Cool weather

CDOT traffic camera of snow falling this morning north of Denver.

The forecast for the balance of the week is finally becoming a little more clear (pardon the pun). The threat for precipitation, at least for Montreal is somewhat less now with more sunshine expected. High pressure over the area this morning will push storm system 1 to our south taking with it any threat for snow or rain. Radar is showing this trend this morning with clouds to our south and light precipitation staying in Vermont and NY. The second more potent storm that is giving Colorado its first snowstorm of the season this morning will also be pushed south of the region late Thursday. All precipitation should remain to our south over New York and southern Vermont. However one thing that will be noticeable to end the week, is the cooler weather. Temperatures will be below normal into the weekend with cool daytime highs of 4 to 7C (39 to 45F) and overnight lows to about -3C (27F) in the city and colder in the suburbs with frost and a hard freeze likely.

Heavy snow is falling across portions of northern Colorado this morning which as much as 6 inches reported. Lesser amount have fallen in Denver with 1 to 3 inches so far, but amazing when you think they had a record high of 80F on Monday. CDOT is reporting roads becoming snow covered and slippery across portions of the state with more snow and gusty winds forecast today. It is only 28F (-2C) in Denever this morning with light snow.

Hurricane Rina continues to meander just off the Yucatan coast this morning with 110mph winds. An Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft has centered the storm about 385km southeast of Cozumel drifting west at 5mph. Hurricane warnings are in effect as far north as Cancun as the category 2 storm slowly drifts along the coastline and then northeast towards south Florida and northern Cuba over the next 48 hours. Torrential rain of 8-16 inches and a surge up to 7 feet is forecast for the Yucatan coast including Cancun later today and tonight. While the storm may briefly reach category 3 strength today, forecasters expect Rina to begin to weaken in response to land, wind shear and cooler water temperatures. The storm still needs to be monitored closely for any impact on Florida and the southeast US coast into the weekend.