Snow, Wind, and a Challenging Commute Across Southern Quebec
It’s been quite a scene across southern Quebec over the past couple of days, as a steady mix of snow, wind, and cold has shaped the rhythm of daily life. Since Wednesday morning, about ten centimetres of snow have already settled across the region, and another five to ten were expected through Thursday. So, as you can imagine, just stepping outside has felt like walking straight into winter’s full embrace.
In Montréal on Thursday morning, people were moving briskly down the sidewalks, bundled tightly in winter coats, scarves pulled high, faces red from the cold wind. Still, despite the frosty bite, there were plenty of smiles. One of them came from Antoine Isoart, who was shovelling his driveway with the enthusiasm of someone experiencing his very first winter in Quebec. He mentioned that growing up in the mountains had prepared him for this and that seeing fresh snow still brought him joy.
Others were handling the weather with patience and practicality. Renée Gravel, waiting for her bus under a steady snowfall, didn’t seem too bothered. She did, however, wish the city made better use of winter conditions—imagine cross-country skiing through Montréal’s back alleys, she said. And honestly, that does sound magical.
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Across from Parc Jeanne-Mance, workers like Julien Dumont-Boudrias were already deep into the holiday rush. He was delivering his fourth Christmas tree of the day, laughing about how early snow always boosts business. People get excited, he said—and he wasn’t wrong. It’s the kind of weather that makes everyone think of fireplaces and decorations.
Cyclists had a tougher time. Along Saint-Urbain, bike paths narrowed by snowbanks and crowded by delivery trucks forced some riders to hop off and walk. Chris Kennedy eventually took to the road with his quadriporteur after realizing he would have been stuck if he’d stayed on the bike path. Clearing efforts hadn’t quite caught up with the snowfall, and he wasn’t the only one frustrated.
And of course, with these conditions came impacts on the roads. According to Environment Canada, fifteen to twenty centimetres had fallen by Thursday evening. The Sûreté du Québec reported dozens of minor accidents and cars sliding off the road, though thankfully nothing major. An interactive map from the transport ministry showed most roads across Quebec either snow-covered or partially coated, with some icy stretches especially in Estrie and Montérégie.
Even public transit felt the strain. The REM experienced a complete shutdown early Thursday morning due to technical issues, though service resumed fairly quickly.
Still, despite the messy conditions, schools remained open and student transportation continued as usual. Temperatures are expected to rise slightly in the coming days before another round of snow arrives on Saturday. A bit of a roller coaster, but nothing out of the ordinary for December in Quebec.
Winter has definitely settled in—and it’s making sure everyone notices.
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