Blizzard conditions lead to winter weather warnings for most of Manitoba

Manitoba faced a combination of blizzard, snowfall, blowing snow advisories and extreme cold warnings Tuesday morning as an Alberta clipper swept through the province, Environment Canada says.

The conditions brought blizzard warnings to most of the south, blowing snow advisories to the southeast and snowfall warnings stretching through the Interlake and up along the eastern part of the province. Extreme cold warnings were in effect for the north and northwest.The only areas that were not under some kind of warning included the northeast of the province, as well as Thompson, Flin Flon, The Pas, Swan River and surrounding areas.

The Alberta clipper was forecast to bring snow and winds in the 70 to 90 kilometre an hour range to the south that will make for near-zero visibility in some places, according to Environment Canada. Travel was expected to be hazardous.

The warnings caused the closure of several highways and many school divisions in the south to cancel classes.

The following highways were closed:

Conditions are expected to improve through the day, from west to east, as winds die down.

The blizzard warning was in effect for:

Blowing snow advisories are in effect for:

Snowfall warnings were issued for the following places, where 10 to 15 centimetres of snow are expected before conditions tapering off through the day: