Schools, buses cancelled in Manitoba amid blizzard conditions

As parts of Manitoba brace for a blizzard on Friday, some schools and buses are cancelled for the day.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, blizzard conditions are expected to hit the Red River Valley on Friday morning as a cold front heads to the north. Blizzard conditions are also expected in the Interlake and east of the Manitoba escarpment.

The weather agency warns the wintry weather will bring winds as strong as 90 km/h, which will cause poor visibility and blowing snow, especially in the open countryside.

A provincial spokesperson says the province is strongly advising against any highway travel, particularly in southern Manitoba, due to low visibility and high winds. The province has several reports of multi-vehicle collisions due to people still driving in unsafe conditions.

Amid these dangerous weather conditions, the following schools are closed, and buses are cancelled on Friday, Jan. 17:

• Brandon School Division – Alexander, O’Kelly and Spring Valley Schools are closed. All other schools are open. Buses will not be running outside of Brandon but will be operating within the city. Attendance at school is at parental discretion where travel is required.
• Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine -- École Saint-Lazare, École La Source, École Jours de Plaine, École Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, École Aurèle Lemoine and École Gilbert-Rosset are closed. Buses are cancelled for Gabrielle-Roy, Lagimodière, Réal-Bérard, Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Sainte-Agathe, Noël-Ritchot (only rural routes), Saint-Joachim, École saint-Georges and Pointe-des-Chênes.
• Fort La Bosse School Division – All schools are closed, and buses are not running.
• Garden Valley School Division - Schools are closed and buses are cancelled.
• Interlake School Division – Schools are closed.
• Lakeshore School Division – All schools are closed.
• Lord Selkirk School Division – All schools are closed, and buses are not running. Staff are not expected to report to their place of work.
• Prairie Rose School Division – Schools in Regions A, B and C are closed.
• Red River Valley School Division - All schools are closed. Staff are expected to work from home.
• Rolling River School Division – All schools are closed.  
• Southwest Horizon School Division – All classes and buses are cancelled. Staff should work from home.
• Turtle Mountain School Division – All schools and buses are cancelled.