Frost Warning

The weather in Ottawa was spectacular yesterday for the Capital City Marathon. SB Photo

Here we are nearly at the end of May and we are still talking frost. High pressure will crest over the area tonight and result in frost and freezing temperatures across Ontario, southwest Quebec and much of New England and New York. Frost Warnings have been posted. http://www.erh.noaa.gov/btv/headline/index.php

This spring has seen several 30C days but for the most part it has been unseasonably cool with numerous nights close to freezing. I expect the area around Kemptville will dip to 0C tonight, along with other rural regions of Eastern Ontario and Quebec. The area around the big cities and close to the river or Great Lakes should stay just above the freezing point at 2 or 3C.

It will be sunny on Tuesday and a little warmer, close to 19C. Low pressure organizing over the northern plains will slide into the region for the balance of the week with unsettled weather, showers and thunderstorms.

Fair Weekend

Strong southwest winds blow across Lake St. Louis on Montreal's West Island. The winds drove the temperature up to 29C yesterday. SB Photo.

The skies have cleared this afternoon over all region as high pressure moves into the area. A few clouds may prevail early Saturday, but it will otherwise be a very dry and pleasant weekend. The overnight period will be quite cool both days but temperatures under the warm May sun will warm into the low twenties on both Saturday and Sunday.

Yesterday was very warm in Montreal with a high of 29C. It was short of the record, but there were record highs reported elsewhere including Halifax and Charlottetown. Moncton was one of the warmest locations in the country at 32C. Kingston, ON was an excellent example of just how cold the Great Lakes are in the spring, and how they can influence the weather. With the wind blowing off Lake Ontario yesterday morning, Kingston struggled to reach 17C by 3pm yesterday. Between 2-3pm the wind switched from the south off the water to the west off the land. The temperature responded by hitting 25C in less than an hour.

Heavy rain, flooding and coastal beach erosion continue over south Florida as low pressure spins from the Atlantic across the state and into the northern Gulf of Mexico. The storm is non tropical in nature, but has still produced up to 20 inches of rain in places this week, including in Daytona Beach. Strong winds out of the northeast have produced beach erosion and coastal flooding. The storm is forecast to slowly move along the Gulf Coast this weekend as far west as New Orleans.

BIG warm up arrives

The warm front has finally lifted north of Montreal and temperatures are responding under bright sunshine. The temperature has risen from 5C at 11am to 14C at 5pm at Dorval. Ontario is even warmer with Ottawa going from 8C at 11am to 24C at 5pm a rise of 16 degrees in just a few hours. Toronto and Windsor were in the upper 20's. The warm air will remain in place overnight tonight and Thursday before a cold front arrives on Friday. Look for temperatures to be between 27 and 30C in both provinces on Thursday and remaining in the upper teens tonight.

Much warmer air on the way

Much warmer air is streaming northeast into Ontario at this hour. It has yet to reach Montreal as we remain north of the warm front with a gusty northeast wind and low clouds with drizzle. It is only 5C at Dorval (41F) but it is already 24C (76F), 35 degrees warmer in Toronto behind the front. Brockville and Kemptville also remain north of the front but a little warmer near 11C. Look for all areas to gradually become sunny this afternoon on increasing Southwest winds and much warmer temperatures. Tomorrow under sunny and hazy skies all areas will reach near 30C except close to the lakes and rivers where it will be a little cooler.

The mild air will remain into the weekend, but it will be a little cooler, close to 21C.

Frost and snow, May?

The fog and showers did not discourage the many Canadian visitors to the Seacoast of Main and New Hampshire this past weekend. At left is the Piscataqua River Bridge separating Kittery, Main from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. PJ Photo

Hi folks, sorry for the break in updates to the blog this past weekend, I was in coastal Maine and New Hampshire for the long weekend enjoying some beach time. The weather was chilly, and breezy with showers, but it did not matter I live to get away to the Seacoast.

The weather remains unseasonably cold throughout many areas of the country and well south into the southern US. Temperatures were running 10 to 20 degrees below normal this holiday weekend. There was even scattered frost again last night in our region on what is typically the official start to planting season. Not only has it been cold, but snow is falling in many parts of Alberta with 10-20cm expected in Edmonton. Currently it is 0C with freezing rain in Edmonton.

Montreal has warmed nicely today on southwest winds. We are at 17C at noon. Much warmer air is forecast to invade the east coast, Ontario, Quebec and New England this week as a warm front moves in late today and Wednesday. Look for high temperatures to reach 30C on Thursday before it cools into the Memorial Day weekend.

Winds reach 100km/h

Police direct traffic in downtown Montreal today after winds cut power in several areas. SB Pic

Sporadic power outages totaling nearly 61,000 customers (CBC.ca) in the province of Quebec and several downed trees and power lines have been reported in the wake of strong southerly winds today. The winds developed near daybreak this morning and are beginning to taper off this afternoon. They developed in advance of a sharp cold front moving into the region. Gusts were recorded at 90km/h in South Shore St. Hubert, and reached nearly 100km/h in some portions of the Quebec City region. Elsewhere they remained below warning criteria with gusts to 60km/h reported on the Island of Montreal. Gusts in the St. Lawrence Valley of Ontario reached 60km/h. South of the region in New York it was much the same with the Champlain Valley recording winds in excess of 50mph. Plattsburg, NY had a peak gust of 43mph so far.

The biggest impact of the windstorm was the closure of Highway 10 near St Jean in the Richelieu Valley. The winds toppled three tractor trailers into the ditch. While traffic was a mess and the clean up time consuming, no injuries were reported. Fire crews on and off the island have been responding to several downed trees and dangling power lines.

From CBC.ca a truck lies on its side east of Montreal on Highway 10.

Windy Thursday

Another ocean going vessel noses its way towards the St. Lambert locks in the St. Lawrence Seaway today. Winds will play havoc with smaller craft on the river Thursday. Gale warnings have been issued.

It was just a beautiful day across our area today. Bright sunshine allowed the mercury to climb into the low twenties in most regions. A frontal system will bring showers and thunderstorms to the area on Thursday along with very strong south winds. Winds will gust from 30-50km/h in Ontario and Quebec and from 50-90km/h across northern New York and the Champlain and Richelieu Valley's. Wind warnings are in effect for those regions. Skies will clear late Thursday and Friday should be sunny and mild.

Sunny & warmer

Temperatures this morning fell to 0C in Kemptville and 3C in Montreal. Frost was scattered around the region but was light in Ontario and Quebec. Temperatures across the higher elevations of the Adirondacks in New York were below freezing, and the frost was a little thicker in places there. It is nothing but sunshine and warmer temperatures for today and Wednesday, before a weather system brings the region showers and thunderstorms to end the week.

Frost Warning

Clear skies and calm winds will allow for the temperature to drop to near freezing in most areas of Eastern Ontario, western Quebec and upstate New York. The cool temperatures will likely allow frost to form just before sunrise in many regions, especially away from urban centres and the St. Lawrence River. Frost Warnings and Advisories are in effect for all our regions on both sides of the International border. The weather will be sunny and milder on Tuesday and for the rest of the week diminishing the frost threat.

The National Weather Service in Burlington Vermont has confirmed an EF1 tornado in Washington, Vermont (photo above) this past Saturday. The storm produced 100mph winds and caused considerable damage including a roof blown off an apartment building. The system that produced the tornado was the same storm that brought our first round of severe weather on Friday with strong winds and hail reported in Ontario and extreme southern Quebec along the US border.

I took the photo on the left today near the Quebec/Ontario border in Glengary County. Hydro One crews as well as several other public work personnel were busy cleaning up tree branches and prunning trees away from wires. The photo above is from Fox 44 News and is tornado damage in Vermont.

Incidentally while we are paying 102.4 a litre for gas in Montreal, it was 85.9 cents a litre in Lancaster, Ontario. Trust me it is worth the drive to this quaint little village on the St. Lawrence River. I love that place, and I have since I was a little kid. It is a very short drive down the 401 or for an even better drive take the 2.

Happy Mother's Day

A tug resembling Theodore passes through the Laprairie basin dwarfing this fisherman just prior to yesterdays thunderstorms. SB photo

The rain sadly will not go away soon enough for a sunny Mother's Day. Yesterday heavy thunderstorms rattled across the Ottawa Valley and passed south of Montreal. Heavy rain and lots of hail was reported in Ontario with just rain in Quebec. Today was muggy again with steady rain as low pressure and the associated fronts moved across the region. Radar tonight is still showing areas of rain and thunderstorms to our west and south. Expect more rain overnight with dropping temperatures and increasing winds. Sunday will be cloudy and cool with gusty winds and scattered showers.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe thunderstorms have fired up in the muggy air this afternoon. Radar at 3pm is showing two clusters, one moving into southern Quebec south of the St. Lawrence River, and the second cluster just moving through the south end of Ottawa and stretching into Lanark County. Both clusters are moving east and will affect all of eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. A severe thunderstorm warning has been posted for Ottawa and Smiths Falls. I imagine it will be extended eastward into Leeds & Grenville and S D & G. The second cluster has prompted a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the counties south of Montreal to the US Border. High winds and heavy rain with small hail is possible.

Muggy with some thunder

Very unsettled weather is expected across our forecast region right through this upcoming weekend. After yesterdays steady rain, nearly 15mm in most areas, today has dawned muggy and much warmer with some intervals of sun. The sun will only destabilize the atmosphere and promote some thunderstorm development this afternoon, especially along a frontal boundary that will slide through the region. Look for showers and thunderstorms after lunch in Kemptville and Ottawa and close to the supper hour in Montreal.

A similar scenario is on tap for Saturday with lots of sunny breaks, mild, muggy air and afternoon thunderstorms. The Saturday storms may be more vigorous as a stronger cold front is expected to slide across Eastern Ontario and Quebec. This will be followed by yet another low pressure system for Sunday. I expect more rain Sunday, but it is looking a little milder than it did 24 hours ago.

Lots of rain Thursday

Tuesday proved to be a very pleasant day across eastern Ontario and southwest Quebec. The expected showers held off for the entire day and the mercury inched up to 21C or 70F. Today has dawned showery across Quebec with clearing skies in Ontario. The storm system responsible for the morning showers is moving along the Atlantic coast up into the Maratimes this morning. The western edge of the precipitation shield has just caught the St. Lawrence Valley. The showers falling this morning will be light, and should end by noon. Some sunny breaks can be expected this afternoon with mild temperatures.

Another more potent low will move from the Ohio Valley towards New York State on Thursday. Look for steady rain to overspread the entire region overnight and continue into Thursday with 20-30mm expected. We will have some breaks on Friday with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Saturday will have clearing skies and warm weather, and it will be the best day of the weekend. It looks like Mother's Day will be cloudy, windy and cool with more rain.

Wet week ahead

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones surveys the damage in Irving, Texas after thunderstorms collapsed a practice facility injuring several coaches. Photo: The Dallas Morning News

It was a beautiful but chilly weekend across Ontario and Quebec to start the month of May. I went down to Plattsburg, N.Y. yesterday and they had more cloud cover than southern Quebec. The cloud was part of out next weather maker that will introduce a week of showery weather with just a few breaks for Montreal, Ottawa and the Seaway Valley. Today will be sunny, and we are off to a good start in the temperature department, already at 13C. With the warm May sun we may reach plus 18 to 20C in places. The balance of the week will be affected by a slow moving frontal system that will lift north into New York State tonight. This system has been responsible for heavy rain across the middle Atlantic and severe weather in the deep south. Numerous tornadoes occurred yesterday and individual thunderstorms cells knocked down trees and power lines in many states. The Dallas Cowboys training facility suffered some heavy damage as well when a tent collapsed injuring several people during rookie camp on Saturday.

The buds were out yesterday along the shores of Lake Champlain in upstate N.Y. Photo SB

This system will provide our regions with cool and showery weather through Wednesday before yet another deepening low pressure area moves in on Thursday with more showers. May can be a difficult month with the cool and wet weather hanging on. We had a very dry and mild March and April, so perhaps it is time for the "April showers", one month late.

Strong Winds

Very strong southwest winds are blowing at this hour across the St. Lawrence Valley. They have reached over 50km/h in Montreal and along the south shore and will continue to

 

 

increase to well over 60km/h this evening. A cold front will pass through the region late this afternoon and this evening with scattered showers and maybe even some thunder. It will clear out overnight and become much cooler. This weekend should be partly cloudy and chilly.

 The photos above are a tangled mess of wires on Rome Blvd in Brossard this afternoon. The wind has been gusting well over 50km/h along the riverfront.

Rain and Thunderstorms

A warm front associated with low pressure to out west is moving into the St. Lawrence Valley this evening. Ahead of it showers and thunderstorms will develop and produce a steady rain overnight in Montreal, Ottawa and Kemptville. The rain will taper to scattered showers on Friday and it will be muggy and quite warm. Late in the day a cold front will trigger some thunderstorms before much cooler and dryer air arrives for the weekend.

Ahead of the cold front on Friday strong southwest winds will develop and gust to 60km/h. In the Richelieu Valley of southern Quebec they may gust over 90km/h. A Wind Warning has been posted for that region.

High pressure will clear skies out on Saturday, it will be breezy and much cooler with temperatures around 13C.
**Today Montreal reached 21C, tomorrow will be mild as well, close to 20C in most areas prior to the cold frontal passage.

Prairie snowstorm

Skies begin to clear out as what remains of a cold front moves south and east as the sun sets over Montreal. Note the plane taking off from Dorval on the left and St. Joseph's Oratory on the right. SB Photo

A potent low pressure area moving across the state of Montana is bringing a wide variety of weather to the central and northern US as well as the southern prairies. Despite the calender heavy snow has been falling in southern Alberta with nearly 50cm along the foothills of the Rockies. The snow is moving into southwest and southern Saskatchewan where warnings are in effect for the Cypress Hills and Assiniboia region. That area can expect 10-20cm of wet snow. The snow has started falling this morning as temperatures have slipped to the freezing point in many regions. Accompanying the snow will be strong winds out of the northeast at 50-70km/h. The same storm is producing a wide swath of severe weather along the trailing cold front. Tornadoes and hail are expected from central Nebraska to southern Texas. The system is expected to continue east with a soaking rain and thunderstorms forecast for Ontario and Quebec late Thursday into Friday. More on that later today.

Meanwhile yesterday's heat shattered more weather records in Quebec and New England. It was 92F in Portland, Maine. That temperature was the warmest April day ever recorded in that city. Boston was 90F to set a record, but it is only forecast to reach 57F today as much colder air filters into the east coast.

Cooling trend - Two confirmed Tornadoes

The cold front has passed through Ontario and Quebec and is now moving into New England. Prior to its passage Montreal reached 23C, we have since dropped to 11C. Burlington, Vermont was at 29C at noon they are now at 14C. The front will continue to move southeast driving what is left of the record warmth east into the Atlantic. Boston and numerous other locations in southern New England remain in the low thirties this afternoon.

Environment Canada has confirmed two separate tornadoes from last Saturday's severe weather. The first and F-0 capable of winds up to 115km/h occurred in Windsor. The second, also an F-0, occurred later in the day in the Brittania Bay area of Ottawa towards Carling Heights. Damage in that area included downed power lines, trees and roofs torn off some homes. The damage path was from 50m to 150m wide and over 5km long. They were the first two confirmed tornadoes in Ontario this year.

Warm east, snow west

A slow moving cold front is currently moving across Ontario into southern Quebec. It will bring an end to the very warm weather of yesterday and overnight. It is currently 21C in Montreal, but only 9C in Toronto behind the front. Yesterday we saw temperatures at least 15 degrees above normal. The mercury reached 30.3C in Kemptville and 29.4C in Montreal. Other hot spots included 33C at Plattsburgh, NY and 31C in Ottawa.

The colder air is being accompanied this morning by some showers and embedded thunderstorms. The likelihood of thunder will increase the further east you are today as it has become much warmer in parts of Quebec and New England. Once the front clears we can expect more seasonable temperatures for the foreseeable future. There is a risk of some showers late Friday and Saturday.

Meanwhile in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, a strong spring storm is producing heavy rain on the east side of the system and heavy snow along and to the north of the track. Heavy snow is expected to fall across the Cypress Hills region of both provinces with 10-20cm expected. 5-10cm is possible in the Assiniboia and Gravelbourg area and along the Montana Border. The rain and snow will be accompanied by strong northeast winds from 50-70km/h.

Huge temperature swing

The temperature in Kemptville has soared to 30C at 3pm. This is after an overnight low of plus 7C reached at 6am this morning. That is an increase of 23 degrees in about 7 hours. In Fahrenheit that is a whopping 41 degree temperature rise. Montreal is currently at 26C after a low of 10C. It should continue warm and a little more humid throughout the afternoon and evening. Most areas will rise to between 28 and 30C today.

Meanwhile heavy snow warnings are in effect for southern Alberta and southwest Saskatchewan as an intense low over Montana spreads snow across the southern prairies tonight. Temperatures are hovering around the freezing point.

Wild Weather Weekend

Tree damage in the GTA yesterday

What an introduction to summer weather for Ontario and Quebec. Yesterday was downright sultry with new record high temperatures established across Ontario and Quebec including 28.3C in Montreal shattering the record of 27C set in 1942. Other records fell across many regions of the province including 30C in Sherbrooke. It was close to 32C in Concord, NH and 31C in Cornwall. Eastern Ontario was slightly cooler as a cold front moved into that region earlier in the day. Most regions were around 26C. However Ontario bore the brunt of fierce thunderstorms that developed along a sharp cold front late in the day and early evening. Toronto's Pearson Airport recorded a 115km/h wind gust the strongest there since a winter storm in January 1978. Gatineau had a gust to 96km/h. Many areas reported damage and injuries. Nearly 44,000 Hydro One customers were left without power with another 10,000 reported by Ottawa Hydro. Several roofs were damaged in Vanier and across the Gatineau region. Trees were down and many roads blocked. Funnel clouds were spotted in Ottawa and in Fergus west of the GTA.

The storms missed the Montreal region. Today is nearly 20 degrees colder in many cities, however that will be very short lived as the cold front retreats back north tonight and places us back in the hot and humid air. Look for highs to approach 30C again on Monday.

Record warmth possible Saturday

It will be an up and down temperature weekend. Let me try to explain. High pressure today produced sunny skies will warm temperatures near 20C in Montreal and into the 20's in eastern Ontario. A warm front will lift north of the region overnight with a 40% chance of isolated showers or even a rumble of thunder. Tomorrow will be sunny and even muggy with highs close to 27C in many regions. A back door cold front will slide across the region late Saturday night and usher in much colder air on northeast winds with showers and thunderstorms. It will only reach around 10C on Sunday.
However that same front will lift north again on Monday putting us back into the warm air with a high of 27C on Monday. I hope all that makes sense. Saturday is the better of the two days. Be very careful around area waterways. It will be warm tomorrow, but the water is still dangerously cold and should be avoided. Hypothermia could set in very quickly. Remember that is you are fishing or boating this weekend.

I have been working on the road this week and away from my computer often. I will be doing the same for the next couple of weeks. I will try to update the blog in the evenings. The links at the left are always current. Thank you so much for reading. Have a safe weekend.

Warming trend

Fog and low clouds hang over Montreal yesterday.

It is a cool chilly morning in Montreal. We have had on and off showers for the last 36 hours with about 16mm so far. More showers are expected today as the air remains moist and unstable. Yesterday afternoon some thunderstorms with small hail developed in southern Ontario. With such a cool air mass and lots of instability in place it is possible that we could see the same today. This is especially true if some sunny breaks were to occur.

The shower threat should end by midday on Thursday followed by clearing skies. The weekend look glorious, maybe the best since last September. Look for sunny skies with warm to even hot temperatures. Highs will be near 26C both days. It will slightly cooler the closer to any body of water you are. The waterways are still very cold mostly in the single digits.

• Celebrate Earth Day today. Take a shower instead of a bath, walk to work or take the bus, and turn off some lights. Lets take care of our planet and each other. Visit http://www.earthday.net/ for events and suggestions on how you can help.

BIG Warm up on the way

The sun sets Monday across Nuns Island and the St. Lawrence Valley. SB Pic

Break out the shorts and the sunscreen, it is going to hit 80F on Saturday (27C). That first hot day each spring is always such a treat. Bikes will be hitting the paths, cars will be washed and waxed and many will hit the links for the first time this season.

It is raining this morning across most of the reading area from New York north across Quebec and west into Eastern Ontario. Generally 10-15mm fell overnight, with another 10-15 expected today and tonight. The culprit is a very slow moving low pressure area over Lake Huron moving east. It will continue to influence our weather into Thursday. Showers can be expected with chilly north to northeast winds. Some snow has even been reported in northern New England and north of Quebec City.

After this system moves east, strong high pressure will set up along the southeast US coast and pump very warm air northward for Friday through Sunday. It should be mainly sunny and temperatures will soar to between 23C and 27C all three days. Just a splendid forecast for this upcoming weekend.

Unsettled Week Ahead

Deep low pressure over the Ohio Valley is forecast to move north towards Michigan this week. Rain is already moving into southern Ontario with a warm front associated with the aforementioned storm. The rain will push north and east towards Ottawa, Kemptville and eventually Montreal. The precipitation will become heavy at times Monday night and Tuesday before tapering to showers on Wednesday. Amounts should be impressive with 15-30mm expected. Winds will be a factor with this storm as well, gusting out of the northeast from 30-60km/h in advance of the storm and eventually backing to the west and gusting over 60km/h.

Some snow is occurring on the back side of the storm over northwest Ontario. 5cm fell at Thunder Bay overnight. In the southeast US the system produced sever thunderstorms and tornadoes yesterday.

The end of the week will see some clearing and much milder temperatures. Highs by Friday could be close to 20C in the St. Lawrence Valley.

Sunny today - Rainy Saturday

The flooding in Winnipeg continues as the Red River has reached 15 feet over flood stage. Winnipeg Free Press

It will be the warmest day of the season so far today. Temperatures will warm to between plus 17 and 19C in most areas with abundant sunshine. The warm weather and gusty southwest winds that develop will create ideal conditions for grass fires. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for upstate New York and Vermont. This is put in place when very dry conditions combine with strong winds to present a dangerous fire situation. Fire bans are in place as well. The same very dry conditions exist on this side of the border as well, so curtail any outdoor burning. The situation will ease tonight with the approach of a storm from the US. Rain will overspread the area overnight. It will be cool and rainy on Saturday with clearing skies and cooler weather for Sunday.

Sorry folks for the lack of updates this week, I am trying to put a new schedule in place and things should return to daily updates shortly. Thanks for reading.

Happy Easter

With the storm track to our south and east, the entire region, including eastern Ontario and southwest Quebec will enjoy a fair but chilly Easter. Winds will be gusty out of the north and west and we will only reach plus 3C today. The balance of the week will be sunny and seasonable with no rain in sight through the entire week. Temperatures will warm from 9C to 15C by next Saturday. Good time to wash the car and rake the lawn.

Happy Easter...

Sunny but chilly Easter

The sun will break out for the upcoming Easter weekend, but it will remain cold for early April. Low pressure that has been hanging over the region all week will finally give way to high pressure building in from the west. Any lingering sprinkles or flurries will end tonight. It will will be cold again with lows below freezing in most areas. This weeks light snow, from 1-3cm in many regions in the Valley's and more in the higher elevations, iced up roads pretty good just before sunrise yesterday morning. Numerous accidents were reported across eastern Ontario and southwest Quebec including a fatal collision on County Road 2 near Glen Walter, just east of Cornwall. Two mini vans collided killing a 13 year old passenger.

Even thought it is spring, please remember to adjust your speed on any wet surfaces these next few days. I noticed many drivers going way too fast yesterday morning for the conditions.

Back to the Easter forecast, high pressure will remain in place giving us sunshine, but a cold northwest wind will be around all weekend. This is thanks to another storm that will move well south of us and then too our east. The circulation around this system will maintain cool winds in Quebec and Ontario. It has been a windy month so far in April with peak gusts between 30-50km/h each day in Montreal.

April SNOW

Light Snow obscures downtown Montreal today.

Strong low pressure near Montreal continues to move northeast this afternoon. Radar is showing bands of light snow moving along the St. Lawrence Valley and across eastern Ontario into Quebec. A dusting to as much as 4cm may accumulate in some areas. Snow fell this morning in Montreal, and more is possible this afternoon (I can see it actually moving into the city from the west as we speak 3:20pm). The temperature has dropped to close to the freezing point, and strong northwest winds are increasing to over 50km/h. It is a raw, chilly day for April with white caps on the river. It will not improve much tomorrow with more flurries and cold.

The storm produced quite an impressive swath of snow in Ontario yesterday. 36cm fell at Thornburry near Collingwood, with 25cm in Barrie, 13cm in Petawawa and 8cm at both Toronto (Buttonville) and Windsor. Lake Effect Snow Warnings remain in effect for the eastern Lake Ontario Counties in New York for more snow and gusty winds tonight. 20cm may fall there and travel is not advised on Interstate 81.

The Red Sox home opener is today at 4pm against Tampa Bay. They were rained out yesterday. Today is just slightly better in Boston at 7C with a gusty northwest wind.

GO SOX!!!

Missing in Action: My red Saturn, 2000 SL1, Quebec Plate: 298 XFH - Red Sox Nation Sticker on back. I want it back, it was stolen Friday in Montreal. At the very least my sticker!

Storm moves eastward

Strong low pressure in western New York continues to deepen as it slides northeast towards southern Quebec. The rain and fog occurring in Montreal and Eastern Ontario will continue tonight accompanied by gusty northeast winds to 50km/h. Precipitation will end late Tuesday as a period of drizzle or flurries. West of a line from Renfrew south to eastern Lake Ontario and upstate New York from Watertown west, the precipitation has changed to wet snow. The wet snow will become heavy in places and accumulate as much as 20cm. Travel in those areas in not recommended tonight or Tuesday. It is already at the freezing point with light snow in Toronto. While the heaviest snow will remain north and west of the city, it may still be slippery in the GTA. All precipitation will come to an end by Wednesday.

At this hour Warnings are in place for the counties of western New York as well as the regions around Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. Heavy rain warnings are in effect for the Quebec City and Beauce regions, with heavy snow expected further north of the St. Lawrence River towards the Saguenay.

Signs of spring

Despite the snow that fell in many areas yesterday and this morning and the new storm that is poised to hit our region, there are many signs of spring out there. I have posted a couple below, including the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the tulips and other flowers that are beginning to pop through the thawing soil. In addition to these things, the heavy rain of the last few days has caused the rivers north of Montreal to begin flooding. Some flooding has occurred in Laval, and it will need to be watched closely with the approach of this next storm.

Low pressure will move from the Midwest into New York on Monday. This strong storm will spread rain into all regions Monday. This rain will change to snow by late Monday in the areas north and west or Toronto. Heavy Snow Warnings are in place for 15-25cm of wet snow. In regions where rain occurs look for up to 25mm which could produce some flooding locally. North of Montreal towards Quebec City, heavy rain and snow is expected as well. A Winter Strom Watch has been posted for Western NY for the risk of heavy snow on the backside of the storm late Monday.All regions can expect strong northeast winds from 40-60km/h with chilly temperatures for April.

 The Atlantic Erie passing under the Champlain Bridge in Montreal,  and heading west into the Seaway today. SB Picture.

An April Snowstorm?

I want to apologize for the lack of updates this week. It has been a challenging week that started with the tragic accident in Saskatchewan that I wrote about below and ended last night with the theft of my car here in Montreal. The car was so reliable and took me to many weather and news events throughout the last 8 years and I will miss it. Anyway the events have preoccupied me and left me not in the mood to blog.

I am back tonight on this dreary Saturday. We have already had more precipitation this month than we did all of March. Kemptville recorded over 40mm of rain from this most recent system with close to 50mm in other pats of Ontario. Montreal is still reporting rain and had recorded 14.8mm yesterday. In Quebec the most rain was reported at Charlevoix with 82mm and an 85km/h wind gust was observed at Quebec City. Some regions of Ontario including the Ottawa Valley are also reporting wet snow tonight, enough to cover roadways.

As this storm spins off to the east another area of low pressure is developing over the US Southwest. This storm will pass south of our area Monday and Tuesday. The potential exists for heavy wet snow and rain over the region. The forecast track is still uncertain and I post an update on this storm early Sunday.

Be good to one another see you tomorrow.

Maybe even a little snow!

Despite the record warmth yesterday and the 13C reading today so far, a little snow is not out of the question in the coming days. Lets face it, most people believed that winter really was not over. Come on, it can’t be that easy with no snow in Montreal for both March and April!

A major storm currently in the Ohio Valley will move into New York Sate with rain and snow.

The photo on the left is Spring Cleaning in the Plateau area of Montreal yesterday.

An area of heavy rain and thunderstorms is approaching the St. Lawrence Valley from the south and will overspread the region this afternoon. The rain will continue into Saturday before tapering off to showers or flurries. The greatest risk of any measurable snow will be in the Ottawa Valley and across Eastern Ontario. Look for 25-40mm of rain, so it will be a significant system. Winds will, also be very strong from 30-50km/h. Sunday should be pleasant before another storm from the southwest US begins to affect our weather Monday. Behind that system there is an even better change of accumulating snow next week. That may be our last snow of the year.

I just want to send my thoughts and condolences to Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan today. They have the terrible task of burying three wonderful young girls who died tragically last Saturday night. I knew two of the girls and their families as well. My daughter Maggie was very close to one of the girls Laramie when they went to school back in 2000 and they were in touch often. This shirt was a gift to Maggie when we left. Laramie’s message is in the centre. Words cannot express my grief and sadness for them at this time.

Rain & Thunderstorms

Strong low pressure over Arkansas is forecast to move towards southern Ontario and Quebec over the next 24 hours. Heavy rain will spread north and east tonight and reach Montreal by Friday morning. The heavy rain will be accompanied by gusty winds and some thunderstorms. At the moment no rain warnings have been posted, however that may change. Forecasters are expecting between 20-40mm of rain in most regions.

April started beautiful yesterday and today with very mild air in place. It is currently 16C in Montreal and sunny.

Now that March is a distant memory, who would have ever believed we could go through the month with less than 5cm of snow and no major storms. Our last snowstorm was on February 22. Normally Montreal should receive over 35cm of snow for an average March.

Heavy Rain

The Red River in North Dakota continues to flood and has reached a record 42 feet at Fargo. More rain and snow will complicate the flood this week.

Two low pressure areas, one over the Great Lakes and the second developing over New England will control our weather today into Monday. Heavy rain already falling along the 401 corridor will move into southern Quebec this afternoon. The heaviest rain will occur north of Montreal, over 35mm there, this has prompted heavy rain warnings. South of that region in Montreal and across New England and eastern Ontario lesser amounts of 15-25mm will occur. The rain is needed as it has been a very dry month. At this time there are no concerns for flooding.

The balance of the week will remain unsettled with periods of rain and snow possible again by mid week.

Earth Hour Today

Participate in Earth Hour tonight at 8:30

Pleasant in the east

The ice is on the move on the St. Lawrence River. Outside my home today the river has been changing every hour. Some times it is filled with ice the next moment ice free. The Seaway has yet to open but signs of life were present today as a US Coast Guard boat moved west towards Ontario from Montreal (below). Some geese were actually along on an ice flow for the ride downstream at about 9am. The weather will remain fair and mild this weekend in our area with just a chance of showers Sunday.

Thankfully here in the east it appears flooding will not be an issue. It has been a very dry month in Ontario and Quebec and most of the snow is now gone. The same can’t be said for western North America. A stubborn storm track has been producing severe weather on a weekly basis in March. The most recent blizzard that affected the Dakotas and Manitoba has been replaced by another equally severe storm. Low pressure has moved form Colorado into the southern plains. Heavy snow and blizzard conditions are being reported from Colorado to northern Texas while south and east of there thunderstorms and tornadoes are occurring from Louisiana to Florida. This storm will be replaced by another on Sunday and yet another next week. As long as the storm track remain out west the weather will continue to be mild and dry here in Ontario and Quebec. Yesterday both Montreal and Ottawa recorded about 8mm of rain, only a drop in the bucket, and that was the single largest precipitation event for this month. So as you can see in stark contrast to last year it is very dry.

The severe flooding along the Red River in North Dakota has slowed slightly because of colder weather, but still remains serious. The river is expected to crest at 43 feet near Fargo this weekend. That would be the highest flood on record. Further downstream in Grand Forks and northward into Manitoba, they continue to prepare and hope for the best. The weather is not expected to cooperate with the chance for more significant precipitation across the watershed this weekend and into next week.

Floods, Blizzards and Tornadoes…ah Spring

A large swirling storm system in the central portion of North America is spinning north into western Ontario today. This storm has been responsible for heavy rain and snow across the Dakotas and Minnesota north into Manitoba. Some areas have received over 20 inches of snow. Strong winds have produced blowing and drifting snow along with zero visibility. East of the snow line it is heavy rain and lots of it on the already swollen Red River Valley. Thunderstorms and nearly a dozen tornadoes have also been reported along the trailing cold front. The storm will slide northward while the frontal system moves into Ontario and Quebec with rain on Thursday.

The Red River flows north from the Central plains into Manitoba. It is the dividing line along the North Dakota and Minnesota border. I had the advantage of crossing over the bridge you see in the photo above back in 1997. It was two months after this photo was taken. The 1997 flood broke records on both sides of the border for its depth, movement, extent and damage. When I travelled through Grand Forks, North Dakota in June 1997, there were still images of the devastation everywhere, including the building in the photo below.

There are indications that this years flood could be worse. Flood forecasters are expecting the river to reach almost 42 feet at Fargo this week. Yesterday volunteers packed hundreds of thousands of sandbags in an effort to save the town. Further north in Grand Forks where the photo was taken, they are preparing for the crest some time next week. All this water along with any new precipitation will flow north into Manitoba by early April. Civil Defence and Emergency officials are already preparing for what could be a record year. This story is just beginning and you will hear plenty about it over the next couple of weeks. For a complete history of Red River flooding and current updates check out the link below.

                    Current Red River Flood Information

If you slept a little late this Sunday morning then you missed our brief return to winter overnight. A frontal boundary slipped across the St. Lawrence Valley with several hours of snow showers in both Montreal and Kemptville. Some areas received as much as 1-2cm with roads becoming slick in places. It has since cleared and the spring sun is shining brightly again. It will be a colder 24 hours ahead of us then yesterday with temperatures struggling to reach 3C today and dropping off to as cold as -12 tonight.

Big changes are underway for Manitoba and Saskatchewan and this may, and I say may set the stage for a late winter storm here in the east towards the end of the month. Portions of Manitoba and the Dakotas are preparing for heavy snow and blizzard conditions by late Monday with wind and arctic cold in Saskatchewan. This will be thanks to low pressure moving from Colorado to northwest Ontario. Heavy rain and thunderstorms will change to snow by late Monday with conditions deteriorating quickly by days end. It will snow well into Tuesday with very strong winds and impossible travel conditions in that area.

Here in the east this week will be just as calm as last week with no major systems in sight.

Spring has sprung 7:44ET

March 20, 2009…from www.almanac.com

Vernal Equinox, 7:44 A.M. EDT

The word equinox is derived from the Latin words meaning "equal night." The vernal, or spring, equinox is the point at which the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator from south to north, signalling the beginning of nature's renewal in the Northern Hemisphere.

Spring has arrived, and whew we seem to have made it through another winter. It is a little cooler around most areas this morning with temperatures down around –8C. It will warm to the freezing point today, a little below normal for the first day of Spring. The weekend looks excellent with just a chance of a few widely scattered showers along a cold front overnight Saturday. Sunday is the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Montreal. A betting man would have expected snow on that day but not this year. It should be ideal but a little cool so dress well.

It has been an abnormally dry month across the region, and as the snow disappears and very little precipitation has fallen it appears most flood concerns have passed. It is so dry in some places that fire bans are in effect including St. Lawrence County in New York. The normal precipitation for Montreal for March is 77mm. So far this month we have only had 15mm with only 2.4cm of that being snow. This is such a different scenario than last March for certain.

Enjoy the weekend and be safe.

Showers

A very thin line of showers is draped along the St. Lawrence Valley this morning. Most of us will only see a few spotty showers otherwise it will be another very mild day. Yesterday was spectacular with the mercury climbing above 10C in areas close to cool water, like Montreal and Cornwall and approaching 15 to 20C in places like Kemptville, and Windsor. Today will be a little cooler with the cloud cover, but still mild near 12C for most areas. It will cool only slightly for Thursday and Friday before another nice weekend. There are no big storms or cold air in sight for Ontario or Quebec.

The photo above is of last nights sunset in Montreal. Unfortunately the beautiful sunset is caused by smog over the city. The picture below is the result of work crews spreading around the huge mounds of dirty snow in parking lots around the city. This helps the snow melt faster so they can begin sweeping.

Sunny and mild

Happy St Patty's Day

Spring is certainly making itself present on this St Patty's Day. It is sunny again and quite mild today with temperatures near 10C or 50F. Yesterday was mild in Kemptville at 7C but a northeast wind resulted in cooler temperatures for Montreal. It only reached 2C and the windchill was well below freezing most of the day. Today winds will be light and the sunshine will take hold and warm temperatures up very quickly. What little snow there is around continues to melt and the ice on the Seaway is breaking up as well.

There is officially only a trace of snow left on the ground at Dorval Airport which made me take a look at past March's to see where they compare. Last year, 2008, we still had mounds of snow left with over 40cm on the ground. That was nothing compared to 1971 when we had well over 100cm of snow remaining. March 71 was snowy, windy and cold the entire moth and Spring arrived late. On April 3 & 4, 1975 we had a massive snowstorm with winds of nearly 100km/h. The heavy wet snow and wind paralyzed the city for more than a day.

So as you can see, winter may not be finished with us just yet, but enjoy the nice weather.

Spring – one week early

Admit it, we deserve this. After what seemed like a cold, long, icy, snowy winter, we are enjoying a very spring like weekend, one week early. Spring does not arrive till early Friday morning, but you would not be able to tell that this weekend. After temperatures between plus 5 and 10C yesterday we are already at 7C today at 11am in Montreal and Kemptville. The sun is warm, what is left of the patches of snow is melting, and dare I say I even saw a bud or two on the trees and some green patches on the lawn. Enjoy the weather it will be mild all week.Above: A spectacular sunset along the Canadian border in Champlain, NY last evening. The smaller photo is buds on the trees along Lake Champlain in Plattsburg, NY.

Awesome Weekend

With just one week left in the winter of 2008/2009, this weekend is looking spectacular. It will not be as warm as first expected, but close to normal nonetheless. Normal for this time of year is around 2C. With those temperatures, and the warm March sunshine it should be ideal for any type of outdoor activity.

I always love how at this time of year spring comes first to the sunny side of the street. At my parents place in Lasalle, QC., their front yard gets the sun all day and has no snow left, just brown grass. The back yard - in the shade - has nearly 2 feet of snow in it. Can you say micro climate!

Be safe and enjoy the mild weekend. Travel in all areas of eastern Ontario, western Quebec and New England/New York should be great. Further south for spring breakers there could be some weather in the form of rain and freezing rain across the Tennessee Valley and the middle Atlantic region. Flying, no problem, driving you may encounter some icy roads midway through your trip to Florida or other points south.

Strong winds across region

High winds along a sharp cold front have been gusting over 70km/h across Ontario and Quebec today. Winds have been recorded at 93km/h in Kingston, 68km/h in Montreal and 82km/h in Toronto. The strong winds have cut power to over 10,000 homes serviced by Hydro One in Ontario. No data is available as usual from Hydro Quebec. Colder air is also moving into the region. Toronto was 8C this morning and dropped to –1C by 4pm. Montreal reached 10C at 2pm but it has since dropped to 6C.

The wind is also playing havoc with driving along highway 20 both in the southwest corner of the province near the Ontario border, and southeast of Montreal along the south shore. The SQ is advising large trucks to travel with great caution. Back in February during a similar storm 2 semis were blown off Highway 20 near St. Bruno.

Photos: Above A warning on the Champlain Bridge today. At left Hydro Quebec was kept busy with today's strong winds.

High Wind Warnings

Environment Canada has issued High Wind Warnings for all of the southern and eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. Winds are increasing this morning across the area in response to an advancing cold front. Look for the strongest winds to be along the St. Lawrence River Valley where they will gust over 90km/h. Most areas will see 50-70km/h winds. Winds this strong can cause damage and are dangerous on open highways. The rain associated with the system is falling now over the entire area, and it is heavy at times. It should taper off this afternoon and we may even see a glimpse of sun.

Northwest of the area of low pressure, on the cold side of the storm, blizzard conditions were reported across northwest Ontario, Minnesota and the Dakotas. Numerous highways had to be closed due to strong winds, deep snow and zero visibility, including Interstate's 29 and 94.

Left: Trying to keep the roads open in Fargo, North Dakota

Some flooding and windy

A strengthening Colorado Low is forecast to cross Lake Huron on Wednesday. Ahead of this storm warm moist air will spread into southern and eastern Ontario and southwest Quebec. Rain will begin overnight and persist most of Wednesday with temperatures approaching 10C. Look for 25-35mm along Lake Erie with lesser amounts in the order of 15mm further north and east. The rain, combined with melting snow and ice, will cause a rise in area rivers. Flood Watches have been posted for all of New York and Vermont. The rain will also be accompanied by some thunderstorms.

Winds are forecast to increase in all portions of Ontario and southern Quebec and gust from 30-50km/h tonight and overnight and increase out of the southwest 50-80km/h along the cold front later Wednesday. Winds this strong can cause damage and warnings may be required.

Further west heavy snow with blizzard conditions are forecast across the Dakotas and into Minnesota, Manitoba and northwest Ontario as a result of his same storm.

Winter returns for a day

Low pressure over the western Great Lakes is moving east across New York State tonight and Monday. The storm has already produced heavy rain in Windsor and Detroit with warnings in place there. The rain has caused flooding in spots. Nearly 50mm of rain has occurred with thunderstorms as well being reported. The precipitation is creeping into the GTA at this hour. In Eastern Ontario and Montreal it has been a spectacular day, plenty of sunshine and very mild spring like temperatures. All that will end overnight as the precipitation shield begins to edge towards Kemptville. Look for snow and sleet to begin overnight and taper to flurries Monday. Between 10-15cm may occur in Kemptville. Further southwest along the 401 from Brockville to Trenton freezing rain is expected and it may be quite steady in places. A Freezing Rain Warning is in effect for those regions.

Winter Weather Advisories are in place for New York State for the same  mixture of snow and freezing rain. Further north and east in Montreal and southern Quebec, we will remain on the extreme northern edge of the  precipitation. It may snow lightly in Montreal on Monday with gusty northeast winds, and much colder temperatures then today.

Photo: A sign of the seasons as weight restrictions on roads across Ontario and Quebec begin to take effect while the ground thaws. This was near South Mountain today.

Spring Forward

Move clocks ahead 1 hour at 2am

It is that time of year again, at least according to the calendar. Time to move the clocks forward one hour Sunday morning at 2am. Daylight Savings Time begins tonight. We will add an hour to our afternoons, and take it away from the morning. So look for it to be bright to end the weekend. The sad part is we give up an hour of sleep tonight.

The weather will be mild all weekend.  Yesterdays rain and snow has moved well east of the region. It was very mild on Friday, 10C in Kemptville, 8C in Montreal and a remarkable 17C in Toronto and 19C in Sarnia. Today is cooler but still well above freezing. Rain will begin later today across the region as low pressure nudges in from Illinois, and taper to flurries overnight. Sunday will be mild and partly sunny before another storm form the US Midwest moves into the area with rain and snow for Monday. That system may miss Montreal but Kemptville is expecting some snow. Stay tuned for more info on that later Sunday.

 

Thunderstorms in Montreal

A cold front associated with low pressure northeast of Montreal is triggering quite a few thunderstorms in southern Quebec this afternoon. Despite the fact that it did not reach 8C today as expected due to low clouds and precipitation, the air has become unstable enough to support thunderstorm activity. These storms should dissipate this evening as the skies clear and temperatures dip to near zero. Expect brief heavy downpours with any storms and some lightning.

Tomorrow should be fair before another low pressure area from Texas moves into the region late in the day with steady rain into Sunday. Some portions of Ontario and Quebec could see between 15-25mm of rain from late Saturday into Sunday.

Skies will clear late Sunday and it will turn colder as well.

Freezing Rain Warning

An area of freezing rain and snow associated with low pressure and a warm front over the Great Lakes will move across eastern Ontario and southern Quebec tonight. Expect 5cm of snow before a gradual changeover to freezing rain after midnight. The freezing rain may accumulate 2-5mm of ice before temperatures warm well above freezing. It will be warm on Friday, close to plus 8 in the afternoon which should melt any ice that falls.

Travel may be poor overnight especially in the Ottawa Valley and the St. Lawrence Valley from Cornwall northeast. The 416, 401, 417, 20 and 40 will be affected.

Milder weather on the way

It is funny how life can come full circle. I spent the overnight period today delivering Montreal Gazettes for a friend of mine. It is job I did as a teenager and well into my twenties. It was a chilly night but thankfully clear and dry. This was not the case 38 years ago today when one of Montreal’s most famous snowstorms hammered the region. I wrote about that in a post below. I am just going to mention a couple of quick details I came across. The lowest barometric pressure reported in Montreal was an unbelievable 97.29kPa. This is as strong as a hurricane. Peak wind gusts were well over 110km/h. Over 43cm of snow fell in 24 hours with storm totals over 50cm. Power was out in places for up to a week, and 20 people perished in the storm. Some roads were closed for two days under two  storey drifts. I remember it well…

Our weather today is much more tranquil, sunny and temperatures close to normal. Weak low pressure will move over the Great Lakes tonight with a warm front approaching the area on Thursday. We can expect some light snow or freezing rain in Kemptville and Montreal on Thursday afternoon. Any precipitation will change to rain on Friday as temperatures warm to well above freezing. Highs will be close to 8C on Friday.

 

Photos: Above right; a seasonal obstacle, fixing pot holes in north end Montreal. The above photo is Highway 15 south of Montreal yesterday. Despite the sunshine, blowing snow continued to be a problem from Mondays Nor'easter.

East Coast Storm

While March roared in like a lion from Washington to Halifax it was much more tame in Kemptville and Montreal. Heavy snow fell in many cities along the east coast with schools closed and hundreds of flights cancelled to and from the area. The snow was accompanied by very strong winds. Over 30cm fell in New York City and Boston with even more in interior portions of New Hampshire and Maine. The cut-off for the heavy snow was sharp and the snow made it into the far eastern suburbs of the south shore of Montreal but no further west. Only flurries and brisk north winds were reported in Montreal. The snow and blowing snow will continue tonight in the Townships and northern Vermont with 10-15cm by the end of the precipitation. Keep that in mind if your travels take you along Highway 10 or Interstates 89 and 91.

It will be breezy and cold elsewhere tonight with temperature close to minus 20C by sunrise in Ottawa, Kemptville and Montreal. Tuesday will be brisk and cold but sunny in most regions.

Montreal road crews in LaSalle were ready today for the snow but it never arrived in the city with just a few flurries.

Photo above: In Virginia and most of the east coast, they were not so lucky with 20-40cm of snow falling from South Carolina to Nova Scotia.

In like a lamb or lion

UPDATE: A major storm over the eastern seaboard will move from Hatteras, NC into the Maratimes by Monday night. Heavy snow and strong winds will affect the coast from the Carolina's northward into Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Heavy snow will fall as far west as the Champlain Valley of New York. In Ontario look for gusty winds and bitter cold, while in Montreal the cold will be accompanied by snow and blowing snow with 5cm in Montreal and up to 10cm along the US border.

"If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb."

Some weather sayings are from fact and others are handed down from years of stories and beliefs. This particular saying appears to be one of the latter, there is not much fact associated with the proverb. Yes, very often it is true, but that can be said about the entire month - variable. March is very much a transition month. We are moving our clocks ahead, the sun is getting warmer, and the days are getting much longer. However March is also the month of our biggest snowstorms, record breakers. This included the 43cm of snow that fell on Montreal in March 1971. The blizzard of 71 stands out among other storms for me because of its ferocity. It snowed heavily and the wind blew at 100km/h or more producing zero visibility for nearly 24 hours at Montreal. The barometric pressure was so low it resembled a category 2 hurricane. It was the event that started my interest in weather at a very young age. I was only 5 but remember the day very well as I sat in my window at 7241 LaSalle Blvd in Verdun watching the day unfold. The wind, the heavy snow and the huge drifts it was amazing. The photo to the left is of the 401 closed near Cornwall and littered with trucks during that storm. Below is a story on that day published last year in the Montreal Gazette.

Back in March of '71 ... Snowdrifts two storeys high and 43.2 cm in 24 hours left 17 people dead
ANNE SUTHERLAND
The Gazette

Thursday, March 06, 2008

The 316 centimetres of snow that have fallen on Montreal so far this season may seem unbeatable, but we had much worse 37 years ago. That was our snowiest season on record, with a total of 383 centimetres, a quarter of that falling in March. On Thursday, March 4, 1971, as Montrealers were distracted by the 43.2 centimetres of snow that fell in 24 hours, our famously eligible prime minister managed to fly off and get married in secret. Pierre Elliott Trudeau married Margaret Sinclair on March 4 in Vancouver, taking almost everyone but the 12 people in attendance by surprise. Back here, the massive snowfall - dubbed Montreal's Storm of the Century before being eclipsed by the 1998 Ice Storm - left snowdrifts two storeys high. Seventeen people died in the Montreal area, killed by heart attacks, asphyxiation and traffic accidents. Many of the deaths occurred in cars that were stuck in the massive snow dump. Eighty per cent of the highways on and off the island of Montreal were closed for at least a day.

Police commandeered snowmobiles from private citizens to get around. Banks were closed the Friday after the storm and, unusually, opened for three hours on Saturday to accommodate clients. Many businesses sent their employees home early on March 4 and didn't open the next day because of the difficulty in getting around. Getting home the night of the storm was a problem because commuter trains could not get through the deep drifts. Airline passengers were stranded at what was then Dorval International Airport. City buses were operating only on major arteries.

Downtown hotels, bars and restaurants were crowded with stranded workers and merrymakers. There was no home delivery of The Gazette on March 5 because of the road conditions. We apologized. Montrealers had little time to put down their shovels. We got another 17 centimetres of snow on March 7, 1971.

© The Gazette (Montreal) 2008