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Montreal blizzard hampers rush-hour commute

Click to play video: 'Montreal commute hampered by major snowstorm'
Montreal commute hampered by major snowstorm
WATCH ABOVE: A major snowstorm walloped Montreal overnight leading to school closures and a difficult commute. As Global's Tim Sargeant explains, even city buses needed towing Wednesday morning – Mar 16, 2017

It was a difficult commute in Montreal Wednesday morning after a record-breaking snowstorm walloped the city.

Just before midnight Tuesday, 31.6 cm of snow had blanketed the streets of Montreal and the snow continued through Wednesday morning.

READ MORE: Massive pileup on Highway 13 strands hundreds of drivers overnight

By the time the time the storm ends, more than 40 cm of snow is expected to have accumulated.

While city buses were running during the morning rush hour, there were several delays and the Société de transport de Montreal (STM) thanked transit users for their patience.

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And patience was certainly in order as some 200 STM buses were reportedly stuck in snowdrifts and slippery roads across the network in the early morning hours.

As of 9 a.m., that number was down to 165, which represents 15 per cent of the STM’s rush-hour fleet.

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The transit authority said that more than 10 tow trucks had been dispatched across the city to help free the stranded buses.

READ MORE: Montreal schools announce closures, brace for major winter storm

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According to the STM, the situation was made worse as 100 drivers were unable to get to work due to the severe weather.

In the meantime, commuters are being urged to use the metro system, which is up and running without delays.

WATCH BELOW: Montreal transit buses deal with winter weather

Click to play video: 'Montreal STM buses help each other up hill'
Montreal STM buses help each other up hill

Those determined to take the bus can expect delays ranging from 10 to 30 minutes.

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The STM said it expects those delays to continue throughout the day.

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