Montreal is gearing up for a heavy snowfall tonight, as weather experts foresee challenging conditions with rapid accumulation and limited visibility shaping up for the coming week.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), snow is set to start late this evening and intensify, potentially reaching accumulations of around 15 centimetres by Sunday morning. Snowfall rates may peak at three to four centimetres per hour overnight, leading to quickly accumulating snow on roads and sidewalks.
Accompanying the snow will be northeast winds at approximately 20 kilometres per hour. Overnight temperatures are expected to drop to around -1 degree Celsius before rising to +2 degrees Celsius by early Sunday, although the wind chill factor could make it feel more like -7 degrees Celsius this evening.
Meteorologists are predicting a possible transition to light rain early Sunday, affecting total snowfall amounts while also increasing the risk of slippery conditions. The precipitation is anticipated to cease in the morning, with mostly cloudy skies and the chance of flurries later in the day.
Sunday afternoon will bring colder and windier conditions, with east winds shifting to southwest and gusting up to 60 kilometres per hour. Temperatures are projected to fall to around -2 degrees Celsius, with a wind chill nearing -9 degrees Celsius by the afternoon.
The unpredictable weather pattern is expected to persist into the following week, with snow periods forecasted for Monday and a daytime high of -1 degree Celsius. Monday night is likely to see continued snowfall with a low near -2 degrees Celsius. Tuesday is expected to bring more snow, with temperatures rising to approximately +2 degrees Celsius before transitioning to a mix of snow or rain Tuesday night as temperatures stay above freezing.
