Winter storm pounds Montreal, schools closed
Posted January 17, 2022 10:36 am.
Last Updated January 18, 2022 8:13 am.
“Now we’re stuck [in] our houses on the first day of school,” said grade 5 student Bella Bolanis, as Montreal’s first winter storm of the season forces schools to postpone in-person learning. “I’m actually not that upset, because well, look at this whole entire rink for myself, and I’m trying to shovel it up,” she says as she clears the snow from her backyard homemade rink.
“It’s a snow day, but we’re making the best of it. We’re outside, it’s a little cold and windy,” says Nadia Lawand, Bella’s mom.
Environment Canada issued a winter storm warning for Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, and Châteauguay – La Prairie, and already 10cm had fallen on downtown Montreal by 10 a.m. Monday morning.
#WATCH: Already 10cm of snow has fallen in downtown Montreal. @rubertuccinews pic.twitter.com/ge1WehF3Lg
— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) January 17, 2022
The heavy snow will bring about 15 to 25 cm today, with a high of -15 with the wind chill for Montreal.
By 1:30 p.m. the city had seen 15 centimetres of snow.
Other places around Quebec were also expected between 10 and 30 centimetres as the day went on.
Most Montreal-area schools and many throughout the province cancelled classes on Sunday night ahead of the impending storm. Monday would have been the first day of in-person learning for students since before the holidays.
Environment Canada says, “the snow combined with strong north-easterly winds will give near zero visibilities in blowing snow over these regions – and poor weather conditions will persist into the evening.”
Highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. Visibility could be suddenly reduced to near zero at times in heavy snow and blowing snow.
Snow clearing on the streets of Montreal began Sunday night with the spread of salt and rocks on 10,000km of streets, sidewalks, and bike paths in all of its boroughs. Early Monday morning, it was an army of 1,000 trucks on the roads.
“Loading operation will start tomorrow,” said Philippe Sabourin, City of Montreal spokesperson, adding that an exact time is to come. “[We] need a week to complete the operation,” he continued, advising residents to park their cars 30cm away from sidewalks to help the city clear them and load snow more efficiently. “Obey the no parking signs. Each time we tow a car, it slows the operation.”
“I need to remove the snow from the car and then I need to do my Uber. I probably gonna work the whole day with the storm. I hope everything goes well,” said Bilal Mkaouar, Uber driver.
The city reminding residents to download the Info-Neige MTL app for available parking and updated information on snow loading operations.
#WATCH: What are the roads like where you are? Here’s what Decarie is like this morning. pic.twitter.com/xqRJihI2qK
— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) January 17, 2022
All foreign and domestic flights in and out of Trudeau airport are either delayed or cancelled due to the storm. Check your flight status before heading to the airport.
C'est l'hiver❄️
Soyez prudent et consultez le statut de votre vol auprès de votre compagnie aérienne. Des changements sont à prévoir dû à la tempête de neige.
—
Let it snow❄️
Be prepared and check your flight status with your airline. Changes are expected due to the snowstorm. pic.twitter.com/9N9d4ZzlHx— YUL Aéroport international Montréal-Trudeau (@yulaeroport) January 17, 2022
What’s the weather look like in your neighbourhood? Send us your videos/photos: tips@montreal.citynews.ca
