Another day, another Montreal winter weather alert.
After getting pummeled with 34 cm of snow last Thursday and another 38 cm on Sunday, Montrealers woke up to yet another severe weather warning on Monday.
Environment Canada has issued a blowing snow advisory for the city, warning that strong westerly winds up to 70 km/h will whip around all that fresh snow, creating dangerous whiteout conditions.
The advisory is in effect all day Monday and impacts several regions, including Montreal Island, the St. Lawrence Valley, the Eastern Townships, the Beauce, and the Laurentians. With snow already piled high from back-to-back storms, these intense winds will make things even worse, causing near-zero visibility and significant drifting on roads.
As a result, schools across Montreal have closed for the day, and dozens of flights scheduled to depart from Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport have been cancelled.
Environment Canada is urging drivers to take extra precautions, as rapidly changing conditions could make travel hazardous. Visibility could drop to 800 metres or less for hours at a time, making highways and city streets especially treacherous. Commuters should expect delays, slippery roads, and the potential for snow drifts blocking certain areas.
If you absolutley have to head out, be prepared for messy and frustrating conditions. Reduced visibility, blowing snow, and icy roads will make for a challenging commute, so give yourself extra time and drive carefully. Winter isn’t done with Montreal yet!
After today’s chaos, the rest of the week won’t offer much relief. Tuesday will see cloudy skies with temperatures hovering around -12 C and -15 C at night. Expect the same on Wednesday and Thursday, with more clouds and daytime highs around -9 C on Wednesday and -4 C on Thursday. Nights will stay chilly, dipping to -12 C and -13 C, respectively. Basically, you should prepare for a cloudy, cold week ahead with little to no sun breaking through.
So, if staying inside is your idea of a good time, now may be your time to shine.
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