Montreal officials urged residents to work from home on Monday if they could and only go out for essential trips, recommending public transportation. CBC
Montreal is dealing with a historic snowfall after two massive storms hit the city back-to-back. Between last Thursday and Sunday, the city received 75 cm of snow, the most ever recorded in a four-day period.
Gina Ressler, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, confirmed that this was the highest snowfall since record-keeping began in 1941. Although no single-day snowfall record was broken, having two major storms so close together is extremely rare.
"Blizzards usually happen in the Arctic, not here in southern Quebec," Ressler said. "To have one hit just days after another big storm is very unusual."
City Urges Residents to Stay Home
The heavy snowfall has caused major disruptions across Montreal. The city advised people to work from home on Monday and only travel if necessary. Officials urged residents to use public transportation instead of driving.
Sunday's storm alone brought about 40 cm of snow to Montreal and Laval, while Mirabel saw 53 cm. Other areas, including the Eastern Townships, received up to 35 cm.
With no new storms expected this week, Ressler is hopeful that residents will have a chance to dig out.
Schools and Public Services Affected
Due to dangerous conditions, many schools in Quebec cancelled classes on Monday. However, school boards plan to reopen on Tuesday. The government also issued a blowing snow advisory for several regions, warning of winds between 60 and 90 km/h, which could reduce visibility to near zero.
The bad weather led to hundreds of flight cancellations at Montreal's international airport on Sunday and Monday. Some Via Rail routes were also suspended.
Cleanup Will Take Over a Week
Montreal received nearly 40% of its usual winter snowfall in just five days. City spokesperson Philippe Sabourin called the situation "unprecedented." He confirmed that while most roads are clear, only half of the sidewalks have been cleared.
"Our small snowplows can't access many sidewalks right now," Sabourin explained. "We need to use large blowers to remove the snow, which will take time."
With 3,000 workers on the job, the city expects the cleanup to take at least eight days. Residents are being asked to check for no-parking signs to avoid blocking snow removal crews.
Garbage Collection Delayed
Due to the snowfall, garbage collection has been suspended for a week. Officials want to avoid bags getting buried in snowbanks.
Sabourin assured residents that crews are working as fast as possible but emphasized that clearing the streets is the top priority.
