Heavy Snowstorm Shuts Schools and Cuts Power Across Quebec
Quebec woke up to a true taste of winter this week, as a powerful mix of snow and freezing rain swept across the province, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and forcing the closure of many schools. By Tuesday morning, more than 288,000 homes were reported to be in the dark , and the number was still climbing as utility crews rushed to restore electricity.
Hydro-Québec confirmed that the hardest-hit region was Montérégie , where nearly 100,000 addresses lost power. Other affected regions included Montreal, Lanaudière, the Laurentians, Laval, Mauricie, and parts of the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean area. The utility company explained that heavy, wet snow combined with strong winds had brought down branches and trees, damaging power lines across vast areas. Crews were quickly mobilized, with some being called back from rest to handle the widespread outages.
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The storm also threw the province’s school system into chaos. Entire school districts decided to close for the day , prioritizing safety as roads turned icy and public transportation slowed. The Saint-Hyacinthe School Service Center, which serves about 18,000 students, shut down all 39 of its schools, while the Center for Patriotes closed around 20 of its institutions. In Lanaudière, the Samares district suspended classes in 20 schools as power outages and slippery conditions made travel unsafe.
Environment Canada reported that most regions received between 10 and 20 centimeters of snow since Sunday, with Montreal’s downtown measuring up to 20 centimeters by early Tuesday — and it kept coming down. Meteorologists warned that some areas in the Greater Montreal region could see as much as 25 centimeters by the end of the day. South of the St. Lawrence River, the snowfall mixed with freezing rain, making driving conditions especially treacherous.
The sudden storm also caught many motorists off guard. Since Quebec’s winter tire deadline doesn’t come into effect until December 1, countless drivers were still using summer tires — leading to spinouts, traffic jams, and abandoned vehicles. Local garages reported a surge of desperate customers looking to install winter tires, but many were turned away as shops reached full capacity.
Even public services and everyday routines felt the impact. Telecommunications company Vidéotron reported service disruptions across several southern regions. In Montreal, BIXI shared bikes struggled through the snow, with riders navigating slick roads on bikes not yet fitted with studded tires.
Despite the challenges, emergency services reported no major spike in accidents or injuries. Still, health officials urged residents to stay indoors if possible, check on neighbors, and avoid calling ambulances for non-urgent issues.
For Quebec, this storm served as a sharp reminder: winter has officially arrived — and it came early, loud, and cold.
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