It's another blast of winter as snow arrived in the area around 12:30 p.m. today. As expected, a large amount has fallen in a short amount of time. Combined with a gusty wind, whiteout conditions are being reported around the region and some highways are closed. Others are experiencing long traffic delays as vehicles slide into the ditch and emergency crews attend.

It started early this afternoon when the Portage School Division canceled their after school buses with just over an hour left in the school day. Since then, other cancellations have come in, including tonight's Portage Terrier games at Stride Place.

As of 8:30 p.m., these highways were closed

The Trans-Canada Highway (#1) Brandon to the Saskatchewan Border.
The Trans Canada Highway (#1), from Headingley to Highway 13. (Oakville)
Highway 2, from Holland to Highway 22. (Holland to Souris)
Highway 5, from Highway 2 to Highway 1. (between Carberry and Glenboro, through Spruce Woods)
Highway 5, from Ochre River to Saskatchewan Border
Highway 10, from Highway 25 to Highway 23 (North and South out of Brandon)
Highway 10, from Minnedosa to Highway 25
Highway 10, from Minnedosa to Cowan
Highway 16, from Minnedosa to Saskatchewan Border
Highway 20A, from Ochre River to Fork River
Highway 21, from Shaol Lake to Highway 259
Highway 42, from Shoal Lake to St. Lazare
Highway 45, from Russell to Oakburn
Highway 83, from Highway 16 to Minioata
Highway 250, from Souris to Highway 1
Highway 362 from Dauphin to Sifton

Snow is expected to fall for most of the evening and will end near midnight. A snowfall warning remains in effect and with wind gusts as high as 50 km/h, it looks like conditions will not improve much, if at all, until tomorrow morning. 10 to 15 cm of new snow is what to expect when it is all said and done.

Here are some comments found on social media:

- Hey folks. It’s awful out there for driving. I was east bound on Saskatchewan Avenue heading towards 8th nw. The snow is so deep that there is only one lane. I was coming home from work and if I didn’t have to be on the road I wouldn’t have been. (Tammy - 6:45 p.m.)

- Highway 2 Holland to St. Claude (poor visibility when meeting oncoming traffic and Highway 240 from St Claude to Portage, road is snow covered/rutted. Basically down to one lane. Hard to differentiate between shoulder and road at times. Travelling 50-70km/hr. Would not recommend, especially after dark. (5:50 p.m. - Jennifer)

- 245 heading east through the hills down to Roseisle is BRUTAL. Basically a snowed in mountain pass at 4 pm. Do NOT travel on it unless you absolutely have to. I drive a 4x4 Jeep and went 30/40 kms much of the way. Visibility is not great either. (Bronwyn - 5 p.m.)

- Just drove 244 Manitou to Rathwell. South of 23 was decent (for this weather) but it got progressively worse north of 23. Notre Dame to Rathwell was awful. Don’t recommend. (Dena - 4:05 p.m.)

- My husband is on his way home and in a convoy of vehicles going 40 on the 240! (Melanie - 4:00 p.m.)

- Just got back to St. Claude from Portage. Visibility gets worse in the second half of 240. Couldn't see the highway. 10/10 would not recommend travel. (Kendra - 3:30 p.m.)

- 305 is snow covered from number 1 to long plain. visibility is poor wouldn’t suggest driving unless you absolutely need to. Stay safe everyone. (Lawrence - 3:20 p.m.)

 

highway 240 March 6thVisibility is poor on highway 240 between Portage and St. Claude