Friday, January 21, 2011

Arctic Chill

Storrow Drive in Boston this morning. Schools are closed and flights cancelled as the area deals with another 8 inches of snow.

The coldest air of winter 2010/2011 is on our doorstep this morning. Montreal is at -12C at the moment we may slowly rise to -10C but that will be the warmest until at least Tuesday. Light snow is falling in Montreal and across southern Quebec into New England in response to low pressure that moved south of the region and is now off the Delaware coast this morning. That storm will strengthen and lift north across the coastal waters and into Maratimes tonight and Saturday producing a big windy storm for that area. Up to 25cm is forecast with near blizzard conditions across the Gaspe. This morning snow is causing major travel delays and closing schools from Boston into Maine.

The departing storm will help to drive cold air south into Quebec along with arctic high pressure that is pressing east into western Quebec. It will drop to -18C tonight with wind chills around -29C. It will not warm up tomorrow and drop to -25C tomorrow and Sunday night. We will struggle to reach -18C Saturday through Monday. The good news is that it will be clear and dry throughout the period. The next threat for precipitation will not come until the middle of next week.

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