Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 05:30 – A fairly heavy episode of freezing rain is on the radar this weekend. The Quebec region is particularly to be watched, and could be the most affected by the ice storm.
In short :
- The North Shore of the St. Lawrence River particularly at risk;
- Up to 20 millimeters possible on certain regions;
- An episode of several hours to be expected.
A muscular low pressure system will hit Quebec over the weekend. As it passes, a wide variety of precipitation is expected: freezing rain, snow, rain, sleet… However, freezing rain is of particular concern, and the expected quantities are significant.
Good to know : Freezing rain can form under fairly specific conditions. A current of warm air slips between two masses of cold air, causing precipitation to fall in liquid form. When it encounters colder air (often near the ground), that same precipitation quickly freezes on contact.
A busy Sunday
Freezing precipitation is likely to begin during the night of Saturday to Sunday, in western Quebec. The system will then migrate towards the St. Lawrence Valley, reaching the south of the province on Sunday morning. The center is next on the list, and should be hit by late morning.
The freezing rain should then lose its feathers, and eastern Quebec should generally get away with it.
Sleet is not impossible either. Its presence or absence risks varying the exact quantities of freezing rain to which Quebec will be entitled. This factor will therefore have to be carefully monitored over the next few hours.
Quebec, the most affected
Conditions could be critical in Quebec City on Sunday. Up to 20 millimeters of freezing rain are possible in the Capitale-Nationale. Until now, this region is likely to be the most affected by this type of precipitation. The episode should be particularly long there: it should start at the end of the morning on Sunday, and continue for several hours – even going into the night from Sunday to Monday. However, its exact duration is uncertain at this time.
In general, freezing precipitation is likely to be particularly heavy on the North Shore of the St. Lawrence River. The regions of Lanaudière, Laurentides and Mauricie could get up to 15 millimeters of freezing rain.
For the moment, Montreal could be entitled to a few millimeters of freezing rain. Nothing major is on the radar just yet, however.