Quebec in the sights of a powerful weekend storm, 10-30 cm possible

Digital WritersThe Weather Network
Digital Writers

Some 10-30 cm is on tap for eastern Ontario and much of southern Quebec, beginning Friday night and not coming to a close until Sunday for some areas.

A stretch of clear weather is about to come to a crashing end for Quebec and eastern Ontario, with an incoming system that threatens significant snow, beginning overnight Friday and lasting through to Sunday in some areas. Some 10-20 cm is on tap for communities north of the St. Lawrence, even heavier for parts of the province northwest of Montreal. Drivers are being warned that quickly accumulating snow could make for difficult travel and are urged to plan ahead to avoid the challenging conditions. More on the timing and impact, below.


WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS:

  • System strengthens as it tracks through eastern Ontario into Quebec on Friday, periods of heavy snow spread into the region Saturday

  • A general 10-20 cm north of the St. Lawrence, rising to 30 cm for northwest of Montreal

  • Colder weather returns for much of Quebec next week


FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND: POTENT STORM BRINGS HEAVY SNOW, DIFFICULT TRAVEL

After a relatively calm stretch, with slightly above-seasonal temperatures, it's all set to come to a very wintry end this weekend, with a storm beginning to move into Quebec later Friday, with its effects lasting through Saturday into early Sunday for some areas. The snow will begin a little earlier in eastern Ontario.

Saturday is when the snow will intensify, reaching Montreal by the morning hours, with some 10-20 cm possible for many communities north of the St. Lawrence, rising to 30 cm for areas northwest of Montreal. Eastern Ontario from Perth through to the Quebec border, including Ottawa, look to be in the 15-20 cm range.

QCSnow

Given the temperature differential, the snowfall may be interrupted by a period of rain late in the day Saturday for parts of the Eastern Townships, and in Montreal the system may begin with some ice pellets or freezing rain. Otherwise, this looks to be overwhelmingly an all-snow system for most people.

A special weather statement is in effect for almost all of southern Quebec, warning of difficult travel.

The snow looks to exit the province altogether Sunday.

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BEYOND: COLDER TEMPERATURES RETURN AT LAST

As calmer weather comes to an end, on the storm's heels will be an end to above-seasonal temperatures for Quebec, falling several degrees below seasonal by early next week.

QC temps

The next chance of snow comes from a fast-moving clipper moving through the Great Lakes region, though it's unclear what effects it will have on Quebec.