A blast of wintry weather is underway in Quebec as snow continues to fall across the province Tuesday.
Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for several areas, including Montreal and Quebec City, as a developing low-pressure system moves up the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and becomes a “major storm.”
As the storm intensifies, Montreal is expected to see up to 15 centimetres of snow throughout the day and into Wednesday.
The weather agency warns there will be blowing snow as well, which could make for a tricky commute.
“Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions,” the warning states. “Rapidly accumulating snow will make travel difficult.”
As a result, Quebec provincial police are calling on people to be careful behind the wheel and to adapt their driving when necessary.
“Be patient and keep your distance,” the Sûreté du Québec wrote on social media, adding those who can stay home should do so.
For those commuting by bus, Montreal’s public transit authority (STM) says delays are possible due to difficult road conditions. In the afternoon, Mayor Valérie Plante also took to Twitter to say work crews are out to secure streets and sidewalks while urging people out and about to be cautious.
Montreal is being spared from the worst of the storm, however, compared to other regions.
The winter weather will bring up to 35 centimetres of snow to Quebec City while the Eastern Townships will get up to 25. Environment Canada says “hazardous conditions” are expected for those areas.
Meanwhile, the Gaspé will be hit by 40 to 60 centimetres of snow by the time the storm ends. There is also a storm surge warning in place as the weather agency says “higher than normal water levels with large waves are expected near the coast.”