Heavy snowfall expected to blanket Montreal

Montreal is bracing for a significant snowfall tonight, with forecasters warning of rapid accumulation, reduced visibility and difficult travel, as an active winter pattern settles over the region for much of the coming week.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) says snow will begin late this evening and fall heavily at times, with total accumulations near 15 centimetres expected by Sunday morning. Snowfall rates could reach three to four centimetres per hour for several hours overnight, leading to quick buildup on roads and sidewalks.

Winds from the northeast at about 20 kilometres per hour will accompany the snow. Temperatures will dip to plus –1 celsius overnight before rising toward plus +2 C by early Sunday. The wind chill is expected to make it feel closer to minus –7 C this evening.

Meteorologists say snow could change to light rain early Sunday morning, which may influence total snowfall amounts but could also create slippery conditions. Snow or rain is expected to end in the morning, followed by mainly cloudy skies and the chance of flurries later in the day.

Sunday afternoon will turn colder and windier, with east winds shifting southwest and gusting up to 60 kilometres per hour. Temperatures are forecast to fall to minus –2 C, with a wind chill near minus –9 by the afternoon.

The unsettled weather is expected to persist into next week.

Periods of snow are forecast for Monday, with a daytime high of minus –1 C, continuing into Monday night with a low near minus –2. Snow is also expected Tuesday, with temperatures climbing to around plus +2 C, before turning to a mix of snow or rain Tuesday night as temperatures remain above freezing.