Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Winter blast delays flights, leaves chill
Winnipeggers woke up to a slushy Saturday after the city received its first dump of snow this fall. Bikes covered in white stuff were seen everywhere, including this one on Assiniboine Avenue. (JOE.BRYKSA@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)
MANITOBANS spent much of Saturday dealing with the aftermath of a blast of winter that delayed flights, iced up roads and left an unseasonable windchill in its wake.
The first snowstorm of the season stunned motorists Friday night and on Saturday, police were still reminding drivers to be careful.
"Due to the weather, roadways in and around the city of Winnipeg have become very slippery, specifically overpasses and bridges," Winnipeg police Const. Jason Michalyshen said.
"We are encouraging motorists to drive according to the present conditions."
Dozens of vehicles were involved in collisions around Winnipeg Friday night, but while the driving conditions were still rough Saturday morning, there were no major crashes, police said.
Conditions north and east of the city were worse.
Fisher Branch and Poplar Bay received as much as 30 centimetres of snow overnight Friday, and more white stuff was expected Saturday, Environment Canada meteorologist Rob Paola said.
Meanwhile, flights to and from Winnipeg's airport were delayed for much of the day Saturday after a jet taxied off a runway and became marooned in soft ground on Friday night.
Winnipeg Airports Authority spokeswoman Christine Alongi said the flight crew on United Flight 6648 from Denver missed seeing the blue taxi-direction light because of blowing snow at 10:24 p.m.
"They were taxiing to come to the terminal but because of poor visibility they drove onto the soft surface," Alongi said.
"It took until 3:45 p.m. to remove it. They had to use air bags to prop it up to get it out. All three landing gear (were) stuck."
No one was injured. Passengers and their luggage were taken from the plane to the terminal on a Winnipeg Transit bus, Alongi said.
Because the airport had to shut down a nearby runway, only one runway was open during most of the day Saturday, leading to flight delays ranging from 10 minutes to an hour.
The weather looks to be a bit improved in Winnipeg today. Environment Canada is forecasting a mix of sun and cloud with a 30 per cent chance of flurries in the morning and a chilly high of 3C -- almost 10 degrees colder than normal for this time of year.
-- Staff
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 11, 2009 A3
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