Parts of Quebec are being hit by the first major winter storm of 2020, bringing a mixed cocktail of precipitation and strong winds.
Tens of thousands of Hydro clients are without power across the province, mostly in places such as Brossard, Longueuil, Saint-Bruno and Saint-Hubert, as well as farther east in the Montérégie region.
“We are waiting for the wind to calm down, and we should be able to have a lot of people back on the grid as soon as that happens,” said spokesperson Cendrix Bouchard.
When it comes to driving, both the City of Montreal and the province have warned people to stay off the roads if possible.
In some parts of the Quebec City area, roads are snow covered and visibility is next to zero. A 55-kilometre stretch of Highway 20, between Lévis and Montmagny, was closed to traffic early Sunday morning due to the conditions.
Transports Québec spokesperson Sarah Bensadoun said visibility changes from one area to the next.
She said people who have to go somewhere today should check the Quebec 511 website to check road conditions before leaving.
Flights have been cancelled at Trudeau airport, both departures and arrivals. A spokesperson recommended that travellers check the status of their flight with their airline before making their way to the airport.
Weather conditions
The freezing rain warning ended just after 9 a.m. in the Montreal area.
Environment Canada meteorologist Simon Legault said in Montreal, the precipitation switched over from freezing rain to ice pellets faster than expected, covering streets and sidewalks with a buildup of powder.
“It feels like you’re walking on a [sandy] beach,” he said. “But under those pellets, there are some frozen areas on the ground. It’s not that bad because you’re not walking directly on the ice.”
The ice pellets will turn into light snow as the morning goes on, then finally let up around mid-afternoon, he said.
A freezing rain warning is still in effect for the Eastern Townships. In Sherbrooke, about 40 millimetres of rain fell starting Saturday before turning to snow.
In Quebec City, a winter storm warning is in effect, with 25 centimetres of snow and ice pellets expected and winds gusting up to 90 km/h expected into the early evening.
And parts of Gaspé and the Magdalen Islands are bracing for heavy snow, with 15 to 25 centimetres in the forecast.
