Quebec Winter Weather: Snow, Slippery Roads & Reduced Visibility Today

Winter Weather Disrupts Travel in Southern Quebec

A typical winter day in 2026: just enough snow to cause some problems on the roads, and just in time for the morning rush hour. That’s the situation unfolding across southern Quebec on Wednesday, February 25th, as a clipper system brings periods of snow and slick conditions.

In Brief:

• Light to moderate snow is falling Wednesday morning in southern Quebec.
• Cold temperatures this morning are creating slippery road conditions.
• Gusts could cause blowing snow Wednesday morning.
• Multiple incidents and off-road events have been reported Wednesday morning.
• Temperatures will rise Wednesday afternoon, but remain below freezing.

Timing is Everything

Major snowstorms have been largely absent this winter, but the infamous clipper systems from western Canada are stepping in to cause headaches for Quebec drivers. And their sense of timing is proving impeccable this Wednesday. Two pulses of snow are expected in many areas: one during the morning rush hour, and another in the afternoon for the commute home. Several accidents and off-road events have already been reported on Québec 511.

Slippery Roads

This type of event has become a classic of the winter of 2026: a clipper passing through leaving less than 10 cm of snow, but causing a multitude of incidents and off-road events. Even a thin layer of snow can make roads slippery, especially in cold weather, as is the case Wednesday morning.

Reduced Visibility

Light to moderate snow began falling late overnight in the Outaouais and Laurentides regions, and is gradually spreading towards the Montreal area. Two factors could make this snow unpleasant for motorists. First, the cold temperatures early in the day. A cold road surface already offers less grip, and the situation can worsen with a thin layer of snow. Cold temperatures also mean powdery, easily blown snow. Gusts potentially exceeding 40 km/h will not only significantly reduce visibility, but could also blow snow back onto the road that had been cleared.

A Second Push

A second pulse of snow is being monitored for later in the day in the St. Lawrence Valley, from Montreal and its north shore to Quebec City. This snow is expected to be more localized, but could fall more heavily at times. Once again, gusts could reduce visibility. Snow squalls are possible, meaning sudden bursts that can take drivers by surprise. It would be wise to maintain a good distance between vehicles starting in the afternoon, as the snow could start falling without warning and quite heavily for a short period.

Up to 10 cm Expected

Accumulations won’t be those of a major storm. 5 to 10 cm is expected for the Outaouais, Greater Montreal, and the Quebec City region. For the Abitibi, Laurentians, Mauricie, Beauce, Estrie and Montérégie regions, accumulations of around 5 cm are expected. In almost all other regions of Quebec, accumulations should be less than 5 cm.

With collaboration from Kevin Cloutier, meteorologist.