Powerful winter storm wallops 4 provinces, leading to major travel disruptions
Blowing winds created near-zero visibility Wednesday into Thursday.
A treacherous winter storm moving across four provinces — Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and northern Ontario — have shut down schools and highways, caused power outages, and led to widespread disruptions.
An Alberta Clipper, boasting wind gusts up to 90 kilometres per hour, churned up snow, creating near-zero visibility from Wednesday into Thursday with up to 20 cm accumulation expected in some places.
The storm began on Wednesday in Alberta, moving east through Thursday.
In Manitoba, garbage collection was cancelled on Thursday, parts of the Trans-Canada Highway are closed, and all school divisions are closed across Winnipeg, in a rare move.
Another rare move: All highways in and out of Winnipeg are closed Thursday, and The University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg, and Booth University College, all within the city, have closed for the day, postponing exams. Power outages were reported in Manitoba Thursday morning as the storm roared through.
Clipper began causing chaos on Wednesday
On Wednesday afternoon, the conditions caused an 80 to 100 car pileup between Airdrie and Calgary, Alberta in both directions, forcing the roadway to be shut down.
Parts of Saskatchewan also saw blowing snow and blizzard-like conditions on Wednesday.
"Overnight footage from Rosetown, Saskatchewan shows heavy snow and strong winds persisting, with 25 cm of accumulation and snow drifts reaching 85 cm in height," storm chaser and journalist Braydon Morisseau told The Weather Network in an email.
"These drifts have piled against vehicles and buildings, making several roads completely impassable and trapping motorists throughout the town."
Here’s a look at the conditions, in photos.
Alberta
Saskatchewan
The following four images show heavy snow in Rosetown, Saskatchewan the evening of December 17, 2025, courtsey of Braydon Morrisseau.
(Braydon Morrisseau)
(Braydon Morrisseau)
(Braydon Morrisseau)
(Braydon Morrisseau)
(Braydon Morrisseau)
Manitoba
Blizzard conditions in Winnipeg on Thursday. (ChrisD.ca)
Highways in and out of Winnipeg were closed Thursday. (ChrisD.ca)
Blowing snow reduced visibility in Winnipeg Thursday. (ChrisD.ca)
Drivers were advised to avoid unnecessary travel. (ChrisD.ca)