Highway 1 on either side of Winnipeg, as well as Perimeter, closed because of blowing snow
Environment Canada lifted blowing snow advisory, but highways around Winnipeg closed, some schools closed
Drivers in southern Manitoba may be impacted by blowing snow, while people in the north will need to dig out after another dump of snow.
Environment Canada issued a blowing snow advisory for a part of south-central Manitoba earlier Tuesday because there was the potential for reduced visibility.
That advisory was lifted by 7:30 p.m., but at that point, Highway 1, from Elie to Winnipeg was closed in both directions due to poor winter driving conditions.
Later in the evening, the north and south Perimeter highways were also closed between Provincial Trunk Highway 1 and Highway 15 due to poor driving conditions.
At about 11:30 p.m., the Highway 1 closure was extended to the stretch east of Winnipeg, from the Perimeter to Hadashville.
The Prairie Spirit School Division announced schools will be closed Wednesday in the areas of Cartwright, Baldur, Swan Lake, Somerset, Bruxelles, Holland, Treherne, Pilot Mound, Crystal City and Manitou due to poor road conditions. No buses will run that day.
Environment Canada said strong southerly winds gusting to 70 km/h combined with newly fallen snow had the potential to cause poor visibility on Tuesday evening in the areas of Morden, Winkler, Altona, Morris, Killarney, Pilot Mound and Manitou.
Travel was expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations, Environment Canada said, and cautioned that visibility could be significantly and suddenly reduced to near zero.
Environment Canada said the winds shifted to a more westerly direction, prompting them to lift the advisory.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rcmpmb?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rcmpmb</a> would like to remind motorists that if you don’t need to be driving tonight, please stay home as visibility in open areas is near zero due to the high winds. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MBHwy1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MBHwy1</a> from Wpg to Elie is now closed in both directions. If you need to be out there, please drive w/ caution.
—@rcmpmbIn the north, a low pressure system is continuing to dump snow, and 10 to 20 centimetres more are expected Tuesday night before tapering off on Wednesday.
Travel could also be impacted, and drivers are asked to prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating conditions.
The following areas are under a snowfall warning:
- Flin Flon, Cranberry Portage and Snow Lake.
- Gillam.
- Island Lake, Oxford House and Gods Lake.
- Lynn Lake, Leaf Rapids and Pukatawagan.
- Norway House, Cross Lake and Wabowden.
- Shamattawa.
- Thompson, Nelson House and Split Lake.