Montreal hit by extreme cold and power outages, snow on the way
Posted January 24, 2026 7:27 am.
Last Updated January 24, 2026 7:39 pm.
Montreal and surrounding regions were hit by extreme cold on Saturday, creating hazardous conditions and causing widespread power outages.
At the peak, 17,052 addresses lost service, including 15,038 in Montreal. Smaller outages occurred in Montérégie (22 addresses) and the Laurentians (15 addresses), according to Hydro-Québec.
“We’re expecting our yearly highest demand in electricity, which should happen on Sunday in the morning,” said Cendrix Bouchard, spokesperson for Hydro-Québec. “The peak periods are between 6 and 10 in the morning and 4 to 8 at night.”
“If needs be, we can actually import electricity from nearby jurisdictions, like Ontario,” added said. “They don’t use as much electricity as we do for heating, so it’s possible for us to import.”
As of 1:57 p.m., 16,545 addresses lost service, including 15,480 in Montreal, 12 in Montérégie and 0 in Laurentians, according to Hydro-Québec.
In a statement to CityNews, Hydro-Québec said: “We have teams working on this outage and doing their utmost to restore the service as quickly as possible. Clients will see power restored gradually, as indicated on our website.”
Residents are now bracing for snow and continued frigid temperatures over the rest of the weekend.
“If people actually want to help us over the next few days, there are simple things they can do,” said Bouchard. “One of them is if you’re able to reduce temperature by one or two degrees in your whole house or apartment, or maybe in the rooms you’re not using for a few hours. It may seem like a very simple thing to do on a personal basis, but if you look at it on a collective level, it will free up a lot of megawatts.”
Snowfall expected
Environment And Climate Change Canada has issued a special weather statement forecasting 10 to 20 centimetres of snow beginning late Sunday and ending midday Monday.
The snowfall is expected across the Lower Laurentians, Greater Montreal, Montérégie, and the Eastern Townships.
Powdery snow combined with wind could reduce visibility, and cold temperatures are expected to make roads and sidewalks slippery, potentially delaying the Monday morning commute.
Extreme cold continues
The agency warns that extreme cold continues to put residents at risk. Wind chill values reached minus-35 to minus-38 Celsius Saturday morning, and temperatures are expected to remain well below freezing for the remainder of the weekend.
Officials advise dressing in layers with a wind-resistant outer layer and warn that if it is too cold for people to stay outdoors, it is too cold for pets. Exposure to the cold increases the risk of frostbite and hypothermia.
Weekend forecast
Saturday will be sunny, with west winds at 20 km/h. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of minus-18 C, with wind chill making it feel like minus-29 C this afternoon. Overnight, skies will remain clear, with a low near minus-22 C and wind chill around minus-28 C.
On Sunday, cloudiness will increase, with light snow beginning in the afternoon. Northeast winds will pick up to 20 km/h, keeping temperatures bitterly cold, with a high of minus-16 C and wind chill near minus-29 C. Frostbite remains a risk, and UV levels are low, around 1.
Montrealers brace for deep freeze
CityNews spoke with Montrealers braving the extreme cold to see how they are coping with the frigid temperatures.
“Yeah, we’re really wrapped up. I’ve never been this cold before,” said Dylan, a Montrealer.
“I’m just focused on getting from point A to point B,” said a Montrealer who did not want to be identified.
“This is our first Canadian winter, so we’re doing OK,” said Maddie Anderson.
“It was a little shocking for me. My car almost didn’t start this morning,” said Jeffrey Solatchki-Quiroz, a Montrealer.
Residents are being urged to limit time outdoors, dress warmly, and take precautions during both the snowfall and extreme cold.
