Storm dumps nearly 30 centimetres of snow on Montreal

There will likely bea lot of Montrealerscomplaining of sore arms and backs this afternoon, after spending the morning digging out froma record-breaking snowfall.

According to Environment Canada, 29 centimetres of snow fell on the greater Montreal area between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.

Sunday's snowfall broke therecord by a hair on Feb. 12,1998 Montreal was buried under 19.8 centimetres of snow, compared with the20 centimetres that fell on the city before Monday morning.

Tales from the great dusting

Pearl Layne misplaced her shovel. With her three children late for school Monday morning, she decided to dig out her car with a dustpan.

"I wasn't prepared for this," she said, laughing.

NichelleSkeet spent about an hour shovelling her sidewalk and clearing her car onBeaconsfieldAvenue inNotre-Dame-de-Grcethis morning.

"It's a lot of work. I get to skip the gym today because I worked so hard," she said.

• Get the latest on transit delays and all things storm-relatedhere

Jacques-Alain Lavalle, in charge of snow removal for the city, says workers were prepared.

Plowsand other machines were sent out as soon as 2.5 centimetres of snow had fallen, he said.

It takes about four days to remove 20 centimetres of snow, he said, butwe're expecting about 10 more centimetres Wednesday.

Snow removal caused gas leaks

Gaz Mtrohas confirmed snow removal operations led to threegas leaks on the island overnight.

All three, on Ottawa Street in Griffintown,on RivardStreet on the Plateau and on SavoieStreet in Pierrefonds, were capped by about 8:30 a.m.

SpokespersonNomie Prgent-Charlebois says heavy snow makes it difficult for snow removal vehicles to avoid outdoor natural gas outlets, and thatpeople should try to clear themfrom snow and ice at all times.

The flights most affected at Trudeauairport are departures to andarrivals fromAtlantic Canada, where the same system has broughtblizzard conditions shutting down entire cities.

The Magdalen Islands will see about 15 centimetres of snow starting this afternoon.

Only in Montreal: Shovelling with a dustpan

8 years ago

Duration 0:51

Only in Montreal: Shovelling with a dustpan

• MAP:Montreal locations where risk of towing is greatest during snow removal