Boxing Day blizzard brings southern Manitoba to near standstill

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This article was published 26/12/2016 (3234 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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People are being urged to stay off the roads, large segments of the Trans-Canada Highway and other roads were closed and several flights at the airport are cancelled or delayed this afternoon due to the massive Boxing Day storm.

Early Monday morning, Environment Canada issued a winter storm warning in Winnipeg and blizzard warnings in parts of southern Manitoba. Winnipeg’s warnings were lifted just before 3 p.m.

The Trans-Canada Highway from the Saskatchewan border to Headingley was closed most of the day, but was reopened about 5:30 p.m., according to a notice from the RCMP, which noted that reduced visibility is still a problem on numerous provincial highways. 

The storm caused the delay of several flights at the Richardson International Airport, but Tyler MacAfee, Winnipeg Airports Authority spokesman, figures that flight traffic should be “back to normal by late afternoon.”

Earlier today, MacAfee said he advises airline passengers to monitor the airport website, waa.ca, or to check with individual airlines to get updated flight information.

“We plan for every kind of scenario, so winter storms are not something unexpected in Winnipeg,” he said.

Winds are expected to gust between 40 and 60 km/h, and the total expected snowfall is within the 15-30 centimetre range, with some areas potentially getting closer to 50.

The wind and snow together will seriously impact visibility on the road until the storm subsides, so Environment Canada is telling Manitobans to postpone all non-essential travel until conditions improve.

Since Sunday night, several roads and highways around Manitoba have been shut down and border crossing to the U.S. is now closed according to Canada Border Services Agency.

Major highways closed

As of 6:30 a.m., all of the Trans-Canada was closed between Saskatchewan and the Ontario-Manitoba border, and Highway 75 closed from Winnipeg to the U.S. border. 

Public Safety Canada is encouraging anyone travelling to have an emergency kit containing drinking water, food, medicine, a first-aid kit and a flashlight in their vehicle.

Power outage in St. Norbert

At about 6:15, snow removal equipment knocked down a transformer pole in the St. Norbert area, causing 1,661 customers to lose power. Area residents started seeing their power return just before 1 p.m.

Winnipeg Transit tweeted that they are experiencing delays and recommend extra travel time for those relying on public transit during the blizzard.

The City also tweeted that Handi-Transit clients, excluding those who are going to dialysis appointments, are being asked to cancel all travel by calling 204-986-5711.