An extreme cold warning is in effect in several regions of Quebec this weekend. A snowstorm will then roll into the province on Monday.
Posted at 12:05 p.m.
Polar temperatures are expected until Sunday morning in several regions. An extreme cold warning is in effect in the Abitibi, Chibougamau, Charlevoix, Estrie, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and Gatineau sectors.
“Wind chill values, for the coming night [de samedi à dimanche], could reach values between -38 and -45, depending on the region,” said Annabelle Fillion, meteorologist at Environment Canada.
The Montreal region is not affected by the extreme cold warning, as this alert is issued when a region expects a wind chill of -38 or less. However, a wind chill of -36 is expected for Saturday morning in the metropolis, and -27 in the afternoon.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The Beaver Lake slides in Montreal were very light on Saturday morning due to the cold.
Environment Canada reminds that frostbite can develop in a few minutes on skin exposed to cold during such temperatures.
The mercury will start to rise on Monday, since a snowstorm is expected in “almost the entire province”, evokes Annabelle Fillion. “For Monday, there is a major low pressure system moving up the American east coast,” explains the meteorologist.
15 to 25 centimeters of snow are expected in the Montreal area. However, this is not the area that will receive the most precipitation.
“The most affected regions will be north of the river: the Laurentians, Lanaudière, Mauricie, the Capitale-Nationale, Charlevoix up to Sept-Îles”, specifies Ms.me Fillio. These regions could receive between 15 and 30 centimeters of snow.
The precipitation system will bring milder air, but for a short time. “A blow that will be passed, it will be the return, once again, of the cold air on the province, which should be back Wednesday on the north of the province, then during the week on the south,” says Annabelle Fillion.