Powerful winter storm brings about multiple school closures in southern Quebec

Several school boards across Quebec announced closures as one of the biggest winter storms of the season descended on the southern part of the province in snow.

Up to 40 centimetres of snow is expected in Montreal by Thursday evening. Quebec City is set to receive up to 30 centimetres. 

Environment Canada meteorologist Gina Ressler says there might be a chance of rain or possibly freezing rain, south of the St. Lawrence River valley, in the afternoon.

Ressler says the storm is a Texas low — fast-moving and picking up moisture, warmth and humidity from the Gulf of Mexico.

"That's really what kind of drives the storm and gives us these big snowfall amounts," she said. "Combining that moist Gulf air with the Arctic air that's coming from Northern Canada, that is the combination that is strengthening this storm."

She says snowfall will spread northeast to the Gaspé peninsula and North Shore on Thursday afternoon.

Another storm is set to pass through the region on Sunday.

It's an uncommon sequence of weather systems, according to Peter Kimbell, an Environment Canada meteorologist.

"We have two storms back-to-back on Thursday and Sunday, which is unusual after a stretch of mild weather," he said.

Ressler says the province will not experience a warm up between these two systems.

Multiple school closures, flights cancelled

School closures in the Montreal-area Thursday so far include:

• Dollard-des-Ormeaux School.
• McGill University — campus remains open but in-person classes are cancelled.
• Concordia University — campuses are partially open but in-person classes cancelled.
• Eastern Townships School Board.
• The Study school. 
• Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board.
• Centre de service scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys.
• English Montreal School Board.
• Centre de services scolaire de Montréal.
• Centre de services scolaire de la Pointe-de-l'Île.
• Lester B. Pearson School Board.
• New Frontiers School Board.
• Marianopolis College.
• Vanier College suspending in-person classes. 
• Collège Charles-Lemoyne.
• Collège Durocher Saint-Lambert.
• Centre de services scolaire des Grandes-Seigneuries.
• Centre de services scolaire Marie-Victorin.
• Centre de services scolaire des Patriotes.
• Riverside School Board.

In the Quebec-City-area, school closures include: 

• Centre de services scolaire de la Capitale.
• Central Québec School Board.
• Centre de services scolaire des Navigateurs.

All four western Quebec school service centres have also cancelled classes.

This may not be a complete list as school boards, CEGEPs and universities continue to make announcements Thursday morning. Parents and students are advised to check their school's communications for closures.

Plan travel accordingly

Montreal's snow-clearing teams began clearing major arteries as soon as the storm hit Wednesday and will continue working through Thursday. On Friday, they'll start clearing sidewalks, but will pause before the second storm.

"They're expecting more snow Saturday and Sunday, so the city will wait until Sunday to resume operations," said city spokesperson Philippe Sabourin.

The city is advising people to plan for rapidly changing conditions, prioritize public transport, cancel non-urgent appointments and work from home if possible. 

"Several roadways across Quebec will be affected, and the situation could evolve quickly, requiring heightened vigilance from drivers," the Transport Ministry says in a news release.

The heavy snowfall along with strong winds and drifting snow, will severely reduce visibility on the roads, it says.

At Montreal's international airport, more than 100 flights have been cancelled. Most of them are domestic and transborder flights. Passengers should check their flight status before heading to Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau international Airport.