An emergency alert urged drivers to stay off highways Friday, as a fierce winter storm reduced visibility to near zero in many areas and led to crashes, including pileups, in southern Manitoba.

Manitoba’s Emergency Management Organization issued its first alert for hazardous road conditions after a blizzard slammed the southern part of the province and caused pileups on highways on Friday.

An Alberta Clipper has made its way to southern Manitoba. As a result, Highway 75 is closed from Winnipeg to the U.S. border. Environment Canada says blizzard conditions are developing in the Red River Valley as a cold front sweeps down from the north.

The Manitoba government is urging drivers to avoid all roadways in southern Manitoba as storm conditions have made visibility near zero in certain areas.

Blizzard conditions caused poor travel conditions across southern Manitoba. The winter storm prompted closures and travel warnings across the region.