Winter storm ravages eastern Quebec, with freezing rain in southwest of province

Freezing rainleft tens of thousands ofHydro-Qubec clients without power in Montreal and the MontrgieTuesday night, while people people living in Quebec City and La Mauriciewerehit with freezing rain after a colossal dumping of snow.

"Consider postponing nonessential travel until conditions improve," Environment Canada said in a winter storm warning issued to residents in eastern Quebec.

Up to 40 centimetres of snow and blowing snow are expectedover central and eastern Quebec by Wednesday night, according to the agency, with the heaviest snowfall expected in Charlevoixand extending into the Lower North Shore.

Upto 20 centimetres of snow is expectedin Tmiscamingue and SaguenayLac-Saint-Jean areas.

Freezing rainhit Quebec City and La Mauricie Tuesday evening, and is expected to arrive in the Lower North Shore by Wednesday morning.

Hazardous road conditions across province

Road conditions were treacherous, particularly on Highway 20between Quebec City andRimouski.

In the Gasp, sections of Highways 132 and 138 were closedto heavy trucks due to harsh weather conditions.

Part of Highway 175, in the Laurentians wildlife reserve,was closed to trucks for most of the day but has now been reopened.

Environment Canada also issuedfreezing rainwarningsfor alarge swathof southern Quebec, including the greater Montreal area,Vaudreuil-Soulanges, the Laurentians,Lanaudireand the Eastern Townships.

"Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots will become icy, slippery and hazardous," said the weather agency.

"Ice buildup may cause tree branches to break."

Guillaume Paradis, spokesperson for Transports Qubec,saidroad maintenance crews will adapt to the changing conditions to keep the roads clear.

"You have to apply the products in the right proportions, do the right thing for safe travel," Paradis told Radio-Canada.

"That's what we're going to do."

On Tuesday night, a man died in a road collision on Highway 15 nearMirabel, Que., about 60 kilometres northwest of Montreal.

Quebec provincial police said difficult road conditions were likely a factor.

Schools closed across Quebec

Thousands of students across southern Quebec hadTuesday day off school after a mix of freezing rain and snow left behind a slippery mess.

All school boards in Montrealcancelled classes for students and staff on Tuesday. Mostschools were also closed in areas such as Laval and the Eastern Townships.

Tough commute, flight cancellations

For those who hadno choice but to head outdoors on Tuesday, the safest thing to do was drive slowly.

Montreal's snow-removal crews were out in full force,said city spokesperson Philippe Sabourin.

"Be careful because the small roads, the sidewalks are not completely de-iced," he said Tuesday.

He added that city workers would tacklethe 6,000 kilometres of sidewalks across Montreal. They prioritizedbus lanes and main arteries.

"Our teams are working hard," he said. "We're there on the ground."

SpokespersonValrieTremblaysaid most of the injuries were minor. She advisedpedestrians to be careful on the sidewalks and toclear their entrances of snow and ice.

"It's difficult conditions butwe have added more people on the road and we're doing everything to minimize delays," she told Radio-Canada.

Montreal's public transit authority (STM) asked commuters to plan their trips in advance.

In Quebec City, the Rseau de transport de la Capitalemodified some of its routes for weather reasons.

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Passengers were advised to check the status of their flights before they go to the Montreal Trudeau airport as dozens of flights were either delayed or cancelled.

OrlansExpress, Quebec's principal intercity bus company, cancelled several trips. The company warned customers that all other departures on Tuesdaywere conditional on the weather,and to expect delays and even cancellations.

At the Quebec City airport, all Air Canada, West Jet andPascanflights to Montreal, Toronto,Sept-lesandMont-Joliwere cancelled. However,flights heading south were not cancelled.