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A “snowstorm” hits Quebec

And even if they are closed, the borders will not be able to contain this important depression which goes up in New England. The unwanted storm will enter Quebec territory overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday and will reach its peak just in time for the curfew on Wednesday evening in the most populous regions of Quebec.

About fifteen centimeters of snow are expected in several sectors, perhaps even more in mountainous terrain. According to current models, the regions most affected will be Estrie, Beauce and Bas-Saint-Laurent.

Accumulation on the ground will not, however, be an indicator of the amount of snow that will afflict Quebecers. The warmer ground than in winter will melt some of the snow, particularly in areas further south such as the greater Montreal area. No need to take out your shovels!

These are significant accumulations, but it is certain that at this point of the year the ground is warm, so it can certainly melt some of the first few inches of snow that will fall., specifies André Cantin, meteorologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada.

But Estrie, Beauce, from Montmagny to Rimouski, all these sectors could receive between 15 and 20 centimeters of snow.

A quote from:André Cantin, meteorologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada

A large mechanical excavator clears a street in Bas-Saint-Laurent on April 20, 2020.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Simon Turcotte

Be careful on the roads

On the other hand, the most populous sectors of the province will be affected a little less. Motorists are nonetheless advised to exercise caution as they could experience winter road conditions with their summer tires.

Montreal and Trois-Rivières, for example, will receive between 5 and 10 cm of snow, Quebec and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, between 10 and 15 cm. The Haute-Côte-Nord, mainly the Baie-Comeau sector, could receive up to 25 cm of snow.

The further east the low moves, the more precipitation will turn to rain. The Gaspé should particularly taste it, with 30 to 50 mm, that is to say from Baie-des-Chaleurs to Gaspé, via Murdochville.

It would be a good winter storm if it was January or February, comments André Cantin.km / h in the Bas-Saint-Laurent sector and maybe even in Quebec. But since it will be sticky snow, there won’t be any blowing snow associated with it. “,” Text “:” There will be relatively strong winds. Gusts of up to 70km / h in the Bas-Saint-Laurent sector and perhaps even in Quebec. But since it will be sticky snow, there will be no blowing snow associated with it. “}}” Lang = “fr”>There will be relatively strong winds. Gusts of up to 70 km / h in the Bas-Saint-Laurent sector and perhaps even in Quebec. But since it will be sticky snow, there will be no blowing snow associated with it.

A close-up of a snowy street in Rimouski.

The day after a storm in mid-April, in Rimouski.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Simon Turcotte

Let’s go back to the end of the war

Despite the magnitude of the expected meteorological phenomenon, old records dating back as far as the end of the war should still hold.

While Hitler was pushed to his limits, Quebecers were invited to stay at home to celebrate the imminent end of Nazi Germany, at least on April 21, 1945. That day, the Beaucerons had particularly tasted it with 30.5 cm of snow, a record for this region.

Closer to us in the time scale, an accumulation of 32 centimeters was also recorded at the Bagotville airport, in Saguenay, during a storm that occurred at the end of April 2012.

We can see that it is extremely rare, but not exceptional at this time of the year. Certain sectors, it could still approach record values.

A quote from:André Cantin, meteorologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada

Other late accumulations

The latest snow accumulations (minimum 10 cm) in the main cities of the St.Lawrence Valley are generally between May 3 and 5, according to data from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Nothing on the radar, however, indicates that this will be the case this year. On the contrary, the good weather will be back in time for next weekend, according to current forecasts.

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