After the snow, the rain, and more snow, get ready for freezing temperatures and slick streets.
Montreal received its first wintry blast of the season on Tuesday evening and the sloppy mix of rain and snow will continue falling until Thursday.
10 to 20 cm of snow fell over southwestern Quebec on Tuesday, and snow kept falling north of the St. Lawrence River. Up to 25 cm of snow accumulated in the laurentians.
On the island snow changed to heavy rain overnight, tapering off toward dawn, and a mix of snow and rain will fall throughout Wednesday. As the temperature drops Wednesday afternoon the rain will freeze and could make the afternoon commute treacherous.
CTV Montreal weather specialist Lori Graham is predicting 5 cm of snow will fall in Montreal Wednesday afternoon and evening.
The Lanaudière and Mauricie regions as well as areas north of Quebec City toward the Saguenay will see heavy snowfall, up to 30 centimetres.
The system is expected to leave behind cooler air in the Montreal area Thursday, resulting in a sharp drop off in temperatures.
There were flight delays and cancellations at Trudeau airport especially along eastern seaboard and to Maritimes.
Dangerous, sloppy commute
Driving on Wednesday morning was very difficult, with the worst conditions in Quebec being near the Ontario border.
Ottawa-area police reported dozens of car crashes on Wednesday morning, and multiple cars sliding into ditches off Highway 417.
One woman was rescued and treated in hospital for hypothermia after her car went into the Gatineau river.
In Montreal drivers found the going was slow, while pedestrians and public transit users had to contend with large slushy puddles.
Storm moving east
As the storm heads toward the coast it will drop rain over the Maritimes, with meteorologists predicting 100 mm of rain for New Brunswick.
Winds of up to 100 km/h will likely be felt from New Brunswick to Newfoundland and Labrador.
The system is the same one wreaking havoc on holiday travel plans in the United States.
