Residents in Carberry, Manitoba, are being warned of dangerous road conditions as a brief warm spell turns into a deep freeze beginning the afternoon of January 12 and overnight into January 13, 2026. The shift from rain to rapidly falling temperatures is expected to create black ice on local highways and town streets because standing water from the rain can freeze quickly into transparent ice.
Environment Canada’s local forecast for Carberry calls for a 60 percent chance of rain showers in the morning, changing to flurries later in the day, with winds from the northwest around 40 km/h gusting to 60 km/h. Temperatures are expected to fall from around +3°C during the day on January 12 to about −16°C overnight into January 13. Forecasters warn that the gusty winds could produce near-zero visibility or ‘whiteout’ conditions in blowing snow.
Manitoba RCMP (Westman detachment) are urging motorists to use caution during the transition, and authorities note the intersection of Highway 1 (the Trans‑Canada Highway) and Highway 5 south of Carberry is a historically high-incident zone during flash freezes because of high speeds and heavy truck traffic. Drivers should check current highway conditions and closures on the Manitoba 511 traveller-information service before travelling.
Parents should watch for updates from the Beautiful Plains School Division regarding bus cancellations and school status. Local municipal authorities and farm organizations are also urging producers to shelter livestock if possible, because the rapid temperature and wind‑chill drop can pose a risk to animals. Media reports and historical coverage from outlets such as CBC note that similar rapid weather shifts have in the past led to multi-hour or multi-day highway closures across the region.
