Blizzard closes highways, schools

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/02/2011 (5391 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba has lifted travel restrictions on highways that were closed because of last night’s blizzard.

The TransCanada highway between Winnipeg and Brandon, from Highway 6 to Ashern and  Highway 59 from LaRochelle to Winnipeg are all now open, Manitoba’s Highway Road Conditions website said mid-morning today. Highway 75 from Winnipeg to the U.S. Border was reopened about 5 a.m.

 Authorities still urge travelling with caution.

School divisions that have cancelled classes include Lakeshore, Interlake and Seine River. No Brandon School Division buses will operate outside the city.

The blizzard, with winds gusting up to 60 kilometres an hour, is now tracking east. Anyone driving or flying east should check conditions. This morning Air Canada posted weather alerts in anticipation of a bad storm along the St. Lawrence River to the Gaspe Penninsula in Quebec.

 A fall of 3.5 centimetres of snow was blown by high winds overnight, causing snow drifts and poor visibility. The storm closed several highways and delayed airport traffic overnight.

The good news is that the storm will wane today, according to Environment Canada.

The remainder of the day is expected to be cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of flurries. The wind from the northwest will be 40 km/h, gusting to 60 this morning, but diminishing to 20 km/h this afternoon. The high will be -15 C, with a windchill of -33.

Tonight will be clear with a low of -25.

Saturday will be cloudy, with a 60 per cent chance of flurries in the morning and afternoon, but clearing in the evening. The high will be -16.

Sunday will be sunny, with a high of -15.

Monday will be sunny, with a high of -13.

Tuesday will be sunny, with a high of -6.