Blizzard warning issued for Winnipeg, parts of southern Manitoba
Blowing snow advisory for much of west, southwestern Manitoba with winds possibly reaching 100 km/h
A sharp change of weather is on tap for southern Manitoba, with many sections likely to be hit by blowing snow and blizzard conditions on Friday.
An Alberta clipper cold front passing through the Red River Valley is expected to bring approximately a centimetre of snow, falling temperatures and strengthened winds, according to Environment Canada.
Winds increasing to 70 km/h with gusts as high as 100 km/h are expected throughout Friday morning, resulting in near-zero visibility due to blowing snow. Travel will be nearly impossible, the weather agency says.
Winds will weaken with visibility improving by Friday night.
Blizzard warnings are issued when widespread reduced visibility of 400 metres or less are expected to last for at least four hours.
The areas affected by the blizzard warning are:
- City of Winnipeg.
- Dugald, Beausejour, Grand Beach.
- Morden, Winkler, Altona, Morris.
- Portage la Prairie, Headingley, Brunkild, Carman.
- Selkirk, Gimli, Stonewall, Woodlands.
- Steinbach, St. Adolphe, Emerson, Vita-Richer.
Poor visibility in blowing snow is also expected Thursday night, along with very strong winds in parts of western and southwestern Manitoba, Environment Canada says.
Northwest winds gusting up to 80 km/h will combine with falling snow to cause poor visibility. Conditions will improve by Friday morning as winds weaken and snow tapers off, according to the national weather agency.
Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations.
The areas affected by the blowing snow advisory are:
- Brandon, Neepawa, Carberry, Treherne.
- Dauphin, Russell, Roblin, Winnipegosis.
- Killarney, Pilot Mound, Manitou.
- Melita, Boissevain, Turtle Mountain Provincial Park.
- Minnedosa, Riding Mountain National Park.
- Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa, Gladstone.
- Virden, Souris.
Elsewhere, the entirety of central Manitoba and parts of the north (The Pas, Flin Flon, Cross Lake, Gods Lake, Oxford House) are under a snowfall warning with 15-20 centimetres expected.
Environment Canada has also issued blizzard warnings for Lake Winnipegosis and the north basin of Lake Winnipeg, where winds on Thursday night could gust up to 90 km/h and 100 km/h, respectively, over those areas.
Visibility will be suddenly reduced to near zero at times in heavy snow and blowing snow.
On Wednesday, Winnipeg saw a high of nearly 3 C at The Forks weather station. The high for Thursday is expected to be –2 C and on Friday it will fall through the day to –15 C.
The daytime highs through the weekend and into early next week are forecast to be between –23 C and – 25 C with overnight lows around –30 C.
The normal for this time of year is a high of –13 C and overnight low of –23 C.