Winter storm blankets several areas of Quebec, including Montreal
Get those shovels ready, because a whole lot of snow has hit Quebec.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a winter storm warning on Sunday for the Greater Montreal Area with as much as 25 centimetres of snow expected in total.
After a dump of snow Monday morning, another five to 10 centimetres of snow are expected Monday afternoon before tapering off to flurries in the evening, ending at midnight.
- IN PICTURES: Major winter snowstorm wallops Montreal
The snow started falling Monday morning, and ECCC warns that strong winds are accompanying that snow, making visibility near zero.
“The snow is falling at a pretty steady rate and we've also got gusty winds creating blowing snow and reducing visibility on the roads,” said CTV weather specialist Lori Graham. “Of course winds are a factor and that's reduced visibility at times to about 400 metres in some areas.”
Winds from the northeast are blowing at 40 kilometres per hour, gusting close to 60 km/h, making the -5 Celsius temperature feel more like -16 C.
"Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow," ECCC wrote.
Another round of snow is on the way for Wednesday, with about five centimetres expected for Montreal.
A man pushes a stroller during a winter snowstorm in Montreal on Monday, January 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
A man pushes a stroller during a winter snowstorm in Montreal on Monday, January 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
SNOW CLEARING IN MONTREAL
A snow clearing operation is underway in the City of Montreal, with snow removal to follow and expected to take about a week.
“The operation started last night by spreading salt, and rocks on the roads and sidewalks. This morning, We had 1,000 workers, the 1000 trucks on the road to push the snow aside and do extra salt, extra little rocks in order to ease your movements,” said City of Montreal spokesperson Philippe Sabourin.
Sabourin had some tips for anyone parking on city streets to help facilitate the snow clearing process.
“The city will need the cooperation of everyone. Please park your car 30 centimetres away from the sidewalk,” to allow enough room for workers to complete the snow clearing process. “Leave us some clearance on the sidewalks also and slow down your speed.”
SCHOOLS CLOSED, MAIL DELIVERY POSTPONED
A huge number of schools and daycares in the Montreal region told students to stay home on the first day of the winter term.
Canada Post issued a red delivery service alert for Quebec and no mail carriers will be delivering mail on Monday.
"Delivery will resume once conditions improve and it’s safe to do so," Canada Post said. "The safety of our employees is our number one priority."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
Families shocked after Niagara Falls hotel cancels bookings made year in advance of solar eclipse
After having the foresight to book their Niagara Falls hotel rooms more than a year in advance, several families planning to take in the solar eclipse next month were shocked to find out their reservations had been cancelled.
B.C. rescuers face 'high likelihood' of failure to reunite orphaned orca with pod
The race to reunite an orphaned orca calf that’s stuck in a shallow lagoon with a neighbouring pod has entered its fifth day, and a marine scientist says the clock is ticking.
Video shows police interrupting auto theft in progress outside Toronto home
New video footage obtained by CP24 shows the attempted theft of a vehicle in a North York driveway earlier this month that was ultimately interrupted by police.
Majority of Canadians believe in life after death: Angus Reid survey
A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute has found that a majority of Canadians believe in some form of life after death, a proportion that has held steady for decades.
MyPillow, owned by U.S. election denier Mike Lindell, formally evicted from Minnesota warehouse
A court ordered the eviction Wednesday of MyPillow from a suburban Minneapolis warehouse that it formerly used.