Some Quebecers will wake up to a white carpet on Wednesday morning. Wet snow that could make rush hour difficult. In Montreal, the Louis Hippolyte-La Fontaine Tunnel will be closed in both directions overnight from Monday to Sunday.
Posted at 4:01 p.m.
The snowflakes should start falling on Tuesday evening in the southwest of the province, i.e. in Outaouais. The snow should then move eastward, affecting most regions, including the Laurentians, Montreal, parts of Montérégie and Estrie, Lanaudière, Mauricie and the Capitale-Nationale sector.
More mountainous areas could see up to 15 centimeters of snow accumulation, says Environment Canada meteorologist Simon Legault.
Between 5 and 10 centimeters of snow is expected in the Greater Montreal area. Freezing rain could still occur in places. However, the gradual increase in temperature leads to the snow being converted into wet snow rather than melting, explains the meteorologist.
There is also very little wind, so no blowing snow is to be expected. However, this broadside could complicate rush hour traffic on Wednesday in areas where snow will fall, the meteorologist warns. “There are also psychological effects of the first snow, as not everyone is well shod or prepared,” recalls Mr. Legault.
The meteorologist also believes that the white carpet will not last long. The temperature increase will melt the snow, just like the previous snowfalls we have seen so far in southern Quebec.
“We are approaching winter, but we are not yet at the beginning of winter as such,” he believes.
The Louis Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel was closed at night
Preparatory work to replace fans will result in the complete closure of the Louis Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel in east Montreal from Monday to next Sunday. Both directions of the tunnel are affected.
The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility warns that the tunnel will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on the nights of Monday to Thursday. The closure will last longer on weekends. The tunnel will reopen at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning and 9 a.m. on Sunday.
Please note that access roads to this section of Highway 25 will be closed 30 minutes prior.
The Ministry invites you to regularly consult quebec511.info before traveling or to call 511 to find out about network closures and plan your trips.