The weather conditions on Saturday and Sunday will be less adverse than those on Friday. But with the drop in temperature combined with strong winds against a backdrop of snow showers, motorists should be prepared for wintry road conditions.
“Some roads may still be icy and visibility may be reduced in places, so tailor your driving and allow more time to get from point A to point B,” advised Jean-Philippe Bégin, meteorologist at Environment Canada, in a ‘interview. .
These conditions are due to the sudden cooling combined with strong winds that hit the snowy skies over southern Quebec on Friday afternoon.
When temperatures drop below freezing while it snows, you get frozen roads and sidewalks on a massive scale.
Jean-Philippe Bégin, meteorologist at Environment Canada
Gusts of 60 to 70 kilometers per hour are expected from the southwest throughout Quebec this Saturday. The violent winds that swept the province early Friday, reaching 100-110 km/h in the vicinity of Quebec, and 80-90 km/h in Saguenay, came rather from the east.
White Christmas
The snow will continue to fall over the weekend, but “we shouldn’t expect a storm that continues and builds up non-stop,” the meteorologist said.
On the other hand, snow showers are expected, some of which could “be a little heavier”, but not of long duration.
“These are winter conditions with snow flakes, so it could reduce visibility, especially if the snow drifts,” explained Jean-Philippe Bégin.
These conditions will decrease somewhat in intensity as the hours go by, but will continue throughout the Christmas weekend.
“Sunday is even less bad than Saturday, but it’s still windy,” warned Mr. Bégin.
On December 25 we still have to expect gusts of 40 to 50 km/h, and snow showers which could reduce visibility in some places.
It’s slowly getting better. Go slower and you will get there.
Jean-Philippe Bégin, meteorologist at Environment Canada
The Montreal region had received nearly 10 inches of snow by mid-afternoon Friday, with another 5 to 10 inches still expected.
Risks of coastal flooding
Strong winds during high tide could cause waves to crash along the coast in some locations, Environment Canada warns.
“The astronomical tide is already high, it doesn’t take much for it to overflow,” explained Mr. Bégin. The storm also caused the St. Lawrence River to overflow its banks on Friday afternoon at rue Dalhousie, Quebec, at the height of the boat Louis Jolliet.
These overflows are more likely to occur on the north bank of the St. Lawrence River than on the south, in an area extending “from Quebec east, including the Saguenay.” And in this time when the St. Lawrence River and Gulf are ice-free, these conditions could lead to flooding and coastal erosion.
On Friday, Environment Canada posted “storm surge” warnings for more than 15 areas across the province.
