Spectacular weather forecast for Montreal to end September

Strong high pressure will remain in control of the weather over southern Quebec during the entire upcoming week. We can expect near-perfect fall weather, sunshine and highs in the low to middle 20s. The only exception was a few high clouds from tropical storm Ophelia over the weekend, and gusty northeast winds from the same system on Monday.

Strong high pressure is in control of the weather across southern Quebec, with nothing but sunshine and warm temperatures expected through the entire upcoming week. The area of high pressure is forecast to remain in place across the central portion of the province, keeping any inclement weather well south of our region. 

Cloud cover from the remains of tropical storm Ophelia can be seen south of the Saint Lawrence Valley across central New York and Vermont on Monday morning. (NOAA)

The remains of tropical storm Ophelia, which made landfall Saturday in North Carolina, are located across the middle Atlantic states, with showers and gusty winds. Clouds from this system reach as far north as central Vermont and New York. The only practical weather expected here in southern Quebec from Opehila, will be a gusty northeast wind, between 30-50km/h expected during the daylight hours Monday. Winds should ease after sunset.

The first day of fall was Saturday, greeted with summer like sunshine and warm high temperatures in the low to middle 20s. This trend will persist right through the upcoming week and even beyond into next weekend. High temperatures will be in the 20s (68-75F) with overnight lows either side of 10C (50F). I see no end to this perfect fall weather before next Monday or Tuesday at the earliest, with a cold front arriving from the northwest.

Coastal low pulls away leaving Montreal with a perfect stretch of late summer weather

Wind gusts of up to 117km/h accompanied tropical storm Lee, as the system moved into Nova Scotia and New Brunswick over the weekend. The storm brought down trees and power lines, knocking out power to over 400,000 customers across Atlantic Canada.  Over 100mm of rain fell in the Gaspe region of Quebec. Another coastal storm is brining more rain to the Quebec on Tuesday. (Nova Scotia Power)

Rain is falling across southern and eastern Quebec on Tuesday morning, some of it quite heavy. Montreal was once again on the western edge of most of the significant weather on Monday, as a coastal low moved along the eastern seaboard to lie near Bar Harbor, Maine on Tuesday. The storm will lift northeast into New Brunswick today, while an upper low spins overhead bringing us a windy, wet, cool and very fall like day.

Skies will begin to clear out Wednesday morning, as high pressure moves into the region and slowly drifts south and east across Quebec and New England. We can expect a prolonged period of near-perfect late summer weather, with moderating temperatures into the low 20s (70-75F) for daytime highs, accompanied by wall to wall sunshine. The beautiful weather will last into the upcoming weekend and the first day of fall Saturday.  Overnight lows will be seasonably cool, either side of 10C (50F).

Rainfall amounts Tuesday will be in the 10 to 15mm range for Montreal, while 30 to 50mm has already fallen across parts of the Townships, Beauce and into the Gaspe regions. More rain is forecast today. Today's rain across the Gaspe comes on the heels of over 100mm that fell from tropical storm Lee over the weekend.

Lee pounded Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada Saturday, with hour upon hour of tropical storm force wind gusts up to 117km/h in Halifax, well over 100km/h at many other locations. Power was out to almost 400,000 homes and businesses across Nova Scoita, New Brunswick and eastern Maine. Towering waves and a storm surge damaged coastal roads and produced flooding. All in all the region fared better than expected, especially considering how long Lee lingered over the area and how strong the storm was in the days leading up to landfall. Lee moved inland west of Yarmouth and into the Bay of Funday during the early morning hours on Saturday, September 16.

Montreal to remain on extreme western edge of hurricane Lee

Sunrise over hurricane Lee early Friday morning on the NOAA visible satellite image. The extreme southern tip of Nova Scotia is visible at the top of the image. Lee had 140km/h winds and was located 740 kilometres southeast of Cape Cod moving north at 26km/h. (NOAA) 

Widespread weather warnings are in place from coastal New England into Atlantic Canada early Friday morning, as hurricane Lee races northward. Montreal will remain on the far western edge of the storm, with little weather forecast.

Early Friday morning hurricane Lee was located 740 kilometres south, southeast of Cape Cod, moving north at 26km/h. The storm has winds of 140km/h, extending outward from the centre up to 165km, with tropical storm force winds (63km/h) up to 520km from the centre. Lee is churning up the ocean into 15 to 20 foot swells along with a storm surge of 1-3 feet spreading from New Jersey to Nova Scotia. The result is very dangerous sea and surf conditions all along the east coast from North Carolina to Nova Scotia.

The updated forecast track of Hurricane Lee across Atlantic Canada provided by the Canadian Hurricane Centre. (CHC image)

A hurricane watch and tropical storm warning is now in effect for portions of the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick coast as well as inland locations, with Lee forecast to make landfall as a category one hurricane or strong tropical storm sometime Saturday afternoon. Winds in excess of 100km/h along with 50 to 100mm (2-4 inches) of rain are expected in the warning area and northeast across interior Nova Scotia and into Prince Edward Island as well as the Gaspe region of Quebec. The heavy rain and gusty winds will also impact the Lower North Shore of Quebec.

Heavy rain has been falling already this week in many locations in Nova Scotia, and there is a serious risk for flash flooding over the next 48 hours for many parts of that province. Hugh waves and rough surf will impact the immediate coastal counties as well as the maritime and coastal offshore waters. Coastal flooding and damage to infrastructure is possible, along with power outages and tree damage.

Montreal and southern Quebec will remain on the extreme western edge of the storm, with gusty northeast winds (20-40km/h) expected along with cloud cover from Lee, but no precipitation.

Lee will continue to accelerate to the northeast on Saturday into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and eventually southwest Newfoundland, while becoming extra-tropical in nature. Heavy rain and gusty winds will continue along the path of the weakening storm.

Hurricane Lee taking aim at Atlantic Canada

The forecast track of hurricane lee as the storm approaches New England and Atlantic Canada this weekend. Lee is currently located 675 KM south, southwest of Bermuda. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the island nation, with gusty winds and up to 50mm of rain possible. (Canadian Hurricane Centre)

Once powerful category 5 hurricane Lee is forecast to approach the New England and Atlantic Canada coast over the upcoming weekend. Lee is located on Wednesday afternoon, 1635 kilometres south of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Lee is moving north, northwest at 15km/h, with winds of 175 km/h, now category 2 strength. Forecasters expect Lee to turn towards the north while accelerating over the next 24 to 48 hours. Gradual weakening is expected, as the storm encounters much cooler ocean water, but Lee will remain a strong storm.

The storm is expanding in size as well, and remains very dangerous. Pounding surf and dangerous rip currents are expected along the entire eastern seaboard for the southeast US northward into Atlantic Canada.

A NOAA satellite image of powerful hurricane Lee in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, well south of New England on Wednesday afternoon.

At this time computer models have shifted the track of Lee westward, indicating a potential landfall west of Yarmouth, either on the New Brunswick coast or far down-east Maine. Heavy rainfall, strong winds and a dangerous storm surge are forecast along the immediate coastal area near landfall. As the storm expands in size, wind and rain will impact large portions of eastern New England, as well as far eastern Quebec, Nova Scoita, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. At landfall, Lee is expected to be a category one hurricane or strong tropical storm. The storm will move across the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and into Newfoundland by Sunday while weakening.

As far as southern Quebec is concerned, we will remain on the far western edge of any weather from Lee, with perhaps a few clouds and gusty northeast winds in the 30-50km/h range over the weekend. This forecast is subject to change for all regions depending on the final track of Lee, but at the moment, the models have been fairly consistent with the storm approaching the coast near the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, close to the Maine/New Brunswick border.

September heatwave for Montreal as temperatures soar into the 30s

Despite the arrival of meteorological fall on September 1st, some of the the warmest temperatures of the summer are set to invade southern Quebec this week. The warmer than normal weather has not stopped some of the trees from beginning the process of changing colour and dropping their leaves.

Heat Warning in effect for Montreal

Strong high pressure will expand a heat dome that has been present most of the summer over a large portion of the United States, northeastward into upstate New York, northern New England, southern Ontario and Quebec including the metropolitan Montreal region.

Widespread heat warnings and advisories are in place across most of eastern Ontario, southern Quebec and New England on this Labour Day Monday, as a very warm and humid airmass invades the region. Daytime highs this week will be some of the warmest recorded all summer long, with temperatures forecast in the low 30s, and humidex values approaching 40C. Overnight lows will remain warm and muggy, dropping only into the upper teens and low 20s.

Warm southwest winds throughout the week will provide little in the way of relief as they draw deep tropical moisture northward from the Gulf of Mexico.

By Thursday, a cold front will approach slowly form the northwest, with a chance for showers and thunderstorms. Cooler weather will arrive by next weekend.

To date, Montreal has only recorded 8 days of temperatures at 30C or higher. Six of those occurred in May and June, with only 2 days through the normally hot and humid months of July and August. You can blame a stubborn pattern of persistent clouds, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms for the cooler than average summer.

So for the next week in Montreal, expect very warm and humid conditions, feeling almost oppressive at times. Limit outdoor activities during the warmest part of the day and drink plenty of water. The warm and humid weather can be particularly difficult and the very young and old as well as those with respiratory issues.