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Montreal temperature plunging to -30 on Sunday in rare March cold snap

Be warned: a frigid start to March 2025 is planned for Montreal—an unusual phenomenon for the season.

Laura Osborne
Written by
Laura Osborne
Editor, Time Out Canada
Cold
Photograph: Shutterstock / F01 PHOTO
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UPDATE March 2, 2025: A low of -22°C is expected overnight from Sunday to Monday, with a wind chill of around -26°C. This intense cold will be short-lived thanks to a warm front accompanied by a powerful Colorado system arriving on Tuesday.

This Sunday, the wind chill is expected to reach -31, bringing exceptionally cold temperatures for March.

A mass of cold air from the north, combined with lingering winds on Sunday morning, will push the wind chill down to -30.

Such extreme cold poses a significant risk, as exposed skin can freeze within 10 to 30 minutes.

While rare, temperatures this low in March are not unprecedented.

Winter
Photograph: Shutterstock / Andrei Stepanov

What is Montreal’s coldest temperature on record?

Analyzing data from the past 25 years, this phenomenon has occurred several times.

Since 2000, Montreal has experienced a wind chill of -30 in March on four occasions, the most recent being March 2, 2021.

On March 6, 2007, a record-breaking wind chill of -38 was recorded in the city.

Beyond these extreme wind chills, Montreal has also seen six Marches where actual temperatures dropped to -20°C, even before factoring in wind chill.

The last occurrence was on March 11, 2017.

Winter
Photograph: Lena Si | Shutterstock.com

When will the cold weather start in Montreal?

A mass of cold air from the north, intensified by persistent winds, will bring the wind chill down to -30 on Sunday morning, but milder temperatures are expected starting Tuesday.

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