(Montreal) Another storm will move across Quebec on Saturday and is expected to leave 15 to 40 centimeters of snow in its path.
Published at 7:19 am. Updated at 7:34 am
On the night of Friday to Saturday it started to snow in the greater Montreal area.
About fifteen centimeters of snow is expected in southern Quebec during the day Saturday, with strong winds causing blowing snow in places. Rapid snow accumulation could make travel difficult in some locations and snow could mix with rain in the afternoon.
Estrie fared slightly better as there was light snow overnight, particularly in Sherbrooke, but it was mainly the strong winds from the southeast, accompanied by gusts of up to 90 kilometers per hour, that caused problems on Saturday morning. These winds are similar to those that occurred last Wednesday.
The Mont Sutton ski resort has also announced it will remain closed for the day due to a power outage and strong winds expected until the end of the morning.
The snowstorm is gradually moving toward central and eastern Quebec.
In Trois-Rivières in Mauricie, Environment Canada forecasts showed an accumulation of 25 to 40 centimeters of snow Saturday morning with high winds and blowing snow. By the end of the day, conditions should improve.
There could be up to 5cm of snow per hour in places, coupled with strong winds causing blowing snow. Visibility on the roads will be limited or even zero in places, said Environment Canada meteorologist Jean-Philippe Bégin at a press conference the day before, to prepare the population for what is coming.
“We are talking about about 25 to 40 cm of snow in a strip north of the St. Lawrence between Montreal and Quebec, including Charlevoix, the north coast and southeast of Gaspésie,” explained Mr. Bégin.
The Bas-Saint-Laurent regions and those near Quebec are expected to be more affected by the storm, making travel dangerous.
“The regions near Quebec will experience very strong winds and no visibility,” warned the Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist.
Shortly after 5 a.m. Saturday morning, a winter storm warning was still in effect in Quebec, where the forecast was for 20 to 30 centimeters of snow.
“Near the river the wind is blowing from the northeast with gusts of up to 90 kilometers per hour […] During heavy snowfall and blowing snow, visibility will suddenly drop to almost zero,” the warning says.
In the Old Capital and surrounding areas, the intensity of the snow should ease in the evening.
Higher than normal water levels are also expected near the coast on Saturday evening.
Winter storm and storm surge warnings remained in effect in the Charlevoix region, where dangerous winter conditions are expected later in the day. For example, in Baie-Saint-Paul we expect 25 to 40 centimeters of snow, strong to severe winds and blowing snow.
The same applies to Baie-Comeau and the north coast, where higher than normal water levels, large waves and sea ice near the coast are expected on Saturday afternoon.
Dangerous winter conditions are also expected in Gaspé later in the day. The storm will bring 15 to 30 centimeters of snow, strong winds and blowing snow. There, too, winds blow from the east with gusts of up to 90 kilometers per hour, especially in exposed areas.
The storm could also cause flight delays at the province's airports.