Gusting winds and dropping temperatures created a messy, slippery return from the holidays for many Quebecers.
After several days of record-setting cold, the day started out relatively balmy, at a few degrees above zero.
The combination of warm temperatures and freezing rain left Monday commuters scrambling to cope with slippery conditions.
The warm spell isn't expected to last - in Montreal, temperatures will drop to -16C tonight.
A wind warning is also in effect for Montreal and Laval, where the wind is gusting up to 90 kilometres an hour. Flight cancellations
The winter storm has grounded or delayed some 60 flights at the Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport. The freezing rain also prompted the airport to suspend its operations overnight, from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Operations resumed this morning.
Fred Chaillot is one of the many frustrated passengers who's been stranded by the weather.
"We were supposed to take off at 6:30 yesterday evening and our flight has been delayed and delayed and delayed...and finally cancelled," Chaillot said.
Mitchell Centeno was planning to head back to work in Kansas today. But he had to phone his boss today to say he wouldn't make it.
"There's nothing much that they can say. You're stuck, you're stuck, but I'm trying to find another solution to keep my boss happy," Centeno said.
On top of flight delays, the dramatic change in weather also caused a leak in the airport's air conditioning system, soaking a section of the airport.
The airport is advising all passengers to check their flight status online to stay informed. Public transit, drivers affected by icy roads
Icy conditions caused difficulties for drivers as well as public transit in Montreal.
The STM is reporting that city buses are having trouble deploying their bus ramps.
Slippery roads also contributed to multiple overnight collisions. In the Eastern Townships near West Bolton, a transport truck carrying gasoline flipped into a ditch.
Close to 50,000 litres of fuel was being carried by the truck and officials said it wasn't clear how much had spilled. The highway reopened to traffic early Monday afternoon. Hydro outages
The winter storm also led to multiple school closures in the Laurentians, Lower Laurentians and Lanaudière regions. For a full list of closures, visit the CBC Storm Centre.
Hydro-Québec said 500 workers have been sent out to restore power. The utilty says it can't predict how long it will take, since the storm is still causing damage.
Hydro-Québec is reporting close to 30,000 outages across the province. The majority of them are concentrated in the Eastern Townships, the Laurentians, Mauricie, the Montérégie and the Quebec City region.
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