Winter wallop continues across Canada, cancelling classes and stranding trucks

Winter continued its late-December march east across Canada Friday, closing classes and stranding trucks.

Schools in many areas of southern Manitoba were closed for the second day in a row due to blowing snow and poor road conditions. 

Environment Canada said travel is likely to be hazardous because of near-zero visibility, and road closures in affected areas may be a possibility. 

Winter storm warnings have also been issued across north-central Ontario and into Quebec, where meteorologists are expecting between 30 and 50 centimetres of snow.

A truck driver stranded on a snow-covered highway south of Cochrane, Ont., for about 24 hours said the fire department had started to offer him and others rides into town to restock on groceries, shower and get a warm meal. 

While he was disappointed by the initial lack of official communication, Karim Forget was grateful for the help from firefighters.

“These are great people, very good-hearted people,” said Forget, in a phone interview from his truck.

He said about four feet of snow was piled against his tractor trailer packed with Quebec lumber destined for Alberta. Stranded trucks straddled the highway shoulder in both directions, he said.

“They’re very outnumbered so there’s not enough staff. It takes time, but they actually will get to us eventually and attend our needs.”

Several stretches of closed highways began to reopen on Friday.

Environment and Climate Change Canada said another Alberta Clipper was expected to dump upwards of 15 centimetres of snow across the southern parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The weather office said strong westerly wind gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour were also expected.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods