Winter storm warning prompts preemptive school closures in Montreal

Students across the province are getting an early start to the holidays as a major storm system is making its way towards Quebec Thursday night.

Environment Canada is warning of a mix of weather conditions with some areas expected to see up to 70 centimetres of snow.

The Greater Montreal area, which is under a snowfall warning, will get up to 20 centimetres of snow by Friday morning. But that’s not where it ends.

“Snow will change to rain Friday morning with a risk of freezing rain during this transition,” the weather agency said.

The warnings prompted several school boards across the province to cancel classes for Friday, Dec. 23 — which would have been the last day of school before the winter holidays.

In the Montreal area, most school boards have announced system closures affecting schools, offices and daycare services.

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Here are the Montreal-area school closures for Friday, Dec. 23:

• English Montreal School Board
• Lester B. Pearson School Board
• Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board
• New Frontiers School Board
• Riverside School Board
• Sacred Heart School of Montreal
• The Priory School
• École Vanguard School
• Centre de services scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys
• Centre de services scolaire de Montréal
• Centre de services scolaire de la Pointe-de-l’Ile
• Centre de services scolaire de Laval
• Centre de services scolaire des Trois-Lacs
• Centre de services scolaire Marie-Victorin

This list will continue to be updated.

2:00 Quebec winter storm could make holiday travel difficult

— With files from Global News’ Kalina Laframboise