More nasty winter weather has hit Manitoba and Saskatchewan this week - but the Flin Flon area appears to have dodged the worst of it.
As of Feb. 1, weather alerts are in place for much of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, warning of heavy snowfall and severe winter weather due to an incoming Alberta clipper wind current. Several main highways in central and southern regions of both provinces had either closed or been subject to dangerous road conditions.
However, while areas to the north and south are under alerts as of The Reminder’s press time, the Flin Flon and Creighton areas of northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan are not.
The Flin Flon area is expected to get as much as 10 centimetres of snow this week, with almost all of it having already fallen as of Tuesday afternoon. However, The Pas is expected to get up to 15 centimetres this week, with lows in the minus-30s and windchills in the mid minus-40s anticipated throughout the week.
“An Alberta clipper will bring heavy snowfall to central Manitoba beginning Monday morning,” reads an Environment Canada snowfall warning in effect for The Pas, Moose Lake/Mosakahiken Cree Nation, Wanless and Cormorant Jan. 31.
Most main highways in southern Saskatchewan were closed overnight Jan. 31 - while almost every road has already reopened, most will have snow cover or blowing snow through Tuesday.
Manitoba saw almost all of the Trans-Canada Highway closed, along with most highways leading to Winnipeg from the south - the roads are still closed Feb. 1. Much like in Saskatchewan, most highways in Manitoba have at least some level of winter conditions - blowing snow, drifts and poor visibility. Parts of the Highway 10, particularly south of the junction with Highway 60, are considered by Manitoba 511 to be “snow covered”, with drifts, flurries and some reduced visibility expected.
“Drivers should be prepared for anything: consider stocking your vehicle with extra warm clothes, candles, matches, non-perishable snacks, a snow shovel, traction mats, booster cables and a tow rope or chain,” reads a statement from Saskatchewan RCMP.
In Flin Flon, weather conditions are supposed to be mild later in the week, with sunny conditions expected through next weekend. Temperatures are expected, according to Environment Canada forecasts, to hover around the high minus-20 degree Celsius range, with little snow expected.
