Snow update

10:45PM Update: What a wild weather night in southern Quebec as a surprise snowstorm is underway. Heavy snow has been falling in Montreal for about 2 hours. I just measured 7.5cm here on L'Ile Perrot since 8pm. The snow is being blown around by northeast winds that are gusting to 40km/h. Warnings have now been extended west to include the south shore of Montreal and the Richelieu Valley. There have even been reports of thunder and lightning with the snow over northern Vermont into southern Quebec. Scattered power outages have also been reported in Vermont from the heavy wet snow. Travel is very difficult with snow covered roads and reduced visibility. Snow will taper off by daybreak with at least 10cm in Montreal and 15-20cm elsewhere across southern Quebec. Deepening low pressure is located in southern Vermont tonight moving east. This storm was expected to remain along the coast but took an inland track accounting for the heavy snow in the St. Lawrence Valley and southern Quebec.

After a very mild day today with a high of 1C in Montreal and bright sunshine, the snow has started in the last hour. Radar is showing heavy snow just to our south with Plattsburgh at 29F with heavy snow. The snow will increase in coverage and intensity shortly across southern Quebec with near 10cm expected in the Montreal region and up to 15cm in the Townships. Winter storm warnings are in effect for Vermont and New York for 10-20cm of snow. Snowfall warnings are in effect for portions of southern Ontario with winter weather advisories in effect for the St. Lawrence Valley of New York.The snow will taper off by sunrise. Roads have rapidly become snow covered and visibility has lowered to under 2km in Montreal and under 1km off island. If you can stay in tonight across the area, do so, much safer watching hockey on TV than driving in this.