As forecast earlier this week, a winter storm is making its way across Quebec Sunday.
In Montreal, Environment Canada says between 15 to 25 cm of snow is expected.
READ MORE: Winter storm batters Eastern and Central Canada with ice-cold winds, heavy snow
The weather agency warns of strong winds and blowing snow and is urging motorists to stay off the roads.
“Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve,” a statement on its website reads. “Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions.”
Transports Quebec spokesperson Émilie Lord reiterated the warning.
WATCH: Winter storm making travel difficult in Montreal
“Stay at home if you can,” she said.
While as of Sunday at 10:30 a.m., there had been no reports of major accidents on Quebec roads, Lord explained that driving conditions were far from optimal.
With the intense cold, salt loses its efficiency to melt snow and ice on the streets.
“We have to use more abrasive products such as sand and a mix of finely crushed rocks,” she said.
WATCH: Montreal gets walloped with snow as storm moves through
Lord also said that tires don’t grip the road as well either, making it more dangerous to get around.
The winter storm isn’t just affecting driving conditions, flights in and out of Montreal at Trudeau Airport have either been delayed or cancelled.
Aéroports de Montreal is warning travellers to check their flight status directly with their airlines.
The Société de Transports de Montréal (STM) has reported some disruptions to bus service due to bad road conditions.
The affected areas are Ridgewood Hill, du Beaver Hall Hill and Victoria Hill.
The STM is recommending transit users allow for more time to get to their destination.
The storm also wiped out power for thousands of residents in the West Island Sunday morning.
Jean-Philippe Rousseau, a Hydro-Québec spokesperson, told Global News the outage occurred at the Baie d’Urfé substation at 5:50 a.m., after an equipment breakdown. He couldn’t confirm, however, whether the outage was a direct result of the weather.
At the peak of the outage, 14,000 customers were without electricity.
Rousseau said crews were working to restore power on the island as soon as possible.
READ MORE: Montreal homeless especially vulnerable when the mercury drops, experts say
The winter wallop has also led to the cancellation of Fête des Neiges activities at Parc Jean-Drapeau.
Organizers of the outdoor winter festival geared to kids and families cited safety concerns as the reason behind the cancellation.
“Although the majority of the festivities can be held despite difficult winter conditions, blowing snow, freezing cold, wind gusts and dangerous roads are all factors that have influenced our decision,” said François Cartier, spokesperson for the Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau.
Michel Dupont took the metro to get to Parc Jean-Drapeau.
He was well dressed for the occasion, even donning ski googles to keep the blowing snow out of his eyes.
WATCH: Frozen sculptures at Fête des Neiges
Dupont expressed his dismay over the cancellation, saying he found it strange that a festival devoted to snow would close because “there’s a little bit of snow.”
“I’m surprised that they closed the facility,” Dupont said. “It’s not a huge storm.”
Fête des Neiges activities are expected to resume next weekend, as planned.
WATCH: Dramatic multi-car pile-up in Montreal on Beaver Hall Hill in Dec. 2016
While it may not be the biggest storm of the century, Environment Canada spokesperson Michelle Fleury, said it was one of the coldest.
“It’s very rare that we get heavy snow with temperatures below -15,” she said.
The last time we got more than 20 cm of snow in -15 weather was in 1920.
Snow-clearing operations underway
City spokesperson, Philippe Sabourin said 1,000 trucks were out on the roads on Sunday.
“In total we have to cover 10,000 kilometers of street and sidewalks, that’s a huge challenge,” he said.
“It’s the equivalent of 18 times back and forth Montreal-Quebec.”
Sabourin said the city is also equipped with cameras that have been installed on several steep hills to help monitor road conditions.
After the snowfall tapers off, the city will work on clearing the snow off the roads before the Monday morning commute.
“Once the snowfall will be behind us, we will need an extra eight hours to complete the operation,” Sabourin said.
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