The storm began to cross the border Tuesday night and make its way further north, to Winnipeg, Brandon and other communities along the Trans-Canada Highway, in the early hours of the morning.
“The large snow belt over southern Manitoba is currently giving us about five inches of snow per hour,” said CBC Manitoba meteorologist John Sauder.
“I’m not saying this will last for two days. That would be bad. But we’ll see these heavy snow zones continue to pass, so just shut up and stay safe and stay off the freeways if you can.”
The snow has hit the highest altitudes in western Manitoba much harder. Around Riding Mountain and Turtle Mountain, forecast models suggested that the amounts could reach 80 cm or more by the end of the storm.
A pair of Canadian Geese in downtown Winnipeg look a little confused about winter comeback on Wednesday. (Trevor Brine / CBC)
“Visibility is zero. The snow is falling sideways from the wind,” said Deb Bauche, who lives just north of the International Peace Garden on the Canada-US border southwest of Winnipeg, near Turtle Mountain Provincial Park.
“It’s hard to say how much snow we had. I would say at least one foot, but we have places where there are drifts of two or three feet,” he said.
“I left my big dog out this morning, he weighs 130 pounds, and he had nowhere to go. He came back in a panic and came back. It’s bad.”
The snow, at times strong, is expected to continue throughout the day, with northeast winds that at intervals reach 70 km / h. Travel will become increasingly difficult as the day progresses, Environment Canada said in a warning to the region.
RCMP is ready to close highways when needed. So far the list is:
Trans-Canada Highway from Headingley (just west of Winnipeg) to the Saskatchewan border. Freeway 75 from Morris to the U.S. border. South Perimeter Highway in Winnipeg. Sections of highways 3, 6, 7, 13, 14 and 23.
In a press release Tuesday night, the RCMP said it was preparing to close all major highways in the province around midnight or whenever it started to snow. The slower progress of the storm delayed that somehow early extended closures were not required. Tara Liske with Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure urges people not to travel unless necessary – and to check the highway conditions website of the province If it is. “We have all our crews cleaning the streets where they are open, so it is a blanket in the southwestern and southeastern parts of the province,” he said. Transport staff are working with the RCMP to provide updates and, as conditions change, there is a potential for more road closures, Liske said. The system will continue to monitor north in the Interlake area of Manitoba throughout the day. The Colorado low is expected to stop over Minnesota, keeping Manitoba in the crosshairs until Friday. For the Red River Valley, including Winnipeg and southeastern Manitoba, most of the snow is now expected to fall today, Environment Canada said. It will continue until Thursday, but with smaller amounts expected, then it will decrease on Friday. Total snowfall until the storm subsides is expected to range from 30-40 cm in and around Winnipeg, 40-60 cm for the western Red River Valley, including Portage La Prairie and Morden, and 20-40 cm for eastern Red River Valley and southeastern Manitoba, Environment Canada said. Areas west of Winnipeg are expected to experience snowstorm conditions as the storm intensifies. Nearly zero visibility is possible in most of western Manitoba until this afternoon. The blizzard will persist overnight and subside somewhat on Thursday, but snow and sleet will still be a problem, according to the Environment Canada forecast. The total snowfall will range from 25-50 cm, but with these higher amounts over Riding Mountain and Turtle Mountain. The meteorological service previously reported that the amounts at these higher altitudes could reach 80 cm.
title: “Sideways Snow Slams Into Manitoba With Strong Winds From Storm System " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-04” author: “Richard Lawver”
The storm began to cross the border Tuesday night and make its way further north, to Winnipeg, Brandon and other communities along the Trans-Canada Highway, in the early hours of the morning.
“The large snow belt over southern Manitoba is currently giving us about five inches of snow per hour,” said CBC Manitoba meteorologist John Sauder.
“I’m not saying this will last for two days. That would be bad. But we’ll see these heavy snow zones continue to pass, so just shut up and stay safe and stay off the freeways if you can.”
The snow has hit the highest altitudes in western Manitoba much harder. Around Riding Mountain and Turtle Mountain, forecast models suggested that the amounts could reach 80 cm or more by the end of the storm.
When the weather suddenly reverses, the scooters are abandoned. (Jeff Stapleton / CBC)
“Visibility is zero. The snow is falling sideways from the wind,” said Deb Bauche, who lives just north of the International Peace Garden on the Canada-US border southwest of Winnipeg, near Turtle Mountain Provincial Park.
“It’s hard to say how much snow we had. I would say at least one foot, but we have places where there are drifts of two or three feet,” he said.
“I left my big dog out this morning, he weighs 130 pounds, and he had nowhere to go. He came back in a panic and came back. It’s bad.”
The snow, at times strong, is expected to continue throughout the day, with northeast winds that at intervals reach 70 km / h.
Travel will become increasingly difficult as the day progresses, Environment Canada said in a warning to the region.
Road conditions are a bit difficult in Winnipeg right now. This truck hit a traffic light while trying to stop on the ring road on St. Anne’s. (Cameron MacIntosh / CBC)
RCMP is ready to close highways when needed. So far the list is:
Trans-Canada Highway from Headingley (just west of Winnipeg) to the Saskatchewan border. Highway 75 from Winnipeg to the US border. South Perimeter Highway in Winnipeg. Highway 5 from the U.S. border to Trans-Canada. Highway 10 from the U.S. border to Trans-Canada. Sections of highways 2, 3, 6, 7, 13, 14, 26, 18 and 23.
In a press release Tuesday night, the RCMP said it was preparing to close all major highways in the province around midnight or whenever it started to snow. The slower progress of the storm delayed that somehow early extended closures were not required.
The Trans-Canada Motorway is closed from Headingley, just west of Winnipeg, to the Saskatchewan border. (Riley Laychuk / CBC)
Tara Liske with Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure urges people not to travel unless necessary – and to check the highway conditions website of the province If it is.
“We have all our crews cleaning the streets where they are open, so it is a blanket in the southwestern and southeastern parts of the province,” he said.
Transport staff are working with the RCMP to provide updates and, as conditions change, there is a potential for more road closures, Liske said.
The system will continue to monitor north in the Interlake area of Manitoba throughout the day. The Colorado low is expected to stop over Minnesota, keeping Manitoba in the crosshairs until Friday.
For the Red River Valley, including Winnipeg and southeastern Manitoba, most of the snow is now expected to fall today, Environment Canada said.
It will continue until Thursday, but with smaller amounts expected, then it will decrease on Friday.
Total snowfall until the storm subsides is expected to range from 30-40 cm in and around Winnipeg, 40-60 cm for the western Red River Valley, including Portage La Prairie and Morden, and 20-40 cm for eastern Red River Valley and southeastern Manitoba, Environment Canada said.
Areas west of Winnipeg are expected to experience snowstorm conditions as the storm intensifies. Nearly zero visibility is possible in most of western Manitoba until this afternoon.
The blizzard will persist overnight and subside somewhat on Thursday, but snow and sleet will still be a problem, according to the Environment Canada forecast.
The total snowfall will range from 25-50 cm, but with these higher amounts over Riding Mountain and Turtle Mountain.
The meteorological service previously reported that the amounts at these higher altitudes could reach 80 cm.
