Roads remain poor

An icy sunset yesterday afternoon in Kemptville. Photo SB

The combination of ice build up from the snow and freezing rain yesterday and the extreme cold this morning has resulted in icy and snow packed roads across may areas in eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. Temperatures were as cold as -20 in Kemptville this morning. Nearly 20cm of snow fell in Kemptville with close to 30cm in both Montreal and Ottawa. The snow was mixed with sleet and a prolonged period of freezing rain, especially in the St. Lawrence Valley. The ice resulted in nearly 60,000 Hydro customers loosing power in Quebec.

Our attention now turns to another major storm that is moving up the eastern seaboard from the Gulf States. Snow has been reported as far south as Houston and New Orleans. The system will move up the east coast and send heavy snow and ice inland over New England and into southern and eastern Quebec. 15-25cm of snow is forecast for Vermont with amounts trailing off quickly north and west. As the storm moves south and east of Ontario tonight we may see a little light snow along the Seaway, possibly a few centimetres in eastern Ontario and as much as 10cm in southern Quebec. Winds will increase out of the northeast and it will be raw and cold tonight and Friday.

The ice brought down trees and power lines in Montreal. Gazette Photo

The weekend will be milder by Sunday with showers possibly on Monday. If you are travelling south this weekend be prepared for a major ice and snow storm along the east coast of the US.