Canada - Thousands of clients are without power across Quebec after a winter storm dumped 60 to 100 centimetres of snow in the Lanaudière and Laurentian regions.

Approximately 130,000 households were without electricity this morning, according to Sophie Lamoureux, director of regional affairs at Hydro Québec.

Lamoureux said that many Hydro Québec clients will have to wait until tomorrow evening before their power is restored.

The Laurentians is one of the most affected areas, where close to 77,000 people are without power. Many in the Lanaudière and Outaouais regions were also left in the dark.

Yesterday's heavy, wet snowfall was the main cause of the power outages, according to Lamoureux. She said the snow, combined with strong winds, brought down trees in heavily wooded areas in the Lanaudière region and the Laurentians.

She said Hydro Québec crews are working to restore electricity. They have also asked for extra assistance from other regions of the province that were less affected.

Poor driving conditions

In many regions of Quebec, drivers are dealing with icy, snow-covered roads.

Transports Québec is urging drivers to be cautious, as the holiday season means roads will be busier than normal.

There have been several reports of cars sliding off the road in the greater Montreal area.

This morning, Transports Québec banned all trucks from Highway 138, between Tadoussac and Baie-Comeau in the North Shore, as well as between Saint-Urbain and Ferland-et-Boileau, in the Charlevoix region.