Power outages are increasing and road conditions are worsening across Quebec as a winter storm brings freezing rain, snow and high winds to the province.
Snow that started Thursday afternoon is turning to rain and freezing rain as temperatures rise, Environment Canada said.
Snow totals of 20-30 centimeters combined with winds of up to 110 km/h are expected on Friday. Some areas could see up to 50 centimeters of snow.
Hydro-Québec reported more than 225,000 customers without power as of 10:30 a.m. ET, mainly in the Capitale-Nationale, Laurentians, Montérégie and Outaouais regions.
The company advises customers to prepare for possible power outages and to heat your home a few degrees warmer than usual, charge devices, download anything you might need and have food on hand.
- If your device’s power or data is low, get storm updates on CBC Lite. It’s our low-bandwidth text-only website.
Hydro-Québec will provide an update on the situation at 4 pm ET Friday.
You can watch the press conference live at that time at cbc.ca/montreal and on the CBC News app.
Many homes and businesses in the Laurentians, Montérégie and Outaouais regions are without power due to the intense snowstorm. (Ivanoh Demers/Radio-Canada)
A flash freeze warning has been issued for Montreal
On Friday morning, Environment Canada changed its snowfall warning for the Montreal region to a freeze warning. The warning is in effect in Montreal, Laval, Châteauguay and Longueuil.
“Water, mud and any precipitation that falls will freeze as the temperature drops,” the warning said.
Snowfall totals of 20-30 centimeters combined with winds of up to 110 km/h are expected. Some areas could see up to 50 centimeters of snow. (Kim McNairn/CBC)
Making sure sidewalks are safe and sewers aren’t blocked are Montreal’s top priorities Friday, city spokesman Philippe Sabourin said.
“The temperature will change quickly at the end of the day, and if we want to keep our sidewalks in good condition, we need to drain all the water,” he said. “We will have to be very efficient in distributing enough salt to avoid slippery conditions tomorrow.”
About 1,000 Montreal employees are currently working on the roads, he said.
“We’re asking citizens to stay warm, stay home if you can,” he said. “These conditions are not easy and it is difficult for everyone to navigate the center.”
Sabourin reminds the public to call 3-1-1 for city-related inquiries.
Freeway closures in the Quebec City area
As road conditions worsen, Transports Québec has closed some roads, including the 175 north of Quebec City between Stoneham and Saguenay.
Snow and ice are being cleared from provincial roads by more than 400 crews, said Sarah Bensadoun, spokeswoman for Transports Québec.
Strong winds and heavy snow are leaving many in Quebec City without power. (Emilie Warren/CBC)
“All our trucks are controlled [by GPS]so we can know exactly where they are, what kind of operation they’re doing,” he said. “We’ll continue to do that even after the fallout ends.”
Bensadoun urges travelers to check the Quebec 511 website and app for information on road conditions before traveling.
Airlines and buses cancel trips
As of 9 a.m. Friday, airlines had canceled 107 flights in and out of Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, with more delays. For anyone planning to fly out today, check the airport’s website for departure times.
Orléans Express canceled all buses on Friday. The company advised passengers to get more information by checking the bus line’s website and social media.