Snow and wind create dangerous conditions on Manitoba roads

Hundreds of trucks are lined up in Headingley waiting for PTH 1W to reopen after RCMP closed it due to poor conditions Sunday morning.

The first significant snowfall is always a treacherous time on Manitoba roads as drivers learn to adjust to the new slippery conditions. Seven centimetres of snow fell in Winnipeg overnight and throuout the day on Sunday.

The RCMP issued several traffic advisories due to high winds and blowing snow. The winter weather closed the Trans-Canada Highway from Headingley to Portage la Prairie. Hundreds of semi-trailers lined up in Headingley Sunday morning waiting for the highway to reopen.

"Now, we are running behind from our schedule but it's expected in this kind of weather," said Ermias Abebe.

The highway was open again by 2:00 p.m.

RCMP reported poor driving conditions on PTH 1W from Griswold to Oak Lake. Police also issued a warning about ice covering and poor visibility on PTH 100 and 101.

Emergency services urge drivers to exercise caution when driving in these areas. The poor driving conditions mean it can take emergency crews longer to respond to any accidents.

In Winnipeg, the snow coincided with several vehicle collisions. In one incident, a two-vehicle crash sent an SUV into a house and a van into a tree in the 500 block of Waverly Street on Sunday morning. It’s not clear what role weather may have played in the collision, but streets in the area are icy and snow covered.

One cyclist wasn’t deterred by the weather. "It's a little tough going into the wind,” said Jim Simm. “The snowflakes get in your eyes and it hurts quite a bit, but I got studded tires. My traction's good."

Simm plans to keep riding his bike well into the winter. "It can get a lot, lot worse. It's got to get to minus 30 beforeI put the bike away."

Minus 30 is also the magic number for a man who's not ready to wear long pants and socks. "The wind's got to be blowing and it's got to be at least minus 30," said Paul, who only gave his first name.

Hardware stores around town prepared for a rush on snow shovels Sunday."We're hoping people will come in and we'll sell lots of them,” said Jessie Wolchock of Pollock's Hardware Co-op. “Imean, it is pretty bad outside."

Amanda Mikac didn't need to buy a shovel before tackling her parents sidewalk, they already had one waiting for her. She says she's actually been looking forward to this.

"Ilove winter, going snowboarding, sledding, making snowmen, all that fun stuff," said Mikac.

Manitoba isn’t the only province dealing with dangerous driving conditions. RCMP in Saskatchewan says snow and ice was responsible for a crash where three semis lost control on Highway 1 west of Moose Jaw. In Alberta, close to 40 vehicles collided in three separate crashes. Saturday morning on Highway 2 between Calgary and Edmonton.

- With a report by Ben Miljure and files from The Canadian Press