Blast of winter triggers blowing snow advisory for part of southern Manitoba: Environment Canada

A blowing snow advisory issued for the City of Winnipeg and parts of southern Manitoba warns that reduced visibility may make for hazardous travel, particularly on Tuesday morning.

Environment Canada issued the advisory just before 4 p.m. Monday, saying it’s expected to last until Tuesday afternoon, with the worst conditions expected Tuesday morning.

The advisory says southern sections of Manitoba’s Interlake and areas through the Red River Valley will experience strong northerly winds as an Alberta clipper system departs the region, bringing a combination of fresh snow and maximum wind gusts of 70 to 80 kilometres per hour.

The advisory may upgrade to a blizzard warning for areas of the Red River Valley if the weather worsens farther than expected, the weather agency says.

Southern sections of Manitoba’s Interlake and through the Red River Valley will experience strong northerly winds as the Alberta Clipper system departs the region, Environment Canada says. (Riley Laychuk/CBC)

Anyone who must travel along regional highways should first check road conditions before they leave and ensure that they have an emergency kit with them, the advisory says.

Visibility in some areas may be “significantly and suddenly reduced to zero,” Environment Canada says, asking people to prepare to adjust their driving or consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.

Anyone going outside is advised to dress in warm layers, stay dry and cover as much exposed skin as possible to thwart frostbite.

Environment Canada says it issues blowing snow advisories when winds are expected to create blowing snow that gives poor visibility to 800 metres or less for about three hours.