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A snowfall warning that was in place for most of northern Manitoba has intensified into a blizzard warning, while freezing rain warning stretched across central regions.
The Thursday blizzard warning for northern regions from Environment and Climate Change Canada says gusty winds of 70-80 km/h and blowing snow will create long-lasting conditions of near-zero visibility. By the time the system moves out Saturday, total snowfall amounts are expected to be around 30-50 centimetres.
That warning area stretches from Thicket Portage, about 50 kilometres south of Thompson, north to the Nunavut border. It includes the city of Thompson, where La Voie du Nord school is closed for Thursday.
Churchill and the area around Hudson Bay were not under any warnings as of late Thursday morning.
Hazardous conditions are also expected in parts of west-central Manitoba, which remains under a winter storm warning. About five to 10 millimetres of freezing rain is expected to fall, followed by 15 centimetres of snow.
That system hitting Thursday is expected to last through to Saturday, Environment Canada forecast. The impacted area includes Flin Flon, Cranberry Portage, Sherridon and Snow Lake.
Yet another warning, for freezing rain, stretches across central Manitoba from The Pas through Gods Lake to the Ontario border.
Freezing rain, heavy at times, is expected to fall through the day into Thursday evening, Environment Canada says. Amounts could exceed five millimetres.
In Flin Flon, much of the city has closed for the day, including all area schools. It wasn’t determined as of late Thursday morning if they will reopen Friday, but school bus service has already been suspended for both Thursday and Friday.
It wasn’t snow causing issues in Flin Flon, but freezing rain and ice pellets that pelted the city, accompanied by fierce winds and thunderstorms early Thursday.
Roads were being plowed, but were quickly covered again with ice pellets quickly, leaving some drivers getting stuck on slippery streets.
Manitoba 511 listed most northern highways as either “covered” or “partly covered” as of late Thursday morning. Snowplows are on patrol around those northern thoroughfares.
Up to 50 centimetres of snow is expected in parts of northern Manitoba by the weekend. There is a risk of scattered showers or isolated thunderstorms across the south.
