Quebec Braces for Critical Freezing Rain Event
A significant freezing rain event is forecast to impact much of Quebec, beginning Wednesday and potentially lasting for 24 hours. Environment Canada has issued warnings for Greater Montreal, Montérégie, Outaouais, Laurentians, Lanaudière, Mauricie, Centre-du-Québec, and the Quebec City region, stating the situation could be “potentially critical” and paralyze some services.
Impacts and Warnings
The anticipated accumulation of freezing rain is expected to reach 20 to 30 millimetres. This could lead to:
- Transportation delays and cancellations .
- Prolonged power outages due to ice accumulation on trees and power lines .
- Icy surfaces, increasing the risk of falls and injuries .
- Potential damage to buildings and trees from the weight of the ice .
Residents are advised to avoid non-essential travel and exercise extreme caution if walking or driving .
Forecast Details
The freezing rain is expected to initiate early Wednesday and continue through Thursday. Following the event, temperatures will remain cold, potentially hindering recovery efforts. As of 10:00 PM EDT Monday, March 9, 2026, conditions at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport were mainly clear with a temperature of 11.9°C, a dew point of 0.0°C, and a west-southwesterly wind at 22 km/h gusting to 35 km/h . Temperatures are expected to hover around freezing on Wednesday and Thursday morning, dropping to -12°C by Thursday night, with flurries anticipated afterward .
Ongoing Monitoring
Environment Canada urges residents to continue monitoring alerts and forecasts issued by the agency. Severe weather reports can be submitted via email to QCstorm@ec.gc.ca or through posts on X using the hashtag #QCStorm .