Blizzard, freezing rain warnings continue in central and northern Manitoba, southeast under thunderstorm watch

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While northern and central Manitoba got a blast of wintery weather Thursday, the province’s southeastern corner was under a severe thunderstorm watch, with the possibility of isolated tornadoes.

A Thursday blizzard warning for northern regions from Environment and Climate Change Canada warned of gusty winds of 70-80 km/h and blowing snow will create long-lasting conditions of near-zero visibility. By the time the system moves out Saturday, total snowfall amounts are expected to be around 30-50 centimetres.

That warning area stretches from Thicket Portage, about 50 kilometres south of Thompson, north to the Nunavut border. It includes the city of Thompson, where La Voie du Nord school was closed for Thursday.

Churchill and the area around Hudson Bay were not under any warnings as of late Thursday afternoon.

Drivers in northern Manitoba will need to scrape off vehicles frequently. Ice pellets falling in Flin Flon led to quick freeze-ups Thursday morning. (Eric Westhaver/CBC)

Hazardous conditions are also expected in parts of west-central Manitoba, which remains under a winter storm warning. About five to 10 millimetres of freezing rain is expected to fall, followed by 15 centimetres of snow.

That system hitting Thursday is expected to last through to Saturday, Environment Canada forecast. The impacted area includes Flin Flon, Cranberry Portage, Sherridon and Snow Lake.

Yet another warning, for freezing rain, stretches across central Manitoba from The Pas through Gods Lake to the Ontario border.

Freezing rain, heavy at times, was expected to fall through the day into Thursday evening, Environment Canada says. Amounts could exceed five millimetres.

There were few pedestrians on Flin Flon’s Main Street during Thursday’s storm. (Eric Westhaver/CBC)

In Flin Flon, much of the city was closed for the day, including all area schools. School bus service was suspended Thursday morning for both Thursday and Friday.

It wasn’t snow causing issues in Flin Flon, but freezing rain and ice pellets that pelted the city, accompanied by fierce winds and thunderstorms early Thursday.

Roads were being plowed, but were quickly covered again with ice pellets quickly, leaving some drivers getting stuck on slippery streets.

Just before 3 p.m., Manitoba Highways announced road closures due to poor driving conditions and visibility for:

• Highway 391 from Lynn Lake to Leaf Rapids.
• Highway 394 from Highway 391 to the Saskatchewan border.
• Highway 396 from Lynn Lake to Fox Mine.

Manitoba 511 listed several other northern highways as either “covered” or “partly covered” as of late Thursday morning. Snowplows are on patrol around those northern thoroughfares.

Severe thunderstorm watch

Meanwhile, Environment Canada also issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Manitoba’s southeastern corner on Thursday afternoon.

That system is capable of producing strong wind gusts up to 90 km/h, large hail and heavy rain, and could produce an isolated tornado Thursday afternoon or evening, the agency said in a watch issued just after 3 p.m.

The watch covers most of Lake Winnipeg’s southeastern shore and stretches to communities just east of Winnipeg such as Dugald and Oakbank. It also includes the communities of Lac du Bonnet, Seymourville and Buffalo Point.

The areas under the severe thunderstorm watch are shown. (Environment and Climate Change Canada)

A moving low-pressure system is feeding scattered thunderstorms that range from strong to severe across the region, Environment Canada’s alert said.

People in the area are advised to prepare for severe weather and to take cover in a basement or interior room if threatening weather approaches.

Heavy rains can cause flash flooding and significant reductions in visibility, while strong wind gusts can damage trees, buildings and overturn vehicles, the watch says. Large hail can cause significant damage and injuries.