Summer vs Winter

UPDATE 12:30PM: I have two more record highs to add to the list, Kemptville hit 28.3C yesterday breaking the old record of 27.6C set in 2002, and Brockville was 28.4C, the old record from 1973 was 24.4C. Today, just 24 hours later, most places are in the cold plus 9 to 11C (48-52F) range with a strong west wind. From shorts to gloves! 

SUMMER
I really did not think we had a chance, but there it is, a new official record high for April 16 of 28.9C (85F) at Trudeau Airport, squeaking past the old record of 28.7C set in 2002. By my count that makes 6 record highs already this year for Montreal. There were dozens of other records smashed including 31.4C (88F) at St Anicet, 29.9C (86F) at St Anne's on the West Island and 29C (85F) at Lennoxville. I was at 31C here on L'Ile Perrot, and we had around 10mm of rain with the front last night. Temperatures all over the region nudged into the high 20's and low 30's, normal for mid July. Burlington, Vermont was still at 27C (80F) last night at 11pm! A strong cold front has chilled things way down this morning as we sit at 12C (54F) with a gusty west wind up to 50km/h. Temperatures will not move much today staying in the 13 to 15C range, but with plenty of sunshine. Winds will abate this evening and temperatures will drop to near freezing. As a matter of fact freeze warnings and watches are in effect for a large area of western New York and Ohio where the growing season is well underway.

Still serving fresh coffee, but the Tim's sign was no match for 100km/h wind gusts in Hamilton on Monday. (The Spectator)

That same cold front was the focus for strong southwest winds ahead of it on Monday. Winds gusted to over 95km/h across most of southern Ontario including 96km/h at London and Hamilton with 70 and 80km/h gusts in the GTA. The winds toppled trees, power lines and signs knocking out power to thousands of homes and businesses. It even knocked over a semi-truck on Highway 400 north of Toronto. The front also produced some scattered thunderstorms, but only showers rolled through Montreal in the middle part of the evening.

WINTER
The parent low pressure area of that cold front meanwhile was producing heavy snow and freezing rain across northern Minnesota into northwest Ontario including Thunder Bay where 3 hours of freezing rain was reported. In Timmins over 14 hours of ice snarled traffic and cut power. Atikokan had snow and lots of it with 27cm, while Kapuskasing recorded 32cm. The OPP had to close the Trans Canada Highway near Wawa because of severe winter weather.