The morning rush hour is likely to be difficult on Friday everywhere in Quebec. Significant snowfalls were expected across the province from Thursday evening until the following day. In some regions, rain and sleet could add to this weather cocktail.
A depression coming from Colorado should indeed reach Quebec in the evening, Thursday. “If it is possible to telecommute on Friday, it would be the perfect day for that. And if we take the road, we will have to be much more careful than usual. We also recommend taking a food kit on the road,” says Environment Canada meteorologist Guillaume Perron.
Along the river, between Montreal and Quebec, the federal agency predicts snowfall of about 15 to 30 centimeters, at the rate of ten in the evening Thursday, then another ten Friday until evening.
Around Quebec, gusts of more than 70 km/h are expected, which could also cause blowing snow on the roads.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
A snowplow was busy Thursday evening in the streets of Montreal.
In a special bulletin, Environment Canada warned on its website Thursday that “rapid accumulation of snow could make travel difficult in some areas,” and that “there could be significant impacts on hourly traffic.” peak in urban areas.
The Minister of Public Security, François Bonnardel, indicated Thursday evening on Twitter that he had held a meeting with the civil security teams of the ministry to take stock of the storm. “We are ready to face it. I ask all Quebecers to be careful, ”he implored.
Watch out for ice
In Estrie and in the sectors located near the border with the United States, “it is very likely to see a transition to rain overnight as well as Friday morning,” said Mr. Perron. “We expect to have freezing rain in these regions,” he said, calling for vigilance in travel.
“If we go further east, in Gaspésie and in certain sectors along Chaleur Bay, we could even exceed 30 centimeters,” continues Mr. Perron, who speaks of one of the biggest storms in the region. season so far.
It wouldn’t necessarily be the biggest storm, though. On December 16 and 17, Quebec had indeed received about thirty centimeters in many sectors. Episodes of ice also complicated travel last week, at the beginning of January.
The snow that will fall should also remain on the ground in the coming days, since the temperatures “will theoretically remain below the freezing point in the coming days”, predicts the meteorologist.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Snow began to accumulate in the Montreal region late Thursday afternoon.
In the evening, Thursday, the first schools, such as the Center de services scolaire des Navigateurs, located near Lévis, announced the closure of their primary and secondary schools for the day on Friday. Other announcements could follow in this direction.
Note: in most regions of Quebec that will receive snow, the sky will gradually clear after the passage of the storm. For example, in Montreal, sunshine is announced for three days, in particular for Sunday and Monday.
In the Maritimes, at least 25 centimeters of snow is expected in northern New Brunswick: the total could be 40 centimeters in some places. Between 15 and 20 centimeters are also expected in the central regions of the province as well as in Prince Edward Island. No warning was issued for Nova Scotia.
With The Canadian Press