Montreal's about to get hit with snowy, icy weather — And roads could turn into rinks
Folks with summer tires should be extra careful.
It's going to be a messy weekend.
Whether we like it or not, winter isn't done with Montreal just yet. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement warning of a messy weekend ahead, with snow and freezing rain set to make roads dangerously slippery.
According to the advisory released Friday morning, a low-pressure system will drop around 5 cm of snow over Montreal overnight Friday into Saturday morning. But the real trouble begins on Sunday when a second system sweeps in, bringing freezing rain before switching to regular rain later in the day.
That combo spells bad news for anyone hitting the roads. Highways, sidewalks, and parking lots could turn into pure ice, especially if you were ambitious enough to swap out your winter tires already.
Friday's weather will be fairly mild, with a high of 3 C under partly cloudy skies. But temperatures will drop to -5 C tonight, just as the snow starts falling. The snow is expected to clear by Saturday morning, leaving behind chilly conditions with a high of -1 C and a biting wind chill.
Sunday's forecast is the real problem, with freezing rain expected in the morning before transitioning to rain as temperatures climb to a high of 3 C. In central and western Quebec, the freezing rain could be even more intense, with accumulations of between 5 and 10 mm expected Sunday afternoon and evening.
While the spring frost comes as an unwelcome surprise to the folks who have already ditched their parkas and boots, it's anything but uncommon. In an interview with MTL Blog earlier this month, Environment Canada meteorologist Gina Ressler noted that, "Montreal receives about 15 centimeters of snow [on average] in the month of April."
With all that said, if you have weekend plans, drive carefully and be prepared for icy conditions. Environment Canada is advising everyone to adjust their driving to match the weather — or better yet, just stay home and ride this one out altogether.
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