Significant rainfall expected for Montreal, warning in effect

A large part of Quebec will be swept by a low-pressure system that will leave significant amounts of rain in its wake on Wednesday and Thursday – which could complicate travelling.

Environment Canada has already issued numerous weather warnings that, depending on the region, are predicting heavy amounts of rain, freezing rain, or snow in the upcoming hours. Strong winds could also be expected in some locations.

According to Environment Canada, adding rain to the snow accumulation could make commuting both on foot and by car very difficult.

“With the ground frozen and having a reduced absorption capacity, significant quantities of water could accumulate on roads and other areas. A significant increase in the flow and level of certain watercourses is also likely to occur,” reads the weather warning.

In the Greater Montreal area, 30 to 40 mm of rain is expected, while precipitation could reach up to 60 mm north of Quebec City. Freezing rain could also fall in areas further north.

In Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie, a wind warning is also in effect, as Environment Canada is predicting gusts of up to 120 km/h.

Additionally, the water that will accumulate during Wednesday’s thaw could freeze on Thursday, due to a drop in the mercury during the night.

“Roads could become slippery, causing difficult driving conditions and transportation delays Thursday morning,” Environment Canada warns.

Weather forecasts prompted the City of Montreal to launch its first snow-loading operation of the season on Tuesday. The city wanted to prevent all the snow that had accumulated on the streets in recent days from melting and adding to the rain.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews