An emergency alert has urged motorists to stay off highways in southern Manitoba as a powerful winter storm sweeps through the region, reducing visibility to near zero. Authorities have warned hospitals to prepare for a possible influx of patients due to dangerous conditions.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reported at least 30 collisions on highways across the region, causing widespread road closures, including the Trans-Canada Highway between Winnipeg and Brandon. By noon, many roads remained impassable.
Hospitals are on alert
Southern Health regional authority declared a Code Orange at Bethesda Regional Health Center in Steinbach and Ste. Anne Hospital after a large multi-vehicle crash near Ste. Anne, about 45 kilometers southeast of Winnipeg. The Health Sciences Center in Winnipeg has also issued an amber alert in response to several serious clashes outside the city.
A Code Orange is activated when hospitals must prepare for a sudden influx of casualties.
Government warnings and travel restrictions
The province of Manitoba issued an emergency alert via cellphones and a public statement warning residents to avoid travel. Authorities stressed that emergency vehicles must have priority and reminded drivers that it is illegal to use closed roads.
By 10:30 a.m., the entire Winnipeg Regional Highway was closed due to treacherous conditions. Winnipeg police said at least 12 vehicles were involved in a major pile-up on the route.
Chris Parks, whose wife was arrested in the crash, described the scene as a “total whiteout” where visibility was almost non-existent. Rescuers managed to save her after her truck was crushed between two trucks.
Blizzard warnings for Manitoba
Environment Canada has issued blizzard warnings for southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg, the Red River Valley and the Interlake region. Strong northerly winds, with gusts of up to 90 km/h, have resulted in extremely low visibility, particularly in open rural areas.
Forecasters expect conditions to ease by Friday night in eastern Manitoba, while western areas may see improvements by the afternoon. Meanwhile, the far north of the province is under an extreme cold warning, with wind chill values possibly reaching -50C over the weekend.
Impact on health services
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority warned that community health services, particularly home care, could be disrupted by the storm. Patients whose appointments are postponed or canceled will be notified directly. The public has been advised to contact case coordinators or nurses for rescheduling assistance.
School closures and travel bans
The storm also caused disruption at schools across the region. The Seine River School District, which covers areas south and southeast of Winnipeg, initially attempted to open but later announced the closure. However, some students had already been picked up by school buses and were redirected to the nearest available school for parent collection.
Other school districts either canceled classes or suspended bus routes while remaining open for those who could safely attend.
Precipitous drop in temperatures
The storm brought a sharp drop in temperatures across the region. In Winnipeg, the early morning reading of 2C was expected to plummet to -13C by the afternoon, with a wind chill factor making it look closer to -30C.
Over the coming days, daytime highs are forecast to range between -21C and -26C, with overnight lows falling to -30C. These figures are well below the seasonal average of -13 C for daytime highs and -23 C for overnight lows.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and urge residents to take precautions and avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve.
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