SNOW in October

Snow is falling in the upper elevations of West Virginia this morning (AccueWeather.com)

It is amazing to me after all these years following weather just how quickly things can change. We just came off a week of record heat and humidity in many regions across North America and we are talking snow on October 2nd. A swirling area of low pressure located over the middle Atlantic is drawing moisture into the northeast and cold northerly winds across the Great Lakes on the western edge of the system. There is no mistaking this morning what season it is. A cold rain or drizzle is occurring across the lower lakes and into the Ohio Valley and Appalachians. Across portions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia snow is falling with several inches accumulating at higher elevations. A steady, cold rain is falling in the interior portions of New England and Quebec.

Here in Montreal we are at 9C with a very cold northerly wind at 45km/h and moisture approaching the city from the southeast. Look for a rainy, windy and cold 24 hours ahead of us. In Ontario it is even colder this morning with Toronto down to 5C and Hamilton 4C.

Above Hurricane Ophelia and the large upper level low are well displayed on the Environment Canada satellite image.

Meanwhile a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for coastal areas of southeast Newfoundland including the Avalon Peninsula. Ophelia is a category 2 hurricane with 125mph winds about 1220 km southwest of Cape Race. The storm is expected to pass close to the Newfoundland coast with high winds up to 100km/h and heavy rain, up to 75mm. Waves and seas are building today across Atlantic Canada and could reach 5 to 7 metres in Newfoundland. Ophelia is racing northeast at 30 mph and will approach Newfoundland early Monday.