Snow-clearing crews in Montreal have been in action since early Monday, at the beginning of the first big storm of the season, and the cleanup will cost the city $17 million, according to Coun. Marcel Tremblay.

"One thousand people are working now with a thousand pieces of equipment. The objective now is to push the snow away, and to clear the sidewalk, clear the street," Tremblay said.

The $17 million takes into account cleaning the streets and carting the snow away in the coming days, he said.

Driving conditions were poor during morning rush hour, and provincial police urged people to drive slowly or avoid leaving the house if possible. There were also numerous school closures, and flight delays and cancellations at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.

It's the first of many projected storms in what is expected to be the coldest and snowiest winter in the past 15 years.

Tremblay said the city is ready.

"A hundred and 30 million [dollars] we have as a budget. Every borough has a fund that they have reserved for the snow."

The storm is expected to dump as much as 30 centimetres of snow on some areas Monday.

More than 100 flights were cancelled before the end of the workday Monday, and more flight delays were being posted.

Closures were also announced Monday by dozens of school boards, including:

• English Montreal School Board.
• Lester B. Pearson School Board.
• Riverside School Board.
• Marguerite Bourgeoys School Board.
• Eastern Townships School Board.
• Commission Scolaire de Montreal.
• Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board.
• Laurentian School Board.
• Commission Scolaire Val-des-Cerfs.
• Commission Scolaire des Grandes seigneuries on Montreal's South Shore.
• Commission Scolaire des Affluents.

These were among the several private schools that were closed:

• Loyola High School.
• Trafalgar School for Girls.
• The Study (PED Day, activities are cancelled).
• The Sacred Heart School of Montreal.
• St. George's School of Montreal.
• Pensionnat Saint-Nom-de-Marie.
• Selwyn House.
• Villa Maria School.
• Miss Edgar and Miss Cramps.
• Queen of Angels, Dorval.
• Rudolf Steiner School.
• Vanguard Schools (Laval, St-Laurent and Westmount).
• Montreal Oral School for the Deaf.
• Collège Reine-Marie in Montréal.
• Kell's Academy.
• Peter Hall School.
• Talmud Torah School.
• West Island College.
• College Notre-Dame.
• École Alex Manougian, Montreal.
• Collège St-Sacrement, Terrebonne.
• Collège Regina Assunta.
• Collège Letendre, Laval.
• Collège Laval.
• École Marianne, Rawdon.
• Collège Esther Blondin, Lanaudière.

CEGEP students were urged to check with their institutions to see whether classes were being held.