Unsettled but mild week ahead

A poorly-timed period of steady snow slowed the morning commute in Montreal.

Traffic was slow again this morning in Montreal as a poorly-timed area of wet snow and mixed precipitation crossed the city. Snow-covered, icy roads and low visibility occurred just in time for the morning rush hour. The culprit is an area of low pressure lifting into central Quebec today. Mild air is accompanying the system, so expect any precipitation to change to light rain today. Temperatures will rise to a very mild 4C (39F). Some Ontario locations have set record highs already for today's date, but Montreal's is safe for now (13.3C set in 1950).

A rather windy cold front will cross the city tonight by midnight, with dropping temperatures down to -4C (25F) and gusty winds up to 70km/h. Any precipitation will change back to light snow with perhaps a repeat of today's commute tomorrow morning. The balance of the week will remain unsettled but mild with periods of wet snow or mixed precipitation. No one system will be strong, but the weather will be very changeable with perhaps 5-10cm of snow by week's end. Looking ahead, I expect much colder weather to return for the second week of February, along with the chance of a storm on or around the 10th of the month. This is all preliminary and subject to change in this crazy El Nino driven winter, but computer models are suggesting something may develop.