Published on January 6, 2025 at 1:05 p.m.
When we think of winter, we think of cold and snow. And this is precisely what the season will offer to almost all of Quebec this week. Forecast.
A lazy system
The week will be marked by a slightly retrograde system which is hovering over the Maritimes, and which will bring cold air and snow to almost all of Quebec. The system being in the east of the province, the western sectors such as Outaouais and Abitibi-Témiscamingue will be spared, or at least little affected.
Important contrast
While eastern Quebec, notably the North Shore, Gaspésie and Bas-Saint-Laurent, will experience a mild start to the week, the rest of the province will have to deal with very wintery temperatures. We are talking about feelings approaching -30 in Abitibi, and -20 for Montreal. But this cold is not going to stop the snow from falling, and especially from accumulating.
Powder snow
The snow that this system will deposit will therefore be fine and dry. The good news is that it will therefore be light and easy to shovel. The bad news is that it will accumulate more easily and will be easier to move by wind. We could thus end up with blowing snow in places, and very varied accumulations on the roads. This is good news for board sports enthusiasts. This type of snow is difficult to compact and provides a good base and does not turn into ice after a few passes.
Up to 30cm
In total, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Gaspésie will be entitled to the jackpot when it comes to snow accumulations. We are talking about 15 to 25 cm in Saguenay, and 25 to 30 cm for certain sectors of Gaspésie by Wednesday evening. Conditions will need to be monitored in Gaspésie National Park, which could receive up to 30 cm of snow. The areas of Chaleur Bay should receive much less. In Estrie and Beauce, we can expect to receive between 10 and 15 cm of accumulation, and similar quantities in Jamésie, around Matagami. The North Shore could receive between 5 and 10 cm of snow, the same quantity as in the Montreal region.
A Clipper on the radar
Towards the end of the week, an Alberta Clipper could make its way to Quebec. Unlike a Colorado system or a coastal low, an Alberta Clipper does not come from the south of the continent, so it does not bring mildness but rather cold air. We could therefore expect snowfall similar to that of the middle of this week, dry and light.
With the collaboration of Nicolas Lessard, meteorologist.
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