Friday morning, several highways are closed due to blowing snow advisories. Blizzard warnings were issued in parts of the south. While frigid temperatures grip parts theInterlake, eastern and central Manitoba, frigid conditions prevail.
Blizzard warnings have been issued in south-central Manitoba. They also apply to areas near the Canada-U.S. Border where protesters demonstrated Thursday against pandemic restrictions as well as a federal mandate for truckers to get vaccines.
Environment Canada stated that highway conditions could be dangerous due to reduced visibility.
Drivers should slow down, be aware of tail lights ahead, and be ready to stop. Environment Canada recommends that you stay in your vehicle until conditions improve.
These places are subject to Blizzard Warnings
- Steinbach, St. Adolphe, Emerson, Vita andRicher.
- Morden, Winkler Altona, Morris and Winkler
The morning will bring better conditions, but the following roads are still closed:
- Highway 1, Highway 207 to Highway 11.
- Highway 2, Starbuck to St. Claude
- Highway 3, Sperling to North Junction Highway 34.
- Highway 8, Winnipeg city limits to Highway 67.
- Highway 12, from Highway 1 through North Junction Highway 203.
- Highway 13, Elm Creek to Carman.
- Highway 14, Highway 3 and Highway 75.
- Highway 15, Winnipeg to Anola.
- Highway 23, from Highway 34 up to Highway 75.
- Highway 52, Mitchell to La Broquerie
- Highway 100 (south Perimeter), between Highway 1 East and Highway 1 West.
- Highway 101 (north Perimeter), which runs from Highway 1 West through Highway 1 East.
Highway 75 was closed, but it was reopened shortly before 8:30 a.m. from Winnipeg to the U.S. border.
Highway 6 has reopened from Ashern, St. Laurent. Highway 325 has also reopened from Highway 6 to Highway 8. Highway 6 west has also seen the reopening of Highway 417.
Blowing snow advisories have been issued in Winnipeg and the surrounding area due to wind gusts of 60 to 80 km/h.
Due to reduced visibility, travel is likely to be dangerous.
Environment Canada has stated that while strong winds may ease through Friday morning, expect lower temperatures in southern Manitoba to last week.
Blowing snow advisories, which were in effect earlier Friday for Portage la Prairie Headingley Brunkild Carman, Winnipeg, and Brunkild were lifted before 11:11 a.m.
Advisories forSelkirk, Gimli, Stonewall, Woodlands,Dugald,Beausejour andGrand Beach were ended before 9 a.m.
Cold warnings
Environment Canada also maintained extreme cold warnings Friday in northern Manitoba. They were then extended eastward to the Interlake and central parts.
Temperatures are expected drop to 40 C with wind gusts between 10 and 20 km/hour that may cause wind chills in the 45-55 range.
Although conditions may improve in certain parts of the north, Environment Canada warns that bitterly cold temperatures will persist for most of the weekend in the regions with the highest northern elevations.
The following areas were placed under extreme cold warnings on Friday morning:
- Hecla, Arborg and Fisher River, Gypsumville & Ashern
- Berens River and Little Grand Rapids, Bloodvein, and Atikaki.
- Brochet.
- Gillam.
- Island Lake, Oxford House, Gods Lake
- Lynn Lake, Leaf Rapids &Pukatawagan
- River Poplar
- Shamattawa.
- Tadoule Lake.
- Thompson, Nelson House and Split Lake
Warnings that were in place forChurchill, Grand Rapids,Waterhen,Norway House, Cross Lake,Wabowdenand Yorkended before 11 a.m.
Environment Canada warns that extreme cold conditions can lead to hypothermia and frostbite.
Cold-related symptoms can include muscle pain and weakness as well as chest pain, shortness, chest pain and discolouration in fingers and toes.