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After being slapped with well-below-average temperatures, Montreal was hoping for an early spring.
But the hope that southern Quebec’s bitter cold spells were easing has been dashed as temperatures are set to drop well below seasonal averages—just in time for the weekend.
Read more: Quebec’s late-winter forecast reveals bitter cold, early spring unlikely
According to a report by MétéoMédia, a cold front thanks to a western low-pressure system will sweep across the province from Friday to Saturday.
Northwest winds will push Arctic air over much of Quebec, resulting in some areas seeing temperatures up to 12°C below the normal for this time of year.
Check out: Best indoor things to do in Montreal when it's freezing outside
A vigorous cold front will sweep across Quebec, bringing heavy snow, strong winds, and a sharp temperature drop.
Gusts are expected Friday afternoon in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, later reaching the Outaouais and Upper Laurentians, with southern Quebec (Montreal, Estrie) affected Friday night into Saturday morning.
Travel will be challenging on major routes like Highway 15 and Route 117, with snow-covered roads and variable visibility across the Laurentians, Outaouais, Greater Montreal, Montérégie, Estrie, and Centre-du-Québec.
Motorists are advised to drive with caution, reduce speeds, and allow extra time.
Montreal will see heavy snow overnight Friday into early Saturday, while Estrie may experience snowfall into early afternoon.
Total accumulation is expected to reach 5–10 cm, followed by frigid air for the rest of the weekend.
Highs will range between –12°C and –16°C in the Montreal area, but nighttime lows will be well below –20°C in southern Quebec.
This continues the trend seen over the last two weekends in southern Quebec.
On January 24–25, the average high in Montreal was –18.6°C while the average low reached –24°C.
The following weekend, January 31–February 1, was somewhat milder, with an average high of –11.5°C and an average low of –16°C.
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