Image
© Brady Strachan/CBCMotorists in the Brandon area of western Manitoba encountered snow and ice Saturday.
Residents of southeast Saskatchewan and southwest Manitoba are coping with another blast of winter, with heavy wet snow causing havoc for travellers in both provinces.

On Saturday, a blizzard warning was issued for areas around Dauphin, Minnedosa, Neepawa, Russell and St. Rose in Manitoba.

The storm hit Friday night and was expected to last until Saturday evening.

People were being told to expect 10 to 20 centimetres of heavy, wet snow and strong winds that may gust to 80 km/h.

On Friday night, many motorists encountered whiteout conditions on highways in both provinces.

In the Grenfell area, east of Regina, people were forced off the Trans-Canada Highway and were looking for shelter for the night at motels or hotels.

Mary Anderson, who was trying to get to Winnipeg, found a room. She told CBC News on Saturday that all night long people were arriving, looking for a place to stay. She said the parking lot of the hotel quickly filled with vehicles.

Image
© Submitted by Mary AndersonThe view from a Grenfell hotel window Friday night shows parts of the effects of a winter storm blast.
Around mid-morning Saturday, RCMP closed a section of the Trans-Canada Highway east of Indian Head, Sask.

Image
© Kent Morrisson/CBCA lineup of semi-trailer trucks on the Trans-Canada Highway east of Regina waits for the road to reopen Saturday. The route was closed because of heavy snow further east on the highway.
A long lineup of trucks quickly formed. CBC News reporter Kent Morrisson said vehicles that were coming from the closed section were covered in snow.

RCMP were also advising against travel in the Yorkton and Melville areas. Saskatchewan highway conditions are available on the province's Highway Hotline.

A number of highways were also closed in Manitoba, including the Yellowhead highway from the boundary with Saskatchewan to Minnedosa.

"There's quite a bit of blowing snow across the highway," CBC News reporter Brady Strachan said, as he made he way to Melita, Man., south of Brandon. "It's sticking to the highway and it's kind of an ice-slush mixture. And with more blowing snow coming across, it's really made the highways quite icy for driving."

Additional highway information for Manitoba is available from the province's online Road Conditions Report.