After the viruses that ruin Christmas, a storm comes to play spoilsports in Quebec where the worst is yet to come, while 70 cm of snow and freezing precipitation are expected until Saturday.
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This famous “weather bomb” arrived in Quebec late Thursday evening by the south-west of the province.
It first hit a large part of the United States with full force, causing severe cold that was expected to reach -55°C, forcing the cancellation of more than 1,900 flights and making travel “very dangerous”.
Once per generation
Photo: AFP
US President Joe Biden conducted a technical briefing on the weather event.
The National Weather Service called this storm a “once in a generation event.”
States like Oklahoma and Kentucky as well as New York City have declared states of emergency. A hundred accidents in less than twelve hours have been reported by patrollers in Wyoming alone.
At home, the storm of “exceptional magnitude will also have exceptional impacts”, summarizes Jean-Philippe Bégin, meteorologist for Environment Canada.
He issues a warning to those who have planned to hit the road for New Year’s Eve, especially Friday which will be the worst day.
“It’s not a good day to get around, especially for southern, western and central Quebec,” he explains, recommending instead to take the road on Saturday for “necessary” trips.
In the greater Montreal area, snow has been falling since Thursday evening and should turn into rain overnight with a risk of ice. A sharp drop in temperatures is expected on Friday evening, which can make roads and sidewalks very slippery.
Flights canceled on Christmas Eve at Montreal-Trudeau
Screenshot TVA News
Many flights were canceled or delayed on Friday and Saturday due to the big winter storm, two days before Christmas Eve.
Indeed, many flights to another Canadian province, including Toronto, Vancouver and Halifax, or to the United States, such as Boston, Detroit and New York, have already been canceled or delayed, according to the website of Pierre-Eliott Trudeau airport.
A good number of flights from Europe will also be delayed, can be seen on the arrivals list.
“Check the status of your flight with your airline, before traveling to YUL, and plan your trips to and from the airport,” said Pierre-Eliott Trudeau airport on its website.
More than 90,900 homes without electricity in Quebec
Photo archives, QMI Agency
The effects of the storm that has been raging since Thursday evening are beginning to be felt since more than 90,900 homes were without electricity early Friday morning, according to the Hydro-Québec Info-pannes site.
The Outaouais is the most affected with 28,517 households that found themselves in the dark around 7:30 a.m., followed by the Laurentians with 26,730 homes out of order at the same time.
The regions of Lanaudière (4,652 customers), Montérégie (5,209 customers), but also the Capitale-Nationale (16,232 customers) are not left out of power cuts.
Some homes also began to lose electricity in Chaudière-Appalaches (2,150 customers), Centre-du-Québec (1,130 customers) and Estrie (2,366 customers).
Conversely, the situation remained normal in Montreal and Laval with very few outages despite the weather cocktail of rain and wind that affected the city in the morning.
For all the details, click here.
More than 1,000 schools close their doors
Schools in several regions have announced their closure for Friday, allowing thousands of students to start their Christmas holidays earlier than planned.
See the full list of closed schools here.
The north most affected
Photo QMI Agency, Mario Beauregard
Regions north of the St. Lawrence will suffer the worst effects of the storm, as several locations could receive a total of 70 cm of snow.
Several roads may have to be closed, specifies Jean-Philippe Bégin. He particularly recommends avoiding the road from Charlevoix to the North Shore, where snowdrifts could completely trap motorists.
“You will have to plan your trips well, even if it means canceling or postponing them depending on the destinations, explains Sarah Bensadoun, spokesperson for Transports Québec. The most important thing is safety.”
Quebecers who have to take the road can consult Quebec 511 to check if the roadway and visibility allow it, she insists.
Snow plows call for ‘leniency’
The snow removers who will have to work hard during the days leading up to Christmas are calling on their customers to remain indulgent and respectful.
“There won’t be less service because it’s Christmas,” says Annie Roy, general manager of the Association of Residential and Commercial Snow Plows of Quebec. But those who have the ability to say, ‘It’s okay if there’s 5 or 6 inches in my driveway because I’m on vacation’ should do so.”
Snow plows “also have a right to their Christmas,” says Ms.me Roy, who calls on customers to show “leniency”.
In Quebec, the snow removal company F. Carrier inc. even took to Facebook to remind customers to be respectful in the coming days. “Sometimes the customer thinks we’ve just got him and he calls angry and cursing,” explains co-owner Marie-Lou Gagnon.
The North Shore is likely to be hit harder
Photo archives QMI Agency, Joël Lemay
Of all the regions of Quebec, the North Shore will be hardest hit by the winter storm that will hit the province. Between 30 and 50 cm of snow should fall on the region, from Friday to Saturday. But total accumulations could reach up to 80 cm in some areas. Environment Canada also warns motorists that blowing snow could make visibility almost zero in places. Raging gusts of 110 km/h should blow over the region during the passage of this major system.
Snowfall and high winds will also spread across the eastern part of the province on Friday. This is why Orléans Express has canceled all its trips between Quebec, Rimouski and Gaspé in both directions for the day.
TIPS FOR PREPARING
- Consult Québec 511 for road conditions.
- Make sure your vehicle is in good condition and completely cleared of snow.
- Adapt your driving to the weather conditions.
- Never pass snow removal vehicles, as the reduced visibility of the driver could cause an accident.
- Make sure you have all the tools on hand in case of an emergency and have plenty of windshield washer fluid and brake fluid.
The Department of Public Safety Canada recommends carrying emergency kits containing:
- Of drinking water
- food
- medication
- a first aid kit
- a flashlight
– With the collaboration of QMI Agency and AFP