We were spared for the first part of December, but southern Quebec is expected to get its first blast of winter Tuesday.
Anywhere between 20 to 30 centimetres of snow is expected to blanket the Montreal area by the time all is said and done. Some areas outside the metropolitan area may see up to 40 centimetres of snow.
The snow will begin overnight and continue through the day Tuesday. Snow will fall heavily throughout the day and will be accompanied by blowing snow in some areas. Snow will become mixed with ice pellets over southernmost areas. Flurries may carry over into Wednesday.
The city of Montreal is warning its residents to plan their movements accordingly. It is also asking people to use the Info Neige app or website, which shows the progress of snow-clearing operations in real time and tells you where and when you can park on the street, to avoid having to tow cars and thus speeding up snow removal.
The storm will be the first test for the city's new snow removal plan. Announced earlier this year, for the first time this winter, the central city, not the boroughs, will be calling the shots.
Snow clearing begins after 10 to 12 centimetres of accumulation, snow removal starts within the first 12 hours and removal must be completed after 36 hours on main arteries.
Russell Copeman, borough mayor of Cote des Neiges – NDG, says the timing of this first snowfall will make that plan difficult.
“Not too many people want to put in overtime on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. It's going to be a challenge. We have certain norms that we have to respect, but I think everyone is going to have to be patient,” he said.
The same storm system is expected to bring freezing rain, snow, ice pellets and winds up to 60 kilometres per hour to Southern Ontario.
