Potential hwy closures tomorrow amidst ground blizzard MB/ND

"Northwest wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph are expected Sunday, which are expected to result in low visibilities due to blowing snow, especially in open country. Conditions in towns and sheltered areas should be better. Falling temperatures are also expected to lead to hazardous wind chills by Sunday night. Stay tuned for additional details on this event." -NWS Grand Forks, ND

A ground blizzard is expected tomorrow into the Red River Valley. For a description of a ground blizzard, please view our previous blog post here (click). An Arctic cold front will bring strong winds, which will funnel through the Red River Valley in southern Manitoba. Winds will be especially strong on the southeast side of Lake Manitoba.

Potential highway closures depicted by Weatherlogics Inc for 8am CST for Manitoba. Purple indicates possible closures.

These strong winds will easily blow any fresh snow that fell today and any snowpack across Manitoba. This will lead to significant blowing snow and possible highway closures. Depicted above/below are forecasted highway conditions for Manitoba and North Dakota/Minnesota on Sunday morning.

Potential highway closures depicted by Weatherlogics Inc for 8am CST for North Dakota/Minnesota. Purple indicates possible closures.

Potential highway closures depicted above are as follow for Sunday morning:

• Highway 75 from Winnipeg to US border

• Hwy 2 & 3 from Winnipeg

• Trans-Canada highway from Winnipeg to Portage La Prairie

• I-29 from Canadian border to Grand Forks, ND

• Most highways in northwest Minnesota and northern North Dakota

Active Winter Storm Watch as of 12:40pm CST for North Dakota and Minnesota (in blue)

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
SUNDAY AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions possible. Total snow accumulations
  of up to one inch possible. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph.

* WHERE...Portions of northwest and west central Minnesota and
  northeast and southeast North Dakota.

* WHEN...From late tonight through Sunday afternoon.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on slippery road conditions.
  Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.
  Gusty winds could bring down tree branches. The cold wind
  chills as low as 30 below zero could cause frostbite on
  exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

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