Snowfall, storm warnings remain in effect for southeastern Manitoba

Heavy snow blanketed much of the southern half of Manitoba as Environment Canada issued a mix of snowfall and winter storm warnings for Tuesday morning.

About 10 to 15 centimetres of snow was expected to fall in western and central Manitoba, with the exception of the province's southwestern corner. Similar snowfall amounts are expected in the Interlake and Manitoba's south and southeast, and as far north as The Pas and the surrounding areas, the weather agency said.

Communities in the Parkland Region could see more like 20 centimetres, Environment Canada said.

The closures led several school divisions to close to in-class learning on Tuesday.

By noon, as much as12 centimetres of snow had been reported in some parts of Winnipeg, according to CBC meteorologist John Sauder, but a last blast of snow in the afternoon was likely to bring that upa few centimetres.

"The bigger story is the wind, as the centre of the low pressure passes to the east and the cold front swings through," Sauder said in his latest weather journal.

Gusts ashigh as 70 or 80 kilometres per hour were expected, withvisibility near zero in blowing snow, he said.

Those winds will remain strong through Tuesday evening and overnight, then drop off early on Wednesday, he said.

The following areas were placed under a winter storm warning Tuesday morning due to forecast wind gusts as fast as 80 kilometres per hour, blowing snow and reduced visibility:

• City of Winnipeg.
• Dugald, Beausejour, Grand Beach.
• Morden, Winkler, Altona, Morris.
• Portage la Prairie, Headingley, Brunkild, Carman.
• Selkirk, Gimli, Stonewall, Woodlands.
• Steinbach, St. Adolphe, Emerson, Vita, Richer.

The following areas remained undersnowfall warnings as of Tuesday afternoon:

• Berens River, Little Grand Rapids, Bloodvein, Atikaki.
• Bissett, Victoria Beach, Nopiming Provincial Park, Pine Falls.
• Sprague, Northwest Angle Provincial Forest.
• Whiteshell, Lac du Bonnet, Pinawa.

The heaviest of the snowfall wasexpected to taper off in the morning, but that was expected to be followed by gale force winds, Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologistEric Dykes said Tuesday morning.

"Travel is going to be treacherous," he said. "If you can stay at home, please do."

• Environment Canada weather alerts for Manitoba

An extreme cold warning was also issued for Tadoule Lake and Brochet in the north.

Temperatures around 35 C, combined with winds up to 20 km/h, were expected to bring wind chill values near the 45 mark.

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