Severe Winter Storm Slams the Prairies with Snow, High Winds and Blizzard Conditions

A powerful winter storm driven by a fast-moving Alberta Clipper is battering the Canadian Prairies, prompting widespread weather warnings from Environment and Climate Change Canada for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba as the system sweeps eastward across the region.

ECCC has issued blizzard warnings for large portions of southern and central Saskatchewan, including the Trans-Canada and Yellowhead Highway corridors, where heavy snow, strong winds and blowing snow are expected to create near-zero visibility conditions. Total snowfall totals of 10 to 20 cm, with locally higher amounts possible, are forecast through Wednesday, and travel is expected to be dangerous or impossible at times.

In southern Manitoba, the storm has triggered orange-coded blizzard warnings — an alert colour that indicates major, widespread impacts — as the Alberta Clipper brings accumulating snow and gusty winds up to 80 km/h. Communities from Brandon through the Steinbach area are under these warnings, and Environment Canada is urging residents to avoid travel if possible.

Across Alberta, snowfall and blowing snow alerts remain in effect for much of the province, especially along main transportation corridors such as Highway 2 between Calgary and Red Deer, where poor visibility and freezing rain risks persist. Environment Canada is advising motorists to exercise caution and delay non-essential travel until conditions improve.