Bitterly cold night to follow blustery day in Manitoba

After a day of blizzard conditions and slippery roads, Winnipegis expected cap off Thursday with the coldest night of the season so far.

Environment Canada has issued extreme cold warningsfor most of Manitoba, with temperatures in Winnipeg forecastto plummet to34 C on Thursday evening. The wind chillwill make it feel more like43, and make this thecoldest winter night so far this season.

Earlier on Thursday,winds were so fierce theydowned branches. Jackie Markstrom, the owner ofNellie McClung's former residenceonChestnut Street in Winnipeg, said a tree nearly took out a window in her house around 8:30 a.m.

"The wind took it off from the trunk. It was kind of weird the way it went like it was sawn off," she said. "We have been very lucky ...it just looks like it's just a bit of dent in the eavestrough."

Whiteout conditions and icy roads made for a tense commute on southern Manitoba highways throughout the morning.

Dozens of vehicles were left in ditches on highways this morning, according to CBC traffic reporter TrevorDineen.

Many othersjust pulled over to the shoulder to wait out the tempest, which eased up around noon.

At one point in the morning, just west of Winnipeg, a CBC News crew was forced to stop because a wall of white made it impossible to continue driving.

Several highways, including part of the the Trans-Canada in the western part of the province, remain closed due to the conditions and snow drifts.

• Provincial highways information

RCMPsaid there weremore than 30 crashes reported to them as of 9:30 a.m. That didn't include crashes inside Winnipeg city limits.

"Conditions are terrible. We're advising people to not be on the highways if they don't have to. And if they have to, please, please be careful," said RCMP spokeswoman Tara Seel.

• For up-to-date information on school and highway closures: CBC Manitoba's Storm Centre.

Weather causes problems for airport arrivals and departures

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After a day of blizzard conditions and slippery roads, Winnipeg is expected cap off Thursday with the coldest night of the season so far.

Canada Post officialssaid mail delivery was cancelled in rural areas on Thursday.

"In light of the severe weather conditions in rural regions of Manitoba and the interruption of several highway services, it is not safe to send our delivery agents to deliver mail today. Delivery will resume once conditions improve and it is safe to do so," a news release from the corporation stated.

• Public weather alerts for Manitoba

Blizzard conditions and wind chill warnings were alldue to afast-moving cold frontthat has swept across southern Manitoba, bringing northwest winds of 60 to 70 km/h and gusts of 80 to 90 km/h.

Sarah Sibir, whohas lived in Canada for 16 years, said she's never seen such terrible weather as on Thursday morning in Winnipeg.

"It's very, very dangerous right now," she said, laughing and joking that in her native Pakistan this would be the end of the world.

There were also reports of power outages, with 588 customers without service in the Headingley area and 719 in St. Laurent. A Manitoba Hydro spokesperson asked those affected to be patient as the weather and road closures made it difficult for crews to get there.

Winnipeg forecast

• Clear.
• Wind northwest 30 km/h becoming light early this evening.
• Low 34. Extreme wind chill 43

Normal temperatures for this time of year are a daytime high of13 C and an overnight low of 24 C.

• CBC Manitoba weather