Some Quebecers will wake up to a white carpet on Wednesday morning. Wet snow which could complicate rush hour. In Montreal, the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel will be closed at night in both directions from Monday to Sunday.
The snowflakes should begin to fall on Tuesday evening in the southwest of the province, that is to say in Outaouais. The snow should then move east, affecting the majority of regions including the Laurentians, Montreal, part of Montérégie and Estrie, Lanaudière, Mauricie and the Capitale-Nationale sector.
In more mountainous areas, up to 15 centimeters of snow could accumulate, indicates Simon Legault, meteorologist for Environment Canada.
In the greater Montreal area, between 5 and 10 centimeters of snow are expected. In places, freezing rain could be added to the mix. However, the gradual rise in temperatures is more likely to transform the snow into wet snow, then melting, explains the meteorologist.
Additionally, there will be very little wind, so no blowing snow is expected. However, this broadside could complicate Wednesday’s rush hour for areas where snow will be falling, warns the meteorologist. “There is also the psychological effect of the first snows, with people not all being well shod or prepared,” recalls Mr. Legault.
The white carpet will not last long, also believes the meteorologist. The rise in temperatures will melt the snow, in the same way as the previous snowfalls that we have seen so far in southern Quebec.
“We are getting closer to winter, but we are not yet at the start of winter as such,” he believes.
The Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel closed at night
Preparatory work to replace the fans will lead to the complete closure of the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel in eastern Montreal from Monday to next Sunday. Both directions of the tunnel will be affected.
During the nights from Monday to Thursday, the tunnel will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., warns the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility. The closure will be longer during the weekend. Saturday morning, the tunnel will reopen at 8 a.m., and Sunday, at 9 a.m.
Please note that the access roads leading to this section of Highway 25 will be closed 30 minutes in advance.
The Ministry invites you to regularly consult quebec511.info before hitting the road or to call 511 to find out about network closures and plan your trips.