First taste of winter: up to 20 cm of snow in Montreal this weekend

A person clears snow from around a car during a snowstorm in Montreal, Sunday, February 16, 2025. A winter storm continues to strengthen in parts of Ontario and Quebec on Sunday as heavy snowfall is expected to blanket the provinces with a second big storm in just four days. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

It’s happening, Montreal — winter’s on the doorstep and we’re about to get a first taste of it this weekend.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a snowfall warning on Saturday for parts of central and southern Quebec, warning that the first “significant snowfall” of the season is expected to begin Sunday afternoon and continue into Monday.

The weather system could bring between 10 to 20 centimetres of snow to the Greater Montreal Area.

“Snow could also mix with rain at times. In addition, a brief episode of freezing rain is possible between Sunday evening and early Monday morning,” the weather notice reads.

“These conditions could make roads snowy and slippery, making travel difficult on Sunday and Monday.”

People are being advised that visibility will be reduced at times and to give themselves extra travel time.

It’s not just the snow that will make getting around the city a challenge. There is no REM service on Saturday and Sunday as the network is completely shut down for testing and the bus and metro network will operate only during peak hours due to the STM strike.

Drivers take note: if your snow brush is still buried in the trunk, now’s the time to dig it out.

Temperature drop

Environment Canada is calling for a low of -1 C Saturday evening with the windchill making it feel more like -6.

On Sunday, the high should hover steady near zero as the snow begins to fall in the morning with five to 10 centimetres expected. The snow will mix with rain at times in the evening, with a risk of freezing rain. Another five to 10 centimetres will fall throughout the evening.

The low will remain around the freezing mark.

On Monday, the temperature should remain at 0 C with periods of snow.