No doubt: there will be snow at Christmas. However, these elements are to be taken into consideration when driving. Caution will be required on the roads for the next two days.
Several roads are already closed to traffic. The Côte-Nord is particularly concerned, since Route 138 is not passable at the present time.
1. Icy roads
During the day Friday, there was a sudden cooling across southern Quebec: in just a few hours, the mercury dropped 10 degrees below freezing. Consequences ? The wet surfaces froze, transforming the roadway into a veritable skating rink. These conditions will continue on Saturday, when a few snowflakes will be added to the already very slippery roads.
2. Risk of snow squalls
Winds will also remain and might affect visibility. After record highs on Friday followingnoon in the Quebec region, the trend will however be down until Sunday. Some areas, including the metropolitan area, might still experience gusts of 50 to 70 km / h. Flurries caught in these winds might complicate already difficult road conditions.
3. Blowing snow conditions
Finally, the risk of blowing snow will be very high and widespread throughout the province on Saturday. This freshly fallen snow that the gusts can easily lift will considerably reduce visibility on the roads. The phenomenon will continue on Sunday even if it will lose its magnitude.
Another phenomenon to watch closely is that of snow blades. As a reminder, a snow blade is a small flow of snow pushed by the wind and which cuts a traffic lane. Traveling on the roads affected by the phenomenon might prove dangerous.
Caution and slowness are therefore essential for safe travel this Christmas weekend.
With the collaboration of Patrick Duplessis, meteorologist
