After the mildness of recent days, southern Quebec is returning to wintry conditions thanks to a low-pressure system that will bring significant amounts of snow for 36 hours starting Wednesday evening.
According to Environment Canada, which issued a special weather report, snow should begin Wednesday evening and continue through Friday morning, with strong winds that could cause blowing snow.
Estrie, Montérégie, Montreal, Gatineau, Drummondville – Bois-Francs, Lanaudière and part of the Laurentians are the sectors affected by the federal agency’s BMS forecasting difficult rush hours.
While uncertainties remain about the trajectory of this depression, the southern sectors of the province will be hardest hit as snow accumulations of 15 to 20 centimeters or even more in places are expected, particularly in Montreal where it will be -12 degrees Thursday.
The rapid accumulation of snow is likely to make traffic on the roads difficult during Thursday’s rush hour, especially as the strong winds accompanying the rain are causing temperatures to drop sharply.
Sectors in eastern Quebec will be relatively spared from the storm as no major snow accumulations are expected, but mercury will drop with highs of -16 degrees, particularly in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region and the north coast.