The snow arrived in Montreal in time for rush hour, reducing visibility on the roads. The snowfall expected for Quebec is slowly heading east of the province, according to Environment Canada.
Less than a week from Christmas, Quebec is preparing to receive its first snowfall since November.
The first flakes suddenly appeared around 7:30 a.m. Friday morning in Montreal. In the Gatineau region, where the precipitation began in the evening of Thursday, an accumulation of 10 centimeters of snow is already calculated, indicates Marie-Ève Giguère, meteorologist at Environment Canada.
The federal agency has issued snow warnings for many regions in southern Quebec, including Montreal, Quebec, Estrie, Montérégie, Lanaudière, Laurentides, Gatineau, Mauricie, Charlevoix and Beauce.
This precipitation is the result of a depression moving up the American east coast. Unlike snowstorms that sometimes move quickly across the province, continuous snow can be expected for 24 hours. “The snow will continue without a break, without stopping, until tomorrow. It is a particular system, explains Mme Giguere. We are in a zone between two interacting systems. »
The regions of Gatineau, Montreal, Montérégie and Estrie will be the most affected by the accumulations, she specifies. In the case of the latter two, the accumulations could reach about thirty centimeters.
The system will move slowly eastward, says Mme Giguere. “It will arrive in Quebec really late tonight, but for them, it will last all day Saturday. About fifteen centimeters of snow are expected in the capital.
Call for vigilance on the roads
Around 8:30 a.m. Friday, in the middle of rush hour, visibility is reduced on the roads of Montreal and Montérégie, as well as Laval and the Laurentians, according to the interactive map of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.
“We have bands of fairly heavy snow, underlines Mme Giguere. Today, there will be periods when the snow will reduce visibility. There will be lulls, then it will resume. »
Environment Canada calls for vigilance when traveling, whether by car or on foot. “We are far from the storm of the century, says the meteorologist. Our message is: take your time, allow extra time for your trips, because the roads and sidewalks will become slippery. »
A school, the private establishment Peter Hall located in the borough of Saint-Laurent in Montreal, is closed.