Quebecers in the south of the province woke up to snow on Saturday. Flakes have been building up overnight and up to 20 centimeters are expected in some areas, complicating road conditions.
A snow weather alert is in effect for Montreal, Laval, Estrie, Gatineau, the Richelieu Valley, Saint-Hyacinthe, Vaudreuil-Soulange and Huntington, according to Environment Canada.
In the metropolitan area, up to 15 centimeters of snow are expected. Further south, towards Gatineau and the US border, up to 20 centimeters could accumulate. In Gatineau, Environment Canada warns that snow is falling at a rate of up to 2 centimeters per hour.
Precipitation is expected to decrease during the day and cease in the evening.
Caution on the roads
In the morning, visibility is reduced on several roads in Quebec, particularly in Estrie, Montérégie and the Laurentians, according to the website of the Ministry of Transport.
Gusts of up to 40 to 50 kilometers per hour can cause blowing snow, Environment Canada meteorologist Guillaume Perron warned on Friday.
Several minor skirmishes and collisions were reported on Quebec roads in the morning, said Béatrice Dorsainville, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec. No serious injuries were reported.
At the end (or beginning) of school break, many flights to or from Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau airport have been canceled or delayed, according to the airport website.