Weather: First snowfall in southern Quebec

A chance of heavy snow and freezing rain is expected Sunday as southern Quebec prepares for its first big snowfall of the season.

• Read more: Get your shovels! The storm will hit Quebec from Sunday to Monday

Precipitation will begin Sunday afternoon, with snow accumulations in the 15 to 25 cm range expected. However, most of the snow will fall overnight Sunday through Monday. Environment Canada has issued snow warnings for several areas including the Outauais, Montreal, Estrie, Lanaudière, Laurentides, Mauricie and Richelieu Valley.

In warmer areas, snow may mix with rain or turn to freezing rain in the afternoon or night. This rapid accumulation of snow can sometimes make travel difficult in some areas due to reduced visibility. According to Environment Canada, surfaces such as roads, streets, sidewalks and parking lots can be difficult to navigate.

In Montreal the skies will be overcast with early morning showers and constant temperatures near 0 degrees. Rain or snow will start in the afternoon in Estrie, with a risk of freezing rain in the morning. In the Outais, snowfall will begin in the middle, with a risk of freezing rain. In the Lanaudière region, snow will begin this afternoon and intensify rapidly in the evening.

The National Capital Region will see less heavy rain on Sunday with 10 cm of snow. The rest of the province will be protected from the weather event that hits southern Quebec. Generally clear skies are expected in the north and west of Quebec, but temperatures will be cooler than in the south.