The initial snowstorm of December left thousands without power, prompted school closures, and disrupted commutes throughout southern Quebec on Monday morning.
As of 9 a.m., Hydro-Québec reported that over 105,000 customers were experiencing power outages due to heavy snow accumulation on wires, branches, and trees. The most affected areas included Montreal, the Montérégie, and the Eastern Townships.
Environment Canada issued snowfall warnings for parts of southern Quebec. By 9 a.m., Montreal had already received 29 centimeters of snow, while Quebec City had five centimeters.
The public weather agency warned of challenging travel conditions, anticipating a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas. They also cautioned that heavy snowfall could lead to the breakage of tree branches.
In response to the adverse weather, the Eastern Townships School Board closed schools, and the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board, overseeing English-language schools north of Montreal, closed Rawdon Elementary, Joliette Elementary, and Joliette High School for the day.
Despite the ongoing public sector strike, most schools in Montreal remained open.
The inclement weather conditions also affected both road and air travel. Montreal’s transit authority reported slow bus traffic, and numerous flights faced delays or cancellations at Montreal and Quebec City airports.