Montreal may have a rain-free weekend for the Canadian Grand Prix

A quick moving thunderstorm dumped torrential rain on Montreal on Tuesday afternoon. Thankfully the storm only lasted a few minutes, with 10mm falling at Trudeau Airport. (Valley Weather)

After a dismal spring that has had rain on just about every weekend, we may be looking at a break, just in time for the Formula F-1 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

Weak high pressure is moving across southern Quebec on Wednesday, to be followed by a quick moving cold front this evening. That front will generate gusty southwest winds in the St. Lawrence Valley, possibly exceeding 50km/h through the overnight hours. There may be a spot shower or two, but no much precipitation is expected.

High pressure builds back in for Thursday and Friday, with brilliant sunshine and cooler, less-humid conditions. The high Wednesday will be close to 27C (81F0, dropping into the low 20s through the weekend. In terms of precipitation, dry weather is expected through late Friday. In the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, a warm front will lift north across New England. A few showers or isolated thunderstorms are likely along it. The question will be how far north will it move before heading back south.

The thinking at this time is that any showers will remain south of Montreal. Sunday at the moment looks ideal for the race, light winds, low humidity, sunshine, and a high of 24C (76F). The hope is that the venue will avoid the major problems they had last year, when over 30mm of rain fell over the course of the event, causing significant water accumulation on Ile Notre Dame.

Environment Canada is predicting a very hot and humid summer for Montreal and southern Quebec. Hot and dry weather expected across the Prairies, may exasperate the western wildfire situation, leading to more hazy and smokey days as well for our region. (ECCC)

HOT SUMMER ON TAP

Environment and Climate Change Canada has released the national forecast for summer 2025. It is simple, above normal temperatures for nearly all of us from June through August and likely persisting into the fall. Here in Montreal, we are expecting a hot and humid summer, with frequent thunderstorm activity. Northing new to see here, as this is quickly becoming the norm for southwestern Quebec of late.

One final note, Tuesday's quick moving thunderstorms dropped around 10mm on Montreal, brining the monthly total to 11.6mm. The same storms produced a small tornado in upstate New York, near Beekmantown, just north of Plattsburgh. The late afternoon EF-0 storm with winds of up to 120km/h, produced only minor damage.