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UPDATE January 25, 2026: A yellow snowfall warning has been issued for Montreal, cautioning significant impacts expected due to snow accumulation. According to a report by MétéoMédia, with temperatures hovering between –15 and –20 °C, the snow will be exceptionally fine and dry, and accumulations will build more quickly. This will create the impression that snow is piling up rapidly on roads, sidewalks and driveways. Moderate winds of 30 to 40 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 50 km/h, will further complicate conditions.
Quebec will be at the epicentre of the world’s coldest air mass this weekend.
This Saturday, the coldest temperatures on Earth won’t be found in Siberia or Greenland — they’ll be right here in Quebec.
Read: Best indoor things to do in Downtown Montreal when it’s freezing cold
According to a report by MétéoMédia, atmospheric conditions across the Northern Hemisphere show that the most intense Arctic air mass on the planet (i.e., the darkest purple zones on weather maps) will be positioned squarely over Ontario and Quebec on Friday and Saturday.
How cold will it be in Montreal this weekend?
A brutally frigid Saturday with daytime highs struggling to rise above –20°C in southern Quebec and extreme wind chills of –30 to –35.
The report cautions that it’s expected to be colder here than in Antarctica, where inland temperatures average around –30°C this time of year.
Even with relatively light winds of around 20 km per hour, wind chill values will plunge to polar levels, dropping to –30 to –35 by the afternoon across much of the province.
Check out: Major Quebec ski resort abruptly cancels 2026 ski season
While temperatures will begin falling on Friday, the worst of this cold snap is expected on Saturday.
The core of the Arctic air aloft will shift eastward, engulfing all of Quebec.
This polar vortex intrusion could mark a rare moment in recent weather history.
Montreal may record a daytime high below –20°C on Saturday — something that hasn’t happened since January 6, 2018.
Forecast models suggest that this “high” could even be reached overnight between Friday and Saturday.
Read more: Polar vortex to bring winter of yesteryear to Montreal
This weekend likely marks the coldest stretch of the winter so far.
After the sharp plunge from Friday to Saturday, temperatures may rebound slightly, but will remain well below seasonal norms through the end of the month.
A return to more typical winter conditions isn’t expected until early February.
What to do in Montreal when it's cold?
Warm up indoors at museums like the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, enjoying food halls like Time Out Market Montréal, catching a hockey game, exploring festive markets, or relaxing at a Nordic spa like Bota Bota.
Or spice up your evening with a Heated Rivalry trivia night at this legendary Montreal bar.
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Full guide to the best things to do in Montreal