New week, new winter storm in Quebec. Between 15 and 25 centimeters of snow are expected by Thursday in most regions, while the Gaspé and the North Shore could be buried even more. Strong winds could also complicate traffic conditions.
A system from Colorado, in the United States, reached Quebec at the end of the day on Wednesday. “For the entire St. Lawrence Valley between Montreal and Quebec, we are talking about 15 to 25 centimeters, with more or less five centimeters depending on the height at which you are,” explains the meteorologist at Environment Canada, Samir Al -Alwani.
The “big difference” with the last storms, he continues, is that the snow arrives this time in significantly colder temperatures. “It means that the snow is not heavy, not wet, but more volatile. However, we are expecting gusty winds of 50 to 60 km/h, so there should be some blowing snow on certain sections of road, ”recalls the specialist.
In most regions, Thursday’s morning rush hour is therefore likely to be more complicated. We will expect another five centimeters of snow during the morning, then the conditions will gradually improve.
“Be prepared for changing and rapidly deteriorating road conditions. Visibility can be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. There could be significant repercussions on rush hour traffic in urban areas, ”said the federal agency in a special bulletin published Wednesday evening.
Up to 35 centimeters in the northeast
Further east and north, the Gaspésie and Côte-Nord regions could receive up to 35 centimeters of snow, with winds of up to 90 km/h, especially near the coast. .
Otherwise, for the future, the next few days promise to be much colder throughout Quebec. Warnings of “extreme cold” have already been issued in certain sectors of the north-west of the province, for Thursday and Friday.
“The cold air will rush in to start the week. We will have values between -35 and -45 in terms of felt temperatures. The thermometer might read in -20 or -25 degrees approximately, on average. We are really going to reach the normals for the season, and even below, ”said Mr. Al-Alwani.
In Montreal, a snow loading operation should be launched “very soon”, said Wednesday the administrative spokesperson for the City, Philippe Sabourin. “We still have residual snow from last week with 10 centimeters on the ground, so with what we are announcing now, we will necessarily have to pick up. There is a load to be expected, ”he said.
To let its snow removal trucks and gritters work as of Wednesday evening, the City asks motorists to park their cars “at least 30 centimeters from the sidewalk”, in order to avoid any obstacle for employees at work.
The City also invites people who can to avoid taking the road on Thursday. “The fewer people there are on the road, the easier it is for us to work efficiently,” concludes Mr. Sabourin.