THUNDER BAY – WEATHER – Updated – Highway is now open…

Blowing snow across southern Manitoba is causing highway closures. The Trans-Canada Highway from Winnipeg to Portage la Prairie is closed to traffic right now. Motorists traveling both east and west are impacted.

Blowing Snow Advisory

Poor visibility in snow and blowing snow is expected or occurring.

A fast moving Alberta clipper located over North Dakota is bringing snow to portions of Southern Manitoba this morning. Behind the snow, winds are expected to increase out of the northwest as a strong ridge of high pressure quickly builds in behind the clipper system. Sustained winds as high as 50 km/h and gusts up to 70 km/h or stronger will combine with the freshly fallen snow and existing loose snowpack. This will cause widespread reduced visibilities in blowing snow to less than 800 metres at times beginning this morning over western regions and the southern Red River Valley by early Thursday afternoon. Reduced visibilities in blowing snow are also expected over the Manitoba lakes. Winds are expected to diminish this evening over Southern Manitoba.

Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations. Visibility may be significantly and suddenly reduced to near zero.

Highway Closures:

#1 Winnipeg-Portage la Prairie,

#5 from McCreary-Highway #68,

#75 From Morris-U.S. Border