Unsettled end to week - brighter Easter

It feels a little more like Spring this morning after a few overnight showers and mild temperatures remaining above freezing in Montreal. Last weeks snow is just about gone and we are back down to the frozen solid, dirty piles that trace back to early December! These will take a little longer to melt, and this may be the weekend we cut into that. First today we have a few pockets of moisture spreading southwest down the St. Lawrence Valley from the Atlantic. These produced a few showers overnight in the valley and some light snow across upper elevations. Today will remain damp and cloudy with more showers this evening into Friday. Temperatures will be mild, near normal highs of 6C and lows around 0 or 2C.

High pressure will attempt to nose into the area for the weekend with sunshine and temperatures rising to around 10C by Easter. By late Sunday low pressure will lift into central Ontario and Quebec and bring a series of cold fronts across the region. Monday at this time looks rainy and breezy. That will continue into mid-week next week with even some snow possible behind the cold front by Wednesday. Temperatures will fall back below normal with highs dropping to around 3C by Tuesday.

Damp and chilly spring so far

Plowing snow on Monday in some unlikely areas for late March, suburban Washington D.C.

Nobody in Canada, most of the US and even parts of Europe it seems is befitting form the fact that spring has arrived. We have settled into a gloomy period as we remain under a broad cyclonic flow pumping in clouds and occasional moisture from the Atlantic Ocean. There was some decent snow melt yesterday afternoon here in Montreal as the sun came out, but I really need all this to be gone. We need Spring! There are no signs of this pattern breaking down much before the upcoming Easter Weekend. Yesterday Montreal managed a milder 6C as some sunshine broke through the clouds. Less sun is likely today and there may even be some showers or flurries by this evening. The same is true for Wednesday, and with a northeast wind, it may even be a touch cooler in southern Quebec. Look for highs in the plus 3 to 6C (39 to 43F) range for Montreal this week with lows of -1 to -3C (25 to 30F).

On Monday a storm system passed well south of Montreal giving snow to some unlikely areas this late in the season. A general 2-4 inches fell across metro Washington D.C. into southern New Jersey and portions of Cape Cod. Across the mountains of western West Virginia and Maryland as much as 16 inches fell. It should be Cherry Blossom season in Washington D.C., but they are nowhere to be found and not expected to bloom until early April.  That system is east of Cape Cod this morning and not expected to have a direct impact on Quebec. The flow around the storm however will produce some snow across the Gaspe today with as much as 10cm across higher elevations.

Earth Hour 8:30PM

Spend a little time in the dark. Shutting down the system for an hour!

Earth Hour Website

Blizzard hits Saskatchewan - Cold everywhere

Saskatchewan RCMP close the Trans Canada Highway on the western edge of Regina as 80km/h winds create a blizzard. (Regina Leader-Post)

Spring is nowhere to be found as cold air and snow continues to hang on from Alberta to Newfoundland. Yesterday the southern Prairies were hammered by strong winds and snow. The winds gusted up to 80km/h and blew this winters deep snow pack across area highways reducing visibility to zero. The RCMP were forced to close half the highways in southern Saskatchewan including the Trans Canada on the western edge of Regina. Scores of cars hit the ditch. Meanwhile it was no better in Alberta where snow and ice led to a 100 car pileup on Highway 2 near Leduc. Conditions have improved this morning with less wind but roads remain treacherous. Meanwhile in Manitoba it was record cold with Dauphin hitting a cold -29C. A winter storm is also affecting Atlantic Canada and the Gaspe this morning. Up to 20cm of snow is forecast across Cape Breton and PEI with 25-45cm in the Gaspe. Strong winds are creating blizzard conditions there as well.

Massive accident near Leduc, Albert on the 2 (CTV NEWS)

Montreal remains cold and damp after this weeks snowfall with nearly 4 feet of snow in my front yard. I know the lawn is under there somewhere. On Thursday flurries dominated the weather picture in Ontario while Montreal had sunny breaks and a slightly milder high of 1C. Friday and the weekend look no different than this entire week. It will remain mostly cloudy with the occasional snowflake or two and highs in the 0 to 2C range. Overnight lows will be down to -5C. We may see a few more breaks by Monday with warmer temperatures. Meanwhile the western storm will be push south with any precipitation remaining across southern New England.

Cold weather continues across Canada

Spring? Sunset on L'Ile Perrot yesterday with feet of snow piled up in my neighborhood. (ValleyWX Pic)

While Montreal continues to dig out from the 35-40cm of snow yesterday and Tuesday, another big winter storm is slipping southeast across Alberta and Saskatchewan. Numerous roads are closed or impassable on the southern Prairies this morning. If that weren't enough a major storm is also heading into Atlantic Canada with heavy snow, pounding surf and strong winds. All this on the first full official day of Spring 2013.

It is a cold morning again in Montreal at -6C, this time with a chilly southwest wind in the 30-40km/h range. Yesterday I expected a little more in the way of snow shower activity but most of it remained in Ontario. The same is true this morning with light snow across the Ottawa Valley but partly cloudy skies here in Montreal. Today will be the same as yesterday, some light snow with temperatures near 0C. I would not rule out a sunny break or two. The weather remains the same into Friday & Saturday as a blocking pattern over the Atlantic is keeping weather systems from freely moving east.

As we gaze at the unbelievable amount of snow piled up around the city and the completely frozen Lac St Louis, just think we had our warmest March day on record one year ago today when the mercury reached 25.8C in Montreal.

A serious setback to Spring 2013 in Montreal

BBQ season is temporarily on hold. ValleyWX

Plowing in Montreal on Tuesday.

Photograph by: Marie-France Coallier, The Gazette

Spring arrived at 7:02am this morning, took one look around Montreal and left. What a winter 2012/2013 has turned out to be. Already this winter we managed to beat the 1971 daily record and now we have just had a top 5 March storm on the very last day of winter. The snow started early yesterday morning and when all was said and done in the wee hours of this morning, between 33 and 40cm (13-16 inches) of snow had fallen across the Montreal metro area. I measured 33cm at 6pm yesterday (photo on the left) here on L'Ile Perrot and another 3-5cm has fallen overnight. Light snow continues this morning with cold temperatures around -6C. Light precipitation will prevail for the next couple of days as a result of a blocking pattern over the north Atlantic with temperatures below normal around -1C. Any snow accumulations will be light with just 1-3cm expected over the next 24 hours.

One factor that may become a problem for area highways on Thursday, is an increase in the wind. Gusts of to 50km/h are possible on Thursday and this could cause all the snow to start blowing around. We will have to see how that develops. In the meantime spring is on hold as we have mountains and mountains of snow across the city, and we need to have some serious melting! Oh by the way, one year ago today Montreal recorded one of  its warmest March temperatures on record as the mercury soared to 24C (76F).

Second biggest storm of the season for Montreal

A slow morning commute in Montreal. (ValleyWX Photo)

Trudeau Airport is approaching 30cm (1 foot) of snow this afternoon as the second biggest storm of the season begins to ease its grip on the region. Another shot of snow is moving northeast from Ontario but is should only give another 5cm or so to the city. Storm totals will settle into the 30-40cm range across southern Quebec. This makes it the snowiest March 19 on record smashing the previous amount of 11.7cm set in 1952. As mentioned it is also the second biggest storm for the city this winter, eclipsed only by the December 27th storm. The storm caused hundreds of accidents, closed schools and cancelled flights. Conditions will slowly improve tonight across the region as the heavy snow moves into eastern New England and Atlantic Canada. Temperatures are around -1C but will cool to -6C tonight.

The cleanup begins. (ValleyWX Photo)

Winter storm affecting Quebec

The forecast... sunny and 21C, oh wait that was last year! No record warmth this March.
This year: snow & blowing snow, very poor travel, delays and cancellations at Trudeau Airport and a pile of school closings including the Lester B Pearson School Board and the Townships Board among others.

Highway 40 on the West Island this morning - snow covered and windy.

The actual forecast has winter storm warnings posted from Cornwall to Quebec City, south and east into New York and New England. A decent amount of snow has fallen on L'Ile Perrot overnight with between 5 and 10cm on the ground. Another 10-15cm or up to 6 inches more is likely by the time the storm tapers off early Wednesday. Gusty northeast winds are blowing the snow around the valley this morning. It will be slow going no matter where you are heading today with roads snow covered and visibility low. Temperatures will be in the 0 to -3C range across the area for highs.

Low pressure over Michigan has pushed a warm front just south of Montreal that is the focus for the snow at this time. That precipitation will taper off as a second low pressure area begins to develop along the Atlantic Coast. That storm will move towards Cape Cod today. It will send more moisture north later today with perhaps another 5cm for Montreal overnight. Storm totals will fall into the 20-30cm range from Montreal south with over 30cm possible in Vermont.

Winter storm update

Major late season winter storm still on track. Winter storm warnings remain posted for all of southwestern Quebec and extreme eastern Ontario. They are also in effect for all of New York and Vermont as well as most of New England. The leading edge of the snow is moving northeast across eastern Ontario and central New York towards Quebec at this hour with snow expected by 3 or 4am in Montreal. It will start light but become rather heavy towards the morning commute. Gusty northeast winds up to 50km/h will cause blowing snow. The snow will become light through the midday hours on Tuesday while a second area of low pressure begins to develop off the east coast near Delaware. Once this system begins to migrate towards Cape Cod, snow will once again become steady and heavy at times into Tuesday night. Total storm accumulations will range from 20 to 30cm in the St. Lawrence Valley and up to 50cm in the Townships and  across Vermont and New Hampshire. Temperatures will be cold for March around -2C with gusty winds.

Winter Storm Warning for Montreal

Yes you are seeing right! Last years record high of 23C on this day is being replaced by a winter storm warning for this year. (AccuWeather)

The high temperature in Montreal one year ago today was 23C (73F), that would be followed by an all time March record high of 25.8C (79F) on the 21st. Well not this year, it is a cold morning by any standards here on L'Ile Perrot as we sit at -15C (7F), two days before spring arrives, and we have a big storm on the way.

Sunshine today will slip away to increasing clouds as we have a major winter storm heading for Ontario and Quebec. A winter storm warning has been issued for southwest Quebec, as well as the Champlain Valley and Adirondacks of New York and the Green Mountains of Vermont. Warnings will likely be needed as well for eastern Ontario east of the 416 later today. The storm will come in two distinct waves. The first will come from low pressure moving from Minnesota to Michigan. This system will push a warm front just south of the St. Lawrence Valley late today with snow accumulating to 10cm from about 3am in Montreal on Tuesday to mid morning  It will be accompanied by gusty northeast winds. Meanwhile a second area of low pressure will develop near Delaware and move towards Boston. This will become the main storm as it deepens rapidly. Heavy snow will once again overspread the region this time from the southeast by late in the day Tuesday and fall at the rate of 2-4cm an hour for a time. Once the snow ends on Wednesday most areas will have received 25cm (10 inches) of wet snow. Areas in the Townships and along the US border could have as much as 35cm (14 inches). Strong winds will create poor visibility especially south and east of Montreal. It will remain cold with highs near 0C (32F) and lows down to -6C during the storm. These temperatures are well below normal for March. Expect travel delays on the ground and in the air starting late today across southern Ontario.

Winter won't leave Montreal alone

The carnage left behind after brief snow squalls caused a 20 care pileup on the 401 near Prescott, Ontario on Friday afternoon.

Late season snowstorm on the way for Ontario & Quebec
Sorry for the lack of updates lately but I have been a little "under the weather." Many of us here in Ontario and Quebec are, as we have just had it with a winter that won't go away. As I write this blog this morning it is -9C outside my house, more typical of January not 3 days before Spring arrives. The high today will only be -5C, the normal should be plus 3C. We had several snow squalls move across eastern Ontario, southern Quebec and Vermont on Friday afternoon. The combination of brief heavy snow and strong winds created multiple major accidents across the region. The biggest closed down the 401 at Prescott, Ontario for over 15 hours after 20 vehicles were involved. Several injuries were reported, two critical in  nature. This perhaps was just a sample of what lies ahead this week.

Another big snowfall is on the way for New England, Quebec and eastern Ontario. Two low pressure areas one over the northern plains, and the second forecast to develop Monday off the Delaware coast, are forecast to move towards the region. This will be a complex system as they all have been this winter. Look for a heavy wet snow to develop late Monday and last into Wednesday morning. At this time we are looking at perhaps 20cm of snow for the region. There is the potential of even more if the second system turns out to be stronger. There are lots of details to work out, but for the time being, expect wet snow and poor travel on Tuesday. One thing is certain it will be snow as cold air and below normal temperatures are here for the week ahead.

Wind & cold - the return of winter

Just in case you thought winter was over, you need only step outside this morning to realize it is not. Temperatures are the coldest they have been this month with current readings at -6C (windchill -13C). Add to that a biting northwest wind in the 30-50km/h range and some light snow and it feels like mid January. About 1cm of snow fell in a few squalls during the overnight hours, they are just about done, but the cold is here for the day. We are currently looking at our high temperature for the day with little or no movement. Lows tonight will be around -10C. It is currently -11C in Ottawa and they also are expecting a cold day today. Looking ahead we have some light snow and chilly temperatures to end the week on Friday followed by a sunny and seasonable weekend with highs close to the freezing point both days. On Monday low pressure will be developing in the central plains and moving towards the Great Lakes. Current indications are for a rain /snow mix. Depending on the exact track it could be more than 10cm of wet snow on Tuesday for some regions. That is several days away, so lets first deal with the wind and cold today.

On a final note we have had about 22.6mm of rain here on L'Ile Perrot so far this month. This in combination with the warmer temperatures has really began to melt the snow pack. There are still lots of big dirty piles of snow around but we are heading in the right direction!

Rainy & mild day for Montreal

We remain on the mild side of a slow moving cold front this morning with temperatures near 6C in Montreal. Low pressure continues to move northeast well to the north of Montreal with the cold front expected to clear the region today. Ahead of it we had about 6mm of rain overnight on L'Ile Perrot but radar is showing more steady rain to our southwest lifting towards eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. It should be a rainy day with temperatures fairly steady across southern Quebec between 5 and 8C. Expect about another 10mm or so in Montreal but much more along the US border where rainfall warnings are in effect. Those locations including Sherbrooke could see an additional 25-35mm of rain. Further to our south in Vermont and east central New York heavy rain is also forecast with a flood watch posted for those locations. The combination of up to 1 inch of rain, snow melt and moving river ice could lead to sharp rises on area waterways. Another point to take note of for all regions is to stay off and away from river ice which has begun to melt here is the south and has become very unstable.

Storm next week?
Cooler air will move into the region tonight behind the front with lows dropping to -2C and any rain tapering off to a brief period of wet snow. The balance of the week looks unsettled and much cooler with flurries possible. A weak clipper system may bring a few centimetres of snow for Saturday. Another storm is poised to affect the region early next week. This far out amounts and type of precipitation is too difficult to pinpoint, but it may be snow for some of us.

The fifth season...mud!

There is little in the way of snow cover in Lennoxville, QC in the Townships, with just puddles and mud left.

The fifth season is upon us, known affectionately in Vermont and parts of southern Quebec, as the mud season. I was down in Sherbrooke yesterday, and with the 11C high, there was lots of melting snow, mud and dirt. It is not a pretty time of year, and some areas will progress through it quicker than others. I noticed quite a bit less snow in the Sherbrooke area as they were spared the more intense storms this winter. My neighborhood on the other hand is looking at several weeks yet of melting snow and ice. We were spared this season last year with limited snow cover and a very early and downright hot spring. This will not be the case this year with a more traditional March expected.

The temperatures today and tomorrow along with perhaps 15-25mm of rain in eastern Ontario and southern Quebec will certainly help with the melting process. We start the day at a mild 3C (38F) here on L'Ile Perrot. It is dry for the moment, but low pressure lifting north in the central Great Lakes will drag a cold front across the St. Lawrence Valley overnight tonight. Ahead of the front today we can expect a few showers with gusty southwest winds developing up to 50km/h at times later today. Rain will start this evening and continue all day Tuesday tapering off to drizzle or perhaps a few mountain flurries by late in the day. Temperatures will be very mild in the 7C (45F) range both days, and dropping only down to 3 or 4C tonight. The balance of the work week looks cloudy and cooler with temperatures dropping back below freezing and perhaps a few snow showers.

A house rests at an unnatural angle on Plum Island, Massachusetts after another coastal storm pounded the region. In all 12 homes have been deemed to dangerous to occupy.

 Plum Island, Mass
My vacation the last couple of years has been closer to home in the New England region rather than North Carolina. I discovered a barrier island off the northeast coast of Massachusetts that I just love, reminds me a little of the Outer Banks. It has unfortunately, like all east coast barrier islands, taken a beating this past year. First hurricane Sandy and now back to back Nor'Easters have pounded the beach with high surf. The result has been severe beach erosion which led to a couple of homes collapsing into the surf this past weekend. In all 12 homes are too dangerous to occupy at this time. Plum Island is experiencing what so many coastal communities up and down the east coast have been since last September.

Storm pounds Eastern Seaboard

Coastal flooding from Wednesday's Nor' Easter in Ocean City, Maryland.

The same areas of the US Eastern Seaboard that have taken a beating since Hurricane Sandy were once again hit on Wednesday. As expected low pressure moved off the Atlantic coast near Virginia Beach and slowly began moving into the north Atlantic. This system produced heavy wet snow, in the order of 1 to 2 feet across West Virginia and Maryland but for the most part spared the large cities of the east coast. The big weather story with this storm has been the wind and waves. Coastal flooding has been reported from the Outer Banks to Cape Cod. Both the Eastern Shore and portions of New Jersey have been hit  hard again with water inundating coastal roads and properties. The Coast Guard is searching for two missing fisherman from North Carolina who went missing in the 15 foot seas off Assateague Island, Virginia. Three were on board and one has since been rescued. The search will resume at first light this morning in continuing rough seas and 50mph winds. Power was knocked out to thousands in the middle Atlantic region.

Huge waves pound the coast in Virginia Beach near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.  The 26 mile bridge connecting the Eastern Shore to the mainland was closed to all traffic on Wednesday. (WAVY 10)

Locally across southern Quebec the storm has produced nothing but clouds and gusty northeast winds. Today a trough from the Great Lakes will draw some moisture northwest form the edge of the system and produce some flurries over the St. Lawrence Valley with perhaps a couple of inches of wet snow over Vermont. Skies will clear for Friday with a fair and mild weekend before storminess returns for next week.

Big snowstorm stays south

The bulk of the snow will remain south and east of the border with just a few flurries or showers nudging into southern Ontario and Quebec. Winds will be gusty in the St. Lawrence Valley, up to 50km/h due to the storm. (AccuWeather)

The same blocking features in the north Atlantic that have kept the clouds and light precipitation over southern Quebec are now sparring us the big Midwestern snowstorm. The system has taken a path from the southern Prairies across the upper Midwest and into the middle Atlantic this morning. A rash of warnings are in effect from Virginia and the Outer Banks north into New England. The storm has already put down 10 inches of heavy wet snow in western Maryland, and some areas into West Virginia could see up to 2 feet. Snow will spread across the coastal plain and north towards Boston by evening  Over 6 inches of snow could accumulate in Baltimore and Washington. Rain will mix in along the coast. The other factor with this storm will be wind and surge. Coastal flood warnings are up along the battered New Jersey and New England coastlines this morning. Surge flooding is likely over the next 24 to 36 hours as the system moves into the open waters of the Atlantic and intensifies sending a northeast fetch of wind and water into the coast.

Montreal will remain on the northern edge of the system with clouds and perhaps a stray snowflake or two. Winds will be gusty, but temperatures should be mild to end the week up to plus 2 or 3C. The weekend at this time looks sunny and mild, maybe up to 7C (45F) in the warm March sun, before cooler weather and perhaps some snow return for next week.

When will winter end?

A fierce blizzard closed highways in and around Regina and other parts of the Prairies on Sunday and Monday. (National Post)

Another March morning, another cold and windy one with more snow. The winter of 2012-2013 does not seem to want to end, and the mounds of snow, including the 2 or 3cm that fell overnight here on L'Ile Perrot, are a testament to that. The temperature currently is -5C but with windchill values below -10C. We are expecting low pressure in the north Atlantic to finally release its grip on the region today and allow for milder temperatures and perhaps a few breaks.

This clearing will be short lived as another massive storm system begins to move into the middle Atlantic from the Midwest. This storm will give Montreal gusty northeast winds and perhaps clouds but no precipitation on Wednesday. The snow and rain with this storm will slide south of the region. This system was responsible for a big blizzard across portions of all three Prairie provinces from Sunday into late Monday  Many roads were closed and travelers stranded for hours. Between 25 and 40cm of snow was blown around by fierce 100km/h winds. The storm is moving into the upper Midwest today and is expected to move to the middle Atlantic by Thursday. It will then redevelop off the east coast and become a big weather story for the Atlantic coast with pounding surf for days.

The North Atlantic remains blocked which basically is not allowing weather systems to easily move east. This will keep temperatures in southern Quebec and eastern Canada below normal into the middle portion of March with perhaps more snow than normal. One good thing about a cooler March is that this will hopefully allow for a slow snow melt. Last March we had several record highs as the mercury soared to near 25C (77F).

March 3-5, 1971 vs December 2012 in Montreal

Remembering 1971
Today is the 42nd anniversary of the start of the great Montreal blizzard of 1971. I have written plenty in the past about this particular day and what it means to me from a personal perspective. You can read what I wrote on the 39th anniversary by clicking on the red link above.

Above: The struggle to get home begins on March 4, 1971. The blizzard of 1971 dumped 43cm of snow on Montreal in under 24 hours with hurricane force winds and 6 foot drifts all over the province. Over 50cm fell during the 2 day storm. Nearly 20 fatalities occurred as a result of the storm. Roads were closed and thousands stranded downtown. Power was out for days in many parts of the province.
(Photo from fredericks-artworks.blogspot.ca)

What I will mention today is what long time CJAD traffic reporter Rick Leckner had to say on the morning after we broke the 1971 record this past December 27, 2012. He noted that the only comparison between 1971 and 2012 were in the quantities of snow, 45cm (2012) in 24 hours vs 43cm (1971). The comparison stopped there. On the morning after the big storm, March 5, 1971 he took the CJAD 800 helicopter up for a look at the carnage left on Montreal and southern Quebec highways. What he saw was abandoned cars everywhere and one lane down the center of most highways, nothing more. There were huge drifts of snow blocking highways all over the city. On the morning after this past December's storm, people were travelling to work on black top at 100km/h with no delays to speak of. The 1971 storm stands alone, we have yet to match it, I will let you know if and when we do. The only storm that came close was the March 13, 1993 east coast super storm, but it happened on a weekend lessening the impact.

We are approaching the 20th anniversary of that storm, I will have much more to say on that in a later entry.
You can also read what I wrote for the 40th anniversary of the 71 blizzard HERE