On January 4 in Selkirk, Manitoba, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s forecast predicts about 2 cm of snow ending near noon, with southeast winds gusting up to 30 km/h and wind‑chill values dipping to −27 °C this morning. A renewed risk of freezing drizzle begins this afternoon and carries into the overnight hours; no formal Freezing Rain Warning has been issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada, though ECCC is flagging a risk of freezing drizzle in its text forecasts.
Freezing drizzle can leave a nearly invisible layer of black ice on roads that may look merely wet. The Weather Network’s hourly guidance indicates a high chance (around 70%) of flurries or freezing drizzle after dark, overlapping with the evening commute and creating slippery conditions on PTH 9 and PTH 4 (Highway 9 and Highway 4).
At wind‑chill levels near −27 °C, exposed skin can freeze within about 10–30 minutes depending on wind and exposure. Strong gusts may also blow snow onto untreated roadways, reducing visibility and creating drifting on rural routes. City of Selkirk public works crews say they are sanding main streets and intersections as needed; some nearby provincial highways and shoulders are maintained by provincial crews. Conventional sodium‑chloride road salt becomes much less effective in extreme cold, so crews often rely more on sand or sand‑heavy applications where appropriate.
Manitoba Public Insurance advises drivers to slow down, leave extra distance for stopping and avoid using cruise control in slippery winter conditions. Vulnerable residents should plan travel carefully, keep warm clothing and emergency supplies in vehicles, and consider delaying non‑essential trips until roads are treated and conditions improve (see MPI winter driving guide).
