A freezing rain warning hanging over the region is set to disrupt Montreal’s uneven slide into spring, with forecasters cautioning that even modest ice buildup Tuesday could make for slick travel and scattered power outages.
The warning calls for up to 10 millimetres of freezing rain beginning Tuesday morning and returning overnight into Wednesday, covering Montreal and parts of Lanaudière, Lachute and Montérégie. Temperatures are expected to hover near the freezing mark, which may limit widespread damage, but officials say that same narrow margin increases the risk of icy, hard-to-see surfaces on roads and sidewalks.
The threat arrives after a brief taste of milder weather to start the week. Monday begins with a mix of sun and cloud before turning overcast later in the day, as southwest winds strengthen and temperatures climb to 14 Celsius. Rain is expected to develop near midnight as winds ease and shift, with the temperature falling to around zero.
By Tuesday morning, that precipitation may fall as freezing rain before easing near midday, leaving behind cloudy skies, gusty northeast winds and a high near 2 C. Conditions are expected to deteriorate again Tuesday night, with another round of precipitation, possibly as rain or snow, as temperatures once more settle at the freezing point, prolonging the risk of icy conditions.
A brief stabilization follows midweek. Wednesday remains cloudy with a high of 7 C before clearing overnight, when temperatures drop to minus–4 C, raising the likelihood that any untreated surfaces will refreeze. Rain returns Thursday, with a high near 4 C and continued precipitation overnight, reinforcing a damp and unsettled pattern.
Warmer air pushes in by Friday, bringing periods of rain and a high of 15 C, though the improvement is expected to be short-lived. Cloud cover and a strong chance of showers linger into the night, and the weekend offers little relief. Saturday brings more cloud and intermittent showers with a high around 10 C, followed by rain overnight, while Sunday is expected to remain rainy with temperatures holding near 10 C.
Environment officials are advising residents to prepare for rapidly changing conditions, particularly during Tuesday’s freezing rain, when even limited ice accumulation could make travel hazardous across the region.
