
Blizzard warnings issued in Manitoba as high winds, snow arrive
Blizzard conditions may make travel ‘impossible’ across parts of southern Manitoba into Friday
Dangerous to nearly ‘impossible’ travel is likely across southern Manitoba into the day Friday as forecasters issued a blizzard warning across the region. This blizzard warning includes the city of Winnipeg.
Powerful wind gusts could potentially reach 100 km/h at times, which may cause travel conditions to deteriorate with the combination of blowing snow.
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“Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions,” Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said in its blizzard warning for Winnipeg. The agency added: “Protect yourself from wind, cold and disorientation by staying sheltered, indoors or with your vehicle. If you become stranded in a vehicle do not leave.”
A temperature rollercoaster continues on the Prairies, but frigid Arctic air will soon dominate during the second half of January. Conditions will turn dangerously cold on the backend of this clipper system, and by this weekend will rival some of the coldest of the season so far.
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Dangerous travel as powerful winds and snow picks up
A cold front screaming across the Prairies will kick up gusty winds and bursts of snow as it treks through the region into the day Friday.
Travel will be nearly impossible at times across southern Manitoba by Friday morning, as the combination of high winds and heavy snow will reduce visibility to nearly zero at times.

Widespread wind gusts of 60-70 km/h are expected across the region, with gusts potentially reaching as high as 100 km/h downwind from Lake Winnipeg and Lake Winnipegosis.
This is more of a visibility hazard than an accumulation hazard for the immediate Winnipeg area. While several centimetres of snow will fall around the city proper, a swath of 10-20 cm of snow is in the forecast farther north toward the Interlake region into Friday morning. Beware slick travel along the Trans-Canada and Yellowhead Highways.

"Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility," ECCC warns.
Dangerously cold temperatures settle in
Cold temperatures that will rival some of the coldest of the season will then move in for the weekend, as Arctic air plunges south, and spreads east across the region.

Severe and dangerously cold conditions are expected, with temperatures as much as 10 to 20°C colder than seasonal through early next week.
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Much milder Pacific air will spread east at times during the final days of January, but reinforcing shots of Arctic air will keep the milder periods brief.