On December 18 in Morris, Manitoba, Manitoba 511 and Environment Canada issued emergency blizzard advisories warning of strong gusty winds, near-zero visibility and dangerous travel that could quickly make Highway 75 impassable and disrupt local shuttle services.
As of 12:00 p.m. on December 18, Manitoba 511 showed Highway 75 as partly snow covered with fair visibility. RCMP warned the Morris snow gate could be closed at dusk when winds peak; Environment and Climate Change Canada forecast wind gusts of 70–90 km/h. Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure said crews and snow‑clearing equipment were on standby and were monitoring conditions for possible formal closures.
Division Scolaire Franco‑Manitobaine cancelled school bus transportation for École Régionale Saint‑Jean‑Baptiste and École Sainte‑Agathe, and some local shuttle services paused evening routes. “When this highway shuts down, it really hits us hard… the business community depends on that traffic,” said a local business owner, as truckers were stranded in town.
The Manitoba Trucking Association estimates the province loses about $1.5 million (CAD) each week that Highway 75 remains closed.
Residents are urged to avoid non‑essential travel, carry a winter emergency kit, and sign up for alerts from Manitoba 511 and Environment Canada until the advisory is lifted.
