CORNWALL – A textbook nor’easter pounded Cornwall and SD&G through Tuesday, causing treacherous driving conditions. The storm also wreaked havoc across Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec.
Snow plows were working around the clock to clear the heavy snow, which was drifting on the city’s major streets when coupled with a howling wind.
At one point Tuesday night, Brookdale Avenue – a major artery between Highway 401 and the Canada-U.S. border was a challenge for drivers with all the built up snow.
The wind was out of the northwest at 30 kilometers an hour, gusting to 50 kilometers an hour at times, blinding drivers with the snowfall that seemed to fall horizontally.
As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, a winter storm warning remained in effect for the region and snowfall amounts reaching 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) were likely.
Motorists were sticking to the main routes in Cornwall and some motorists were getting stuck on side streets.
It was also a challenge for pedestrians. Many could be seen walking in the road to get to their destination.
Overnight parking in the city was restricted overnight Tuesday and will be restricted overnight Wednesday to allow crews to clear the streets.
The weather also caused a pileup on Highway 20 near Riviere-Beaudette, Que., shutting down the highway in both directions for a while.
A fatal pileup on Highway 401 involving roughly 30 tractor-trailers and cars east of Gananoque, Ont. took the life of a truck driver. There was also a chemical spill at the scene which forced an evacuation of the area.
Video by Kevin Desjardins-Jean from Magog, Que. pileup: