Weekend arctic air

We are looking at a mild Friday across eastern Ontario and the St. Lawrence Valley as well as much of southern Quebec with current temperatures just below freezing here in Montreal. Temperatures under bright sunshine and a gusty southwest wind will rise to about 3C. A strong arctic front will cross the region beginning late this afternoon in Ontario and this evening in Montreal. Along the front a brief period of snow along with gusty winds are possible with perhaps as much as 5cm locally. The biggest amount of snow will be near the Great Lakes. Once the front passes south of the region very cold northwest winds to 40km/h will drive temperatures down to the minus teens where they will remain until Monday. It won't be frigid, but cold, especially after the recent mild weather.

So where are all the storms? Well Europe is being hammered with snowstorms and fierce cold with snow being measured in feet and not inches. Also Alaska has had one traditional winter with frigid temperatures and hundreds of inches of snow for the season. For now the storm track remains well to our north with very little in the way of activity in the lower 48 and most of Canada. The exception will be portions of Atlantic Canada. This morning some snow is falling in Newfoundland as a coastal storm pulls out to seas. A second storm will develop near Cape Cod and move towards Nova Sctoia. Heavy snow is possible on Saturday across New Brunswick and PEI with as much as 30cm possible. In Nova Scotia it will be a snow rain mix with lesser amounts. Winds will gust over 70km/h at times producing blowing snow in New Brunswick.