The week will start with a mix of sun and clouds and a high chance of snow showers across the province until a “severe” storm arrives that should hit Quebec starting Tuesday afternoon.
“Due to the partially restricted visibility, dangerous road conditions are to be expected. surfaces […] it could be icy and slippery. Avoid all travel if possible,” Environment Canada said in a news release, citing a winter storm watch Monday.
The province can therefore expect a 30 to 40% chance of snow showers early Monday morning, particularly in the western and central parts of the province, followed by a change of sun and clouds.
However, the few flakes will quickly give way to a real “big” storm, which, according to the federal agency, will come from the west of the province on Tuesday afternoon and reach the center in the evening.
In total, between 20 and 40 centimeters of snow could fall in the sectors affected by the warning, including Capitale-Nationale, Charlevoix, Laurentians, Lanaudière, La Tuque and Trois-Rivières.
“Heavy snowfall in significant quantities, strong winds and blowing snow are to be expected, especially from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning,” it reads.
In the major metropolis, as well as Estrie and Drummondville, precipitation should begin as snow before changing to rain on Wednesday morning, with the possibility of freezing rain and strong winds.
A similar scenario is expected in Gatineau, where 10 to 20 centimeters of snow could turn into sleet and freezing rain overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, making road conditions dangerous, the federal agency warned.
A significant amount of snow, possibly more than 30 centimeters, could also flood the east of the province, including Anticosti, Baie-Comeau and Amqui, before turning to freezing rain on Wednesday morning.