Heavy snow and the possibility of freezing rain are expected Sunday as southern Quebec prepares for its first major snowfall of the season.
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Precipitation will begin early Sunday afternoon, with snow accumulations expected to range from 15 to 25 cm. However, most of the snow will fall overnight from Sunday to Monday. Environment Canada has issued snow warnings in several regions, including Outaouais, Montreal, Estrie, Lanaudière, Laurentides, Mauricie and the Richelieu Valley.
In warmer areas, snow could mix with sleet or change to freezing rain in the afternoon or overnight. This rapid snow accumulation could make travel difficult in some areas due to reduced visibility at times. Environment Canada says surfaces such as roads, sidewalks and parking lots could become difficult to navigate.
The sky in Montreal remains cloudy, with the start of precipitation expected early in the morning and stable temperatures near 0 degrees. In Estrie it starts to rain or snow at midday, and there is also a risk of freezing drizzle in the morning. In the Outaouais it will start to snow at midday and there is a risk of freezing rain. Snow will begin falling in the Lanaudière region this afternoon and will increase rapidly in the evening.
Less heavy rainfall is expected in the National Capital Region on Sunday, with snow accumulation of 10 cm. The rest of the province will be spared from the weather phenomenon in southern Quebec. Generally clear skies are expected in northern and western Quebec, but temperatures will be colder than in the south.