Winter weather is coming to Quebec with freezing rain, snow and cold temperatures

MONTREAL – After a very mild fall, the winter weather is finally moving into southwestern Quebec.

On Friday, rain will shift to snow, with most areas in and around Montreal only expecting to see light accumulations, near about five inches, with temperatures hovering just above freezing.

Areas east of the city will experience much greater snowfall.

Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued special weather statements for locations such as Eastern Townships and Beauce, where up to 15 cm is possible Friday through Saturday.

Snowfall warnings are in effect for parts of the province with 15 to 25 cm of accumulation on the way, and Saguenay is expected to be hardest hit with 15-25 cm of snow and gusts. And parts of the Gaspe Peninsula are under a warning of freezing rain, as two millimeters of icy precipitation is expected tonight before turning to snow tonight.

The messy weather is all connected to a low-pressure system that moved up from the United States. The layer brought icy rain to areas north of Montreal Thursday night. Mirabel saw freezing rain from kl. 18 Thursday evening to kl. 8 Friday morning.

Light snow is expected to subside in Montreal on Friday night, and then colder air will move in.

Montreal will see the wind pick up Friday night to Saturday morning with gusts of up to 50 mph. The low temperature in Montreal will drop to almost seasonal -4 degrees Celsius, but the wind will make it feel more like -12. The gust is expected to continue all day Saturday.

Colder air will stay throughout next week with temperatures staying below average and below freezing.