Metro Montreal region under a Level 3 Flood Watch

Water levels along the Ottawa River on Ile Perrot are on the rise Thursday afternoon, in response to a wet April to date, as well recent ice and snowmelt across the region. A flood watch remains in effect for Montreal. (Valley Weather Photo)

"We have just come up to Level 3, which is the highest level of emergency the city can bring it up to" Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada.

A Level 3 Flood Watch is now in effect for Montreal - allowing for the mobilization of personnel, material and resources in the event of flooding.

Municipalities across the Island of Montreal, Laval and up and down the Ottawa River Valley are in flood watch, as waters levels continue to rise. Many parts of eastern Ontario and southwestern Quebec have had a very wet spring to date, with rainfall closing in on 75mm at Trudeau Airport since April 1. At this time the St. Lawrence River and Lac St. Louis are stable and below flood stage.

Municipalities like Senneville and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue on the western tip of the island are in flood watch mode as water levels continue to rise along Lake of Two Mountains. Pierrefonds as well as parts of Laval are also watching water levels rise. (Valley Weather Photo)

The gauges on Lake of Two Mountains at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and Terasse Vaudreuil are at 23.50 metres, or about 200mm (8 inches) above minor flood stage. Water levels have stabilized at both locations for today but are expected to rise slowly in the coming days in response to higher water levels upstream. Pointe Calumet is at 23.58 metres and rising. Minor flooding has been observed.

Montreal and the Burroughs will be monitoring the levels 24/7 at the cities emergency operations centre for the near term, ready to provide assistance as needed.

As far as the forecast goes, the city remains under a special weather statement for the potential of more heavy showers through Sunday. Rainfall amounts of 15-25mm are possible. The good news is that Saturday looks dry now, and cooler, drier weather next week may slow down runoff and water levels.

Across the province, 12 rivers are in minor flood stage, while 17 more are on the rise, and being monitored. Vigilance will be important over the next week as water levels fluctuate. At this time, we are not expecting to reach the record levels and subsequent flooding that occurred in both 2017 and 2019.

A strong cold front will push across southern Quebec on Saturday night accompanied by showers and maybe even a rumble of thunder. Sunday looks much colder, with temperatures falling from highs in the low 20s (70F) Saturday, down to 5C (41F) Sunday. Montreal will likely drop below freezing into Monday morning, -3C (27F), and I can't rule out a stray snowflake or two.

April showers bring May flowers...and spring flooding

Rainfall over the last 72 hours has dropped 30 to 35mm across southern Quebec. The rain along with melting snow and ice has resulted in sharp rises in area rivers. Several are approaching minor flood stage. Vigilance is important over the next few weeks, especially if you live along or near  flood prone areas of southern Quebec. More rain is forecast over the next three days in Montreal.

It is that time of the year again where we hold our breath as rapid snowmelt and spring rain swell our rivers. During the past two weeks across our region, most of the ice has melted away from both the Ottawa and Saint Lawrence Rivers as well as the tributaries in and around southern Quebec. This combined with rainfall this April has resulted in sharp rises in the rivers that surround our island as well as Laval.

Since April 1st, 72.4mm of rain has fallen at Trudeau Airport. Rain has fallen on 12 of the 14 days this month, with more forecast over the next 72 hours. Sécurité Publique Québec has been monitoring the gauges around southern Quebec and reports one in medium flood stage, 7 at minor stage and 18 under surveillance.

Parts of the Mille Îles River are reporting minor flooding, while the gauge in Lake of Two Mountains at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue is reading 23.28 metres, just below minor flood stage. Most rivers are slowly rising, with the next 72 hours being critical as to where we go from here. North of Montreal, the Ouareau River near Rawdon is in moderate flood stage.

A wavy stationary front stretching from Iowa to Maine, has been the focus of rain and strong thunderstorms at times. The front lies southwest of Montreal, keeping very warm and humid air just to our south. Most of the storms have been firing up along and south of the front in southwestern Ontario and New England. The front is separating summer from spring, with Windsor, Ontario reaching 27C (81F) on Tuesday afternoon, while Montreal struggled to reach 9C (49F). As I write this blog, Montreal is siting at 7C (45F), while New York City is currently 28C (83F).

Several areas of low pressure will ride along the front producing more showers and thunderstorms through Sunday, with another 15-25mm of rain possible. A cold front will sweep across the region late Sunday, ushering in unseasonably cold air for a day or two. There may even be some flurries around.

Residents across the metro Montreal region who live in flood prone areas adjacent to our rivers, should continue to monitor water levels and listen to information supplied by your burrough or municipality.

Has spring finally sprung in Montreal?

Barring any surprises, Wednesdays snowfall of 1-2cm should be the last of the winter season here in Montreal. (Valley Weather Photo)

Montreal managed a breezy, warm high of 16C (61F) at Trudeau Airport on Thursday, with the mercury inching past 20C for some southwestern Quebec locations. I must admit, it felt good. The final traces of snow have melted away and the cleanup of our fair city has begun.

What could be the final snow of the season, barring any big surprises, put down a centimetre or two on Wednesday. That melted away quickly, but it was enough to create some areas of black ice and several serious collisions. One incident closed the Ville Marie Tunnel eastbound while yet another snarled the Mercier Bridge. You are reminded that despite the warmer weather, we often dip to or below the freezing pint at night in April, so treat any standing water like ice.

In terms of the future, we are looking at a cold front approaching southern Quebec on Friday, with rain expected ahead and along the front. As much as 10-20mm is possible. Temperatures are mild Friday morning, but will dip as the day moves along. Some wet snow may mix in well north of the city and across the Ottawa Valley.

The weekend looks like typical early April weather, with fair skies and highs in the low teens. Another front will bring rain to the region Monday. Next week looks warmer and wet. We may see significant amounts of rainfall over the next week or so.

Looking back at March, Montreal (Trudeau) received 33cm of snow and 45.9mm of rain, including lots of freezing rain. Winter 25/26 has hopefully drawn to a close, with the seasonal total for snow sitting at 213.6cm (84.1 inches).

Another surge of cold air across southern Quebec

Despite the colder-than-normal weather and the occasional snowflakes, the annual spring cleanup is underway in Montreal. Hundreds of city workers are stripping away the layers of dirt and debris left behind by the melting snow. (Valley Weather Photo)

After a highly variable weekend in the weather department, we are looking at another surge of cold air to start the work week. The easter weekend featured both winter and spring seasons at times. We even managed some early morning thunderstorms on Friday, with between 20-25mm of rain falling over the weekend between early Friday and Sunday morning. Despite the rain and clouds Friday, temperatures still managed to reach 15C to 18C (60-65F) across southern Quebec.

A strong cold front late Sunday has brought cold temperatures and even some flurries for Monday morning. Temperatures will struggle today to reach 3C or 4C (35-40F) under clouds, gusty northwest winds up to 50km/h at times and the occasional snow shower.

It has certainly been a cold start to Spring 2026 in Montreal, but it could be worse. On April 3 and 4, 1975, a fierce snowstorm dumped between 30 and 50cm of heavy wet snow on southern Quebec, driven by 100km/h winds. I remember it well, with a two day holiday from school as a result of the late season storm. (La Presse Archives)

A frontal trough will rotate though the region late overnight into Tuesday morning, with another round of light snow or flurries likely. A centimetre or two is possible in the most persistent snow showers. Cold air will remain in place through Tuesday, with daytime highs only near the freezing point and overnight lows tumbling to -7C (19F). Some slightly milder air should arrive by Thursday, with the return of sunshine. Highs will back close to normal, or slightly above near 10C to 13C (50-55F).

Briefly taking a look beyond this week, there is no real warm air in sight, with temperatures remaining either side of 10C (50F) and overnight lows close to the freezing point. As expected, spring is off to a very slow start in 2026.

Rainy, icy week ahead for southern Quebec

Despite Monday's hint of spring across the Montreal region, we are looking at the risk of more wintry weather in the form freezing rain on Tuesday. 

Special Weather Statement issued for Montreal, southern and western Quebec as well as eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Valley for a messy mix of rain and freezing rain Tuesday.

Spring weather is really at a premium across Southern Québec this March, and with April set to start, there is really no change in sight. A series of low pressure systems will guarantee a wet and at times white or icy mix this week. For Montreal, Monday will be spectacular. Southwest winds will deliver milder air, with a very springlike high of 14C (56F) forecast. That is the good news. The bad news is the warmth lasts a day. 

Arctic high pressure well north of Montreal, will begin to bleed cold air south into the valley locations overnight, as winds veer to the northeast. Temperatures will fall quickly, as a frontal boundary lifts northward to lie close to the international border. Warm air overriding the cold air at the surface will result in a decent swath of precipitation. Depending on where you are in regards to the boundary, that will be either liquid or frozen.

Temperatures across southern Quebec and eastern Ontario will be a degree or two either side of the freezing point on Tuesday, with winds gusting to 50lm/h. In Montreal, I think we will have a messy mix of precipitation, with limited impacts on roads, primarily icing elevated surfaces. Precipitation amounts could be significant, with 20-40mm by Wednesday morning. Most of that should be in the form of plain rain. There is even the chance for a rumble of thunder Tuesday afternoon.

The weather pattern remains the same into Easter weekend, with several more low pressure systems producing widespread precipitation. The thermal boundary will remain tight, with mixed precipitation north of the front and rain along and south. Stay up to date on future forecasts as this is a changeable scenario, with plenty of moving parts.

Another ride on the temperature roller coaster for Montreal and southern Quebec

Salt trucks were out and about once again on Thursday morning, as yet another in a series of clipper systems brought snow and freezing rain to the Montreal region. (Valley weather Photo)

Thursday's low pressure and frontal boundary resulted in more mixed precipitation than originally expected and less rainfall, as temperatures were very slow to warm here in the St. Lawrence Valley. Out high was 3C (38F), well-below the advertised 10C. Such is often the case when a northeast wind is blowing in Montreal.

As far as precipitation goes, we managed another 3-4cm of snow early followed by a couple of hours of freezing rain and eventually rain. The liquid precipitation amounted to 7mm at Trudeau Airport. Roads were a little slippery for the morning commute, but otherwise the impacts were minimal as the storm system was rather weak.

Temperatures fell rather quickly overnight into Friday morning, as a cold front slipped south of the region. The temperature fell from 2C (36F) at 1am, down to the current reading of -7C (19F). Add to that a gusty northwest wind of  40km/h and windchills are in the middle minus teens, way too cold for late March!

In what many hope was the last snowfall of the season, Thursdays weak storm system brought 3 to 5cm of fresh snow to the Montreal region. The monthly total at Trudeau Airport stands at 33cm, with a seasonal total of 212.8cm (83.8 inches) to date from November 1st to March 26th. (Valley Weather Photo)

Our region remains of the northern edge of a large dome of high pressure that has resulted in scores of record temperatures established across the central and southern United States. Phoenix has had eight consecutive days of 100F (37C) plus temperatures. Prior to 2026, they had only had one such day in March. The heat has pushed all the way north into the Ohio Valley, but remains just south of our region.

Southern Quebec remains below normal for late March, along with weak low pressure, one after another bringing us light amounts of precipitation. The end result has been a rather cool, damp month, with 38.9mm of rain and 33cm of snow.

I wish I could say the first week of April will be different, but the trend looks the same. After a cold weekend, we can expect temperatures to be on the rise Monday into Tuesday, with more shower activity. We may see highs as warm as 15C (59F) by Monday. Unfortunately, that will be followed by another cold front, more northeast winds, flurries and a high of only 2C (36F) on Tuesday. 

There is some indication that this pattern may finally break by the second week of April, with more substantial and longer lasting warmth settling into Montreal. Time will tell, but for now the pattern remains the same, the temperature roller coaster ride nobody wants to be on.

Winter just won't leave Montreal alone!

Many contractors are working overtime, as winter carries on in Montreal. Close to 10cm of wet snow fell on Sunday across the region, making for slick travel. The snow also made for a very white annual St. Patrick's Day parade in Montreal. (Valley Weather Photo)

A series of weak clipper type systems will continue to impact Montreal during the upcoming week. This will result in unsettled, cool and damp weather across southern Quebec.

More snow fell Sunday, creating the usual nonsense on the roads. The snow has been part of a roller coaster ride this march that has seen mild days followed by storms. Another 10cm or so of wet snow fell Sunday, brining the monthly total to 30cm at Trudeau Airport. We have also added 35.3mm of rain and freezing rain to the mix.

The stormy days have been mixed in with almost springlike warmth, with the high of 14C. However we have also has a morning low of -19C this month. And so it goes in Montreal, it is spring but not really. The next two weeks look unsettled to say the least, with a similar pattern remaining. The coldest, stormiest weather in North America will be over eastern Ontario, extreme northern New England into Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

Heavy wet snow falls on Ile Perrot Sunday, March 22.

For Montreal, that means another week of below normal temperatures, with rounds of light rain mixed with wet snow through the upcoming weekend.

If it is warm weather you are looking for, record warmth has been spreading across the southwestern and central portion of the United States. On Sunday, temperatures soared to near 30C (86F) as far north as Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Sadly, that heat will not be coming to Montreal anytime soon.

More snow forecast for Montreal to welcome Spring

More snow is forecast for southern Quebec Friday and again late Sunday into Monday, as winter just won't let go. To date the city has measured just over 15cm of snow this March along with the wicked windstorm and significant freezing rain event. March weather can be a very volatile as a result of big swings in temperature over North America. (Valley Weather Photo)

Special Weather Statement for Montreal and Ottawa: A quick moving storm will accumulate up to 10cm of wet snow across the region Friday.

Spring officially arrives with the Vernal Equinox at 10:46AM Friday morning. Those who call Montreal home, know how difficult it can be for spring weather to actually arrive in our fair city. The date is meaningless most years, so why should March 2026 be any different. 

A clipper system on Thursday delivered light wet snow all day. There was very little accumulation, but just the presence of more snow made it feel damp and dull. Temperatures were much milder than Wednesday, rising above the freezing point to 2C (35F). 

Unfortunately more snow is on the way for Friday, as a stronger clipper type storm system crosses the Great Lakes and moves just south of the Montreal region. A swath of steady snow, heavy at times will develop north of the track over the Ottawa and Saint Lawrence Valleys. A decent 5-10cm of snow is expected over a 5 hour period or so. The snow will impact the Ottawa region in the morning and Montreal from mid-afternoon into the evening commute. Snow may fall at the rate of 2 to 3cm per hour, creating low visibility and slippery travel conditions.

The snow will be on the wet side, with high temperatures expected close to the freezing mark after morning lows around -6C (21F). Skies will become partly cloudy Friday evening, with a low near -4C (25F). Saturday should be fair and milder, with ahigh near 5C (41F).

Another storm is possible for Sunday into Monday, but there remains important details to work out regarding the final track and temperature. Stay tuned!

Wicked windstorm sweeps province - calmer weather returns to Montreal

For the second week in a row, widespread damage was reported to the Hydro-Québec grid, resulting in outages to over 320,000 clients. Winds gusted to 120km/h in the southern part of the province. (Hydro-Québec)

A strong cold front associated with deep low pressure over central Quebec, produced a wicked windstorm across the southern portion of Quebec, stretching into eastern Ontario. Winds gusted between 90-120km/h on Tuesday, knocking out power to over 320,000 Hydro-Québec customers. That represented over 1 million Quebecers in the dark and cold. The outages stretched into eastern Ontario and northern New York.

As of 11:45AM Wednesday morning, the number of customers still without power is down to 22,000. Some of the remaining 390 breaks in the grid are the most difficult to repair, in isolated regions and involving the complete failure of poles or transformers. This was the second significant outage in less than one week, coming after last Wednesday's ice storm.

In addition to the widespread power outages, the fierce wind toppled several trees, many onto homes and cars. This vehicle was crushed on Patricia Avenue in the NDG sector of Montreal. (Météo Média)

The wind was relentless most of the day in Montreal, knocking down hydro poles, wires, tree limbs and causing structural damage to several properties. The damage extended across the southern portion of the province. The peak wind gust at Trudeau Airport was 94km/h. The barometric pressure at the airport bottomed out at an impressive 982mb in the wee hours Tuesday morning, an indication of the strength of both the storm and front.

Intense snow squalls and rapidly dropping temperatures made travel challenging on Tuesday. The temperature fell over 20 degrees in Montreal from late Monday into early Tuesday morning. (Valley Weather)

Accompanying the wind, was periodic snow squalls, that made travel at times difficult, resulting in several serious accidents,  especially towards Quebec City and along Highway 401 northeast of Lake Ontario.

High pressure is moving into southern Quebec on Wednesday morning, accompanied by clearing skies and lighter winds. Temperatures were very cold Wednesday morning, dropping into the minus teens, including -13C at Trudeau Airport. 

The balance of the week will feature calmer weather, still some light snow Thursday, but no major storms are on the horizon at this through the weekend. Temperatures will warm back above the freezing point for daytime highs, so some liquid precipitation is possible as well.

Spring arrives on Friday, March 20. Let's hope winter retreats quietly, we could all use a break.

Widespread power outages caused by strong winds

Fierce southwest winds are blowing early Tuesday morning, gusting up to 90km/h at times. The winds have been causing widespread power outages, as well as knocking over signage and tree limbs. Blowing snow is also an issue in open areas. The winds should ease late this afternoon. (Valley Weather)

Wind warning posted for metro Montreal and southern Quebec.

The strong winter storm responsible for all the weather over the last 24 hours has swept a cold front across the Montreal region overnight. Behind the front, powerful southwest winds are gusting to 90km/h across the St. Lawrence Valley, and up to 120km/h in other parts of the province. 

Those winds knocked out power to more than 240,000 Hydro-Quebec customers as of 7:45AM, including 25,000 in Montreal. There are 902 individual breaks at this time, and with winds as strong as they are currently, restoration times are not available. Hydro-Quebec has 1100 workers addressing the outages.

Temperatures have been falling rapidly as well, from near-record highs of 14C (56F) on Monday afternoon, to current readings of -2C (29F), They will continue to drop to -8C (18F) by late in the day. Light rain changed to flurries around midnight, so there are some icy spots around. More snow flurries will move into the region this morning, along with some significant blowing snow in open areas.

Winds should ease back to 30-50km/h later this afternoon.

Use extreme caution today when travelling, especially walking. These winds are capable of knocking over signage, trees and power lines.

Montreal to remain on the warm side of powerful storm

A clipper system on Saturday brought a little more snow than expected, with nearly 15cm falling on the Montreal region.

Windy weather, with mixed precipitation and rapidly changing temperatures forecast for the next 24-36 hours across the Montreal region.

A late season winter storm located in northern Illinois Sunday afternoon, will strengthen rapidly as the center moves into the central Great Lakes and eventually western Quebec on Monday. Montreal will remain on the warm side of the storm, with mixed precipitation, strong winds and warming temperatures.

The winter that just won't end produced another shot of snow Saturday, leaving roads slippery from Montreal to Cornwall and north to Ottawa. (Photo: Cornwall & Seaway Valley Road Reports)

A warm front associated with the storm is lifting northward across our region Sunday afternoon, with a burst of snow. The snow will be short-lived, with perhaps 1-2cm at most locations. Temperatures will begin to warm rapidly overnight on strong south winds, gusting up to 60km/h at times. Montreal should reach 5C (41F) by sunrise, with a high of 14C (56F) expected on Monday. The warmth will not last long, with a very strong cold front arriving late in the day. That front will be accompanied by gusty winds, heavy rain, possible thunderstorms and rapidly dropping temperatures.

As temperatures drop behind the cold front Monday night, any leftover rain will change to snow across southern Quebec. Several centimetres are possible by Tuesday morning. Roads may be slippery for the Tuesday morning commute. The temperature will fall up to 20 degrees over just a few hours, with morning lows down to -5C (23F) in Montreal. The high Tuesday will be steady around -5C, with strong west to northwest winds, flurries and blowing snow. Tuesday night will be cold, dropping to -13C (9F).

This storm is having far-reaching impacts, including an historic blizzard from Iowa and Minnesota into Wisconsin, upper Michigan and central Ontario. Some locations around the northern Great Lakes may see as much as 75cm of snow. A swath of freezing rain to the east and south of the snow will result in 15-25mm of ice accretion. In addition to the snow, winds wrapping around the deep low pressure, will reach over 100km/h, with some locations near Lake Superior expecting gusts to hurricane force.

In the warm sector, heavy damaging thunderstorms and tornadoes are expected from the Ohio Valley and Midwest into the deep south.

More snow on the way for Montreal - warmer air Monday

Many have expressed frustration with the weather warnings issued on Wednesday. In truth the storm wobbled a little to the northwest, allowing lighter precipitation along with slightly warmer air into Montreal. The difference in Montreal receiving the full 30 or 40mm of freezing rain versus the 15-20mm that fell, was too close to risk. In the end, forecasters aired on the side of caution in an effort to keep people safe. Even with that, over 250,000 customers lost power between Ontario and Quebec. There were also numerous accidents reported on icy roads. (Hydro One Photo)

Power remains out Friday morning to around 10,000 Hydro-Quebec customers as a result of Wednesday's freezing rain. On Thursday, gusty winds up to 70km/h along with snow flurries and squalls made the day rather raw and cold for many. While Trudeau Airport reported a trace of snow, I had a least 1cm on my driveway Friday morning, the result of quick moving squalls late last evening.

March as previously explained, can be one nasty month as the seasons wage battle. We will experience that battle once again this weekend, with two systems impacting southern Quebec. High pressure will briefly clear skies out Friday, with temperatures near 0C (32F). Temperatures will remain steady over the next 24 hours, as low pressure skirts along the international border.

Clouds will increase Friday afternoon, followed by 5-10cm of snow across the region from eastern Ontario into southern Quebec and northern New York. The snow will taper off Saturday, along with increasing gusty winds, in the 30-50km/h range. As the winds pick up again, watch for any falling ice off trees and other structures.

Sunday will be fair for the most part, before clouds increase as a strengthening late winter storm moves across the central Great Lakes into northeastern Ontario. This time Montreal will be on the warm side of the storm. Expect a messy mix of precipitation late Sunday night, changing over to rain on Monday. High temperatures will warm quickly on Monday, reaching 13C (55F), along with strong southwest winds up to 60km/h.

As quickly as the temperatures rise, they will fall again on Tuesday well-below freezing. Any leftover precipitation will change to snow before ending. We will have weather whiplash as the low Tuesday night is expected to be in the minus teens, close to 30 degrees colder than Monday afternoon.

More wintry weather on the way - thousands without power across southern Quebec

Trees and power lines strain under the weight of ice in Senneville on Thursday morning. (Valley Weather)

Many schools are closed for a second day across southern Quebec, the result of strong winds, icy conditions and widespread power outages. Temperatures nudged above the freezing mark overnight, allowing for some of the more than 13mm of freezing rain to melt in parts of the Montréal region.

The freezing rain was replaced by strong west winds, at times over 70km/h. That has played havoc with the power grid, already compromised by ice and tree branches coming in contact. As of 9:30am, Hydro-Québec is reporting 212,000 customers without power, 757 separate breaks in the system. That includes 28,000 on the Island of Montréal and 85,000 in the Montérégie. As with most large power interruptions, the utility is not offering restoration times, but does say they have 900 crews in the field, close to 2000 workers.

Hydro-Québec is responding to more than 700 breaks in the system Thursday morning, with 2000 workers. Power is out to more than 208,000 customers. (Hydro-Québec)

The storm itself is off to our east after dumping 15-25mm of freezing rain in most locations. Montreal had less than forecast, but it was enough to create problems on the road, at the airport and as mentioned with Hydro. A swath of heavier freezing rain impacted the Ottawa Valley and the lower Laurentians. Further north heavy snow and ice pellets fell. Thunder and lightning even occurred with the freezing rain during the midday hours in Montréal.

For Thursday, strong winds will continue to be a problem along with scattered snow showers as a cold front crosses the region. Our high temperature for the day has been reached, with the mercury lowering to -3C (27F) by the end of the day, and -8C (18F) overnight.

Thankfully less freezing rain occurred in Montreal than forecast, with amounts ranging from 12 to 25mm. This amount was still enough to cause problems with the power grid. The track of the storm wobbled a little to the northwest, allowing for less precipitation in Montreal and a later start to the precipitation. (Valley Weather)

MORE SNOW!

On Friday, clouds will increase ahead of our next storm system. More wintry weather is on tap as an Alberta Clipper skirts along the St. Lawrence Valley Saturday. Snow will develop overnight Friday and continue into Saturday, with 5-10cm expected for Montreal. Gusty winds will accompany the snow, creating areas of blowing snow. We get a brief break in the weather Sunday, before a much larger and complicated storm takes aim at us late Sunday into Monday. This storm will bring with it much warmer temperatures, with a messy mix of precipitation changing to rain across southern Québec. More on that in future posts.

Stay safe today as roads and sidewalks are slippery and ice is falling from trees and structures.

Windy, icy day ahead for southern Quebec

Freezing rain is forecast to last several hours today in Montreal, with 20-30mm expected. Amounts over 15mm usually start to impact power lines and trees. Expect travel delays as well.

Freezing Rain Warning in effect for Montréal, the St. Lawrence Valley and Ottawa Valley.

A wide area of freezing rain is expanding over eastern Ontario early Wednesday, expected to arrive in Montreal during the morning hours.

Most schools are closed and municipalities and Hydro-Quebec have mobilized ahead of an expected ice storm Wednesday. Low pressure will move from Illinois into upstate New York later today. Precipitation has been slow to arrive in Montreal, with scattered freezing drizzle being observed. The heavier precipitation arrives mid-morning, with 20-30mm of freezing rain expected by evening.

Temperatures have fallen below freezing in Montreal, currently -1C (30F), and will remain there all day. Warmer air will briefly arrive this evening, before cooling once again on Thursday.

Gusty northeast winds of 30-50km/h will back to the west and southwest tonight and increase 50-80 km/h, which will not help the power situation.

This is a dynamic system, with very warm air just to the south of us, and cold arctic high pressure to the northeast. Montreal is on the dividing line between the two airmasses. The trailing cold front has been responsible for widespread thunderstorms and tornadoes across parts of the central Untied States.

Some thunder may even sneak into parts of Ontario and extreme southern Quebec later today.

Significant freezing rain event for Montreal on Wednesday

This event looks quite similar to the April 2023 storm that knocked power out to 1 million Hydro-Quebec customers for up to 5 days. Between 30-40mm of freezing rain fell during that storm. (Valley Weather)

STORM UPDATE...

Freezing Rain Warning for the Montreal region for 20-30mm of frozen precipitation.

Freezing rain is forecast to start overnight and change to rain late Wednesday. There is still a chance the system could pass just to our west, allowing slightly warmer air to arrive, resulting in more liquid than frozen precipitation for Montréal.

An Orange Level weather warning has been issued by Environment Canada for a large portion of southwestern and western Quebec including the metro Montreal region. This is the first orange warning for Montreal since the new colour code system was introduced in late November.

For Montreal, the forecast and impact levels are high, but there is still some questions that remain regarding surface temperatures. Strengthening low pressure will develop over the midwest United States on Tuesday, moving towards the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Valley. At the same time a backdoor cold front will slip south of the Montreal region late today, allowing colder air from the north to filter into the region. Winds will shift from the south to northeast, and gust to 40km/h.

Precipitation from the storm system will begin to override the cold air at the surface later tonight, with showers eventually changing to steady freezing rain after midnight. After a daytime high close to 10C (50F) on Tuesday, Montreal will drop to 0C (32F) by midnight. Winds will shift form the south to northeast, gusting up to 40km/h at times. Temperatures will remain near the freezing point on Wednesday.

Freezing rain will persist into Wednesday across the greater Montreal region and especially the Ottawa Valley. Temperatures may rise above freezing from Montreal south allowing the freezing rain to changeover to plain rain Wednesday afternoon. The rain may be heavy at times. A total of 25-50mm of moisture is available with this system.

The temperature profile will be very close to the freezing point, with a range of precipitation types possible across the metro region. Another factor will be the warm temperatures that have preceded the storm. This may allow road surfaces to remain just wet, while ice builds up on elevated surfaces such as bridges, trees and power lines, as it did in April 2023.

The setup looks very similar to that of the April 2023 Ice Storm, that cut power to over 1 million Quebec homes and businesses, some for up to 5 days. The storm also did tremendous damage to trees and cars.

Expect power outages and travel delays on Wednesday.

Precipitation will taper off to flurries on Thursday, as temperatures drop significantly behind the storm.

Significant freezing rain possible across the Montreal region by Wednesday

Forecasters are watching a storm system that could bring significant freezing rain to the Montreal region on Wednesday. The event may be similar to the April 2023 Ice Storm. (Valley Weather)

Special Weather Statement for significant freezing rain on Wednesday.

By now many of you may have read on social media of the possibility of a significant ice storm on Wednesday for portions of southern Quebec and the Ottawa Valley. The possibility does exist, but it is a rather complicated forecast. The event is shaping up similar to the April ice storm of 2023. 

Very warm air will prevail for the Montreal region to start the week, with highs surging into the teens for Monday and Tuesday. Strong southwest winds will develop on Monday, gusting up to 70km/h at times. The warm temperatures will rapidly melt the snow and ice pack, contributing to the ongoing flooding occurring along portions of the Châteauguay River as well as other locations. Flood warnings have been issued for several municipalities in southern Quebec, Ontario and northern New York. Pay close attention to what your local municipal officials are telling you regarding ice jams and rising water.

Ice jam flooding along the Châteauguay River in Châteauguay on Sunday. Flooding was also occurring in Huntingdon and points south as rapid snowmelt continues due to the very warm temperatures. (Ville de Châteuguay) 

By Wednesday, deepening low pressure over the central Unites States will move northeast towards the Great Lakes, while Arctic high pressure to the north will begin to drain cold air into the St. Lawrence Valley. Temperatures will fall towards the freezing point by early Wednesday morning, as precipitation begins to overspread the region from the south.

At this time a very pronounced thermal boundary will traverse the region close to the US border, with freezing rain and snow to the north and plain rain falling to the south. Where that boundary establishes itself will determine who receives the freezing rain. Precipitation amounts will be significant from eastern Ontario across southern Quebec into northern New Brunswick, with 20-40mm of rain possible. If just half of that fell as freezing rain, we would have significant impacts. Further north heavy snow and blowing snow are likely.

Stay tuned to future forecasts and weather warnings that will be issued as the event unfolds. Prepare now for what could be a significant weather event in Montreal, with perhaps tree damage and prolonged power outages. Travel may be greatly impacted on the road and in the air through Thursday.

Behind this storm, more wintry weather is possible, as temperatures drop below freezing through the weekend, with snow possible by Sunday.

Roller coaster temperature ride forecast for Montreal

The ice along the Ile Perrot shoreline is beginning to thin this week. Much warmer temperatures this weekend, along with at least 10 to 15mm of rain, will allow for significant snow and ice melt in the Montreal region. Water levels will be on the rise, making the ice unstable and dangerous. (Valley Weather)

March and April often feature some of the largest range temperatures over the entire year as winter and spring battle it out. A perfect example has been Montreal over the last 24 hours. The high on Wednesday was 7C (45F) at Trudeau Airport. Overnight a backdoor cold front settled southwest from central Quebec, introducing gusty northeast winds and rapidly dropping temperatures. Montreal has struggled to reach -5C (23F) on Thursday, with mostly cloudy skies and a brisk northeast wind of up to 50km/h. Windchills have been in the low minus teens, currently -15C (5F) as I write.

Weak low pressure will pass well south of Montreal overnight, keeping a light wintry mix primarily across southern New York and New England. Arctic high pressure will remain to our northeast, while a summer-like Bermuda high develops off the southeast US coast.

The two airmasses will duke it out over the next week or so. For Montreal, after a cold overnight and chilly start to Friday, much warmer southwest winds will develop. Low pressure will approach the Great Lakes on Saturday and pass to the west of southern Quebec. The result will be very warm, moist air moving northeast, along with scattered showers. Highs Friday will be very mild, rising above freezing to 6C (43F). Even milder air arrives on Saturday, with a run at 15C (59F) possible.

Slightly cooler air arrives Sunday, before more warm air surges back north on Monday and Tuesday. All this is subject to change as the two airmasses battle each other. One thing looks certain for the short-term, there will be significant snow and ice melt occurring. That will prompt a rise in area rivers and streams. Additionally, the ice will become quite unstable in the Montreal region, and therefore quite dangerous. Best advice would be to stay off it, and monitor waterways if your area is prone to flooding.

As we take a brief look into the middle portion of March, it appears much colder air is set to return, along with some accumulating snow. Don't remove those winter tires just yet.

Partly cloudy skies in Montreal for lunar eclipse early Tuesday

The spectacular full worm moon will turn blood red early Tuesday morning, as a full lunar eclipse occurs here in Montreal. The eclipse will be visible to billions across North America, Australia and Asia. (NASA)

The full worm moon will take on a blood red appearance early Tuesday morning during the full lunar eclipse visible across North America. Here in Montreal, the eclipse will begin at 3:44 AM, becoming partial by 4:50AM and total at 6:27AM. Skies are expected to be partly cloudy in Montreal for viewing, with cold temperatures around -12C (10F). 

Unfortunately here in Montreal, the moon will be close to the horizon during the period of totality, so you will need an elevated, unobstructed location for ideal viewing. Adding to the setting moon, will be the rising sun, set to occur at 6:28AM in Montreal on Tuesday morning. This will effectively put an end to the eclipse at that time. The lunar eclipse occurs as the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the moon's surface.

Meteorological Spring

Did you feel Meteorological Spring arrive Sunday? Hard to with temperatures in the minus teens and windchills in the -20s, along with a dusting of fresh snow to start March. Monday morning was cold as well, -19C (-2F) at Trudeau Airport, with -22C (-8F) at my home on Ile Perrot. Southwest winds will develop Monday up to 40km/h, making it feel brisk outside, as temperatures slowly rise to -7C (19F).

The good news is that very warm weather is on our doorstep. The snow we expected late Tuesday will pass well south of Montreal. We can expect fair weather through Thursday, with above freezing temperatures, starting Tuesday at 1C (34F). We have a chance for some rain and freezing rain along a warm front into Friday morning, that may cause some travel concerns. By Friday afternoon into next weekend and beyond, expect well-above normal high temperatures, soaring into the low teens by next weekend, with a forecast high of 12C (54F) by Saturday.

Much colder weather to start March - but it won't last long

Another 10 to 15cm of snow fell across the Montreal region this past Wednesday. With the cold temperatures experienced this winter, most of the snow remains piled high across suburban neighbourhoods. Much warmer weather is on the way once we move past the next 48 hours, which should help begin to melt away the snow and ice.

February is ending on a spring-like note, as temperatures have soared to 9.2C (49F) here on Ile Perrot and just slightly cooler at Trudeau Airport. While today is the warmest day of the year so far, it is well short of the 2024 record high for the date of 13.8C (56F).

The weather has been windy and warm, with just some scattered light showers along a cold front that crossed the region Saturday morning. Frigid air is set to filter southeast across Ontario and southern Quebec over the next few hours, with temperatures falling to morning lows Sunday of  -10C (14F).

Gusty winds of 40-60km/h Saturday afternoon, will slowly dimmish overnight, with light winds expected Sunday. Some flurries are possible both Saturday night and Sunday. Monday morning will be very cold, with lows around -20C (-4F) expected in Montreal.

Conditions will begin to warm quickly as we start March, with some snow possible Tuesday into Wednesday as low pressure moves south of Montreal. Beyond that into the second week of March, we are expecting well-above normal temperatures, with highs in the upper single digits above freezing. Overnight lows will remain milder than normal as well. Good news for those if would like to see the piles of snow and ice begin to melt away.

Taking a brief look back at February, it was a cold month, but with limited precipitation. The coldest low at Trudeau Airport was -21.5C (-6.7F) on the 8th. The temperature remained below freezing on 22 of the 28 days. In terms of precipitation, we measured 31.4cm of snow and 0.2mm of rain, both below normal for the month, with the main storm track passing either south and west of Montreal, or along the Atlantic Coast. The normal snowfall for February is typical closer to 47cm for Montreal.

After 50 Years - Weatheradio Canada will fall silent

A sad day for weather enthusiasts! My first weather radio purchased by my parents in 1978 at Radio Shack on Wellington Street in Verdun for my 12th birthday. After close to 50 years the radio will fall silent on March 16 as Environment and Climate Change Canada ends Weatheradio Canada broadcasts.

Many readers may not be aware of this, but Environment Canada has been operating a Bilingual 24/7 Weather Radio channel that currently broadcasts over 185 VHF transmitters across the country. The service covers nearly 90 percent of Canada providing detailed weather forecasts, observations, marine forecast and most importantly severe weather warnings. The service broadcasts over the airwaves here in Montreal at 162.550 MHz, from the tower located on Mount Royal.

Environment Canada has decided to end the service on March 16, citing the availability for forecast information and other weather services through their app and website. The obvious problem I see, is that information is not always available in all corners of our country by WIFI or mobile phone. The availability for accurate and timely weather warnings is the biggest concern I have. At a time when our weather is changing rapidly, and in many cases becoming more life-threatening at times, I see great value in continuing this service. In the end, delivering the the urgent message associated with dangerous weather to as may Canadians as possible, should be the end goal.

My mobile weather radio, also purchased from Radio Shack in the 1980's, would later be replaced by two separate mobile scanners in the early 2000's and eventually my mobile phone, as digital replaced crystals. I even had a mobile unit installed in my truck. Even with all the new technology, the service will be sadly missed.

I have been a listener for over 40 years, since my parents bought my first weather radio from Radio Shack in 1978. For the first 20 of those years, whether at home or on vacation, listening to that radio was the first thing I did each morning. I also had travel size versions. The radio was never far from me at any point in the day. The unit you see in the top photo also had a tone alarm that would sound in the case of dangerous weather, mainly thunderstorms in the summer or freezing rain in the winter.

Weatheradio Canada first broadcast in Montreal and 9 other cities in 1976, before spreading across the country, with a high of 230 transmitters. There was a significant upgrade to the digital S.A.M.E. (Specific Message Area Encoding) technology in 2004. Originally, the forecasts were actually broadcast by Meteorologists. However in the early 2000's computer generated voices took over. At one point, the service was deemed so important by Environment Canada, they were quoted as saying, "It is as important as having a smoke detector in your home." Apparently not anymore.

While mobile phones and the internet have made information readily available through alternate sources, having this duplication of services, such as weather warnings, would be well worth the continued investment.

On a personal note, Weatheradio Canada is a big reason I have been a weather enthusiast my entire life. The radio taught me lots about meteorology, not to mention being fluently bilingual in weather terms. I'm  also a regular listener to NOAA Weather Radio, which is operated by the National Weather Service from Burlington, Vermont on 162.400 MHz. NOAA operates 1000 transmitters covering all 50 states. Thankfully that option will remain, but only for those located close to the international border.

Others across the rest of Canada who rely on Weatheradio Canada, will need to look elsewhere for their daily forecasts and weather warnings.

Marine forecasts will continue to be broadcast over Canadian Coast Guard Radio at 161.65 MHz in English and 161.75 MHz in French.

Powerful East Coast storm bypasses Montreal

Heavy snow has virtually shut down east coast cities from Washington to Boston. (NYPD Photo)

UPDATE - Tuesday, February 24: The monster Nor'Easter is now pushing into Newfoundland as skies slowly clear across the region. Amounts were beyond impressive, surpassing those of the famous Blizzard of 78. Providence, Rhode Island received a record-breaking 38 inches (96.5cm) of snow in less than 24 hours. To put that into perspective, here in Montreal our seasonal snowfall stands at 168cm (66 inches), but that is since November 1st. This has been a winter of small snowfalls for Montreal, the largest 24-hour snowfall was only 11cm (4.3 inches) on December 10. 

Winds gusted to hurricane-force, over 125km/h across coastal New England. Power was out to over 500,000 across the region. Air travel was greatly affected, with over 11,000 flights cancelled, rippling across North America.

The storm also hit Atlantic Canada late Monday and overnight, with winds topping 100km/h and 25 to 40cm of snow. 

Previous Post: An absolute monster of a storm is moving along the northeast Atlantic Coast Monday morning, producing blizzard conditions from Delaware to Nova Scotia. The central pressure has tumbled down to sub 970mb, making it the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane. The Nor'Easter is a marvel on satellite, while on the ground, heavy snow and strong winds have closed down the northeast and southern New England.

Here in the St. Lawrence Valley, we remain on the extreme northwest cloud shield of the massive storm. Montreal will experience clouds most of the day, along with a biting northeast wind up to 50km/h. Temperatures will flirt with the freezing mark, but that wind will make it feel raw. Skies will clear briefly Tuesday, before another weather system, this time from the Great Lakes, brings us more snow Wednesday.

Friday nights system produced 6cm of snow officially at Trudeau Airport, while I measured a good 10cm on Ile Perrot.

The storm is a masterpiece on satellite images Monday morning, resembling a hurricane, with the deep 970mb center lying southeast of Long Island, New York. The classic comma shaped storm extends from Nova Scotia to the Bahamas. Montreal remains on the extreme northwest edge, with high clouds and gusty northeast winds being the only weather we will see from this system. (NOAA)

The east coast storm will lift northeast today towards Atlantic Canada offshore waters, while weakening slightly. Heavy snow will continue from New York to Maine, with 40-60cm possible. Less snow is expected in Nova Scotia, with 15-25cm possible. Some locations across the middle Atlantic are already flirting with 50cm (20 inches), including Newark Airport at 45cm (18 inches). The snow has been accompanied by thunder and lightning along the coast.

Schools are closed, travel bans are in effect, thousands of flights have been cancelled from Washington to Boston. Winds with the storm are gusting to hurricane force, in excess of 100km/h at many locations. In addition to the snow and wind, powerful waves and a storm surge are inundating coastal areas with 2-3 feet of water. Over a half million customers are without power across the region. Many states including New York and New Jersey had issued a state of emergency prior to the storms arrival. A travel ban is in effect statewide in Rhode Island,

Another round of snow for Montreal Friday - decent weather for the weekend

The burst of snow expected Friday evening will be similar to that which fell on February 10. The snow will be short-lived, lasting just a few hours, with perhaps 5-10cm expected for Montreal and point south and west. Less is forecast north and east of the city, including Laval. (Valley Weather Photo)

While the weather was relatively tame and mild over the last week in Montreal, the same could not be said for many other parts of North America. A wild low pressure area combined with cold air from northern Canada to produce a windy weather system that spread across the Rockies into the Plains and Prairies, Ohio Valley and Great Lakes. That system is set to bring us a burst of snow Friday evening.

Clouds will increase early Friday as a warm front lifts across the eastern Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Valley. The front will stall to the south of Montreal, with precipitation overrunning it late in the day. Snow will develop by the evening commute and taper off overnight. The event will be similar to one that occurred on February 10. Accumulations will be in the 5 to 7cm range for the Island of Montreal, with 10-15cm from the off-island communities to the southwest, towards Cornwall, Ontario. Lesser amounts are expected northeast of Montreal, with no snow expected as you head towards Quebec City.

For Montreal and points south and west, roads will become snow covered and slippery late this afternoon and tonight with significantly reduced visibility. That includes the 20/401 corridor to Cornwall and the 40/417 highways to Ottawa.

South of Montreal, up to 20cm is possible in upstate New York. Winter Storm warnings and Advisories are in effect for regions south of the border, with a Special Weather Statement in Ontario.

In Montreal, temperatures will warm to -2C (29F) today, before falling back to -8C (18F) overnight. Gusty northeast winds will develop north of the warm front across the St. Lawrence Valley, reaching speeds of 30-50km/h. Those winds combined with falling snow will reduce visibility across southwestern Quebec this evening. 

The weekend will be variable, with partly sunny skies Saturday and perhaps a few flurries Sunday. Temperatures will be seasonable, with highs between -3C (27F) and -5C (23F) and lows of -8C (18F).

Above freezing temperatures finally forecast for Montreal

Snowy scene on St. Joseph Blvd on Ile Perrot late Tuesday, February 10. The quick hitting storm made a mess of the evening commute in Montreal. Heavy snow fell for several hours, with 7-12cm accumulating across the region between 3pm and 9pm. That brought the monthly total up to 12.4cm at Trudeau Airport, with 163cm measured so far this season since November 1, 2025. (Valley Weather Photo)

It was another cold morning in Montreal on Friday, with temperatures dropping to -15C (5F). Today will mark the 28th consecutive day below freezing in the city. There is some hope on the horizon.

Skies will be sunny today, with a high near -5C (23F). A weak clipper system will pass just south of Montréal tonight, producing a few flurries, with perhaps a dusting to 1cm in some locations. The weekend at this time looks sunny, along with warming temperatures. By Sunday we may approach the freezing point.

Even milder air will arrive on southwest winds Monday and Tuesday, along with perhaps a few showers. Highs will be near plus 5C (41F) on both Tuesday and Wednesday. 

To date winter 2025/26 has produced 163cm of snow at Trudeau Airport. The most bewildering statistic from Environment Canada for me, is that only 14cm of that snow officially remains on the ground at Trudeau Airport. Ignoring all the massive piles of snow around the city, I took to my fresh untouched backyard with a yardstick and measured close to 40cm on the ground in several undisturbed spots. I'm sure your backyard has just as much snow if you live anywhere in the metro Montreal region.

By comparison, Ottawa International Airport has measured 171.3cm of snow this winter and is reporting 50cm still on the ground. This is a much more accurate representation of the winter to date, especially considering that we have been below freezing for the last month, with very little melting observed. I question the accuracy or location chosen for the Montreal measurement, as it seems to not be representative of the city wide average

Looking ahead briefly to the end of February, we see colder air returning. While the air does not look frigid, it will certainly be cold enough for snow. There will also be several opportunities for measurable snow through the end of the month. Don't put the shovel away just yet.

Speaking of cold, Thomsen River in the Northwest Territories was -48.6C (-55.5F) on Friday morning, the coldest spot in the country.

Milder weather returns along with more snow for Montreal

Windswept Chemin Duhamel along the Ottawa River in Pincourt on Saturday morning. Strong winds up to 50km/h drifted snow across the frozen river and onto the roadway. The winds also resulted in bitter windchills falling into the minus 30s. Temperatures over the weekend remained cold in the -15C to -25C range for most of southern Quebec. (Valley Weather Photo)

The weather in southern Quebec was frigid over the weekend, as temperatures struggled to reach -15C (5F) both days, along with gusty northwest winds that produced windchill values into the minus 30s. Overnight lows dipped into the middle minus 20s for most locations.

Monday morning is no different as the mercury dipped to -20C (-4F) at Trudeau Airport. Montreal managed a couple of centimetres of snow Friday night, with the monthly total sitting at only 4cm at the Airport, slightly more in other spots around southern Quebec.

Our temperature dropped to -0.7C (31F) at 5am on January 15, and has not risen above since then, a total of 24 days. As a result most of the snow that has fallen since, remains piled around the city. This despite the wacky statistic of snow on the ground that Environment Canada publishes for Trudeau Airport, which shows only 7cm.

Temperatures have remained below freezing for over 3 weeks in southern Quebec. As a result many waterways, including the Ottawa River above where it meets the St. Lawrence River, are nearly frozen clear across. Several residents braved the frigid cold over the weekend to ice fish on the frozen surface. (Valley Weather)

The upcoming week will see a welcome moderation in temperatures, that may see us finally reach the 0C (32F) mark by next weekend. it will be a slow warming trend, and it comes along with snow. A clipper type low will slide across the Great lakes on Tuesday and along the International Border, while strengthening somewhat. A area of steady snow will devlop in the afternoon, producing close to 5cm thought the evening commute in Montreal.

The snow will persist into early Wednesday, with close to 10cm expected for Montreal, perhaps 15cm for some locations. With the snow, we can expect warmer temperatures on southwest winds. After a chilly Monday, -9C (16F), the high Tuesday will be -7C (19F) and finally near normal, -4C (25F) for Wednesday. Overnight lows will remain chilly, either side of -10C (14F).

By the weekend, we may see even milder air arrive in Montreal, but that may come at a price, as we are watching a potential east coast storm. Many details remain, but we may see a more impactful snowfall for some parts of Quebec by Sunday. Right now, the weather looks fair and mild in Montreal for the weekend.

Despite the Groundhog - we can expect another frigid weekend in Montreal

Waiting for early Spring...lonely chairs buried in snow on the edge of the Lake of Two Mountains in Senneville this past weekend. (Valley Weather)

Thursday is National Weatherperson's Day, celebrating the birth of John Jeffries in 1744. Dr. Jeffries was one of the first North American weather observers, keeping a detailed weather diary from 1774 until 1816. This day comes quickly on the heels of Groundhog Day, where we put science aside and trust a half sleeping rodent to predict the weather 6 weeks out. Not an easy task for any of us fully awake weather enthusiasts! 

So with that,  Québec's own Fred la Marmotte, did not see is shadow, and therefore predicts and early Spring. Despite his bold prediction, we are looking at another frigid weekend for Montreal.

Fred la Marmotte in the Gaspe region, has predicted an early Spring for Quebec. I will believe it when I see it, as my crystal ball is a little more cloudy.

Some of the coldest air of the season is set to pour into southern Ontario and Quebec on Friday, behind a clipper system and arctic boundary. The day will begin fairly calm in Montreal, but thickening clouds will lead to light snow by the afternoon hours. The high will reach a chilly -8C (17F), the normal for the date is -5C (23F). The snow will become briefly stead, if not heavy at times into the evening hours as the front passes out region. Accumulations will range from 5cm to perhaps as much as 10cm locally.

Gusty northwest winds between 30-50km/h will develop late in the day Friday, persisting into Saturday. Temperatures we fall behind the front into the minus teens by Saturday morning, with windchill values approaching -30C. The high Saturday will be reached in the overnight hours, with lows by Sunday morning at -22C (-8F). Skies should eventually clear on Saturday, after morning flurries. Sunday will be sunny but cold, with high temperatures around -15C (5F). Temperatures will start to moderate next week.

Despite the week long thaw we had in January, the month still came in below normal here in Montreal. The average temperature at Trudeau Airport was -9.8C (14.4F), 0.6C below normal. Montreal measured 66cm of snow, slightly above the normal of 52cm. February is starting off on a cold note, but we are seeing signs of a milder pattern beginning as early as next week.