Shannon Dueck

A word of caution to all snowmobile riders thinking of heading out onto the Red River.

According to Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure's Hydrologic Forecast Centre, the Red River has risen significantly in southern Manitoba as the result of considerable precipitation south of the border over Christmas.

The Forecast Centre says the southern portion of the Red River basin in the United States received up to 80 millimetres of precipitation as rain and snow between December 24th and 27th. This has increased water levels north of the border.

Residents of the Pembina Valley felt it, and now a local meteorologist is confirming it. This past December was one of the warmest on record, and the second warmest in certain areas, but by just a hair.

According to Weatherlogics the average temperature last month in Gretna was -4.7 Celsius, just short of the record of -4.6 C set in 1997. In Morden, the average temperature in December was -4.1 C, also just shy of the record -4.0 C set in 1939.

Record wildfires producing record plumes of smoke. David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment Canada, says those were the two biggest weather stories in our country in 2023.

In fact, Phillips says in 28 years of producing his annual list of Top 10 weather stories, he has never had a more obvious #1 and #2 story. 

Number one on that list is The Year for Record Wildfires. Phillips says fires in Canada this year burned five per cent of precious boreal forest. He adds many provinces set new records for the size of these infernos.

The Member of Parliament for Provencher says two special visits highlighted 2023 for him.

Ted Falk says it is always memorable when a Head of State comes to visit Parliament. He notes in 2023 they had two such visitors. He notes American President Joe Biden as well as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy both graced Parliamentarians with their presence. 

"We were honoured to have both of them here to speak to us," says Falk. "Certainly, they both had different messages, but we consider both of them to be our friends and allies and we want to support them where we can."

Record wildfires producing record plumes of smoke. David Phillips, Senior Climatologist with Environment Canada, says those were the two biggest weather stories in our country in 2023.

In fact, Phillips says in 28 years of producing his annual list of Top 10 weather stories, he has never had a more obvious #1 and #2 story. 

Number one on that list is The Year for Record Wildfires. Phillips says fires in Canada this year burned five per cent of precious boreal forest. He adds many provinces set new records for the size of these infernos.

Record wildfires producing record plumes of smoke. David Phillips, Senior Climatologist with Environment Canada, says those were the two biggest weather stories in our country in 2023.

In fact, Phillips says in 28 years of producing his annual list of Top 10 weather stories, he has never had a more obvious #1 and #2 story. 

Number one on that list is The Year for Record Wildfires. Phillips says fires in Canada this year burned five per cent of precious boreal forest. He adds many provinces set new records for the size of these infernos.

Record wildfires producing record plumes of smoke. David Phillips, Senior Climatologist with Environment Canada, says those were the two biggest weather stories in our country in 2023.

In fact, Phillips says in 28 years of producing his annual list of Top 10 weather stories, he has never had a more obvious #1 and #2 story. 

Number one on that list is The Year for Record Wildfires. Phillips says fires in Canada this year burned five per cent of precious boreal forest. He adds many provinces set new records for the size of these infernos.

Record wildfires producing record plumes of smoke. David Phillips, Senior Climatologist with Environment Canada, says those were the two biggest weather stories in our country in 2023.

In fact, Phillips says in 28 years of producing his annual list of Top 10 weather stories, he has never had a more obvious #1 and #2 story. 

Number one on that list is The Year for Record Wildfires. Phillips says fires in Canada this year burned five percent of the precious boreal forest. He adds many provinces set new records for the size of these infernos.

Record wildfires producing record plumes of smoke. David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment Canada, says those were the two biggest weather stories in our country in 2023.

In fact, Phillips says in 28 years of producing his annual list of Top 10 weather stories, he has never had a more obvious #1 and #2 story. 

Number one on that list is The Year for Record Wildfires. Phillips says fires in Canada this year burned five per cent of precious boreal forest. He adds many provinces set new records for the size of these infernos.

Two students were arrested following an incident Thursday at Lorette Collegiate.

At 11:40 am, Niverville and St. Pierre RCMP responded to a report of threats at the school. Police say it was reported that threats had been made by two students.

Officers located the two male suspects, and they were arrested without incident.

The investigation is ongoing.

Parents took to social media posting that their students were safe and that the school was in a hold and secure.

We have reached out to Seine River School Division for more information.