Manitoba storm triggers travel chaos, dozens of crashes reported

Police recorded at least 30 collisions on highways across the region, prompting widespread road closures

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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 brace for a possible influx of patients due to hazardous conditions.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reported at least 30 collisions on highways across the region, prompting widespread road closures, including the Trans-Canada Highway between Winnipeg and Brandon. By midday, numerous roads remained impassable.

Hospitals on high alert

The Southern Health regional authority declared a Code Orange at Bethesda Regional Health Centre in Steinbach and Ste. Anne Hospital following a major multi-vehicle crash near Ste. Anne, approximately 45 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg. Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg also issued a Code Orange alert in response to several serious collisions outside the city.

A Code Orange is activated when hospitals need to prepare for a sudden influx of casualties.

Government warnings and travel restrictions

The province of Manitoba issued an emergency alert via mobile phones and a public statement warning residents to avoid travel. Authorities stressed that emergency vehicles must be prioritised and reminded drivers that it is illegal to use closed roads.

By 10:30 am, Winnipeg's entire Perimeter Highway was shut down due to treacherous conditions. Winnipeg police reported at least 12 vehicles were involved in a significant pile-up on the route.

Chris Parks, whose wife was caught in the crash, described the scene as a "total whiteout" where visibility was almost non-existent. Paramedics managed to rescue her after her truck was crushed between two lorries.

Blizzard warnings across Manitoba

Environment Canada has issued blizzard warnings across southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg, the Red River Valley and the Interlake region. Strong northerly winds, with gusts of up to 90 km/h, have led to extremely low visibility, particularly in open rural areas.

Forecasters expect conditions to ease by Friday evening 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 potentially reaching –50C over the weekend.

Impact on health services

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has cautioned that community health services, particularly home care, may be disrupted due to the storm. Patients whose appointments are postponed or cancelled will be contacted directly. The public has been advised to reach out to case coordinators or nurses for rescheduling assistance.

School closures and travel disruptions

The storm has also caused disruptions in schools across the region. The Seine River School Division, covering areas south and southeast of Winnipeg, initially attempted to open but later announced closures. However, some students had already been picked up by school buses and were redirected to the nearest available school for parental collection.

Other school divisions either cancelled classes or suspended bus services while remaining open for those who could attend safely.

Plummeting temperatures

The storm has brought a sharp temperature drop across the region. In Winnipeg, an early morning reading of 2C was expected to plummet to –13C by the afternoon, with a wind chill factor making it feel closer to –30C.

Over the coming days, daytime highs are forecast to range between –21C and –26C, with overnight lows dipping to –30C. These figures are well below the seasonal average of –13C for daytime highs and –23C for nighttime lows.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation and are urging residents to take precautions and avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve.