‘Nightmare before Christmas’: massive winter storm system shuts schools down, hampers travel before holidays

Southern Quebec is bracing for a “massive” winter storm system that’s expected to hamper travel during the busy holiday weekend.

“It’s going to affect millions of people in North America, and Quebec is clearly going to be in the crosshairs of this,” says senior climatologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada, David Phillips.

The weather agency issued a snowfall warning: Châteauguay – La Prairie, Laval, Longueuil – Varennes, Montreal.

School closures announced for Friday

• English Montreal School Board
• Lester B. Pearson School Board
• New Frontiers School Board  
• Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board
• Centre de services scolaire de Montréal
• Centre de services scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys
• Peter Hall School

The winter storm is expected to reach the area by Thursday evening. Snow will begin, accompanied by very strong winds and heavy precipitation. 

“Generally, a total of 15 to 30 centimetres of snow is expected from Thursday night to Friday morning. Snow will change to rain Friday morning with a risk of freezing rain during this transition. Rapidly accumulating snow will make travel difficult. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.”

Thursday is calling mainly cloudy skies with a high of -3. Wind chill will feel like -13 this afternoon.

In the evening, snow at times heavy with a risk of freezing rain overnight. Snowfall amount 10 to 15 centimetres. Wind northeast 20 km/h gusting to 40 increasing to 40 gusting to 70 overnight. Temperature rising to plus 1 by morning. Wind chill -9 this evening

For Friday, snow at times heavy changing to rain in the morning with a risk of freezing rain early in the morning. Snowfall amount 5 centimetres. Rainfall amount 15 to 25 mm. Wind northeast 40 km/h gusting to 70 becoming southwest 50 gusting to 80 in the afternoon. High of 6. Low  of -6.

“You’re going to have an instant flash freeze and any rain that occurs during Friday because of those warm temperatures are going to freeze and then you’re going to have snow falling on top of it,” said Philips. “So those surfaces are going to be slick and treacherous and icy and really dangerous.”

Ahead of the holiday weekend, they caution Quebecers to plan their travel and allow extra time to get to their destination, as driving conditions will be difficult.

“People are coming into Montreal, they’re leaving Montreal, they’re going shopping, picking up food and drink and so it’s the busiest travel time of the year,” Phillips said.

“It’s just so unfortunate that nature’s not cooperating, it’s sort of like the nightmare before Christmas.”

RELATED:

• Christmas weekend snowstorm could impact holiday travel plans
• Snow loading operations continue in Montreal

With the strong winds forecasted – reaching up to 80 kilometres per hour Friday afternoon – Hydro-Quebec said in a tweet their crews will be monitoring the situation and are asking citizens to prepare in case of a power outage.

Une importante tempête hivernale pourrait causer des #pannes un peu partout au #Québec, dès jeudi soir. Nous suivons l’évolution de la situation et seront prêts à intervenir dès que nécessaire. Comment vous préparer à l'éventualité d'une panne? ????https://t.co/iQC82VxPOm pic.twitter.com/mOED6M1gcw

— Hydro-Québec (@client_hydro) December 21, 2022

Environment Canada says people should have kits with drinking water, food, medication, a first aid kit and a flashlight.

The agency says the mixed bag of weather is making it hard to predict the full scope of the forecast.

“It’s hard to say exactly what’s going to happen in the timing,” said Phillips. “All we know is this is going to be a high impact event. Nobody is going to be forgetting this particular event and they’re all going to be inconvenienced.”

For Christmas Eve, blowing snow is forecasted with a high of -4 and a low of -7.

Christmas Day will bring a mix of sun and cloud, 30 per cent chance of flurries. A bit colder with a high of -7 and a low of minus 11.