Another Alberta clipper hits Winnipeg

Another winter storm has hit southern Manitoba, closing some schools and hampering visibility on the roads a day after a blizzard hammered the area.

Environment Canada warnd of poor visibility and blowing snow Friday, with another five to eight centimetres predicted for Winnipeg and parts of the province. Ten to 15 cm of snow fell in and around the city Thursday.

Friday’s winter weather was not as bad as the Thursday blizzard, Environment Canada meteorologist Terri Lang said that morning, but travel might be hazardous and road closures are possible.

“Yet another Alberta clipper (is coming). This one is not as strong as the one that just went through, not as much snow associated with it, and not as strong winds as well, but still enough snow coming in, and also some snow left over from the last system to blow around quite a bit,” she said of what to expect Friday.

Lang said peak winds were expected to arrive by mid-afternoon, with gusts of about 60 kilometres an hour.

“Generally, with the blowing snow, the rule of thumb that we use is that if it’s below 50 km/h, the snow tends to drift as opposed to getting aloft and reducing visibility,” she said.

“Anything above 50, usually, that’s when it really starts blowing around, and out in the country, really reducing those visibilities.”

Environment Canada wants people to be aware of the forecast before driving, Lang said.

“We’re coming into the Christmas travel season, and we just want people to be informed of what’s going on so they can make informed decisions about when they travel and how they travel,” she said.

Lang said colder temperatures are expected to come in as the Alberta clipper rolls out.

She advised all drivers to dress for the weather and ensure they have an emergency kit and extra warm clothes in their vehicle.

Multiple highways in rural Manitoba were closed Friday. Go to manitoba511.ca for more information.

Some schools in Winnipeg are closed Friday. Seine River School Division has closed all of its schools, including four in the St. Norbert area of Winnipeg.

Division scolaire franco-manitobaine closed a majority of its rural schools Friday. Only three of its rural schools are open, but there is no bus service to those three, nor to École Noël-Ritchot in St. Norbert.

Classes have been cancelled at other rural school divisions, including:

• Border Land
• Fort La Bosse
• Garden Valley
• Hanover School Division
• Interlake
• Lakeshore
• Lord Selkirk
• Prairie Rose
• Red River Valley
• Southwest Horizon
• Sunrise
• Turtle Mountain
• Western

Other school divisions are moving forward with classes, but buses are not running:

• Beautiful Plains
• Seven Oaks

Buses in the Brandon School Division are not operating outside of the city. Alexander, O’Kelly and Spring Valley schools have cancelled classes but all other schools are open.

Operation Red Nose Winnipeg has suspended its ride service for Friday night and early Saturday because of the weather and previous snowfall.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca