'Stay home, complete whiteout': Highways close as blizzard sweeps through Manitoba

Several highways in southern Manitoba are closed Tuesday morning, and travel is not recommended on many highways that remain open.

An Alberta Clipper has lived up to its name, quickly moving into the province on Monday evening and bringing with it blizzard conditions.

Many areas throughout the south experienced freezing rain on Monday, which then turned to snow. Wind speeds have reached above 90 km/h in many areas and have caused whiteout conditions on several highways.

Most closures are in western Manitoba, including the Parkland, but more closures could occur in the east as the storm continues. 

Several reports from the Winnipeg region have come in and all recommend not travelling this morning. One driver on the Manitoba Highways Network Facebook page says  "Stay home! Highway 2 westbound is a complete whiteout." They say they barely made it to Starbuck, Man. Another person reported sitting in the passenger seat of their car in tears as her partner drove down Highway 75 south of Winnipeg in absolute whiteout conditions.

The story is the same for many travellers on highways in the capital region. Many have said they turned around and quickly returned home after trying to leave early for work Tuesday morning. That included travellers on Highway 1 west of Winnipeg near Elie, Highway 207, and Highway 59 south of Winnipeg.

One driver on Highway 207 says they couldn't even see past the hood of their car.

As of 9 a.m. the following highways were closed in the province:

• Highway 1 from Saskatchewan Border to Headingley

• Highway 1 from Winnipeg city limits east to Highway 11

• Highway 3 from south junction Highway 83 to Cartwright

• Highway 5 from Saskatchewan Border to Highway 261

• Highway 10 from US Border to Highway 2

• Highway 12 from Highway 1 to US Border

• Highway 14 from Highway 75 to Rosenfeld

• Highway 16, from Highway 352 to Highway 1

• Highway 20 from Ochre River to Highway 269

• Highway 23 from Highway 5 to Highway 3

• Highway 23, from Highway 75 to Highway 3

• Highway 45 from Russell to Rossburn

• Highway 50 from McCreary to Amaranth

• Highway 52, from Highway 59 to Mitchell

• Highway 59, from Winnipeg city limits to St. Malo

• Highway 68 from Ste. Rose du Lac to Lake Manitoba Narrows

• Highway 75, from Winnipeg to Morris

• Highway 75, from Morris to US Border

• Highway 83 from Roblin to Russell

• Highway 100, from Highway 1 East to Highway 1 West

• Highway 101, from Highway 1 West to Highway 1 East

• Highway 201 from Highway 59 to Highway 30

• Highway 276 from Ste. Rose du Lac to Spence Lake

• Highway 278 from Silver Ridge to Shergrove

• Highway 481 from Highway 68 to Highway 276.