Storm Update

Just some of the 25cm of snow that fell in the last 24 hours here in west end Montreal. (ValleyWX Pic)

At 8pm temperatures have started falling across eastern Ontario and Quebec as low pressure passes directly to our south. The mercury has dropped to -8C in Ottawa and -4C in Montreal. Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect on the US side of the border from upstate New York into Vermont and on our side of the border in the Eastern Townships. Elsewhere they have been allowed to expire.

The storm had a central pressure of 980mb, and I recorded 981mb around 1pm this afternoon here on Ile Perrot. The intense system produced a wide variety of precipitation across the entire region and is still affecting us tonight. Snow has accumulated close to 25cm (10 inches) here in Montreal and it continues to fall. Winds have increased this evening to over 40km/h producing considerable blowing and drifting snow, especially off island. The snow should taper off overnight with totals coming ever so close to 30cm. In one storm we have nearly equalled the snowfall for the entire season. The storm also produced freezing rain with around 10mm of ice here in Montreal and much more to our southwest. The heavy freezing rain in the southern St. Lawrence Valley, combined with the heavy snow today, brought down tree limbs onto power lines. At one point today another 9000 Hydro customers in Brockville were plunged back into the dark. Over 20,000 homes and businesses in eastern Ontario were without power at one point yesterday. Numerous schools and buses were cancelled both days, and air travel was severely impacted today with a number of flight cancellations here at Trudeau Airport. Scores of accidents occurred in both provinces including a fatal collision in south shore Ste. Julie this morning. Roads will remain snow covered and visibility low tonight.