Sharp rise in 911 calls as freezing rain hits Montreal area

By Canadian Press on December 29, 2025.

MONTREAL — A Montreal-area ambulance service says it is receiving more than one hundred 911 calls per hour as freezing rain coats roads and sidewalks in a layer of ice.

Urgences-santé says the level of calls is exceptionally high with most concerning people who have fallen and hurt themselves.

Much of southern and western Quebec are under weather alerts for prolonged periods of freezing rain with ice pellets that can make travel hazardous.

Environment Canada says the Outaouais, Laurentians, Lanaudière, greater Montreal, Montérégie and Eastern Townships regions could see five to 15 millimetres of ice, as well as strong southwesterly winds of up to 70 kilometres per hour.

The weather has caused headaches for commuters hoping to use the Montreal-area light-rail network, or REM, which has reported service slowdowns and shutdowns throughout the morning.

There are some flight delays and cancellations reported at Montréal Trudeau International Airport, and Air Canada is asking customers to check their flight’s status before leaving home.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2025.

The Canadian Press