Freezing rain closes schools - cancels flights

Freezing rain and snow have left most parking lots and sidewalks in very poor shape this morning. This contractor was making the walk from the car to work much easier in St. Laurent. (ValleyWeather Photo)

Apparently we have the solution to Montreal's traffic woes, close all the schools. Despite 8mm of freezing rain overnight, the traffic flow is relatively smooth this morning. The same cannot be said at Trudeau Airport, where dozens of flights have been delayed or cancelled. The storm started during the Monday evening commute in Montreal, dropping a quick 10cm of snow on the city, before changing to freezing rain around 10pm.  The freezing rain has coated everything in a layer of ice, making walking and getting to and from your car, the biggest challenges of the day. For that reason, all the major school boards in southern Quebec, have cancelled classes for the day. As of 8am, the hydro grid seems to be holding, with only 6700 customers without power.

The temperature remains below 0C (32F) in the immediate St. Lawrence Valley this morning, but has since warmed above freezing from the South Shore to the US border. Another band of precipitation will be arriving shortly in the city, with 5-10mm expected by noon. There is even the risk of a few rumbles of thunder with this next area of rain. The trailing cold front will arrive later today, dropping temperatures once again to well below freezing, -7C (19F). Any showers or freezing rain will taper off to flurries overnight, with gusty northwest winds up to 60km/h. Colder weather is expected through Friday, before another warm system arrives with more rain expected this weekend.