Southern Manitoba digs out, cancels classes after big snow dump

A day-long dump of snow on Sunday has left much of southern Manitoba under a deep white layer and forced several schools to cancel classes for Monday.

Up to 20 centimetres fell in some areas, including Winnipeg where crews have been working through the night to clear streets and sidewalks.

A number of highways are closed and many others are open but covered with ice or snow. The most current information is available on Manitoba 511.

All schools were closed Monday in the following divisions:

• Beautiful Plains.
• Border Land.
• Evergreen.
• Fort La Bosse. 
• Garden Valley.
• Hanover.
• Interlake.
• Lord Selkirk.
• Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna.
• Prairie Rose.
• Prairie Spirit.
• Red River Valley.
• Rolling River.
• Seine River.
• Southwest Horizon.

In the Brandon School Division, Alexander, O'Kelly and Spring Valley Schools are closed but all other schools are open, although buses are only operating within the city. Attendance is at parental discretion where travel is required.

Environment Canada meteorologist Chris Stammers said the system that brought the snow has moved out of the province but it is being followed by a sudden shift in temperatures.

Winnipeg, which saw daytime highs of 5 C on Saturday and 2 C on Sunday should brace for highs of –22 C and –25 C by mid-week. Meanwhile, the overnight lows will be close to –30 C with a wind chill of –40.