Flights cancelled, schools closed as winter storm barrels through southern Quebec

A powerful winter storm has poundedsouthern and central Quebec with a vengeance, with highways closedTuesday night due to major multi-vehicle pile-ups both east and west of Montreal.

• Near-zero visibility leads to perilous commute, 50-vehicle pile-up on Highway 10 near Magog
• Highway 401 closed near Thousand Islands after 30-vehicle crash, spill

A record-breaking 31.6 cm of snow fell in Montreal Tuesday, with more snow still piling on this morning.

All public schools in Montreal are closed today, and most other school commissions in the province are closing schools as well.

55,000 Hydro Quebec clients were without power early Wednesdaymorning, mostly in the Quebec city area.

Most flights at Trudeau airport are cancelled or delayed.Air Canada announced it would waivethe fees to make alternate travel plans.

In Montreal, cars are buried and early morning commuters struggled to dig out as cars were buried almost up to their rooftops. Those who opted for taxis were waiting in some cases more than an hour.

Many school closuresWednesday

The English Montreal School Board tweeted on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. that all schools, adult centres and the administration building on Fielding Avenue would be closed on Wednesday.

The Lester B. Pearson School Board's schools and offices will also be closed, as will the CommissionScolairedeMontralandWilfridLaurierSchool Board, along with other boards in the greater Montreal region.

• Go here for latestdetails on school closures, flight delays and the storm's path

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