From frost to heat & humidity

In less than 36 hours many locations in southern Quebec and eastern Ontario went from sub-zero overnight lows with frost to high temperatures near 30C on Sunday. Montreal was no different after an overnight low of 2C (36F) early Saturday morning, we managed a sultry high of 27C (81F) Sunday afternoon.

The forecast for the week looks very summery with high pressure moving off the east coast of the US and pumping warm and humid air northward into New England, Quebec and Ontario. A strong warm front will lift northward across the entire region today with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Cloud cover will keep temperatures in check with perhaps 22C (72F) for a high. I don't expect severe weather but any of the storms that do develop today have the potential to produce very heavy rain. Overnight it will remain mild with lows near 20C (68F). Tuesday promises to be quite warm and humid with high temperatures at or even above 30C (86F) in eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. I expect sunshine on Tuesday. The balance of the week looks partly to mostly cloudy and very warm and humid with a chance of showers and thunderstorms each afternoon. Gusty south winds from 20 to 50km/h most days will continue to pump humid air north from the southern US.

The aftermath of strong thunderstorms in Cache Creek, BC. (CBC News)

B.C. Thunderstorms
Meanwhile in the community of Cache Creek, B.C. severe thunderstorms with hail and heavy rain produced major flash flooding early Saturday. Numerous homes were destroyed as a wall of water and mud swept the town north of Merritt. A state of emergency has been declared as the cleanup begins. Many families were trapped in their homes and scores are homeless today.

Unprecedented flooding is occurring in San Marcos, Texas. (City of San Marcos Photo)

TEXAS FLOODING
Record flooding continues this morning across portions of Texas and Oklahoma. Water levels have reached heights never seen before in many communities along the border between the two states. Major flooding has also been rolling down the Blanco and San Marcos Rivers between San Antonio and Austin, Texas. The flood waters have forced massive evacuations and resulted in a heavy loss of property and at least three fatalities. Strong thunderstorms have drenched the region with more rain in the month of May than in the last year combined. Over 20 inches of rain has fallen across north Texas this month alone.