A significant winter storm has struck parts of Manitoba, leading to heavy snowfall and downed trees. Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning early on Monday, predicting over 30 centimeters of snow in some northern areas by the storm’s end. The most affected regions were anticipated to be along a line from Flin Flon through Thompson, with other areas expecting 10-25 cm of snow.
Residents reported challenging conditions due to wet, heavy snow, causing difficulties in travel and resulting in fallen trees and branches. Northerly winds with gusts up to 50-60 km/h caused poor visibility and blowing snow, leading to highway closures. Highways 391 and 280 were closed due to hazardous driving conditions.
Meteorologist Dan Fulton explained that a storm originating from Montana transitioned into heavy snow over northern Manitoba, affecting various parts of the province. Businesses and residents faced power outages and damage from fallen trees and power lines. Manitoba Hydro reported outages affecting around 11,000 customers in eastern, northern, and western Manitoba.
Despite the disruptions, some locals appreciated the much-needed moisture brought by the snowfall following a dry summer and challenging fire season. The storm brought relief in terms of moisture, although cleanup and power restoration efforts were ongoing in the affected areas.
