Freezing rain forces closure of several schools

Montreal and surrounding regions woke up to freezing rain Thursday morning. Although no major incident has been reported on the roads, several schools have chosen to close their doors.

The freezing drizzle that began Wednesday evening continued until shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday. The sky should then be overcast for the rest of the day, while temperatures will remain below freezing.

“It might melt or soften a little, but [la température] will stay around 0.5°C at most. But the winds are fresh and the sun will not really be present,” explains Simon Legault, meteorologist at Environment Canada.

At the beginning of Wednesday afternoon, a freezing rain alert had been issued for several areas, including Gatineau, Lachute – Saint-Jérôme, Lanaudière, Montreal, Richelieu Valley – Saint-Hyacinthe and Vaudreuil – Soulanges – Huntingdon. 5 to 10 millimeters of rain were expected in the south of the province.

Several school service centers announced the closure of their establishments on Thursday due to difficult weather conditions (see box). Private schools and colleges in Montérégie are also closed.

Such conditions also complicate the morning rush hour. Caution will therefore be required when traveling. Fortunately, no major incidents were reported on the roads Thursday morning.

On the Urgences-santé side, several calls concerning falls on icy sidewalks were received. But again, no major injuries have been reported.

Another episode of freezing rain is also expected on Friday, with Environment Canada forecasting an additional 5 to 10 millimeters. The difference is that this time the rain will start to fall in the morning rather than during the night. It is therefore the return rush hour rather than the morning rush hour which is likely to be quite complex.

“Obviously, it always takes into account how the streets and sidewalks are maintained. But for people who will go to the chalet at the end of the week, it may be more complicated,” warns Mr. Legault.

With Léa Carrier, The Press