Canada: Major spring storm hits southern Manitoba, creates deteriorating travel conditions

As strong north winds will continue to intensify, at times gusting to 70 km/h, blowing snow is expected to create quickly deteriorating travel conditions.

During the early morning hours, the storm made its way further north, into Winnipeg, Brandon, and other communities along the Trans-Canada Highway, forcing the closure of part of the Trans Canada Highway between Winnipeg and Brandon and making travelling in rural Manitoba highly dangerous.

There is a likelihood of heavy, wet snow to fall through Wednesday morning to midday, easing somewhat into the afternoon.

Environment Canada expects Winnipeg to be hit with 30 to 40 centimetres of snow with Westman expected to get the heaviest snowfall.

Winnipeg and southeastern Manitoba would be experiencing lighter snow to fall overnight and throughout Thursday and would taper off Friday morning as the system begins to push further east into northwestern Ontario.

Higher elevations in western Manitoba have been hit much harder by the snow. Weather forecast models have suggested the amounts could reach 80 cm or more around Riding Mountain and Turtle Mountain by the time the storm is done.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)