Quebec · Multi-model forecast · 2026–27 season
Snow Day Predictor QuebecWill school be cancelled tomorrow in Quebec?
Live overnight forecast for every Quebec postal code — from CSSDM and the EMSB on the Island of Montreal through Quebec City, Gatineau, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, and Saguenay. The predictor tunes to Quebec’s freezing-rain-heavy storm patterns and the per-board transportation calls that follow.
Multi-model forecast, five-factor closure engine, province-aware results. No sign-up, no tracking of your queries.
What makes Quebec unique
Quebec is the only province with two parallel school networks — French CSS and elected English School Boards under different governance since the 2020 reform. The St. Lawrence freezing-rain corridor produces more ice events than anywhere else in Canada, and Quebec City has the heaviest annual snowfall of any major Canadian city.
Province overview
Quebec snow day forecast — what makes the province different
Quebec runs two parallel school networks that no other Canadian province has. The French sector was restructured in 2020 when the Coalition Avenir Québec government abolished elected French school boards and replaced them with Centres de services scolaires (CSS) governed by appointed boards of parents, staff, and community members. The English-language network — EMSB, Lester B. Pearson, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Riverside, New Frontiers, Eastern Townships, Western Quebec, and Central Quebec — successfully challenged that reform in court and retained elected commissioners. The result: when a major storm hits Montreal, CSSDM may make its closure call through one governance structure while the EMSB and Lester B. Pearson make theirs through another, and the two networks often align on weather days but occasionally diverge.
Unlike Ontario, Quebec has no multi-board transportation consortia. Each CSS and each English School Board contracts directly with private bus operators and announces its own bus-cancellation decisions, usually by 6:00 am on the day of the storm. That means a single postal code in Laval may be served by CSS de Laval buses and Sir Wilfrid Laurier buses operating on independent decisions. Our forecast returns school closure and bus cancellation as separate probabilities and accounts for the per-board structure rather than the consortium model used in Ontario.
Freezing rain is Quebec’s signature winter hazard. The St. Lawrence Valley between Montreal and Quebec City is the most active freezing-rain corridor in Canada — warm Atlantic moisture rides north over a wedge of subzero air trapped against the Laurentians and the Appalachians, producing ice events that close schools faster than any snowfall. Quebec City, meanwhile, averages roughly 300 cm of snow each winter, more than any other major Canadian city. Our forecast pulls hourly precipitation type at your exact coordinates so a freezing-rain band over the Mauricie or a snow burst over Capitale-Nationale registers correctly in the prediction.
10 cities covered
Snow day predictor by Quebec city
Every Quebec city below has its own dedicated forecast page that runs the predictor automatically for that location.
Canada’s largest French CSS plus the EMSB on the same island; closures often align but are decided independently.
Single CSS covers all of Laval; Sir Wilfrid Laurier handles English students across the island.
Heaviest annual snowfall of any major Canadian city; closures more frequent than Montreal.
Ottawa Valley weather; often closes when Ottawa OCDSB does on the other side of the river.
South Shore freezing-rain exposure; Riverside handles English students across the South Shore.
Heavy snow plus cold; Eastern Townships SB covers a large bilingual rural area.
Midway along the St. Lawrence freezing-rain corridor; ice events drive most closures.
Continental cold and lake-enhanced snow off Lac Saint-Jean; one of Quebec’s coldest regions.
Across the St. Lawrence from Quebec City; closures usually align with Capitale-Nationale.
Richelieu Valley; freezing rain and freezing drizzle more common than heavy snow.
School boards
Quebec school boards and their closure patterns
A snapshot of the boards we model when generating Quebec forecasts, grouped by region.
Montreal-area French CSS
- Centre de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM)
Canada’s largest French-language CSS; covers the Island of Montreal central and east.
- CSS Marguerite-Bourgeoys
West Island and off-island west; large CSS serving Pierrefonds, Lachine, Dorval.
- CSS de la Pointe-de-l’Île
East end of the Island of Montreal; Rivière-des-Prairies through Pointe-aux-Trembles.
- CSS de Laval
All of Laval; the single French CSS for the entire island.
- CSS des Affluents
Lanaudière region including Repentigny, Terrebonne, Mascouche.
- CSS des Patriotes
Montérégie north of the river — Saint-Bruno, Boucherville, Sainte-Julie.
- CSS Marie-Victorin
Longueuil and the inner South Shore.
- CSS des Hautes-Rivières
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and the Richelieu Valley.
Quebec City region French CSS
- CSS de la Capitale
Central Quebec City including Limoilou, Vanier, and Charlesbourg.
- CSS des Découvreurs
West Quebec City — Sainte-Foy, Sillery, Cap-Rouge.
- CSS des Premières-Seigneuries
East Quebec City including Beauport and Île d’Orléans.
- CSS des Navigateurs
Lévis and the South Shore of Quebec City.
Other regional French CSS
- CSS du Chemin-du-Roy
Trois-Rivières and the Mauricie along the north shore of the St. Lawrence.
- CSS de la Région-de-Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke and the urban Estrie core.
- CSS des Sommets
Rural Eastern Townships including Magog, Lac-Mégantic, and East Angus.
- CSS des Rives-du-Saguenay
Saguenay including Chicoutimi, Jonquière, and La Baie.
- CSS du Pays-des-Bleuets
Lac-Saint-Jean — Alma, Roberval, Saint-Félicien.
- CSS des Draveurs
Gatineau and the Outaouais; sits opposite Ottawa across the river.
English School Boards (elected — retained 2020 structure)
- English Montreal School Board (EMSB)
Island of Montreal; the largest English-language board in Quebec.
- Lester B. Pearson School Board
West Island and off-island west; mirrors CSS Marguerite-Bourgeoys territory.
- Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board
Laval, Laurentians, and Lanaudière; one of Quebec’s largest geographic boards.
- Riverside School Board
South Shore Montreal from Longueuil through Saint-Lambert and Brossard.
- New Frontiers School Board
Châteauguay and Salaberry-de-Valleyfield in southwestern Montérégie.
- Eastern Townships School Board
Sherbrooke region and broader Estrie rural areas.
- Western Quebec School Board
Gatineau and the Pontiac; coordinates closely with the Ottawa region.
- Central Quebec School Board
Quebec City east through the Lower St. Lawrence and Gaspé.
Bus cancellations
How Quebec student transportation cancels buses
In Canada, bus cancellations are a separate decision from full school closures — and most regions coordinate this through a student transportation consortium rather than each individual board.
- Direct CSS / board contractsPer-board transportation in Quebec
Unlike Ontario, Quebec has no multi-board transportation consortia. Each CSS and each English School Board contracts directly with private bus operators and makes its own bus-cancellation calls, usually announced by 6:00 am on storm days through the board’s website, app, and social media.
Regional weather patterns
Quebec snow zones and storm patterns
The signature weather phenomena our forecast accounts for across Quebec.
- St. Lawrence freezing-rain corridor
The valley from Montreal through Trois-Rivières to Quebec City is the most active freezing-rain zone in Canada. Atlantic moisture overrunning trapped cold air produces ice events that close schools faster than snow.
- Quebec City heavy snowfall belt
Quebec City averages roughly 300 cm of snow each winter — the heaviest seasonal snowfall of any major Canadian city. Capitale-Nationale CSS close more often than Montreal-area CSS as a result.
- Estrie / Eastern Townships
Sherbrooke and Magog combine heavy snow with deep cold, and the region also sees summer tornadoes. CSS de la Région-de-Sherbrooke and the Eastern Townships SB share this exposure.
- Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
Continental cold combined with lake-enhanced snow off Lac Saint-Jean. Among Quebec’s coldest regions; CSS des Rives-du-Saguenay and CSS du Pays-des-Bleuets cover this zone.
- Côte-Nord (North Shore)
Sept-Îles and Baie-Comeau face full Atlantic storm exposure with onshore winds. Multi-day blizzards and ice events both occur.
- Outaouais
Gatineau shares Ottawa Valley weather patterns with Eastern Ontario — snow squalls, freezing rain off the river, and coordinated closures with neighbours across the Ottawa River.
History
Notable Quebec snow days in recent winters
Recent storms and cold events that shaped how Quebec school boards make the morning call.
The Great Ice Storm (Tempête du verglas)
January 5–10, 1998More than 30 mm of freezing rain fell over 80 hours across southern Quebec, downing the transmission grid and leaving over 4 million Quebecers without power. The Canadian Forces deployed in the largest peacetime mobilization in Canadian history, parts of Montreal were evacuated, and schools in the hardest-hit areas closed for weeks. The benchmark Canadian winter weather event of the modern era and the reason our forecast weights freezing rain so heavily.
Tempête du Siècle (Storm of the Century)
March 4–5, 1971A historic blizzard dropped 47 cm of snow on Montreal in 24 hours and over 60 cm on Quebec City, with hurricane-force winds. Eastern Quebec was paralyzed for days. Still the storm by which Quebecers measure all others, and a benchmark in CSS and English board closure policy.
Montreal snowstorm
March 8, 2017Roughly 38 cm of snow fell in 12 hours across the Island of Montreal. CSSDM, EMSB, Lester B. Pearson, and CSS Marguerite-Bourgeoys all closed on the same day, and the STM suspended much of its bus network — a rare combined shutdown of schools and the city’s surface transit.
Quebec City Valentine’s storm
February 13–15, 2007More than 50 cm of snow fell on Quebec City in a single storm. CSS de la Capitale, CSS des Découvreurs, and Central Quebec School Board all closed, and Lévis-area CSS des Navigateurs followed across the river.
Major Quebec winter storm
January 17, 2022A widespread snow and wind event closed schools across Montreal and Quebec City on the same day. CSSDM, EMSB, CSS de Laval, CSS Marie-Victorin, CSS de la Capitale, and CSS des Découvreurs all suspended classes.
Pre-Christmas storm
December 23, 2022A pre-holiday storm combining heavy snow, freezing rain, and high winds caused widespread closures and travel chaos across southern Quebec. Many CSS had already begun the holiday break, but bus routes were cancelled and the few open schools released students early.
FAQ
Quebec snow day frequently asked questions
The 9 questions Quebec parents and teachers ask us most often.
Will CSSDM close tomorrow?
Type your Montreal postal code or "Montreal, Quebec" into the predictor at the top of this page to see tomorrow’s school closure probability for the Centre de services scolaire de Montréal. CSSDM is Canada’s largest French-language CSS and serves central and east Montreal. The official closure call is made by CSSDM administration, usually announced through the Mon CSSDM app, the CSSDM website, and Quebec media between 5:30 and 6:30 am.
Are Montreal school buses cancelled today?
Quebec has no multi-board transportation consortium. Each CSS and English School Board contracts directly with private operators, so CSSDM, the EMSB, CSS Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Lester B. Pearson, and CSS de la Pointe-de-l’Île all make their own bus-cancellation calls. Check each board’s app or website. Our predictor returns an advance probability the night before; the official day-of decision typically comes by 6:00 am.
What is the difference between a CSS and a school board in Quebec?
In 2020 the Quebec government abolished elected French school boards and replaced them with Centres de services scolaires (CSS) governed by appointed boards of parents, staff, and community members. The English-language network — EMSB, Lester B. Pearson, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Riverside, New Frontiers, Eastern Townships, Western Quebec, and Central Quebec — successfully challenged the reform in court and retained elected commissioners. The two networks now operate under different governance structures.
Why is Quebec City closed more often than Montreal?
Quebec City averages roughly 300 cm of snow each winter — the heaviest seasonal snowfall of any major Canadian city — compared with around 210 cm for Montreal. CSS de la Capitale, CSS des Découvreurs, CSS des Premières-Seigneuries, and Central Quebec School Board therefore close more often than CSSDM and the EMSB, especially in big single-storm events like the February 2007 Valentine’s storm that dropped 50+ cm on the capital.
How did the 1998 ice storm change Quebec snow day policy?
The January 1998 ice storm coated southern Quebec in 30+ mm of freezing rain over five days, knocked out the transmission grid, and left over 4 million people without power. Schools closed for weeks in the worst-hit areas of the Montérégie and Estrie. Since then, Quebec CSS and English boards treat freezing rain as the primary closure trigger — often closing before the ice has actually accumulated, based on the forecast — which is why our predictor weights freezing rain heavily for Quebec postal codes.
Will school be cancelled tomorrow in Quebec City?
Enter your Quebec City postal code or "Quebec City, Quebec" above. The predictor returns separate closure probabilities for CSS de la Capitale, CSS des Découvreurs, CSS des Premières-Seigneuries, and Central Quebec School Board. Capitale-Nationale closures are driven by single-storm snowfall totals more than by freezing rain, reflecting the city’s position in Canada’s heaviest snowfall belt.
Does the predictor work for English schools like EMSB and Lester B. Pearson?
Yes. The English Montreal School Board, Lester B. Pearson, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Riverside, New Frontiers, Eastern Townships, Western Quebec, and Central Quebec School Boards are all supported. English boards retained their elected governance after the 2020 reform and make closure decisions independently of the neighbouring CSS, though on most major storm days both networks align.
Are Quebec’s freezing rain events worse than other provinces?
Yes. The St. Lawrence Valley between Montreal and Quebec City is the most active freezing-rain corridor in Canada — warm Atlantic moisture rides north over trapped cold air against the Laurentians and the Appalachians. Quebec records more freezing-rain hours per winter than any other province, and the 1998 ice storm remains the worst freezing-rain event in modern Canadian history. CSS in the Mauricie, Capitale-Nationale, Montérégie, and Estrie face ice closures multiple times per season.
How do Quebec CSS announce school closures?
Most CSS use a dedicated parent app — Mon CSSDM, Mozaïk-Portail parent, or a board-specific app — plus their public website, social media (Facebook is dominant for Quebec CSS communication), and local Quebec media. English boards including the EMSB and Lester B. Pearson use similar apps plus their websites and Twitter/X. Decisions are typically posted between 5:30 and 6:30 am on storm days, with major-storm calls sometimes announced the evening before.
Other provinces
Snow day forecasts for the rest of Canada
Each province has its own dedicated forecast hub with local school boards, weather patterns, and FAQs.
GTA bus-cancellation patterns and Northern Ontario lake-effect storms.
Coastal districts close at 8 cm; interior boards mirror Prairie tolerance.
Highest snow tolerance in Canada; chinook recovery days are routine.
Wind-chill driven closures; outdoor recess cancels before classes do.
Blizzards and wind chill drive closures; snowfall alone rarely enough.
Atlantic nor’easters; HRCE announces via its app the night before for major storms.
Bay of Fundy storms and freezing-rain events.
NLESD is among the most weather-tolerant districts in Canada.
Coastal wind events and rural road exposure; single province-wide board.
Extreme cold past −45 °C wind chill is the most common closure trigger.
Blizzard warnings drive closures; −45 °C is operational.
Blizzard warnings only; cold alone rarely closes school.
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