hour expected to accumulate between 30 and 50 centimeters of snow. While the temperature in Winnipeg on Wednesday afternoon was not very cold – it was around 0 C – most people found it difficult to make their way around the city if they decided to face the storm. But not Ryan Wat. He took a leisurely walk with his team of resources, where people can go to check the job boards and look for work. Even in a blizzard, he drank an iced coffee, taking slow steps. He said he enjoyed the weather, but others? Not so much. “I’m sorry for this woman,” Mr Watt said as he pointed to a woman, maneuvering somehow through the deep snow on the opposite sidewalk, dragging a large cart behind her. “It makes me sad, but what can you do?” Other people come together to help each other during a “historic” storm. Some elderly, vulnerable people and those whose health has been endangered have been relocated from some communities in Winnipeg, said Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, of the Southern Leaders’ Organizations. It is a precautionary measure in case of power outages, leaving these people at home without the resources they need. Mr Daniels said most communities were fully prepared for the several days of winter forecast. “They were really equipped to prepare for it,” he said. Manitoba Hydro said it was still watching for icy rain and strong winds that could damage power lines, especially in rural areas. As of Wednesday afternoon, there were 13 local vacations affecting more than 900 customers. RCMP Sergeant Paul Manaigre said most highways in southern Manitoba are either closed or about to close. He said it was certain there would be people off the highways who were in danger of ending up in the ditch and it would be difficult for emergency services to reach them, especially as the weather is expected to worsen and intensify by the end of Friday. He said the safety of first responders is also important. “If you do not have to be outside to answer the calls of the blocked drivers, this is the bonus here. “We want to keep these people safe,” said Sgt. Manaigre, head of media relations. He urged people who need to be out on the road to make sure they have the right equipment for safety and security. But “I hope people stay home,” he said. The provincial government has urged all Manitobans not to travel. Many businesses and organizations remain closed and all Winnipeg metro schools and in-school childcare centers are closed for the rest of the week in anticipation of the blizzard. While the storm was expected to subside a little later on Wednesday, it was expected to intensify again during the night. The Morning and Afternoon Newsletters are compiled by Globe editors, giving you a brief overview of the day’s most important headlines. Register today.
