A winter storm poised to deliver significant snowfall to the northeastern United States will skirt Quebec, though the province’s southern regions, particularly the Suroît area, are bracing for up to 15 centimeters of snow. While the worst of the storm is expected to remain south of the border, travel conditions are anticipated to deteriorate throughout Friday evening and into Saturday morning.
The storm’s trajectory will be remarkably precise, with forecasts predicting up to 25 centimeters of snowfall in the Adirondack Mountains of Fresh York State, while areas just across the border in Quebec, such as Mont-Tremblant, may receive less than 3 centimeters. This division means the southern portion of Quebec, along the U.S. Border, will bear the brunt of the precipitation.
Snowfall is expected to begin in the Outaouais and Montérégie regions shortly before sunset on Friday, spreading eastward into the Montreal and Estrie areas during the early evening. Initially, the snow will be wet and heavy, but as temperatures fall, it will become lighter and more powdery. Combined with winds, this will create blowing snow and reduced visibility across southern Quebec.
Motorists are advised to exercise caution, particularly on Autoroute 15 between Montreal and Lacolle, Route 138 between Montreal and Huntingdon, and Route 209 along its entire length. Autoroute 50, already known for challenging driving conditions, is also expected to be affected. Travel on Autoroute 417 towards Ottawa, Autoroute 401 towards Kingston and Toronto, Autoroute 15 towards the Laurentians, Autoroute 20 between Montreal and Drummondville, and Autoroute 40 to Trois-Rivières will also likely be impacted, though to a lesser extent.
The Suroît region, southwest of Montreal, is forecast to receive between 10 and 15 centimeters of snow by Saturday evening. The Outaouais region could spot accumulations of 10 centimeters or more in some areas. Montreal itself is expected to receive around 5 centimeters, with the southern portion of the island potentially receiving slightly higher amounts. Sherbrooke is forecast to receive between 5 and 8 centimeters. Northern regions, including the Laurentians, Lanaudière, the Mauricie, the Centre-du-Québec, and the Beauce, are expected to see accumulations of 5 centimeters or less.
The Montérégie region, situated south of Montreal and extending to the U.S. Border, is bordered to the east by the Estrie and Centre-du-Québec regions, and to the west by Ontario. It encompasses 148 municipalities and is characterized by the Monteregian Hills, a geological feature that gives the region its name, derived from a Latinized form of Mount Royal. The region’s economy is robust, with a regional GDP of 59.1241 billion CAD in 2017 and a relatively low unemployment rate of 4.1% in 2019.
