Perimeter Highway closed as blizzard warnings hang over southern Manitoba

The blustery conditionsswirling across southern Manitobahas closed various highways Saturday, including the road circling Winnipeg.

The adverse weather has prompted the closures of thePerimeter Highway aroundWinnipeg, as well as the westbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway from the Perimeter to Portage la Prairie and from Brandon to Virden.

As of Saturday evening, other highway closures include:

• Highway 2from Fannystelle to Haywood.
• Highway 3from Sperling to Highway 342.
• Highway 10from Highway 25 to Highway 357.
• Highway 13 from Elm Creek to Carman.
• Highway 23from Highway 3 to Highway 34.
• Highway 23from Highway 432 to Kane.
• Highway 30from Highway 14 to the U.S. Border.
• Highway 31from Highway 14 to the U.S. Border.
• Highway 32from Highway 14 to the U.S. Border.
• Highway 34from Highway 245 to the U.S. Border.
• Highway 83from Highway 1 to Birtle.
• Highway 201from Altona to Highway 32.
• Highway 244from Highway 245 to Highway 3.
• Highway 245from Highway 244 to Carman.
• Highway 306from Kane to the U.S. Border.
• Highway 432from Highway 23 to the U.S. Border.

Environment Canada has issued a blizzardwarning for parts of the region Saturday,as it forecastsstrong southerly winds picking up speed, approaching 50 kilometres per hour, by midday.

The impacted areas include Winnipeg, Steinbach, Selkirk, Portage la Prairie, Morden, Winkler and as far west as Killarney and Pilot Mound.

These forecast winds will produce blizzard-like conditions with poor visibility through the afternoon, Environment Canadasays.

The winds will ease by the evening, butwill be replaced by a mass ofsnow moving toward the south and out of the province, the federal agency reports.

As much as 10 to 15 cm of snow is forecast in some areas, particularly around the Whiteshell, Lac du Bonnet and Victoria Beach. It's expected the heavy snow will begin Saturday afternoon and graduallyfizzle out bySunday morning.

Winds picking up on Sunday

On Sunday, moderate northwest winds of 40 to 50 km/h will develop over the Red River Valleyas a colder air mass pushes into the area, Environment Canada forecasts.It will result in more blowing snow, butgradually taper off as the wind weakens.

The agency is also warning that travel may be hazardous due to reduced visibility.

Blizzard conditions on Friday prompted road closures and school cancellations throughout southern Manitoba.