Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a special weather statement Monday warning of a “potentially critical” freezing rain situation forecast for mid-week.

The federal agency said freezing rain could start early Wednesday and continue into Thursday with accumulation of up to 20 to 30 millimetres.

“The event could last up to 24 hours and paralyze some services,” the agency said.

Regions targeted by the statement include:

• Greater Montreal.
• Montéregie.
• Laurentians.
• Lanaudière.
• Outaouais.
• Mauricie.
• Centre-du-Québec.
• Quebec City.

ECCC warned of potential transportation delays and cancellations and said that cold weather in subsequent days could slow down a return to normal services.

The accumulation of ice could also lead to downed trees and power lines, and slippery sidewalks, the agency said.

In an interview, ECCC meteorologist Giselle Dookhie said there is still uncertainty about the system given that it’s still more than a day away from reaching Quebec.

But she said the weather system is a concern given the potential “extended period of freezing rain.”

The last major ice storm to hit Quebec was in April 2023, when more than one million Hydro-Québec clients lost their power.

Though the south of the province will be hit hardest, all of Quebec and parts of Atlantic Canada will be affected by the storm, Dookhie said. 

The Lac-Saint-Jean and surrounding areas to the north will have more snowy conditions, with up to 40 centimetres of snow expected.

The Eastern Townships, where snowpack is still high from a recent snowfall, could see localized flooding, Dookhie says.

Hydro-Québec declined to comment on Monday, saying it was waiting for a more precise forecast.