Brief cold snap followed by increasing warmth for Montreal

Graupel fell in Montréal late last Sunday evening as a strong cold front crossed the region. Graupel resembles both hail and snow, but is in a category of it's own. It is often called small hail, typically forming on the edges of the summer season in Montreal during October and April. It is very soft, non-destructive compared to hailstones and usually melts away very quickly.

Temperatures have been on a roller coaster ride this week, with a wide variety of associated weather. Last Sunday evening, we had a strong cold front cross the region, accompanied by thunder, lightning and even some graupel was observed. 

Graupel is often mistaken for hail and indeed has the nickname soft hail. But it often occurs on the edges of the warmer weather here in Montreal, during April and October, when a cold pool of air develops in the upper atmosphere. Graupel is basically a snowflake that has been coated with a supercooled water droplet. This type of frozen precipitation is typically small, less than 5mm in diameter, very soft and non-destructive compared to hail and typically melts very quickly.

The Sunday cold front resulted in a chilly, windy Monday in Montreal, followed by rapidly warming temperatures on Tuesday. The high Tuesday at Trudeau Airport was 19.5C (67F), after an early morning low that was close to the freezing point in many locations along with scattered frost.

The temperatures dropped just as quickly Wednesday morning after another strong cold front crossed the St. Lawrence Valley, falling from 10C (50F) at 9AM to 1C (34F) at 11AM. Along with the colder air came 15mm of rain and even a few snowflakes as the precipitation tapered off.

Looking ahead we have a couple of cold nights on tap to end the week, with sub-zero lows across the entire region, along with frost. Temperatures are expected to warm up considerably this weekend and into next week, with highs exceeding 21C (70F) by Monday. Conditions will be rather unsettled, with the risk of showers over the weekend and even a few thunderstorms next week.

Spring off to a typical slow start in Montreal

Some trees have responded to the 91mm of rain that have fallen so far in Montreal this April, while others have been slowed by the frequent cloud cover, chilly days and nights. This is typical April weather in Montreal. 

April can be a tricky month across North America, with mother nature having tremendous mood swings. There is no other month more volatile than April. It is a month that features snow and ice storms, thunderstorms, tornadoes, strong winds, wild temperature swings, and the start of wildfire season, often occurring in the same week. 

This is quite simply because there is no other month with such a wide range in temperatures across the continent. While winter holds on across the arctic, mid summer temperatures have entered the picture along the Gulf Coast. When these two air masses collide, action results. We witnessed that last week, with a high of 22C (72F) last Friday in Montreal, followed by plunging temperatures into the single digits on Saturday. 

This week, heavy snow fell in parts of the southern prairies, while severe thunderstorms and tornadoes were occurring across the lower Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. 

More of the same April action can be expected in the coming days. Montreal will be plagued by frequent frontal boundaries pinwheeling across the St. Lawrence Valley. The first produced about 7mm of rain on Thursday, along with chilly temperatures. We will warm up on Friday into the middle teens, before another front late in the day produces more showers along with gusty winds and dropping temperatures. 

The weekend will be cool, windy and unsettled. This trend will persist into next week. A very cool airmass arrives mid-week in southern Quebec, with highs struggling to reach 5C (41F), and overnight lows likely at or below freezing with some frost by Wednesday. 

While spring seems to be sputtering here in Montréal, it is nothing abnormal, the good news is that no snow is in our future, and May is just around the corner!

Final thoughts on the eclipse - wet week ahead for Montreal

Totality as viewed during the solar eclipse from Valois Bay in Dorval at 3:27PM Monday, April 8. (Valley Weather Photo)

After the brilliant warm sunshine of Monday and Tuesday, we have a rather stormy pattern on the way to end the work week. Low pressure will move north into the Great Lakes Wednesday, pushing a mild and humid airmass into southern Quebec. Showers and isolated thunderstorms will develop overnight along a warm front lifting into Montreal, gradually tapering off Wednesday. Another surge of moisture arrives Thursday into the early part of the weekend, with some moderate rain expected for the city. 

In all 20-40mm of rain is quite possible between tonight and Saturday morning. Depending on the breaks in the cloud cover we receive on Wednesday, temperatures may be quite warm. Highs are expected in the 16-20C (60-68F) range across the region Tuesday and Wednesday, before cooling sightly to 12-14C (52F-54F), with the rain Thursday and Friday. 

The eclipse underway over the St. Lawrence River in Dorval on Monday afternoon, accompanied by a spectacular halo. Halos around the sun occur when ice crystals are present in high altitude cirrus clouds. (Valley Weather Photo)

Final thoughts on the Great Eclipse

A few final thoughts on Monday’s full solar eclipse in Montreal. I was left breathless, it was emotionally spectacular to say the very least. The pictures I attempted to take with my iPhone, failed to capture what I was seeing. Others were more successful with their photos, it is certainly not where my strengths lie that is for sure. The event was like one big party in Montreal and all along the path of totality stretching from Mexico to Atlantic Canada.

I went down to Valois Bay along the Lakeshore in Dorval Monday afternoon to get away from the concrete jungle where our office is located. The spot was filled with families and people of all ages, languages and cultures, collectively enjoying the celestial magnitude of the day. 

Just as amazing as the eclipse was the blue and orange hues created during totality. This picture does not do any justice to Mother Natures handy work, the sky was absolutely spectacular. (Valley Weather Photo)

I was moved not only by the eclipse itself but by the conditions, patterns and hues the eclipse created in the lower atmosphere, i.e. the weather. The decline in solar radiation over the duration of the eclipse was notable, causing the temperature to fall from 17C (63F) before the eclipse began at 2:14PM in Montreal, to 14C (56F) by the time of totality. It would later rise back to the daytime high of 18C (65F) at 5pm.

An incredible photo showing the total eclipse in all it's splendor as seen from Knowlton, Quebec. At 3 minutes and 30 seconds, totality in Knowlton was more than double that of Montreal. Knowlton was located closer to the center of the 200 kilometre wide path of totality. (Ben Brousseau) 

Clouds were the main concern on Eclipse Monday. A warm front was lifting slowly across eastern Ontario into extreme southwestern Quebec. In the end, those advancing high altitude cirrus clouds produced some absolutely spectacular halos around the eclipsing sun. The halo was caused by the suns reflection off ice crystals in the clouds. While the clouds did add a veil to the eclipse, they did not lessen it in any way from my vantage point at least. 

I have been watching the skies since I was a child, interested in weather since shortly after I could walk, I must say I have never experienced a more amazing event in my lifetime. It lived up to the hype, and I am so grateful for having had the opportunity to view it. My only complaint was that one minute and thirty seconds of totality in Montreal, was just a little too short, I needed more!

Eclipse Day Monday!

Above, a partial eclipse taken from Arlington, Virginia in June 2021. The total eclipse in Montreal on Monday, April 8 will be absolutely spectacular, if we can only keep the clouds away. The path of totality will be visible to 43.8 million people across North America. (NASA Photo)

The show starts in Montreal at 2:14PM, reaches totality for 1 minute and 27 seconds in Montreal at 3:27PM, and finally ends at 4:36PM.

Try to take part in the moment. The last full solar eclipse in Montreal was in 1932, with the next total eclipse not occurring until July 2205.

Expect lots of traffic as people move around the region to view the eclipse. School are closed for the day.

There are many viewing events taking place in Montreal, including the main one at Parc Jean Drapeau.

The day millions have been waiting for is finally here, Eclipse Monday. The show will begin in central Mexico before racing across the central United States at 2400 km/h into southern Ontario and Quebec, finally exiting North America via Newfoundland. In all the eclipse will impact over 43.8 million people.

The eclipse will cover a 14,700 kilometre path across the Earth's surface, approximately 200 kilomteres wide. Your location within in the path of totality will determine how long you will be in total darkness. For Montreal, that will be close to one and half minutes, more southeast of the city and less in Laval and points north. Locations along the North Shore, the Laurentians and Ottawa Valley will only be seeing a partial eclipse.

Make certain you have proper eclipse glasses to safely view the celestial event. If not, enjoy the coverage provided by several websites, including NASA's coverage, which begins streaming at 1pm. CLICK HERE

The weather looks variable at best for many in the path of the eclipse across North America. In Montreal and the St. Lawrence Valley, high cirrus clouds will be streaming in ahead of a warm front by 1pm. That cloud will thicken and lower as the day progresses, possibly impacting visibility in Ontario and extreme southwestern Quebec. The hope is that dry air will prevail, and that the cloud cover will be very thin in Montreal between 2-4pm. Some of the best viewing locations anywhere along the path will be across northern New England, the Eastern Townships and New Brunswick.

Enjoy, be safe and remember protect your eyes.

Spring snowstorm hammers southern Quebec

Heavy wet snow turned spring into a winter wonderland across southern Quebec Thursday morning. Nearly 25cm of snow has fallen in the city since last evening. The storm closed schools, caused numerous accidents and knocked power out to nearly one million hydro customers across Quebec, Ontario, New England and the northeastern US.  (Valley Weather Photo)

A powerful storm, the combination of an upper level low spinning over the Great Lakes and a Nor'Easter over Cape Cod gave Montreal a heavy dose of spring snow. Coming in what has otherwise been an easy winter, 25cm of heavy wet snow fell accompanied by 70km/h wind gusts. The wind and snow knocked power out to over 280,000 Quebec homes and businesses.

The storm started as rain late Wednesday, but as the temperature dropped from a high of 10C (50F) to the freezing point in just a few hours, the rain turned to snow. There was even a few rumbles of thunder overnight. More snow fell over the last 24 hours than in the entire month of March in Montreal. Only 17cm fell last month at Trudeau Airport. The snow fell fast, with visibility under 1km for nearly 7 hours in Montreal

The snow was heavy and wet, playing havoc with Hydro-Quebec's power grid on the anniversary of last years significant April ice storm. Over 1000 separate outages affected nearly 300,000 customers at the height of the storm Thursday morning, including 80,000 on the island of Montreal. That number is down to 165,000 as of 3:45 pm.

Numerous school boards decided to cancel classes for the day. There were dozens of accidents during the early morning hours, including a jackknifed tanker truck that forced the closure of the westbound Trans-Canada at Sources for several hours. Many motorist had already removed their snow tire after a record warm March.

With at least 15cm of snow falling today, April 4, a new daily record was established dating back to 1885 when 14cm fell. The storm had far reaching impacts, dumping snow across Ontario, New York and New England. The snow will taper to flurries on Friday, with a slow warming and clearing trend over the weekend. Winds will remain gusty over the next 24 hours. out of the northeast at 30-50km/h.

Snowfall warning in effect for Montreal and southern Quebec

April snowstorms are quite common in Montreal, including the photo above taken on April 4, 2015. This is why I encourage drivers to keep their snow tires on through April 15. The upcoming Nor'Easter is set to bring 15-20cm of wet snow to southern Quebec tonight into Thursday. (Photo: Valley Weather) 

Widespread weather warnings are in effect for heavy snow and strong winds across Ontario and Quebec, as a late season winter storm bears down on the region. Low pressure over the Great Lakes will slowly move east, while a second stronger storm develops near the Jersey shore and moves north into Massachusetts. 

Rain will develop Wednesday afternoon in Montreal and change to wet snow late in the evening. The snow will become heavy at times into Thursday. Total storm accumulations will range from near 10cm over the Ottawa Valley, up to 20cm in the greater Montreal region and possibly in excess of 30cm across the higher elevations of the Eastern Townships, northern New England and upstate New York.

Temperatures are very mild Wednesday, at 10C (50F) in Montreal, but will drop quickly late today as the coastal storm develops and becomes the main system. Strong northeast winds will gust as high as 70km/h in the St. Lawrence Valley creating areas of blowing snow overnight and Thursday. Power outages will be possible due to the weight of the snow combined with the strong winds.

Thursday will not be a good day on the roads, with rapidly falling snow and cold daytime temperatures around the freezing point. Conditions will slowly improve Friday as precipitation tapers off to flurries and temperatures warm above freezing.

Snowfall warnings are in place across southwestern Quebec and eastern Ontario, with winter storm warnings across northern New York and New England.

Late season winter storm to impact Montreal

Winter may not be over just yet. A strong area of low pressure will move towards southern Quebec and Ontario on Wednesday, producing an area of wet snow and rain. Some upper elevations across the Townships and northern New England/New York have the potential for over 20cm of snow, with perhaps 10cm or more in the valley locations, including Montreal on Thursday.

Special Weather Statement for all off southern Quebec and eastern Ontario. A strong late season winter storm will produce heavy amounts of snow and rain along with strong northeast winds. The storm arrives Wednesday afternoon and persists into Friday. More details will follow as the event draws closer.

For those who managed to hear my Suburban weather minute on CJAD a few weeks ago, I mentioned how common snow events were in the month of April in Montreal. So no one should be too surprised with the upcoming forecast. Winter will not go away easily, it rarely does. 

Tuesday morning is quite frosty across southern Quebec, with below freezing morning temperatures, and some ice fog and mist around Montreal. The day will be sunny and pleasant, with a high near 10C (50F). Enjoy it, the wheels fall off after today.

Strong low pressure over the southern Rockies will deepen as it moves towards the central Great Lakes. Widespread precipitation will move across Ontario and eventually into Quebec. Heavy rain will fall along the lower lakes and St. Lawrence Valley, before transitioning to wet snow late Wednesday into Thursday. A second storm is forecast to develop along the eastern seaboard and become the dominant system Thursday as it meanders into coastal Maine.

That storm will produce cold northeast winds in the St. Lawrence Valley, gusting up to 50km/h and producing colder temperatures. This will allow for the precipitation to remain as wet snow on Thursday. At this time, significant accumulations of 20-30cm are likely over higher elevations, as well as the upper Ottawa Valley, with 10-15cm in southern valley locations, including Montreal. The snow will taper to flurries on Friday. Temperatures will marginally cold enough for snowfall, so these numbers may be adjusted.

The wet nature of the snow may cause power outages and very poor road conditions on Thursday, especially in the Eastern Townships, Ottawa Valley, Adirondacks and Green Mountains.

All locations will have blustery winds and cooler-than-normal temperatures from Thursday into Saturday. Conditions will improve on Sunday and remain that way into Eclipse Monday. Great weather is anticipated at this time for viewing the eclipse in Montreal. 

Spring snowfall for Montreal?

A full solar eclipse, the first since 1932 in Montreal, will take place on Monday, April 8 at 3:27PM. At this time, partly cloudy skies are forecast, but it is more than a week away. Let's hope that forecast holds. You will need to protect your eyes with special eclipse glasses. Totality will last 1 minute 27 seconds in Montreal. Only a partial eclipse is expected in Laval, Ottawa and points north and east. The South Shore and Eastern Townships will have the longest time in total darkness across southern Quebec, approaching 3 minutes at several locations. (NASA Photo)

Northwest winds have made it feel a little cool this Easter Sunday as it did both Friday and Saturday, when gusts reached as high as 60km/h in Montreal. High temperatures have been close to the normal high of 7C (45F), cooling to near the freezing point for overnight lows. Both mornings started off cloudy, but clearing took place, with abundant sunshine returning by the afternoon hours. The aforementioned winds did make it feel considerably cooler than the actual air temperature.

The upcoming week will start off partly sunny, with high pressure drifting slowly northeast of the region. Temperatures will remain near seasonable values, 10C (50F) for a high Monday and Tuesday, with a low near 0C (32F). That is the good news.

POTENTIAL SNOWFALL

The bad news is we may have some spring snow in our future. A very complex weather scenario will develop mid-week and persist into Friday as low pressure in the upper atmosphere develops over the Great Lakes, with a secondary storm at the surface forming along the Atlantic seaboard and moving into coastal New England. There are many variables at play here, including if the two systems merged, the final track of both storms, and how much cold air there will be available here in the St. Lawrence Valley. The temperatures will just be marginally cold enough for snow, mostly during the overnight hours.

At this time we are looking at a rain snow mix across the region, with heavy amounts of wet snow possible across the higher elevations of the Eastern Townships, northern New York and Vermont. Across the lower elevations, including here in Montreal, a slushy few centimetres is quite possible Wednesday night into Thursday morning and again during the overnight period into Friday. There are still many questions to be answered and this forecast is not by any means set. 

In any event, expect the weather later this week to be cooler than normal, quite windy, and with some form of precipitation. Stay tuned!

SOLAR ECLIPSE

The great solar eclipse takes place on Monday, April 8, covering thousands of kilometres from Mexico to Atlantic Canada. The celestial event will be the first total solar eclipse here in Montreal since 1932. Totality will occur at 3:27 PM in Montreal, lasting approximately one and half minutes. There are events planned across the region, visit espacepourlavie.ca/en/planetarium for full information.

Clear weather on April 8 is critical for getting the full eclipse experience. Unfortunately April is often a very cloudy month in Montréal. The good news, at least as I write this post, is that all the computer models are settling in to an 11 to 30 percent chance of cloudy skies at the time of the eclipse. Let's hope that prediction holds, I will take those odds.

I will post much more information on the eclipse weather this week.

Montreal on northern edge of late season winter storm

Spring arrived on Tuesday evening and along with it came the coldest air this March. The high temperature remained below freezing in Montreal on Thursday for the first time this month. Gusty west winds over 60km/h resulted in windchill values in the minus teens. Several snow squalls accompanied the cold air late Wednesday afternoon. (Valley Weather Photo)

Widespread winter storm warnings are in effect along the Canada/US border in New York and Vermont for a potent late season winter storm. However at this time, it appears the heaviest snow will remain south and east of the Montreal region.

A very complex storm system will impact the weather across southern Quebec and New England late Friday into early Sunday. Snow is likely, with Montreal remaining on the northern edge of the storm. Friday will be sunny but cold once again, with high temperatures around -2C (28F). We start the day with one of the coldest mornings of the year so far at -10C (14F) here on Ile Perrot. Thursday's high of -3C (27F) was the coldest of March to date, a strong indication of just how warm it has been. The wind was brutal Thursday, gusting over 60km/h and producing windchill values in the minus teens.

After our sunny, chilly Friday, clouds will increase, as low pressure approaches from the Great Lakes, along with a second storm moving along the eastern seaboard. Snow will spread north and east across eastern Ontario late today and into southern Quebec overnight into Saturday. The heaviest snow will fall from the US border into central Vermont as well as portions of the Eastern Townships. 

At this time, up to 5cm is possible for Montreal, with 10cm along the Seaway and towards the US border. Up to 20cm is possible in Sherbrooke and points south. Amounts increase significantly across New York and Vermont, including Burlington, where 20-30cm is possible. The snow will end Saturday afternoon in Montreal. Winds will remain rather light throughout the storm, with temperatures below freezing for the duration. The low Friday night will be -7C (19F), with a cold high of -4C (26F) expected Saturday.

Milder air and sunshine will be back by Sunday and into the start of the new work week.

Snow welcomes Spring 2024 to Montreal

Spring snow for southern Quebec. A picturesque snowfall on Ile Perrot early Wednesday morning. While the snow stuck to trees and lawns, roads were generally unaffected. (Valley Weather Photo)

Spring arrived at 11:06 PM Tuesday evening, and March is finally behaving, well like March. Slightly colder temperatures this week across southern Quebec have allowed some wet snow to sneak into the picture during the overnight hours. A slushy 2-4cm accumulated on grassy surfaces, trees and cars overnight into Wednesday morning across the Montreal region, bringing the monthly total up to 10cm. 

The sun has broken through the clouds and the snow is melting away as I write this post, but don't let that fool you. A strong cold front is moving across central Ontario currently, expected to move into the Ottawa Valley and southern Quebec later this afternoon into the evening hours. The front will be accompanied by some squally weather, with a mix of snow and rain, eventually becoming all snow. Some of the squalls may produce brief heavy snow and strong winds reducing visibility and making driving hazardous.

Behind the front, much colder, blustery weather will move in, with temperatures falling from daytime highs around 3C (38F), down to -8C (18F) by morning. Thursday will be windy, up to 50km/h, and cold, with high temperatures remaining below freezing for the first time this month! The high is expected to be around -2C (28F), but windchill values will be in the minus teens. It will feel very cold after our warm March. The high Friday is expected to remain below freezing as well at -1C (30F).

Welcome to Spring! A few centimetres of snow accumulated on cold surfaces such as cars and lawns early Wednesday morning. More snow is possible Thursday into Saturday across southern Quebec.

WEEKEND STORM?

Looking ahead to Friday, a significant storm system is expected to develop over the upper midwest and merge with a secondary low moving north along the eastern seaboard. The various computer models have been hinting at the potential for some snow in Montreal and across New England late Friday into Saturday, but nothing is certain at this time. The final storm track and strength will determine the northern extent of the precipitation. The complex storm system will move into Atlantic Canada Sunday, paving the way for high pressure the return of above normal temperatures early next week.

Late season winter storm to impact parts of southern Quebec and Ontario

Some locations in southern Quebec are in for a rather rude reality check Sunday, with heavy wet snow expected for may parts of the province. The very warm weather of late, combined with the loss of snow cover has resulted in many perennial flowers starting to grow, especially here in Montreal.

A messy mix of rain and wet snow is forecast for Montreal through Monday morning, accompanied by gusty winds up to 60km/h. Some locations, especially north of the city, may receive significant amounts of wet snow. Details below.

Low pressure over central Ontario will deliver rain to Montreal Saturday afternoon, before weakening later today. A second area of low pressure is forecast to develop along the middle Atlantic coast and move northeast into southern New England. This storm will push abundant moisture into the region, while drawing marginally colder air southeast into southern Quebec. More rain this evening will change to snow overnight in most parts of southern Quebec. Temperatures will be mild Saturday, lowering close to the freezing point overnight into Sunday morning, and remaining there into Monday morning.

Widespread winter storm and snowfall warnings are currently in effect for a large portion of eastern Ontario, southern Quebec, northern New York and New England. They exclude metro Montreal at this time, but include the Quebec City region. Snowfall amounts will range from a few slushy centimetres in Montreal up to as much as 25cm in Quebec City. In Ontario, a general 5-10cm is expected in Ottawa, possibly approaching 15cm along the Seaway.

This is a very complex forecast, with the difference between rain and snow a very close call. Some locations will get a major storm, while others receive mostly rain. Travel will be difficult where snow is falling, and highly variable across the region. Consider postponing any unnecessary travel on Sunday. The risk for power outages is high, due to the weight of the snow and strong winds.

This story will be updated.

A wet and white weekend ahead for southern Quebec

Spring storms are very common in Montreal, even during mild winters such at the current one. All it takes is one chilly night and low pressure to our south to quickly create a winter wonderland, such as the one above on Ile Perrot, April 12, 2013. Some parts of southern Quebec will have some significant wet snow on Sunday. (Valley Weather Photo)

Special Weather Statement in effect: The seasons will battle it out this weekend over southern Quebec, with a messy mix of rain and snow expected. Some regions north of Montreal and across the higher elevations of the Eastern Townships, could have significant amounts of snow by Monday morning.

Southern Quebec will have a nearly perfect late winter day Friday, the calm before a weekend storm system. Sunshine will prevail, with warm highs approaching 10C (50F).

A significant area of low pressure will approach the region on Saturday, moving across the Great Lakes and lifting a warm front into the St. Lawrence Valley. Ahead of the front, gusty southeast wind will develop, along with steady rain by Saturday afternoon. The rain will be heavy at times, with 20-40mm possible from southern Ontario into southern Quebec.

There will be a break in precipitation early Sunday and the low weakens and transfers energy to a deepening storm along the southern New England coast. That storm will become the main low pressure as it lifts northeast across the Gulf of Maine and into Atlantic Canada.

As the storm deepens, colder air will filter across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, changing the rain to snow from northwest to southeast Sunday evening. Accumulations will be highly variable across the region, with a dusting in the immediate valley to as much as 15cm across the higher elevations. Many factors will determine how much snow falls, but expect highly changeable travel conditions Sunday into Monday morning.

 The snow will be wet and heavy where it falls which could lead to power outages. Winds will be gusty this weekend, up to 50km/h at times. Temperatures will be very mild in Montreal Saturday at 10C (50F), dropping into the 0C to 3C (32-38F) range on Sunday.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

More record-warmth and rain ahead for Montreal

It is hard to believe, but some of my perennials are starting to pop out of the partially frozen ground. Our recent rain and record-warm temperatures have resulted in many anomalies across the region. Only patches of snow remain on the ground, left behind by snow clearing contractors. (Valley Weather Photo)

What an end to winter in the Montreal region so far. While other parts of Canada and North America are still experiencing snow and cold, we are enjoying spring-like warmth. Only patches of snow remain, and there is even a hint of growth in the perennials. After a cool, showery Saturday, most of Sunday was spectacular, with light winds, warm sunshine and high of 9.3C (49F)

After a misty, foggy morning, we are looking at a very warm Monday and Tuesday, with record-breaking temperatures forecast once again. The high both days is expected to be close to 13C (55F). The record high for Monday is 11.1C (52F), set back in 1974. Tuesdays' record is 13.3C (55F), set in 1964.

Montreal is coming off our second warmest winter according to data dating back to 1871. Only the winter of 2001/2002 was warmer, and even that winter had more snow than this year, with 173.5cm measured at Trudeau Airport. This winter we have had only 121cm to date.

Accompanying the warm weather this week will be some mist and fog to start the day Monday, followed by partial sunshine this afternoon and Tuesday. Low pressure arriving midweek will bring slightly cooler weather along with some rain. By Thursday, enough cold air may filter into parts of southern Quebec to generate some wet snow. At this time no significant accumulations are expected at lower eleavtions.

Another stronger system arrives by next weekend, with more rain expected. Looking ahead, we are seeing an opportunity for some snowfall during the third and fourth weeks of the month. There are still many details to work out, and temperatures may be just marginally cold enough for snow so a mix or even rain is always an option here in Montreal. Stay tuned.

A look back over 50 years: The Montreal Blizzard of 1971

MARCH 3-5, 1971: 47cm of snow, 110km/h winds, 17 hours of blizzard conditions in Montreal. 

Click below for the full story, interviews, photos and memories.

Today marks the 53rd Anniversary of the storm of the century in Montreal. A fierce blizzard brought Montreal to a standstill for several days. You can read the full story HERE.

The streets were clogged with deep snow for days. Power was out to tens of thousands across the province. It was a true storm.
Photos from Radio Canada & Montreal Archives.

Welcome to Meteorological Spring

This is what the remaining snow cover looks like in Saint Laurent to start March, in what has been a dismal season for snowfall. We should be nearing 180-200cm during an average winter, but sit at 122.8cm this year. Most of that has melted away in between systems. To date, Montreal has had only one major snowstorm, occurring on December 3, and two smaller ones in January.

March 1st is the start of meteorological spring, the celestial version will follow in a couple of weeks. Is winter over? Good question. Normally in Montreal the answer is no, some of the biggest storms historically in this city have occurred on the edges of the sinter season, including March and April. This year, it is going to be difficult ti generate any snowfall with the warm weather expected over the next few weeks.

With the exception of the last 24 hours, February was warm. The average high for the month was actually above freezing at 0.9C (33F), unheard of. Normally we should be at around -3.2C (26.2F). For the month, 16 of the 29 days had high temperatures above freezing.

In terms of snowfall, Montreal managed a paltry 16.6cm in February, scattered throughout the month. The normal is 41.2cm for the month. The seasonal total remains at 122.8cm, also well-below normal.

Looking ahead, we see more record warmth on the horizon. The weekend will be partly cloudy and very mild, with perhaps a few showers Saturday. Dry weather return for Monday through Tuesday, with daytime highs approaching record levels again. Montreal will see daytime highs between 10C (50F) and 16C (60F) to start the week. No storms are on the horizon.

Power cut to over 250,000 Hydro-Quebec clients after windstorm

Hydro-Quebec has hundreds of teams on the job Thursday morning, addressing nearly 1000 breaks in the system affecting over 158,000 clients. That number is down from over 250,000 at the height of the storm Wednesday evening. Temperatures have crashed Thursday morning, down to -12C (10F) in Montreal. (Hydro-Quebec Photo)

A powerful weather system crossed Ontario and Quebec on Wednesday producing thunderstorms, hail, fierce winds, record highs, followed by snow and an incredible temperature drop. Hundreds of record highs were established across eastern North America. Severe weather occurred with rare February tornadoes in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, along with thunderstorms in Ontario and Quebec.

Winds along and behind the arctic boundary gusted to over 100km/h in the Montreal region, including 102km/h at St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and 92km/h at Trudeau Airport. The result was widespread power outages across the province as branches came in contact with wires and transformers. Poles were even snapped by the strong winds on the South Shore. At the height of the storm, over 250,000 customers were without power, that number has since dropped to 158,598 at of 8:45AM Thursday morning.

Hydro-Quebec has over 500 personal on the job, but there are over 1000 individual line breaks that need service. Adding to the difficult work are the high winds that are still gusting over 60km/h across the region.

Wednesday was a wild day, with sudden temperature drops, thunderstorms and a rapid freeze. The temperature in Montreal reached a record-breaking 13.8C (56F) at Trudeau Airport, smashing the previous record of 8.3C (48F) set back 1902 and again in 1954. Ottawa recorded their warmest February temperature on record at 15.7C (60F). Scattered thunderstorms were observed in the St. Lawrence Valley from upstate New York into Ontario and Quebec, producing high winds and heavy rain. Montreal measured 7.4mm of rain followed by less than 1cm of snow.

As the arctic boundary moved across the island of Montreal at 6pm, temperatures crashed, dropping 21.6 degrees in just 6 hours at Trudeau Airport. The drop was even greater in other locations. Sudbury, Ontario dropped from plus 5C (41F) to -10C (14F) is just one hour, while Rouyn-Noranda fell 27.2 degrees in 6 hours.

Thursday will be windy and bitterly cold, with highs struggling to reach -6C along with strong winds up to 60km/h resulting in wind chill values in the minus teens and 20s. The cold snap will be short-lived, with a high of 0C (32F) Friday followed by a cloudy mild weekend with highs well-above freezing.

Flash freeze expected in Montreal after record warmth

Only patches of snow remain in Montreal on Tuesday afternoon, after a record setting high of 14.9C at Trudeau Airport. The normal high for February 26 is -1C (30F)

UPDATE: Wednesday, February 28  7:45AM: We have a very active weather day ahead for the Montreal region. First off we have established a record high for today's date already, it occurred overnight at 10C (50F). We may add several degrees to that value, but for now it breaks the previous record of 8.3C (47F) set way back in 1902. Also on Tuesday, Ormstown reached 20.5C (69F) establishing an all-time record high for the province of Quebec for the month of February. The previous record was 19.5C set on February 22, 1981 in Franklin, Quebec.

We have a warm, wet day ahead of us for southern Quebec, but that will come abruptly to end this evening. Heavy rain along a potent arctic front developing this afternoon, will change to snow this evening and end by midnight. There is even a chance of a rumble or two of thunder. 

Winds along and behind the front will gust 70- 90km/h between 6pm and midnight. In addition, the temperature will fall 15 to 20 degrees between 6pm and 10pm, from double-digit highs above freezing to well below freezing across southern Quebec. Prepare for icy conditions, and frigid windchill values tonight and Thursday morning.

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High Wind Warnings posted for southern Quebec  for Wednesday evening.

Flash Freeze Warnings issued for all of southern Quebec and Ontario for Wednesday afternoon and evening.

What a weather day across the region as dozens of record high temperatures have been established. Montreal's Trudeau Airport reached 14.9C (58.8F) shattering the previous record of 10.9C (51.6F) set back in 2000. We were just one tenth of a degree shy of the all-time February record high of 15C (59F) set in 1981. I recorded 15.6C on Ile Perrot, while St. Anicet reached an incredible 19.1C (66F). Even Mont Tremblant reached a record-breaking 15.3C (59.5F). In Ontario, Windsor reached 20C (68F). 

The warm air has surged northward from the Gulf of Mexico in advance of a strong storm system and frontal boundary lifting northeast into the Great Lakes on Tuesday afternoon. This storm will bring abrupt changes to our weather on Wednesday. In advance of the front, warm summer-like temperatures have spread across the central US into Ontario and Quebec. Thunderstorms even developed across southern Ontario on Tuesday, and a few may occur in southern Quebec on Wednesday. Behind the front, winter rushes back in very quickly.

Lows tonight in Montreal will be very mild, 7C (45F), with gusty south winds persisting. On Wednesday, we can expect another record high, as temperatures reach 13C (55F). Thickening clouds will lead to steady rain in the afternoon along with increasing winds in the St. Lawrence Valley. 

By the supper hour, the cold front arrives, with winds gusting 70-90km/h in the Montreal region for a few hours. Temperatures are expected to plummet after 6pm from well-above freezing to well below. Any leftover rain will change to snow and end by midnight.  The combination of precipitation and rapidly dropping temperatures will result in slippery sidewalks and roads. Extreme caution is advised if venturing out Wednesday night. The low by Thursday morning will be close to -15C (5F), with windchill values in the -20s.

Skies will clear out on Thursday, with a cold high of -7C (19F) forecast. Our cold snap will be short-lived, with warm air returning by the weekend.

Record-breaking warmth and rain expected this week

Lac St Louis's thin ice along the Pointe Claire shoreline Monday morning. First Responders across southern Ontario and Quebec are asking everyone to remain off the ice at this time. Our warm winter has resulted in very thin, unstable and unpredictable ice conditions. Several ice/water rescues have already been carried out including that of a 65 year old male on Ile Perrot on February 12. The quick work of the NDIP/Pincourt Fire Department likely saved the mans life.

This has to be one of the warmest winters of my life, certainly with the least amount of snow. Whatever snow is left across southern Quebec will melt quickly this week, as temperatures are forecast to soar into the double digits. The all-time record high for February in Montreal is 15C (59F), set on February 22, 1981. That record will likely be challenged on Wednesday, certainly the daily record of 8.3C (47F) set in 1954 will fall. The forecast highs this week, through Wednesday are very warm, 6C (43F) Monday, 10C (50F) Tuesday, and 15C (59F) Wednesday.

As far as practical weather is concerned, a weak front early Monday morning will produce some light snow and rain before skies clear partially by noon. A potent cold front and low pressure system developing across the central portion of the US will move northeast into the Great Lakes by Wednesday. 

Gusty southwest winds will develop, with very mild and moist air moving into Ontario and Quebec late Tuesday and Wednesday. Rain will develop on Wednesday, possibly heavy at times, with even the risk of isolated thunderstorm. Once the arctic front clears our region, temperatures will fall rapidly Wednesday night, with leftover rain changing to snow, along with gusty northwest winds up to 50km/h. Temperatures will fall to -15C (5F) by Thursday morning. The high on Thursday will be 20 to 25 degrees colder than Wednesday, at -8C (18F). The sharp cold snap will be short-lived, with temperatures rebounding to back above freezing by Friday. Warm weather is expected to start March.

Quick shot of arctic air followed by Spring!

Snow falling on Ile Perrot, Sunday, February 18. Could this have been the last significant snowfall for the Montreal region? Only 15cm has fallen this month, well-below normal. Indications are we are in for a very warm March once we clear a 24-36 hour cold snap this weekend. (Valley Weather Photo)

Montreal has definitely had a warm winter, with very few major snow events. Could this be it? We will see what surprises mother nature has for us in March and April, but current trends are indicating a warm spring.

A strong arctic boundary will slip across eastern Ontario and southern Quebec late in the day Friday, setting the stage for one of the coldest nights of the winter. Before then we can expect a mild day in Montreal, with a warm high of 5C (41F) forecast, along with a few showers.

The cold front arrives early this afternoon across the Ottawa Valley and by the supper hour in Montreal. Temperatures will fall rapidly behind the front, from above freezing to well below in a matter of an hour or two. A flash freeze is possible, especially north of Montreal, where weather warnings are in effect.

Along the front we can expect a few showers, quickly changing to flurries and ending by midnight. Little accumulation is expected for Montreal. As mentioned, temperatures will plummet, dropping down to -16C (3F) in Montreal by morning, with lows close to -20C (-4F) north and west of the city including Ottawa. Gusty northwest winds of 30-50km/h tonight and up to 40km/h Saturday will result in windchill values in the low minus teens and 20s. Bundle up if you have outdoor plans as the sudden cold will be a shock for many in what has been a warm winter.

Saturday will be partly cloudy and cold, with highs struggling to reach -7C (19F). One more cold night Saturday as lows drop down to -15C (5F), before we see a major warming trend starting Sunday. Highs will rise to 0C (32F) Sunday, and well-above freezing next week, possibly up to 10C (50F) by Wednesday. The weather looks unsettled with some snow to start the week Monday, nothing significant at this time, followed by rain and warm temperatures midweek.

Briefly looking ahead into March, there are strong indications that temperatures will continue to be well-above normal across southern Quebec, with limited chances for any significant snowfall. Time will tell, stay tuned.

Much warmer weather expected for Montreal

Sunday's snowfall over-performed a touch across metro Montreal, delivering 7-10cm of snow to the region. That brought our monthly snowfall to 15.2cm at Trudeau Airport, well-below normal for February.

Tuesday morning should have been the coldest one yet this winter in Montreal, but a thin lawyer of clouds stopped the temperature from falling last evening under ideal conditions. Winds were calm and we had a fresh blanket, albeit a thin one, of snow on the ground.

Still the morning low was -13C (9F), shy of the -17C (2F) we had on January 20. Tuesday will be a chilly day and so will next weekend, but other than that, all I am seeing is warm air on the horizon. Could winter be over? It has not been a much of a winter, as El Nino has dominated the weather patterns across the globe and especially here in North America. We managed a little snow this week, and currently sit at 15.2cm at Trudeau Airport, well below the normal of 41cm.

Looking ahead, high pressure will move to our south and east setting up a return flow of mild air. So after our cold morning Tuesday, we can expect a significant rebound in temperatures to end the week. So much so that rain is expected Thursday into Friday. The highs will be 2C (36F) on Wednesday, but up to 6C (43F), Thursday and Friday.

A strong arctic cold front will arrive by late Friday, with some snow squall activity, strong winds and rapidly dropping temperatures, down into the minus teens by Saturday morning here in Montreal. The cold air will remain through the weekend, before another surge of warm air next week, that will see highs well above freezing to end February and into the first few days of March and potentially beyond.

Once again, I am not seeing any snowstorms in our future.

ON THE RADIO

One final note, I am finally on the radio talking about the weather, a dream I have had since my Dawson College days at CFKS Radio Selby in the late 1980s. I am part of The Suburban Radio Hour aired on CJAD 800 AM, Sunday evenings from 7-8pm. My segment is pre-recorded for now, so I will be dealing with historical facts and a general look forward at the weather across southern Quebec and beyond. Thank you as always for reading and listening! 

Snow squalls possible Sunday evening - warmer week ahead

Roads were snow covered early Sunday morning across the Montreal region, as steady snow fell along a warm front. A quick 5-10cm fell across much of southern Quebec. (Valley Weather Photo)

A strong cold front will produce snow squalls this afternoon and evening across eastern Ontario and southern Quebec.

A warm front has lifted north of the Montreal region Sunday afternoon, accompanied by strong southwest winds blowing off Lake Ontario funneling moisture down the St. Lawrence Valley. Earlier Sunday, steady snow accumulated a quick 5-10cm across southwestern Quebec, with 7cm falling here on Ile Perrot. Montreal is now in the mild sector, with gusty southwest winds up to 50km/h, producing areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Temperatures have warmed from a cold morning low of  -15C (5F) to our current reading, as I write, of 0C (32F). Temperatures will take a tumble later this evening as a potent arctic boundary crosses the region. Along and ahead of that front we can expect some decent snow squall activity, with brief heavy bursts of snow and strong winds reducing visibility. The squalls will impact the Montreal region during the early evening hours.

A snow squall watch is currently in effect for a large portion of western Quebec and eastern Ontario, including the Ottawa Valley, and will likely be extended into the Montreal region later this afternoon. 

The steady snow this morning was the result of moisture being driven off  the wide open waters of Lake Ontario. Further southwest along the Highway 401 corridor, heavy snow has been falling making for poor travel between Trenton and Cornwall.

After the front clears the region this evening, temperatures will fall quickly to a low of -12C (10F) in Montreal and rising to -5C (23F) on Monday under partly cloudy skies. Winds will be quite gusty this evening, out of the northwest 30-50km/h, diminishing on Monday afternoon.

A warming trend starts on Tuesday, with temperatures expected to rise back above freezing.

Finally some February snow for southwestern Quebec

It took until February 13 for the first snow of the month to fall across many parts of southwestern Quebec. That has not happened since the El Nino winter of 1998, when it snowed for the first time that year on February 17. Only 1.4cm of snow has fallen so far this month in Montreal, the long-term average for the city is 41.2cm. (Valley Weather)

Snow is in the forecast for Thursday night, and it will likely be the first measurable snowfall for many across southwestern Quebec this month. On Tuesday night, Montreal's Trudeau Airport measured 1.4cm of snow during a fast moving squall, otherwise most of the region has had no snow since late January. The last time we had so little measurable snow to start a February was also during an El Nino year in 1998, when it took until the 17th for our first snowfall.

Clouds are thickening up late Thursday afternoon in advance of a fast moving Alberta Clipper moving across the Great Lakes and southern Ontario and into upstate New York. A swath of heavy snow is falling this afternoon along the Highway 401 corridor, and moving east. Toronto has been reporting visibility below 1km in heavy snow for the last three hours. Snow will spread across eastern Ontario late this afternoon.

The snow should move into the metro Montreal region this evening and taper off overnight. Most regions will see a quick 5cm of snow, but closer to 10cm is possible from Vaudreuil-Dorion southwest towards the Ontario and New York State borders. Winds should remain less than 30km/h during the snowfall. Temperatures will be below freezing for a change, dropping to -7C (19F) tonight  and rising to a high of -3 (27F) Friday. Clouds will linger on Friday, along with a few flurries.

Widespread winter weather advisories are in effect through southern and eastern Ontario and across the border into upstate New York and Vermont. 

Expect slow travel tonight, with low visibility and snow covered roads, something we are not use to this winter. The snow should be over for the morning commute in Montreal.

A taste of spring weather for Montreal - but winter lurks behind

A spectacular sunset off the western tip of the island near Senneville. February has featured plenty of sunshine so far after a dismal January that saw less than 17 hours of sunshine in Montreal for the entire month. (Valley Weather)

After an absolutely dismal January, we have been treated to an early taste of spring here in southern Quebec to begin February. January, along with most of November and December, featured plenty of cloud cover for the shortened days. 

On Wednesday I had an interesting conversation with David Phillips, Senior Climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. We discussed the limited sunshine to start the year, along with the lack of snowfall and the generally somber weather that has prevailed this winter. Phillips estimates that we had no more than 17 hours of sunshine for the entire month. Combine that with the lack of snow cover or any prolonged cold to support outdoor winter sports and other activities, and it made for a long and difficult month for many.

February on the other hand has been the complete opposite so far. Still no snow, but the sunshine has been more-than-welcome. Just eight days in and we have had full sunshine on 5 of the 8 days. As I write Thursday afternoon, the temperature is an unseasonably warm 6C (43F) under mainly sunny skies. We are close to the record high for the date of 6.7C (44F) set back in 1949, but I don't think we will get there today.

The mild weather will persist into the weekend, but with an increase in cloud cover. A few showers are possible late in the day Friday and Saturday afternoon. Temperatures will be very mild, between plus 5 and 7C (41-45F) for highs, remaining above freezing around 3C (38F) for lows through Sunday. A cold front arrives on Sunday, with colder air returning next week.

There has been no snowfall in Montreal so far this February, very unusual for sure. Only a few flurries are possible late Sunday and Monday. We are watching the track of a coastal storm on Tuesday, but at this time, I expect it will remain well south of the Montreal region. Colder temperatures are set to return next week, remaining below freezing through the end of the month.

Widespread damage occurred across the Los Angeles region and southern California after several days of very heavy rain and strong winds. (AccuWeather.com)

While we have been enjoying the sun and mild temperatures, parts of both coasts have been hammered by major storms. Along the US Pacific coast, nearly a years worth of rain fell in just a few days, with over 250mm recorded across the Los Angeles Basin. The heavy rain and strong winds resulted in power outages, mudslides and widespread flash flooding.

Along the east coast, between 60 and 150cm of snow fell across Cape Breton Island and parts of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Many communities are still digging out from drifts that are several metres high.

Tranquil weather for Montreal - massive snowstorm buries parts of Atlantic Canada

The biggest storm in over two decades has dumped up to 100cm of snow since Friday night on parts of Nova Scotia, including Sydney, shown above. That is more snow than Montreal has received all winter. (CBC New Photo)

Strong high pressure anchored over central Quebec will provide our region with a quiet, springlike weather week ahead. More typical of mid March weather, we can expect abundant sunshine, with mild days and chilly overnight lows. Skies should remain clear for the most part, with just a few stray clouds from time to time through Thursday. High temperatures will be between -2C and -5C (23F to 29F), with overnight lows between -10C and -15C (5F to 14F) for most of us. 

Despite the clear weather, keep in mind there may be some icy patches around in the morning. On Sunday, a major multi-vehicle accident closed the southbound ramp off the Mercier Bridge into Chateauguay around 8:30AM. Local ice fog had developed, making the bridge surface slippery resulting in several accidents. 

So far this month we have only had a trace of snow on Montreal, with no major systems on the horizon. The El Nino effect continues to influence the North American weather, keeping the arctic air locked up across the far north and the storm track primarily along the coast from California along the Gulf Coast and then northeast into Atlantic Canada. 

Over the weekend a powerful snowstorm slammed parts of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island with the heaviest snowfall in two decades. Deep low pressure stalled southeast of Sable Island, pumping copious amounts of moisture across central Nova Scotia and Cape Brenton Island. The snow is still falling Monday morning, after 84cm at Stanfield Airport in Halifax since Friday night. In Sydney, over 80cm has fallen as well. Drifts are metres highs, as winds gusted over 80km/h producing widespread blowing and drifting snow. 

Numerous roads are impassable, schools and businesses are closed Monday. A local state of emergency has been issued for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. By the time the snow ends later Monday, several locations will exceed 100cm (40 inches).

Mild winter will continue - regardless of what the Groundhog says

The late Fred la Marmotte of Val-d'Espoir in the Gaspe region of Quebec. The new Fred will make his prediction early Friday morning. It appears we are in for an early spring. Time will tell. (CBC)

Groundhogs across North America, including the new Fred la Marmotte in Val-d'Espoir, Quebec, are preparing this Friday morning to deliver the forecast for the balance of our winter. Regardless of their predictions, there are strong indications that the milder than normal winter will persist. 

We are looking at temperatures above freezing once again Friday morning in Montreal, after around 7mm of rain here on Ile Perrot Thursday. As temperatures flirt with the freezing point early Friday morning, there could be some icy spots around. High pressure will try to build into southern Quebec today, but I expect cloud cover to hold in place most of the day. Temperatures will be mild, around 1C (34F).

As skies clear this evening into Saturday, we can expect slightly cooler weather, but still above normal for early February. The high on Saturday, along with some much needed sunshine, will be around -3C (27F). Fair weather will prevail well into the new work week, with mild days and chilly overnight periods. Daytime highs will be around -2C, with overnight lows seasonably cold, around -10C (14F).

This past week, temperatures soared across western Canada, After the mid-January deep freeze, hundreds of record highs were established including an incredible 21.1C (70F) at Maple Creek, Saskatchewan on Tuesday. This was also a new provincial record high for the month of January and part of 4 consecutive days with record highs. The previous provincial record was set on January 7, 2003 in Cypress Hills at 19C (66F). Record highs were shattered across all four western provinces.

January was warmer than normal across the entire province of Quebec. Despite the deep freeze for a few days in the middle of the month, most of Canada was warm as well. (Environment Canada)

Meanwhile the numbers are in for our January here in Montreal. To nobody's surprise the month was warmer than normal, with an average temperature at Trudeau Airport of -5.3C (22.5F), 4.4 degrees above the long-term average of -9.7C (14.5F). Precipitation was also above normal, with 90mm, including 57cm of snow. Most of that fell in two storms during the middle portion of the month. We have yet to drop to -18C (0F) this winter in the city.

What can we expect for February? Well Groundhogs aside, mild weather should persist into the second week of the month, with a flat jet stream and a warm ridge of high pressure across the west. Any storms will be pushed well to the south and east of Montreal. Beyond the middle of February, we are seeing indications of a return to a colder, stormy pattern. Whether that involves snow or not is yet to be determined. Below normal temperatures will return, but keep in mind we are now past the coldest time of the year in Montreal. The days are getting longer and average highs are creeping up.

Another round of freezing rain for Montreal

An icy landscape very early Thursday morning on Ile Perrot. Freezing rain coated everything with up to 10mm of ice. Roads and sidewalks on Ile Perrot and across the region were treacherous in many cases. Walking for nearly impossible. Thankfully the main highways were in decent shape for the morning commute. (Valley Weather Photo)

Freezing rain warnings have been issued once again for eastern Ontario and southern Quebec for overnight into Friday morning. 

Low pressure will move along a frontal boundary south of Montreal across central New York state, delivering another push of moisture and warm air aloft. Cold air will remain once again at the surface here in the St. Lawrence Valley, resulting in another 5-10mm of freezing rain on Friday. Precipitation will begin before the morning commute in Montreal, lasting through the morning hours, before mixing with and changing to snow midday. Temperatures will drop below freezing tonight, down to -5C (25F), rising close to the freezing point on Friday, before slightly colder air arrives in the afternoon. Snowfall amounts will generally be around 5cm for most locations. Snow on top of ice will make for dangerous walking and driving.

We caught a break Thursday afternoon as the temperature nudged above the freezing point to 1.6C (35F) here on Ile Perrot, allowing some of the ice to melt off trees and power lines. While there were only isolated outages on Thursday, the threat will rise Friday in some regions, due to the cumulative weight of the ice from both storms.

Last evening's storm dumped between 5-10mm of freezing rain across the region, leaving streets and sidewalks covered in thick ice. Main roads in Montreal recovered for the morning commute, but it was a different story in the suburbs and rural regions. As a result, many off-island schools were closed for the day.

There were a number of accidents overnight, especially along the Montreal to Brockville, Highway 20/401 corridor. The saving grace was that the precipitation ended before the morning commute Thursday morning, but this will not be the case with the next system.

Freezing rain warning for southern Quebec

Cold northeast winds that have developed Tuesday afternoon in Montreal, are expected to keep temperatures below freezing into Thursday morning. As a result, a freezing rain warning has been posted for up to 5mm of ice accretion before temperatures warm above freezing sometime on Thursday.

Freezing rain warning in effect for southern Quebec for Wednesday night.

A cold front settling south of the St. Lawrence Valley Tuesday afternoon has allowed colder air to seep into the region. Montreal has dropped from 0C (32F) around noon down to -6C (21F) as of 4pm. That front will be the focus of some light snow tonight, with a dusting to as much as 5cm locally across the region. Expect chilly northeast winds to accompany the flurries.

On Wednesday, the frontal boundary will begin to lift back northward as a warm front, with the same cold air and northeast winds remaining in place at the surface here in Montreal. The result will be several hours of freezing rain in both the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Valley. As much as 5mm of freezing rain is possible at this time, falling mainly during the overnight hours into Thursday morning. The Thursday morning commute will be icy across the region, including eastern Ontario, northern New York and Vermont.

The unsettled weather is expected to persist through the upcoming weekend, as several weak areas of low pressure traverse the aforementioned frontal boundary draped across the region. Much milder air has developed across a wide area of North America, but arctic high pressure remains well to our north. We will see a battle of temperatures here in Montreal through the weekend. As a result expect a messy mix of light wintry precipitation at times, ranging from snow and sleet to rain and freezing rain. Often these events can produce more dangerous and changeable road conditions than big storms. 

Parade of storms over - coldest air of the season moves in

Strong southwest winds last Sunday pushed intense snow squalls along the St. Lawrence Valley as far as Ile Perrot and parts of extreme southwestern Quebec. An arctic front added to the squalls as it moved southeast across the region. The result was heavy snow, blowing snow and difficult travel conditions for a few hours during the afternoon. (Valley Weather)

After four low pressure systems in the last 10 days, the parade of storms is over for southern Quebec, at least for the next few days. Tuesday's system moved along the eastern seaboard leaving Montreal on the extreme northwest edge. We managed 4 to 5cm of fluffy snow, enough to make travel slick during the evening commute. 

The big story for the next few days will be the cold. A modified arctic airmass will deliver the coldest air of the season so far to southern Quebec. This morning's low of -14C (7F) was the coldest so far this winter for Montreal, a clear indication of just how mild the 2023-2024 winter has been. The next few days will feature party cloudy skies, perhaps a stray snowflake or two, with lows of -15C (5F) to -18C (0F) and daytime highs of -7C (19F) to -13C (9F). Southwest winds of 30-50km/h in the Montreal region on Tuesday, are producing local blowing snow, along with windchill values around -20C (-4F). To date Montreal's Trudeau Airport has received 110.2cm of snow, nearly half of that over the last 10 days. 

Heavy snow squalls pound Watertown, New York on Wednesday afternoon, January 17. In excess of 50cm was expected, with storm totals approaching 100cm. (webcamtaxi.com)

For the balance of this week, the heavy snow will be confined to the Great Lakes region, with lake effect snow hammering both Buffalo and Watertown, New York, as well as communities along Georgian Bay in Ontario. Some locations are expecting close to 100cm (40 inches) of snow. This is on top of the 50-100cm that feel last weekend. Lake effect snow occurs in narrow bands downwind of the lakes. It develops as cold winds blow across the relatively warm waters, creating convective cells which organize into bands of heavy snow. The snow has been accompanied by strong winds and even thunder and lightning. Last Sunday, some of the squalls moved along Highway 401 as far as extreme southwestern Quebec.

A NOAA satellite image showing the arctic air streaming across the ice free Great Lakes producing heavy lake effect snow in Buffalo and Watertown, NY. The coldest air this winter, along with just a few clouds and flurries were expected for the balance of the week in Montreal.

Much of the country is being chilled by arctic air moving into the central portion of the continent. Over the last week, Edmonton International Airport set a record with 5 consecutive days in the minus 40s, including last Friday mornings low of -45.9C (-50.6F).

The good news is a significant warming trend in on the horizon, with much of the country going above normal once again by the last week of January.