Heavy Rain Warning

Warnings stretch from west to east today as a reult an intense Colorado low

Strong low pressure will move from Colorado northeast across the central Great Lakes and towards central Quebec Monday. A warm front associated with this storm will move north across the St. Lawrence Valley tonight. Along this front heavy precipitation and very strong south winds will develop. The rain may begin as a brief period of freezing rain in Montreal but I expect it will rapidly change to rain. The rain will continue across our region well into Monday with 30-50mm (1 to 2 inches) forecast. There are some concerns about local flooding along area lakes and rivers as snow melt and the precipitation will cause water to rise. Stay of the ice.

Environment Canada has issued a Heavy Rain Warning for southern Quebec as well as a Freezing Rain Warning for areas north of the city across the Laurentians. Freezing rain is also expected in the Ottawa Valley and near Cornwall. From 2-6 hours of frozen precip is expected with some icing possible especially near Ottawa. The freezing rain should begin by late afternoon today.

South of the border in upstate New York and Vermont a flood watch has bee posted for the same hydrological concerns related to the 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. In addition to the rain, strong winds will gust from 50 to 80km/h across the entire region.

The storm is affecting a wide area from the Prairies east to Quebec and eventually into Atlantic Canada. Heavy snow and fierce winds are producing blizzard conditions this morning in Saskatchewan, and these will spread into Manitoba, with 15-30cm of snow expected.