Be careful this week on the streets of Montreal! Those desperately clinging to their Sambas quickly discovered Monday morning that much of the city’s cracked sidewalks are covered in a thin but slippery layer of ice.
The Farmers’ Almanac has predicted a book-like winter for 2025-2026: snowy, wet, chaotic and stormy. Winter officially begins on the winter solstice – December 21, 2025.
And, in the meantime, the sudden cold snap that will hit Montreal this week has already brought chaos to the city. The festive season has been heralded as snowy and cold as the good old days, but only after the passage of a polar vortex.
Montreal to freeze like February
This week, from Thursday, December 4, the mercury slips below -10 degrees Celsius. That’s just as well, as the temperature reaches -14 degrees celsius on the evening of the last full moon of the year: the Cold Moon, which is also a supermoon.
Average seasonal temperatures (which always change a little during winter in Quebec’s yo-yo) for the month of December are between -1 degree celsius and -7 degrees celsius.
From December 4, 2025, we fall below the averages for the coldest month of the year (February). These are around -3 degrees celsius to -11 degrees celsius.
On Sunday December 7, the night will be truly frigid, with -18 degrees celsius on the thermometer and a felt temperature of -23 degrees celsius .
Ice day
During these icy days, of course, we recommend getting out your snow boots and mittens. Fortunately, if you’re not equipped, there are plenty of holiday markets where you can buy your cold-weather kit ..
You can also go skating at the Esplanade Tranquille, drink a themed cocktail to warm up, or take a stroll with the wind whipping in your face and sample one of the city’s best hot chocolates.
Bundle up!