Up to 35 cm of snow expected as blizzard warnings issued for southwestern Manitoba: Environment Canada

March 2, 2024 Canuck

Blizzard warnings are in effect for areas in southwestern Manitoba, as a low-pressure system from the U.S. continues to push its way north.

Environment Canada says up to 80 kilometre per hour winds are expected to hit parts of the province. Southern areas could see 25 to 35 centimetres of snowfall overnight Saturday and into Sunday evening.

The system will continue moving northeast into Monday, the weather agency said in updated alerts on Saturday.

As of Saturday afternoon, blizzard warnings were in effect for the entire southwestern corner of the province:

Brandon, Neepawa, Carberry and Treherne.
Dauphin, Russell, Roblin and Winnipegosis.
Killarney, Pilot Mound and Manitou.
Melita, Boissevain and Turtle Mountain Provincial Park.
Minnedosa and Riding Mountain National Park.
Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa and Gladstone.
Virden and Souris.

A map of Manitoba shows what areas of the province are under weather warnings, watches or special statments. — Areas of the province under special weather statements, blizzard warnings, winter storm warnings or winter storm watches as of Saturday afternoon. (Riley Laychuk/CBC)

Meanwhile, winter storm warnings were in effect for some areas further east:

Portage la Prairie, Headingley, Brunkild and Carman.
Selkirk, Gimli, Stonewall and Woodlands.

And winter storm watches were in effect for:

Arborg, Hecla, Fisher River, Gypsumville and Ashern.
Berens River, Little Grand Rapids, Bloodvein and Atikaki.
Bissett, Victoria Beach, Nopiming Provincial Park and Pine Falls.
Grand Rapids and Waterhen.
Poplar River.
Swan River, Duck Mountain and Porcupine Provincial Forest.

Environment Canada is recommending postponing non-essential travel in areas under the warnings and watches until conditions improve.

WATCH | Forecast models for Saturday through Sunday:

Parts of Manitoba expecting blizzard conditions as snow, wind move into the province

3 hours ago

Duration 0:20

Forecast models show snow moving into southern Manitoba on Saturday evening and continuing though Sunday. Western Manitoba can expect wind gusts up to 80 km/h at times.

In addition, special weather statements were in effect for southeastern areas of the province:

Winnipeg.
Dugald, Beausejour and Grand Beach.
Morden, Winkler, Altona and Morris.
Sprague and Northwest Angle Provincial Forest.
Steinbach, St. Adolphe, Emerson, Vita and Richer.
Whiteshell, Lac du Bonnet and Pinawa.

Those places could see two to five centimetres of snow Saturday night with blowing snow gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour, Environment Canada says. There is also a risk of freezing rain into Sunday morning.

Five to 10 millimetres of rainfall is expected in the southern-most areas of Manitoba, with precipitation turning into snow Sunday evening, possibly bringing another four to eight centimetres.

The storm is expected to move out of the region on Monday.