A significant winter storm has hit parts of Manitoba, leading to heavy snowfall and strong winds. Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning early Monday morning, predicting over 30 centimeters of snow in some areas by the storm’s end. The hardest-hit regions were anticipated to be along a line from Flin Flon through Thompson, with general snowfall amounts of 10-25 cm expected in other warned areas.
Residents, like Stuart McDowell from The Pas, reported challenges with the wet, heavy snow causing downed trees and branches, requiring significant cleanup efforts. Northerly winds reaching speeds of up to 50-60 km/h led to poor visibility due to blowing snow, prompting warnings against travel in affected regions.
Manitoba Hydro faced issues with widespread power outages affecting around 11,000 customers in eastern, northern, and western Manitoba. Damage to power lines, poles, and equipment from wind, rain, and fallen trees contributed to the outages. Crews were working to restore power, prioritizing repairs that would impact the most customers first.
Despite the disruptions and challenges caused by the storm, some residents, like Elissa Bogdan from Wekusko Falls Lodge, acknowledged the much-needed moisture brought by the snow after a dry summer and severe fire season. While the storm brought inconvenience and damage, the moisture was seen as a beneficial outcome.
In addition to power outages, road closures were in place on highways 391 and 280 due to poor driving conditions. Local businesses and residents were impacted by the storm, with efforts underway to clear roads and restore services amid the wintry conditions.
