Sunday, April 15, 2018

Icy start to work week for Montreal

So far, the worst of the icy weather has remained in Ontario this weekend. That will change today as freezing rain develops in Montreal this afternoon. Hundreds of accidents were reported by the Ontario Provincial Police on Saturday alone. (TWN Photo)
Freezing Rain Warning in effect for southern Quebec, including metro Montreal. 

The frontal boundary that left Montreal shivering in unseasonably cold air Saturday, has pushed far enough south to keep most of the precipitation away form the city for now. That being said, it won't stay there, and the bad news is that the worst of the weather returns to Montreal for the Monday commute. On Saturday, the bulk of snow and ice pellets remained in Ontario and New York. The result was hundreds of accidents reported by the OPP, as well as 10,000 residents without power in Ontario alone. Highway 401 was closed in at least two locations due to accidents. In Montreal, the weather was cold and windy, with just a dusting of snow overnight.

This morning, the weather remains cold, at -5C (23F) on L'Ile Perrot, combined with a northeast wind of up to 50km/h, the temperature feels like -15 C (5F). Icy precipitation will spread into southern Quebec this afternoon, as the front slowly begins to lift north again. Strong low pressure will move along the front tonight and Monday, spreading freezing rain and rain across the province. Temperatures will remain below freezing in Montreal for at least the next 24 hours. There is a real concern that a significant amount of freezing rain will fall. Expect a very poor commute Monday morning in Montreal. I would also anticipate power outages across southern Quebec due to ice accretion and gusty northeast winds. Expect winds between 50-70km/h in the St. Lawrence Valley Sunday and Monday. The freezing rain will eventually change to rain in Montreal late in the day Monday.

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