Cancellations for Tuesday, January 30, 2018.

- Miami Community Centre Bingo has been cancelled for tonight

- The Alzheimer Support Group meeting in Carman has been cancelled today, due to the weather

- Regions B and C in the Prairie Rose School Division are closed today, January 30, 2018. This includes Elie, St. François Xavier, St. Eustache, and St. Laurent areas. In addition to region B and C, Elm Creek School is also closed.

 

An Alberta Clipper is passing through Manitoba and a meteorologist with Environment Canada says it's expected to hit southern Manitoba starting this morning.

Natalie Hasel says the low-pressure system is forecast to begin in the morning bringing snow, blowing snow, and ice pellets.

"The wind will start out being out of the southeast and the south as the morning progresses and then the low will pass and we'll be on the other side, so the wind will switch to be out of the northwest. With the switch, we will see temperatures start to fall and lead to a very different feel at the end of the day compared to the morning."

Hasel says the main concern with the system is reduced visibility which may make for poor driving conditions.

"The wind from the south could be strong enough to reach warning criteria. When the winds turn out of the northwest, the forecast right now for the Red River Valley is wind gusts at 50 to 80 kilometres per hour late in the afternoon. So, really uncomfortable both on your drive in and your drive out."

She notes if you don't have to travel on the roads tomorrow, that's probably for the best. Hasel adds if you do have to travel make sure to have a full tank of gas, fully charged cell phone, and an emergency kit.

"If you are stuck on the highway for whatever reason, don't leave your car. It's already offering you shelter, it's probably the closest shelter you have. Anything down the highway; it's really hard to judge distances down the highway so you'd probably be exposing yourself to the elements for quite a bit longer than you think you would if you try to reach something on foot."

Hasel says with snow and blowing snow there will also be reduced visibility which may leave you caught up in a whiteout and unable to find your way to another shelter or back to your vehicle.

She notes the weather associated with the system should pass by Tuesday night with the windy conditions carrying into Wednesday. Hasel says from the long-range forecast temperatures are expected to stay chilly and below normal until mid-February.