Blizzard closes Brandon businesses, schools

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This article was published 05/03/2024 (607 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON — An overnight blizzard left 29 centimetres of snow on the ground in Brandon, closing businesses and schools Monday morning.

The snowfall set the record for the biggest dump this winter, which has been unseasonably warm and dry otherwise.

“The western area, southwest parklands, were the areas that were the most hit,” meteorologist Natalie Hazel said. “We could see under clear skies, even though winds are becoming light, temperatures are going to be cold again at -25 and wind chill at probably somewhere around -33 to -35. Not extreme wind chill, but this is still a high risk of frostbite and people will have to pay attention to that.”

Westman school divisions, restaurants, businesses and offices issued public notices of closures and calls for snow removal assistance flooded the local social media page. The courthouse and Brandon University closed for the day, and the Brandon Regional Health Centre navigated a shortage of staff after many workers couldn’t make it in for their shifts.

“The snowstorm and blizzard conditions over the past 24 hours have had an impact across the region, with significant numbers of staff not being able to report to work today,” an emailed statement from Prairie Mountain Health CEO Brian Schoonbaert stated. “Staff have worked together and worked overtime to ensure patient care has not been compromised.”

Emergency departments in rural hospitals closed temporarily due to the weather conditions, the statement also said.

Canada Post suspended mail delivery in Brandon, Dauphin and Portage la Prairie for the day, deciding not to send delivery people out due to the weather conditions.

The snowstorm was caused by a low-pressure system from Montana, and Hazel said weather in the Wheat City will continue to be affected by the system for the next few days. While the strong winds and the blowing snow will lessen slightly, temperatures will be continue to be chilly.

Much of the snow that restricted travel Monday morning will have passed, Hazel said, adding the light snow in the forecast for today should not accumulate significantly.

— Brandon Sun