Snow clearing is half done, but cold snap continues
Extreme cold warning for Montreal still in effect, chance of flurries on Friday
By Thursday evening, the city of Montreal said 57 per cent of its streets have been cleared of the snow that fell this week.
Of the city’s 19 boroughs, Anjou and St-Léonard were leading the way, with 72 per cent of their streets cleared. Ahuntsic-Cartierville was the lowest at 46 per cent.
The city started its snow-clearing operation at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Under the city’s snow-removal policy, Montreal boroughs have to begin removing snow within 12 hours of any major snowstorm. Streets are cleared when 2.5 centimetres of snow falls, but the city will only load and dispose of snow if more than 10 centimetres fall.
The city says it clears 6,550 kilometres of sidewalks and 4,100 kilometres of streets during every major snow removal operation.
An extreme cold warning issued by Environment Canada Wednesday is still in effect for the greater Montreal area.
“Cold Arctic air, combined with brisk winds, is producing extreme wind chill values of minus-30 to minus-38,” Environment Canada said in a statement reissued Thursday afternoon.
“These conditions are expected to persist for several more days and could even worsen through the weekend,” the advisory said.
For the Montreal area, highs all week are predicted to hover around minus-20 Celsius before wind chill is factored in. There is a chance of flurries on Friday.
Environment Canada issues extreme cold warnings when temperatures create an elevated risk of frostbite or hypothermia.
“Dress warmly. Dress in layers that you can remove if you get too warm. The outer layer should be wind resistant,” the agency suggests. “Watch for colour changes on fingers and toes, pain, numbness, a tingling sensation, or swelling. If present, move indoors and begin warming.”