Warm start to September

It is back to school today for everybody as the summer of 2014 officially draws to a close. Despite that, Montreal and the eastern third of North America remain entrenched in a very warm and humid air mass. Daytime temperatures were above 27C (80F) all weekend along with elevated humidity making it feel like late July. About 11mm of rain occurred over the weekend on L'Ile Perrot with amounts varying from nothing to as much as 50mm depending on which thunderstorm you were under. The storms here on L'Ile Perrot occurred in the wee hours of Sunday morning with lots of thunder and lightning but little else. Still a welcome sight for storm watchers who have had very little action in metro Montreal this summer. There may be more thunderstorms this afternoon and this evening as a cold front cuts into this sultry air. The best change for storms will be around the middle of the afternoon from the St. Lawrence Valley west and this evening into the Townships and areas along the US border. Highs today will be warm again, near 27C (81F) with lows tonight down to a mild 16C (61F). Wednesday through Friday look warm still with highs of 25 to 28C (77-82F) and lots of sunshine. Showers and storms may develop again late Friday and into Saturday.

NOAA image of tropical storm Dolly in the southern Gulf of Mexico this morning. Dolly will move into Mexico late today.

TROPICAL STORM DOLLY
The fourth system of the hurricane season has developed in the southern Gulf of Mexico west of the Yucatan. Tropical storm Dolly with 45mph winds is located about 350km east of Tampico, Mexico. The storm is expected to remain rather weak and move inland along the Mexican coast late today. Heavy rain, from 6-10 inches and gusty winds along with a modest rise in water along the immediate coastline are forecast at this time. Dolly will remain south of the Texas coast. Even weak tropical systems have the potential to produce dangerous flash flooding, and Dolly is no different.