Weather Alert: Freezing Rain and Heavy Snow Forecast for Quebec — Essential Travel Only Recommended

SHERBROOKE, March 10, 2026 — The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has issued an urgent advisory for motorists across the province as a major weather system involving heavy snow and freezing rain moves into Quebec.

With conditions expected to deteriorate rapidly over the next few hours, provincial officials are strongly recommending that citizens postpone any non-essential travel.

Ministry Response and Road Safety

Ministry teams are already deployed across the road network, applying abrasives and de-icing agents. However, despite continuous maintenance operations, road conditions are expected to remain volatile.

“Our crews are adjusted to the intensity of the precipitation,” the Ministry stated, “but road users must exercise extreme caution and adapt their driving to conditions that can change in an instant.”

Winter Safety Checklist: Before You Leave

If you absolutely must take the road, ensure you follow these safety protocols:

Check Quebec 511: Monitor road conditions and visibility via the web, mobile app, or phone.

Clear Your Vehicle: Completely remove snow and ice from windows, mirrors, roof, hood, lights, and license plate.

Emergency Kit: Ensure your vehicle is equipped with a functional first-aid and emergency roadside kit.

During Your Trip

Slow Down: Reduce speed to match the visibility and road grip.

Keep Your Distance: Maintain a larger-than-usual safety gap between you and the vehicle ahead.

Be Visible: Use your full lighting system (headlights and fog lights) to ensure other drivers can see you.

Give Trucks Space: Stay patient and visible around snowplows. Remember, these large machines have significant blind spots.

Winter Maintenance by the Numbers

The scale of Quebec’s winter maintenance is massive, ensuring that the 33,280 km of provincial roads remain as safe as possible:

$477 Million: Annual investment in winter operations.

1,740: Number of snowplows deployed across the province.

775,280 Tonnes: Amount of salt used annually.

1 Million Tonnes: Amount of abrasives spread to manage ice.

Stay tuned to CJMQ 88.9 FM for live traffic and weather updates throughout the storm.