Heavy snowfall and a chance of freezing rain are expected Sunday as southern Quebec prepares for its first big snowfall of the season.
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Precipitation will begin early Sunday afternoon, with snow accumulations expected in the range of 15 to 25 cm. However, most of the snow will fall overnight Sunday into Monday. Environment Canada has issued snow alerts in several regions, including Outaouais, Montreal, Estrie, Lanaudière, Laurentides, Mauricie and the Richelieu Valley.
In warmer areas, snow could mix with sleet or change to freezing rain in the afternoon or overnight. This rapid accumulation of snow could make travel difficult in some areas, due to reduced visibility at times. Surfaces such as roads, streets, sidewalks and parking lots could become difficult to navigate, according to Environment Canada.
The sky will remain cloudy in Montreal, with the start of precipitation expected early in the morning and stable temperatures near 0 degrees. Rain or snow will begin midday in Estrie, with a risk of freezing drizzle also in the morning. In the Outaouais, snow will begin midday with a risk of freezing rain. In the Lanaudière region, snow will begin this afternoon and intensify quickly in the evening.
In the National Capital Region, less heavy precipitation is expected on Sunday, with an accumulation of 10 cm of snow. The rest of the province will be spared from the weather phenomenon hitting southern Quebec. Generally clear skies are expected in the north and west of Quebec, but temperatures will be colder than in the south.