Quebec's first snowstorm of the season dumped about 35 cm of snow on the Montreal area before tapering off around 6:30 p.m.

Dozens of flights were delayed or cancelled at Trudeau Airport, so if you’re catching a plane or if you’re planning on welcoming someone to our snowy city, be sure to check out the airport’s website to see if the flight is on time.

Alain Pichette and his family were on their way to Cancun. When they showed up at the airport, they were first told the crew didn’t show up, then that there were engine problems and finally that there was too much snow on the wings.

“They told us we’ll be staying here at the airport without [the possibility of getting on another plane] and I watched Tom Hanks’s Terminal last week so I didn’t want to spend my vacation in a terminal in Dorval, you know?” he said. They found four tickets with another airline last minute and are on their way to sunny beaches.

The city of Montreal is 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.

The city says snow clearing on major roads, bike paths and sidewalks is underway in all 19 boroughs. There are 1,000 people working to clear the snow on more than 10,000 km of roads and sidewalks. The first removal operations will begin Wednesday at 7 a.m.

Montreal is also encouraging its residents to take public transit instead of their cars when getting around.

Nez Rouge cited the snow as the reason for cancelling its services Tuesday night.

The storm came to Quebec via Ontario, where it left snow and ice in its wake.

According to the Ontario Provincial Police, there were more than car 300 crashes on southern Ontario highways on Monday night. In Toronto alone, there were 130.

Winter driving tips

Winter driving comes with its own set of rules. Oren Preisler of Morty's Driving School offers a few tips:

  • Remember to get your winter tires on (it's the law) but also your winter wipers put on, which are different from summer wipers and don't get as clogged by snow and ice.
  • Any manoeuvres done suddenly can cause you to skid, whether it's braking, turning the steering wheel or stepping on the gas, so anticipate your movements.
  • Leave space between you and the vehicles ahead – at the very least a two-second distance.
  • Clear the snow off your car. It's dangerous for you and for other drivers.