Storm surges in eastern Quebec

A major winter storm warning remains in effect in Quebec's eastern reaches, where high winds and snow are mixing to create dangerous driving conditions in some areas.

Environment Canada hasissued weather warnings for the Gasp Peninsula region and the Lower North Shore and Anticosti Island.

A high-tide warning is alsoin effect for much of eastern Quebec. Rimouski Mayor Eric Forest is asking residents to be careful and stay away from the shoreline because of a risk of flying ice

"Winds aregusting to over80 kilometres per hourfor theGasp Peninsula and the Lower North Shore again today," CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe said Tuesday.

TheGaspsaw about 30 centimetres of snowMonday, and blizzard conditions are expected to continue Tuesday morning before easing later in the day as the storm moves toward Newfoundland, Wagstaffe said.

"For the regions of Blanc-Sablon and Chevery, the snow will be changing over to rain," she said.

The combination of blowing snow andicy roads has created dangerous driving conditions in some areas, and Transport Qubec is advising people in affectedareas to avoid non-essential travel.

"If you go on the roads, be well equipped with flashlight with candles for roads and gas tank full and also slow down," said Transport Qubec spokesman Ral Grgoire.

Despite the terrible driving conditions, no major highway accidents have been reported.

Elizabeth Baird, a resident of Gasp, said the weather was bad, but not the worst she's seen in the area.

"We're actually better equipped to handle the snow we're getting than to handle the rains we had a few weeks ago," she said.

Several communities across Quebec's Gasp region implemented emergency measures in mid-December after heavy rains caused flooding.