Wld, windy morning prompts blowing snow, cold warnings

Terri Gale has your Friday morning look at the weather.

An arctic air mass building in Manitoba is expected to plunge temperatures throughout parts of the province.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said a prolonged period of very cold wind chill values are expected in parts of Manitoba into Friday morning.

As such, the weather agency issued yellow cold warnings for much of northern Manitoba, including Thompson, Churchill, Lynn Lake and Gillam.

Wind chill values are expected to near -45 and will be most extreme during the morning hours.

Conditions are forecast to improve into the weekend, the weather agency said.

Meanwhile, southern Manitoba has its own climate cross to bear, so to speak.

A sharp low tracking in from the west overnight Friday is expected to bring strong and gusty northwesterly winds at 60 to 80 km/h, especially in the Red River Valley.

As such, those gusts are expected to whip around recent snowfall on Friday morning, creating conditions that will reduce visibility.

ECCC issued blowing snow advisories on Thursday for southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg, Brandon, Portage la Prairie and Dauphin.

“Travel will likely be hazardous due to near-zero visibility. There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic,” the advisory said.

The weather agency then added wind warnings Friday morning for areas in the south including Portage la Prairie, Powerview-Pine Falls, the RM of Coldwell and Grand Beach.

Gusts in that neck of the woods could exceed 90 km/h on Friday morning, diminishing into the late afternoon.

“Disruptions to services and travel are possible. Secure loose objects. If outside, protect yourself from flying or falling debris,” the advisory said.

Conditions are expected to improve gradually from northwest to southeast through Friday night, the weather agency said.