Southern Quebec digging out as severe winter storm sweeps across the province

The most severe storm this winter has left 40 centimetres of snow on the streets of Montreal and the city is predicting its clearing operation will take at least a week.

As of 7 p.m. Wednesday, plows were clearing the roads.

Coun.Jean-FranoisParenteau, theexecutive committee member in charge of snow operations,said itis important thatpeople respect temporary no-parking signs to avoid tows and delaying workers.

The snow is covering ice patches and once it is removed, crews willbreak up the ice and spread abrasives until the spring thaw, he said.

It's the fourth snow removal operation this season and the city said 3,000 people are working to clear the roads.

"Places that are not accessible to the 2,200 machines may be cleared with shovels," the city stated in a Facebook post.

Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante estimates the operation will cost $25 million.

Quebec City hadabout 25 centimetres by mid-day with another 10 to 20 expected.

In the west, Gatineaureceived40 centimetres and, to the east, 20 centimetres fell on Sherbrooke. There were school closings and transportation woes across the province.

• Your photos from the storm

Watch as Montrealers dig out their cars and try to get to work

A snowy day in Montreal

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Montrealers had to contend with 40 centimetres of snowfall Wednesday morning. Here's what the city looks like.

Storm slams much of province

Environment Canada warned of winter storm conditions from Gatineau to the Eastern Townships and on up to the Lac-Saint-Jean region.

The conditions brought "visibility to near zero" at some points,Environment Canada said.

Wind gusts hit 42 km/h overnight in the Montreal area, but it was much worse in Quebec City with sustained winds of 48 km/h and gusts up to 71 km/h.

Throughout the morning, authorities warned motorists to adapt to conditions, slow down and and ensure their cars were completelycleared of snow before heading out.

PhilippeDry, spokesperson for Montreal's transit authority (STM)said about a quarter of bus lines were delayed by 10 minutes.

Some were delayed a bit longer than that due to the conditions, he said, but buses are still a safe, efficient way to get around the city. The Metro, he added, was running smoothly without delay as it is not subject to the weather conditions.

An accordion bus crashed into a snowbank early Wednesday on PapineauAvenue and needed to be towed. Overall, about 30 bus towing operations were conducted during morning rush hour.

Tow trucks were on duty and prepared for the situation pulling buses out of the snow so they could continue on their way, he said.

The majority of schools across the province were closedfor the day.

Flights in and out of the Montreal's Trudeau airport and Quebec City's Jean-Lesageairport were delayed or cancelled.

Hydro-Qubecwas reporting some power outages in Montreal, Quebec City, the Lower Saint-Lawrence andChaudire-Appalaches.

As for the major road closures, Highway 20 and Highway 132 between Quebec City andMontmagnywere closed in both directions.

Further east, Highway 138 was closed fromTadoussacinCharlevoixtoForestville.

The Carnaval de Qubecin Quebec City cancelled activities for the day.

At its heaviest, snow fell at a rate of four centimetres per hour.

A warm front that tagged along with the snow will push temperatures up to around the freezing mark.

This storm rivals some of the biggest to hit Quebec in recent memory.

MTQ continuing to monitor situation

InMarch 2017, the province received39.4 centimetresover twodays, trappinghundreds of vehicles on Highway 13 in Montreal's west end.

Minister of Transport Franois Bonnardelsaid Wednesdaythe MTQ does not want to see a repeat of that disaster.

He spent most of the night in the ministry's control centre making sure operations wererunning smoothly.

"We were prepared," he said. "There were no major accidents on the road during the night."

Public Security Minister Genevive Guilbaultencouragedpeople to work from home rather than headout into the storm.

"I want to thank all citizens, all the people, that made the decision to stay home," she said.

She said the effect of people staying home was felt during morning rush hour, as there were fewer cars on the road.