Wild spring weather contiues

Strong winds, rain and snow have made for a miserable holiday weekend in Manitoba. (CTV NEWS Manitoba)

May is often one of the most active weather months of the year as what is left of the winter cold in the Northern Hemisphere battles it out with the advancing warm and humid weather from the deep south. This weekend is a perfect example of that battle and the weather is distributes over North America as the atmosphere tries to balance itself. While southern Quebec is enjoying a peaceful, sun filled long holiday weekend with warm highs over 27C (80F) other portions of the country are not so lucky with wind, frost and even snow.

A strong low pressure area has been splitting the country in half as it moves from Colorado towards James Bay. To the west strong winds and heavy rain and wet snow have been reported from eastern Saskatchewan into northwest Ontario. Winnipeg is reporting snow this morning and a temperature of -1C (30F). Widespread frost was reported in Saskatchewan. Winds have been very strong across Manitoba, in excess of 80km/h with numerous reports of trees and power lines down. The same storm has a cold front trailing from it that will eventually cut through Montreal and the St. Lawrence Valley over the next 36 hours. That front produced lots of severe weather from Texas to the Dakotas on Saturday and again Sunday. Numerous tornadoes and large hail were reported with widespread damage. More strong thunderstorms  are forecast from the Great Lakes to the Midwest today.

A spectacular shot of a tornado near Elmer, Oklahoma on Saturday. Storm chasers caught the storm as it came dangerously close to a field of cows. No injuries were reported despite major damage in Oklahoma. (TVN Weather.com)

THUNDERSTORMS & COOLER
Montreal will remain between the Colorado low and a cool marine air mass just to our east on this Victoria Day Monday. We can expect a sunny and warm day with temperatures as warm as 30C (86F) in the southwest St. Lawrence Valley. Highs will be much cooler as you head east and southeast. Tonight the first of two cold fronts will produce showers and thunderstorms with a mild, humid low around 18C (65F). On Tuesday more showers and thunderstorms are forecast as a second cold front moves across Ontario and Quebec. The high Tuesday will be 24C (76F). The balance of the week will see clearing skies but much cooler with daytime highs below normal, only near 17C (63F). Temperatures will begin to warm once again by next weekend.

A mixed bag of weather for Victoria Day weekend

Gusty thunderstorms on Tuesday produced localized heavy rain (10-20mm) and even small hail as they swept across southern Quebec around 1pm. Winds gusted over 75km/h in Montreal. This storm was moving through St.Laurent (ValeyWX Photo)

After a windy and chilly Wednesday that saw below normal high temperatures of only 15 to 17C (59 to 63F) in southern Quebec, we can expect a much warmer Thursday. High pressure will dominate the weather in southern Quebec through late Friday. It was a chilly start to the day this morning with lows down to 3.8C (38F) here on L'Ile Perrot. A frost advisory was in effect for the St. Lawrence Valley of New York, as well as portions of the Adirondacks, Green Mountains and also eastern Ontario, but there was no frost here at my home on L'Ile Perrot.

The upcoming Victoria Day long weekend is looking just ok. A warm front will produce some showers late Friday into Saturday. Most of Saturday will turn out dry but with plenty of cloud cover. By Sunday warmer and dryer air will be in place. High temperatures will range from 19 to 23C  (66 to 73F) through the remainder of the week. By Sunday we may nudge the temperature up to 24 or 25C (76 to 77F). At this time holiday Monday looks decent, but a rather vigorous cold front will produce showers and perhaps a thunderstorm by late in the day and into the overnight period.

Thunderstorms, snowstorms & tropical storms

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there!

Thunderstorms develop over L'Ile Perrot on Saturday, May 9, in the first warm and humid air of the season. (ValleyWX Photo)

We have a very active weather day across North America this Sunday as a strong spring storm moves across the central plains of the US. To the east, warm and humid air is firing up thunderstorms from Texas to the Great Lakes, Ontario and southern Quebec. A dangerous outbreak of severe weather with tornadoes is occurring from Texas into parts of Iowa today. Meanwhile to the west, heavy wet snow and strong winds with blizzard conditions are affecting the Dakotas. Travel is not advised in western South Dakota this morning.

Montreal remains on the northern edge of the warm and humid air. We managed to reach 28C (83F) on Saturday before scattered thunderstorms swept the region. As is the fickle nature of thunderstorms, I measured only 0.4mm of rain Saturday on L'Ile Perrot, while Trudeau Airport had 9.8mm. Some areas of the city and Laval has even more as the storms were much stronger in those locations. More storms can be expected today as a frontal system sags south into southern Quebec. Today will be the last really warm day for a week or so as we hit 25C (77F). Cooler air and rain will move in overnight with a raw, chilly and rainy Monday expected with highs only near 10C (50F). On Tuesday more showers and thunderstorms are forecast along a warm front with a high of 23C (73F). Things should clear out by Wednesday.

MAY? A South Dakota DOT camera shows the heavy snow and strong winds over the western Dakotas this morning. Travel is not advised in heavy snow and 50mph winds.

The warmth this week was very sudden and confined mostly to eastern Ontario and southern Quebec as we had some of the warmest temperatures in Canada. On Friday, Montreal recorded a record high of  28.8C (the previous record was 28.7 in 2013), Sherbrooke 28.4C (27.2 in 2007), and St Anicet a scorching 31.2C (29.8 in 2013).

As if all this weather was not enough, an early season tropical storm developed off the South Carolina coast this week and moved into Myrtle Beach early this morning. Tropical storm Ana has 60mph winds as well as 2-4 inches of rainfall to the east of her track. Heavy surf is pounding the North and South Carolina coast this morning as the storm slowly weakens and drifts inland today.

Crazy spring - warm for some and snow for others

Another May snowstorm for Edmonton. (Edmonton Journal)

While Montreal and most of eastern Canada finally bask in some spring and summer warmth, it was a far different story across central and northern Alberta. Heavy wet snow fell in Edmonton with as much as 20cm reported. The snow will not last very long as warmer weather is forecast by this weekend. Meanwhile the warm weather continues in Quebec. Strong high pressure will produce sunshine through Friday as it slides southeast of the region. Temperatures are forecast to reach 28 to 30C today and Friday. By the weekend more humid air will arrive as a frontal system moves east from the Great Lakes. It will remain warm and become increasingly muggy with showers and thunderstorms expected through the weekend. Cooler air will arrive next week along with showers. Conditions remain very dry across the entire area with burn bans in effect for Quebec, New York and Vermont. No outdoor burning should be done anywhere in the region as the fire risk remains extreme. Several active fires are burning in Quebec and New York.

The amazing WC-130J Hurricane Hunter aircraft on display in Halifax last weekend. (Kalin Mitchell/CBC)

 Tropical Update
The first tropical system of the season is becoming better organized off the southeast US coast. A United States Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to fly into the system later today, so we should know more on the strength of the low pressure soon. If this storm develops further (winds in excess of 39mph) it would be named Ana. Right now it looks like a rainy and windy weekend for the North and South Carolina coastlines.

Speaking of the Hurricane Hunters they are in the middle of their east coast tour visiting several communities which this year included Halifax, Nova Scotia. The goal is to show the public exactly what they do to help with the all important hurricane forecasts as well as to raise awareness of the risks from these storms. On Saturday, May 2, two aircraft including the mighty WC-130J Hurricane Hunter were at Stanfield International Airport in Halifax. Also on hand were officials from both The US National Hurricane Center and The Canadian Hurricane Center. Over 1100 people stopped by for the open house. I wished so much that I could have attended, but sadly it was not a possibility.

A surge in forest fires across Quebec

A dry spring in many portions of central and western Quebec has lead to a rapid increase in forest fires. A burn ban remains in effect across the provinces forests. (CBC)

A cold and very dry winter in southwestern Quebec and the rapid onset of warm weather has lead to an increase in forest and brush fires across the entire region. On Monday strong southwest winds gusted close to 80km/h in The St. Lawrence and Richelieu Valley's. The winds combined with very low relative humidity readings, and in many cases human error,  helped produce dozens of brush fires from eastern Ontario into upstate New York and Vermont. Most of the fires were contained thanks to the great work by local firefighters, and damage was limited. The strong winds also toppled some trees in and around Montreal.

The fire threat has been lowered in Quebec today from extreme to very high by SOPFEU. It is expected to remain that way for the balance of this week. An outdoor burning ban remains in effect in all Quebec forests province wide. As of this morning 36 active fires were reported in the province, with a total of 114 so far in 2015. The total land area affected is in excess of 140 hectares (350 acres). Those numbers represent a significant increase from the 10 year average of 84 fires and 72 hectares. A burn ban is also in effect in the entire City of Ottawa.

WARM Weather
On Monday, temperatures soared to 28C (83F) in Montreal, well above the normal of 17C (63F) but short of the record set in 1944 of 30C (86F). Record high temperatures were set in St Anicet at 28C as well as St Hubert. A weak cold front produced about 2mm of rain overnight in Montreal but sunshine has returned today. It will remain sunny for the balance of the work week, with warm highs in the 20's and lows near 12C. By Friday we may even flirt with 30C in Montreal. This means the fire risk will remain very high and no outdoor burning is advised anywhere in the region, including Quebec, Ontario and New England.

Meanwhile the tropics are showing some signs of life with perhaps a system developing off the Florida coast by the end of the week. It is early in the season, but not unheard of for such a storm to develop. If it does it would be Ana, but at this time it has a less than 40% chance of happening.

Warmest day of 2015 for Ontario & Quebec

(Video from Steve Goyet, TWN & Youtube)

Forget about spring, summer is here. The warmest weather so far in 2015 will surge into Montreal today on gusty southwest winds. Sunshine with a high near 27C (81F) is forecast. Clouds will increase tonight as a cold front approaches the region. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible tonight with a low of 15C (59F). The balance of the week looks fair and warm.

It was a spectacular sunny and warm weekend in Montreal with highs around 26C (79F) both days. The warm and dry weather over the weekend produced numerous dust devils especially Saturday. I witnessed a small one on L'Ile Perrot on Sunday. These tight, rotating columns of air are short lived but can generate winds in excess of 80km/h picking up dust and debris. One whipped up near Lanoraie, northeast of Montreal on Saturday and was captured by Steve Goyet (above).

Today's sunshine and low relative humidity along with southwest winds up to 60km/h will produce ideal weather for brush fires. There are lots of dead leaves and other dry vegetation available as fuels and therefore a special weather statement for an elevated fire risk has been posted. It is in effect for most of the northeast US and New England. While we have no such weather warnings in eastern Ontario or southern Quebec, the exact same conditions prevail. SOPFEU, who monitors forest fires in Quebec has posted a moderate to extreme fire risk for southern Quebec. All outdoor burning should be avoided today.

For more info on dust devils click HERE.

Risk of dust devils today for southern Quebec

 

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT has been issued from Environment Canada for the possibility of dust devils in southern Quebec today.

What? Yes you read it right, dust devils. It sounds more like a minor league baseball team as opposed to a weather term, but it is. Late last April I was working outside raking leaves when a rapidly rotating column of dirt and debris went down the street adjacent to my home. It was very visible and  moved quickly with a swoosh, swaying the trees and blasting the street surface with dust and dirt left over from the winter. This was basically a dust devil or thermal. They are rather harmless, but can, in the right conditions, blow over items such as awnings, umbrellas or tents. These rotating columns of air are typically small in nature, no more than 10 to 50 feet wide. They occur just about anywhere but are very common in the southwestern US and desert locations.

From WeatherStreet.com

They do occur in Montreal, particularly during the spring months. Typically they occur on days like today, strong sunshine, warm and dry. The sun rapidly warms the surface of the earth which causes rolls of air to be displaced. These parcels often get tilted and rotate away. At this time of year there is so much dust and dirt lying around from the winter that is is picked up by the column of air making it visible. They typically last seconds, blowing themselves out. The can reach up to 30 metres (100 feet) in the air and produce winds in excess of 80km/h.

You can read the official statement from Environment Canada HERE.

Other than that, enjoy the sunny, warm weekend as temperatures finally act like May. Highs in southern Quebec will be 22 to 24C (72 to 76F) this weekend with lows of 8 to 10C (48 to 50F). Enjoy!

A look back at April & ahead to May for Montreal

A large upper level low continues to produce clouds and cool weather for most of Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The dividing line seems to be Montreal.

April is just about in the record books from a weather standpoint. It was not that great a month with plenty of cloud cover and a persistent northeast flow of damp, chilly air. Two weeks worth of an upper level low pressure area did not help the numbers at all. That system continues to produce clouds and cool weather across Atlantic Canada today with the clouds drifting southwest into southern Quebec. The satellite image above displays this well with heavy clouds north and east of Montreal and partial sunshine in Ontario and northern New York. While Montreal managed 16C (61F) today it is only 5C (41F) in Halifax and 2C (36F) in Charlottetown.

APRIL IN MONTREAL
The average April temperature at Trudeau Airport through Wednesday sits at 6.1C (43F), just a few tenths of a degree below the normal of 6.4C (43.5). The average high was 11C (52F), the normal is 11.6C (53F). The average low was 1.1C (34F) very close to the normal of 1.2C. The lack of sunshine and persistent gusty winds made the month feel much colder. The extreme temperatures were -6.7C (20F) and 22C (72F). As I write this blog, most of the trees and shrubs are still struggling to bud from the lack of sunshine and real warmth. From a precipitation standpoint, rainfall was slightly above normal at 70.4mm, (normal 67.7mm), and snowfall slightly below normal at 8.2cm, (the normal is 12.9cm). The peak wind gust was 76km/h.

A warmer westerly flow should develop this weekend in southern Quebec along with more sunshine. Temperatures are forecast to reach the upper teens Saturday and low 20's Sunday. By early next week Montreal may see temperatures approach 24C (75F). The start of May is looking decent so far with warmer temperatures the rule rather than the exception. Some computer models are hinting at a potential coastal system developing next week and affecting New England, perhaps spilling into eastern Canada, but that is still several days out, stay tuned. For now enjoy the sunshine and warmth this weekend.

Finally a little sunshine for southern Quebec

It occurred to me this morning as I was walking my dog, that I have had gloves and a winter coat on for the past six months. Nobody should have to wear gloves for 6 months of the year! What a miserable weather week we have had across eastern Ontario and Quebec. Stubborn low pressure over Maine refuses to budge blocking the weather patterns right across eastern North America. Montreal has had an entire week of below normal temperatures and cloud cover. Any precipitation has been rather light including the showers that are around southern Quebec this morning.

There is a hint of hope in the forecast as weak high pressure will attempt to move into the region as the upper level low over Maine fills and weakens. It will be a slow process and with lots of moisture around clouds will remain frequent into mid week. The good news is any sunshine will warm temperatures into the middle teens. We witnessed this on the weekend, as it did not take much sunshine to squeeze out 15C (59F) on Saturday in downtown Montreal. Trudeau Airport managed 12C (54F) both days, and that is the forecast high for Monday as well. Showers are expected most of the day today with perhaps some clearing tonight. By Tuesday looks for more sunshine than clouds and a warmer high near 16C (60F). Looking ahead we see some warmer temperatures by next weekend with perhaps a 21C (70F) high in our near future.

Winter returned to portions of central Saskatchewan this weekend.
(Photo courtesy Scott Goodwill/CBC)

The weekend weather was a little wild in other parts of North America. Heavy snow fell across central Saskatchewan with 10-20cm from Saskatoon north to Prince Albert. The storm caught many by surprise as it had been rather warm lately. The warmth will return this week with highs in the 20's forecast. Meanwhile strong thunderstorms produced flooding, hail and tornadoes from east Texas into the Florida panhandle. Widespread damage was reported with more storms forecast today.

Damage is complete across parts of Nepal, and the death toll is rising after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake on Saturday.

NEPAL EARTHQUAKE
As I am writing my blog this morning, the death toll in the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal, has surpassed 3000. Catastrophic damage, loss of life and injuries have been reported. Relief efforts are underway but being hampered by bad weather, loss of infrastructure including power and a heavily crowded and damaged airport in the capital Kathmandu. Canada has dispatched D.A.R.T. our emergency rapid response team as well as pledged an initial $5 million dollars in financial support. The need is great, if you can help visit the Canadian Red Cross Nepal Page.

Below normal temperatures expected for Montreal

A very slow moving area of low pressure centered over Ontario will drift southeast into Maine by the weekend. Cloudy, cool weather with periods of rain and even wet snow is possible into the weekend for Montreal and southern Quebec. (AccuWeather Image)

The stubborn, vertically stacked low pressure over the Great Lakes continues to slowly move east from Ontario into Quebec. This low has been responsible for a cold, moist dome of air over the region stretching from the upper Midwest into Quebec and east to New England and Atlantic Canada. The result has been temperatures 5 to 10 degrees below normal as well as periodic showers and even wet snow. On Wednesday, more heavy showers with even small hail occurred across metro Montreal bringing the three day rain total at my home on L'Ile Perrot up to 36.8mm.

Light rain is falling again this morning with a very cold late April temperature of 1C (34F). Gusty northwest winds of 30-50km/h will make it feel even colder today. Light wet snow is being reported across several portions of eastern Ontario and northern New York this morning, so it would not surprise me one bit if we saw a snowflake or two today and tonight. Temperatures today will reach 7C (45F) in the showers. Tonight, more of the same, rain and snow showers and a low of 0C (32F). Sadly Friday through the weekend looks identical, perhaps a few more breaks of sunshine by Sunday. Temperatures will remain below normal with lows of 0 to 3C (32 to 38F) and daytime highs of 8 to 12C (47 to 54F).

Slow start to shipping season on the St. Lawrence Seaway

The bulk carrier Juno ran aground on the US side of the St. Lawrence Seaway near the Thousand Islands Bridge and Alexandria, New York on Monday. Officials will try to free the ship today. In the meantime Seaway traffic has been stopped. (USCG Photo)

Another large freighter has run aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway system, this one near the Thousands Islands International Bridge at Ivy Lea, Ontario. The ship is actually on the US (New York) side of the river just feet from the shoreline and several homes. Unlike the incident near Montreal at the start of April, this one seems to be mechanical in nature and not weather related. The 190 metre (620 foot) long Juno is flagged under Barbados and was hauling sugar to Toronto when it struck the shore around 1:00 am Monday morning. Thankfully no injuries were reported but there is damage to the ship as she hit land hard. The US Coast Guard and several tugs will attempt to free the boat today. In the meantime ship traffic has come to a halt along the Seaway.

Soggy Weather
Just remember, April showers do bring May flowers, and we do need the rain. It has been a soggy start to the week with about 13mm of rain on Monday and another 14mm of rain overnight. It rained heavy at times on L'Ile Perrot in the wee hours this morning. There was even some lightning and thunder not too far south of Montreal along the New York border. Light rain will taper off by noon with even some partial sunshine this afternoon. Any sun will help the temperature warm to around 14C (56F). It will likely be the best day of the week as a stubborn, slow moving area of low pressure drifts from the northern Great Lakes across southern Quebec. The system will produce clouds and scattered rain and snow showers across the entire region into the upcoming weekend. It will trend a little cooler with highs near 9C (49F) and lows near 5C (41F) into the weekend. It won't be a complete washout but the weather will be less than ideal. Sunshine will finally return in full force by next Monday.

Rainy & cool week ahead

Showers on Saturday left us with this perfect rainbow late in the day on L'Ile Perrot. Sunday featured a deep blue sky and mild weather, but it will be awhile before we see the sun again. (ValleyWX)

A very slow moving low pressure area developing across the northern Great Lakes will shift east into southern Quebec by the end of this week. Deep tropical moisture is streaming northward into the system from the Gulf of Mexico. The result will be a wet and windy week for many of us. Rain will develop early this morning in the St. Lawrence Valley and spread north and east. The rain may be heavy at times with a general 15-25mm (1 inch) forecast by Tuesday afternoon. Higher amounts are forecast across the lower Laurentians, up to 50mm (2 inches), a warning is in effect for that area. Temperatures will remain relatively steady at 9C (49F) in metro Montreal. Winds will also increase out of the northeast and reach speeds of 50km/h later today. Wind gusts are expected to reach up to 90km/h (50mph) over the higher elevations of the Green Mountain and Adirondacks. Wind advisories have been posted in those regions.

The cloudy, cool and wet weather will linger through most of this week with high temperatures no better than 10 or 12C (50 to 54F). Overnight lows will be around 4C (39F) in Montreal. The unstable, cool weather will result in cloudy skies lingering into the later portion of the week and perhaps even next weekend with scattered showers and even a rumble of thunder in Montreal. There is also the possibility of a snow shower across the higher elevations north and south of the city.

Cooler wet weather on the way for Ontario & Quebec

This is what is left of winter 2014/2015 in many parts of the city of Montreal. It amazes me every spring just how much people litter in the winter. Do they not think it will surface in the spring? I keep a a bag in my car, it takes a few seconds for each of us to put garbage where is belongs and avoid this mess each year. The highways are lined with it, especially near shopping malls.(ValleyWX)

The weather will be spectacular today with sunshine and warm high temperatures up to 17C (63F) in Montreal. L'Ile Perrot is currently -2C (28F) as we continue with the wild diurnal temperature swings. This is common in spring, but the difference from high to low this past Monday was truly amazing. The overnight low at my home was -0.4C (31F) reached around 6am. By 3pm in the afternoon the temperature had warmed all the way up to 25.6C (79F) here on L'Ile Perrot. You can do the math on that one, a remarkable warm-up in such a short period of time.

Not much snow left on the ground on a 26C April day in Montreal.

High pressure that has been in control of the weather for most of this week will slide off the east coast today with a warming southerly flow. A frontal boundary will arrive overnight with showers into Friday before some clearing late in the day. On Saturday more showers are possible as another weak disturbance moves across southern Quebec. The mild temperatures of this week will begin to cool by the weekend with an extended period of below normal weather expected next week. High temperatures will range from 10 to 12C (50 to 55F) with lows of 4 to 6C (40 to 43F) into next week. In addition to the cooler weather, there will be frequent periods of rain next week with perhaps some significant amounts.

The warmest weather of 2015 so far for Montreal

Warm air will stream northward from the southern US today giving Montreal its warmest day so far in 2015

After a spectacular Sunday across southern Quebec, we can expect the warmest day of 2015 so far in Montreal today. The last of the snow melted away from my backyard on Saturday about 48 hours ahead of 2014, only patches remain in the rest of my neighborhood. The temperature manged to reach 17C (63F) on Sunday, the mildest it has been in Montreal since back in November. Warm southerly winds today ahead of a cold front will help to increases temperatures rapidly to highs of 22C (72F) in Montreal. We are currently 0C (32F) on L'Ile Perrot, so that will be quite the climb today. Expect abundant sunshine but with increasing high clouds late in the day and very windy conditions developing, especially in the St. Lawrence Valley. Winds will increase out of the southwest up to 70km/h in Montreal by early evening.

The thickening clouds are in response to a cold front crossing the region late this evening. Some showers and perhaps a rumble of thunder are possible before skies begin to clear overnight. The low tonight will remain very mild near 10C (50F). The high temperature on Tuesday, with returning sunshine by afternoon, will be near 16C (60F). The balance of the week looks decent with mild temperatures and sunshine through Thursday. A frontal system will bring a return to clouds and showers by Friday, but temperatures will remain above the normal high of 11C (52F) through the period. I will stick to my prediction made last week that we have seen the last of the accumulating snow for 2015, my snow tires are coming off Wednesday.

Much warmer weather on the way for Montreal

The snow that fell overnight in southern Quebec may be the last of the season. (ValleyWX)

The snow that fell here on L'Ile Perrot overnight may well have been the last of the season. That meandering front that has been with us all week will move north today as a strong warm front. Low pressure developing over Colorado will move northeast across the Great Lakes and north of Montreal. We can expect some sunshine early today through increasing clouds. Overnight expect rain to develop, which could be heavy at times. There may even be a rumble of thunder, a sure sigh of Spring! Temperatures will warm to 9C (49F) today and drop to 4C (39F) overnight. On Friday expect more rain and very windy but with mild temperatures near 14C (56F). Winds may gust in excess of 70km/h in the afternoon. The weekend at this time looks sunny with warming temperatures. The high Saturday will be 8C (48F) and Sunday 13C (55F). Peeking into Monday, more sunshine with a very pleasant high of 18C (65F). I can finally say goodbye to the remaining snow on my lawn!

The system bringing us the rain tonight has prompted a wide area of warnings from southern Ontario into western Quebec. Heavy rain is expected with perhaps as much as 50mm (2 inches) later today into Friday. The rain, along with melting snow and ice, may create some flooding problems in some localities. In addition to the rain, heavy wet snow and perhaps freezing rain is possible in northeast Quebec and northern New Brunswick. A winter storm watch is in effect for the regions north and east of the Saquenay region. 

In the central US the problem will be severe weather. Strong thunderstorms are likely from Oklahoma into Missouri and Illinois with the potential for large hail and isolated tornadoes. Thunderstorms are possible across a wide swath of the eastern US into southern Ontario today.

Spring weather on the horizon for Montreal

The newly constructed bulk carrier CWB Marquis was the first ship into the St. Lawrence Seaway system for 2015 on April 2. Unfortunately she ran aground due to ice just a few hours later near Beauharnois.

We are finally seeing in our future a marked pattern shift in the weather for Eastern Canada. As we all know, 2015 has seen one of the coldest starts to any year for many locations. The warmest temperature so far in 2015 at Trudeau Airport in Montreal has only been 12.8C (53F), recorded this past Friday. Of course that was followed just a few hours later by 5-10cm of snow across southern Quebec. Easter was windy and very cold, only reaching plus 1C (34F) in Montreal, well below the normal high of 9C (48F). Monday and the start of this week will be no better as we remain along a stalled frontal boundary separating much milder air to the south with the cold air damning over the St. Lawrence Valley and points north. It could have been much worse this weekend with very heavy snow, strong winds and bitter cold temperatures for April occurring over portions of northern Maine, Eastern Quebec and New Brunswick.

The bad news for Montreal is we are looking at an unsettled week as that front meanders back and forth across the valley. Temperatures will remain below normal with a mix of wet snow and rain at times. There will only be a little sunshine. The good news is that we see a major shift in the pattern allowing warmer more spring like weather to arrive by next Sunday. We should see lots of melting and the warmest temperatures of 2015 by Sunday into Monday next week Highs will reach 15C by next weekend.

57th ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY SEASON
The St. Lawrence Seaway opened to shipping last Thursday, April 2nd, about two weeks later than normal and the latest since 1997. As with the 2014 season, thick ice had delayed the opening and is currently causing further navigation problems. The Canadian Coast Guard is using no less than 5 ice breakers to try to clear the seaway of ice. It was not the best of openings as the first ship through the locks in St. Lambert only made it about 35km southwest of Montreal before an ice flow caused the ship to run aground early Friday. The newly built Canadian bulk carrier CWB Marquis encountered the ice near Beauharnois, Quebec, not far from my backyard here on L'Ile Perrot. Two tugs set the ship free several hours later after the Transportation Safety Board of Canada gave the all clear. The ice, more than three feet thick in places, is still breaking up on the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes. Large ice flows will continue to be problematic for several more days at the very least.

Spring to Winter in 12 hours

Snow blankets L'Ile Perrot this morning bringing a halt to our one day taste of Spring. (ValleyWX Photo)

It really did feel like spring Friday afternoon. I managed a long walk with Bella my 20 pound Terrier, with my jacket wide open, no gloves, no hat, Spring! The temperature, 13C (55F) at 4pm, snow melting, it was beautiful in the bright sunshine. This morning, not so much. The temperature has managed to slide a full 17 degrees to -4C (25F). The rain changed to snow around 3am and has accumulated 5-10cm across southern Quebec. Winds increased as well up to 40km/h making it feel much colder and actually blowing the snow around. It is just plain nasty out there with snow covered icy roads. There have been several accidents overnight and early this morning including one that has Highway 640 closed north of Montreal.

The snow should taper off by noon with clearing skies, but windy and chilly with a high just above freezing near 2C (36F). Overnight will partly cloudy with flurries and cold with and Easter morning low of -8C (18F). It will be a sunny and cold Easter with a high of only 1C (34F).

This same storm system has been responsible for major flooding across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys as well as tornadoes and hail. It has also produced heavy snow across the Eastern Townships of Quebec into northern New England and Atlantic Canada.

Snow for Easter Weekend

Special Weather Statement for snow for southern Quebec.
Winter Weather Advisory for snow: Adirondacks, Northeast Vermont.

The seasons will do battle this weekend as is typical in the volatile season of spring. There is plenty of energy available in the atmosphere from April through June, that is why we have so much severe weather in the central and southern plains of the US. Cold air remains in control of portions of central and far northern Canada while warm and humid air has started streaming northward form the Gulf of Mexico. This scenario will be all too clear in Montreal over the next 24 hours. We start this morning very mild at plus 6C (43F) with the prospect of our warmest day since early November. With some sunshine through thickening clouds we may reach 14C (56F) in Montreal and Ottawa.

A strong cold front will move across the region late this evening stalling to our south separating the warm air from unseasonably cold air that will become our reality for this weekend. The temperature will crash from today's warm highs down to -3C (27F) overnight. Low pressure will develop and move along the front with rain developing this evening and changing to snow overnight in Montreal. Wet snow is likely Saturday with a cold high of only 2C (36F). The heaviest snow will fall south and east of Montreal with 10-15cm in Sherbrooke and northeast Vermont. From Montreal east to Quebec City we can expect 5-10cm with 2-4cm for the Ottawa Valley and eastern Ontario. The snow will taper off Saturday but it will be a raw and chilly day. Temperatures will be cold Saturday night with lows of -7C (19F). Easter Sunday will be partly sunny and cold with a high of only 2C (36F).

Looking ahead to next week, it remains unsettled and cold for early April with the chance for more snow. The good news is we see some above normal temperatures finally by the middle of this month so don`t loose hope.

April Fools forecast - Easter snowstorm?

We just can't shake the winter blues. The snow is melting, ever so slowly. The average temperatures are creeping up, ever so slowly, and lastly the sunshine is growing stronger. But that nasty morning chill just won't leave us. On Wednesday morning we managed a low of -10.6C (13F) here on L'Ile Perrot, well below the normal of -2C (28F). If we manage to squeeze out a plus 2 or 3C (36 to 38F) today for a high it will still be below the normal of 7C (45F). Such has been the case through the early portion of Spring 2015 in Montreal. High pressure will dominate today before the weather becomes very active Thursday and into the Easter holiday weekend.

SNOWSTORM?
A warm front will advance into southern Ontario and Quebec on Thursday into Friday with a period of light rain or even some spotty freezing rain followed by showers and very mild temperatures on Friday. We may see double digit highs on Friday of 10 to 14C (50 to 56F) across eastern Ontario and Quebec. Friday night a strong cold front will sweep the St. Lawrence Valley with rapidly dropping temperatures down to -4C (25F) by Saturday morning. At the same time low pressure will develop and move along that front south of Montreal spreading snow into the region. So after a warm high of 12 or 14 on Friday the temperature will plunge to well below freezing. At this time Saturday looks windy and cold with a high of only -3C (27F) and snow. Early estimates are for 5-10cm for southern Quebec but that amount could change either way depending on the eventual development and track of storm system.

Slow start to spring in Montreal & southern Quebec

Despite the calender saying spring, more snow fell in Montreal on Monday morning. It just won't warm up this year, leaving us still with piles of dirty snow and ice. (ValleyWX)

 If you think it has been a rather sluggish start to the spring season this year in Montreal, you would be right. Through March 29th, the average temperature at Trudeau Airport has been -5.1C (22F), the normal should be -2C (29F). Our average overnight low has been -10.1C (14F), very cold as compared to the normal low of -6.5C (20F). We have had 15 daily highs remain below the freezing point and 12 overnight lows dropped below -10C (14F) including several days below -20C (-4C). The one high note has been the lack of any major snowstorms, a trend that was established early on in 2015. As I'm writing, Montreal has had close to 30cm of snow for the month, below the normal of 36.2cm. Officially as of this past Sunday there is no snow left on the ground at Trudeau Airport, normally there should be 3-8cm. But unofficially most neighborhoods, especially off island, still have piles of dirty snow around.

So what does the immediate future hold? With the exception of this coming Friday, when we could see a high of plus 10C (50F), it looks like temperatures will remain at or below normal. We have some cold nights ahead of us including tonight when the low should be -7C (19F) with gusty northwest winds to 50km/h. Another round of snow or flurries occurred this morning and we can expect another chance for snow by Saturday. In between, high pressure will build into southern Quebec for a couple of sunny days Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures will try to warm up but remain colder that we want for early April heading into Easter weekend.

Earth Hour 2015 - quiet weather weekend

The 2015 edition of Earth Hour is upon us this Saturday, March 28th. The event, organized by the World Wildlife Federation, was first held as a "lights off" event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since then Earth Hour has grown to include over 7000 towns and cities around the world including many in southern Quebec. The idea behind the event is to raise awareness to the fragility of the planet. For one hour between 8:30 and 9:30pm local time where you live, you are asked to turn off all non-essential lights as a symbol of your commitment to the planet. Outside of the 1 hour, there are many more ways you can help all year long. For more information visit www.earthhour.org. Earth Hour is held in late March to coincide with the changing of the seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Weekend Weather
The forecast for the upcoming few days in Montreal looks rather tranquil. Clouds and flurries today will linger into the overnight across southern Quebec with perhaps a dusting to 1cm in places. Temperatures will remain below normal for the weekend with highs at the freezing point Saturday, and cold overnight lows around -10C (14F). On Sunday high pressure will briefly clear skies out for a sunny day with the mercury responding and reaching 4C (39F). By Monday another cold front and weak area of low pressure will produce showers or flurries with a high of 7C (45F).

Tornado on March 25, west of Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Twitter Photo @TwistedSkyMedia)

Tornadoes
March had been a record quiet month for severe weather across the US. As a matter of fact the extreme cold this winter had limited severe thunderstorm development this year with no tornado fatalities reported through March 25. That all changed Thursday as several storms swept across the southern plains including Oklahoma with large hail, strong winds and tornadoes. Once again Moore, Oklahoma was hard hit with widespread damage in several neighborhoods. Two fatalities were reported in Oklahoma with the Moore tornado estimated to be an EF-2 by the National Weather Service.

Spring warmth & rain for a day

More cold air will surge into eastern North America this weekend. This pattern has been all too familiar to residents since early January. (AccuWeather)

We finally managed to climb up to the freezing point Tuesday afternoon in Montreal. With bright sunshine, it felt very nice outdoors. The wind finally diminished after another breezy and cold start to the day. Low temperatures around the region Tuesday morning ranged form -13C (9F) at Trudeau Airport to as cold as -21C (-6F) in St Jovite and Sherbrooke.

Tonight will be much milder with southwest winds beginning to increase as high pressure moves east of the region. On Wednesday clouds will increase from the west as low pressure and a warm front move from southern Ontario into southern Quebec. Light rain will develop during the day in Ontario and spread into Montreal by late evening. Freezing rain is possible in portions of southwest Ontario early Wednesday morning, warnings are in place there. Some mixed snow is possible well north of Montreal but it should be above freezing in the city by the time the precipitation arrives. The mild southwest winds will help the temperature to rise to plus 6C (43F) on Wednesday in Montreal, and 8C (47F) on Thursday. Temperatures will remain above the freezing point Wednesday night in southern Quebec keeping any precipitation in the liquid form.

On Thursday a trough associated with this low as well as a strong cold front will move across southern Quebec with rain falling most of the day. A decent soaking is likely in Montreal with perhaps as much as 15mm. It will turn much colder Thursday night into Friday, with some mixed wet snow and rain showers possible. Temperatures will fall through the day Friday from plus 1C (34F) down to -11C (12F) by Saturday morning. It will be similar to last weekend with arctic high pressure over the region, but not nearly as cold.

Wicked cold Sunday in Montreal

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre braved the cold along with thousands of others on Sunday for the 192nd Annual Montreal St. Patrick's Day Parade. 
(United Irish Society of Montreal Photo)

Despite the fact the calendar says spring, the season has yet to arrive. Sunday was another of oh so many cold days in Montreal these last few months. The temperature struggled to make it to -10C (14F), a full 15 degrees below the normal high for the date. If that was not enough, cold northwest winds over 50km/h put a dangerous windchill in the air. It was not enough to stop thousands from participating and watching the 192nd Annual Montreal St. Patrick's Day Parade. They bundled up and endured near record cold. The low Sunday morning was -16C (3F), just shy of the record of -16.7 (2F) set in 1959. This morning we are no better off, again at -16C (3F), and once again just shy of the record low of -17.2C (1F) set in 1997. Today will be windy and cold again with a high of -6C (21F). There is some good news, this arctic high pressure will drift east and allow a warm front to move into southern Quebec and Ontario by Wednesday. The result will be a high of 0C (32F) on Tuesday, and all the way up to 7C (45F) by Wednesday. Sunshine today and Tuesday followed by thickening clouds Wednesday with the chance of light rain by the afternoon.

We also managed snow over the weekend in Montreal with around 5cm on Saturday. Eastern Quebec had the brunt of the latest storm as it has most of the season. Up to 20cm fell across the Gaspe and Lower North Shore with strong winds and blowing snow. With only one full week left in March, the snow pack is very deep across the eastern third of the country. While Montreal has between 5 and 10cm of snow on the ground officially at Trudeau Airport, more in the suburbs, Halifax has 92cm and Charlottetown, PEI a whopping 146cm. We may have snow around until the end of April this year!

Spring arrives at 6:45pm

A spectacular view of the total eclipse of the sun taking place today across parts of far northern Europe and Asia. This photo was taken in Svalbard, Norway. (AP)

You made it through another winter in Montreal! The Vernal Equinox is at 6:45pm EDT today across North America heralding the arrival of spring. It is just part of a celestial show being put on by mother nature today. At the same time that spring arrives, we have a super moon and a total eclipse of the sun, visible across the North Atlantic and portions of extreme northern Europe and Asia. By all accounts it has been spectacular.

The weather will eventually catch up to the season but sadly not this weekend. Low pressure moving through the middle Atlantic states this morning will ride up the eastern seaboard and give more snow to winter weary New England and Atlantic Canada this weekend. The snow and strong winds will reach as far west as the Gaspe region. Here in southern Quebec we can expect a sunny, milder Friday with temperatures above freezing to plus 3C (38F). Tonight weak low pressure will arrive from western Canada along with a strong cold front. Light snow will develop tonight and mix with rain on Saturday. Saturday will be mild again at 2C (36F). That cold front will slice across Ontario and Quebec on Saturday night with gusty northwest winds and periods of snow and blowing snow. Snowfall will be light, 2-4cm for Montreal. The big news will be the rapidly dropping temperatures behind the arctic front, down to -16 to -20C (3 to -4F) by Sunday morning and only climbing to around -9C (16F) during the daylight hours Sunday. It will feel even colder than that with a strong northwest wind all day. It will turn milder next week.

Cold better than snow?

Halifax on Wednesday morning. Over 60cm of snow and strong winds turned the city into a wintry ghost town. (Metro News)

Cold better than snow, a question or a statement, depending on which weather you prefer. The fact is all the cold weather Montreal and southern Quebec has been experiencing since late December has in fact kept our snow totals down. Montreal has not recorded one single snow event over 20cm this winter, and we have only had 22cm this month. Halifax had that much snow in just a few hours on Wednesday. The arctic high pressure that has been so dominant in our area has deflected the storms further south and east. A difference of as little as 160km has saved us from being buried.

Such was the case again this week as two more storms skirted the east coast with heavy snow across the Maritimes and eastern New England. Charlottetown, PEI has broken a seasonal record with over 463cm of snow so far, more than Whistler, B.C. On Wednesday the brunt of the most recent storm hit Halifax, Nova Scotia, shutting down the city. Over 60cm of snow fell in less than 24 hours, blown around by 70km/h winds. Another coastal storm is forecast for this upcoming weekend. That storm will pass south and east of Montreal bringing snow to places like New York and Boston Saturday and into Atlantic Canada Sunday.

Meanwhile arctic high pressure will remain in control in Montreal with sunny and cold weather today. A series of fronts will bring milder air Friday and Saturday but with some light snow expected. A strong cold front will cross the city Saturday night with snow squalls, strong winds and dropping temperatures. The high on Friday and Saturday will be above freezing at 2C (36F) but drop to a high of only -5C (23F) for Sunday, well below the normal high of 4C (39F).

Cold week ahead for Montreal

The relentless winter in eastern Canada continued Monday with a fierce blizzard bringing travel to a standstill in Newfoundland. (CBC News)

Happy St Patrick's Day, I wish I had better weather news. It looks like a period of below normal temperatures is upon us yet again lasting into next weekend. It is the same old story across North America, record warmth in portions of the west and southwestern US with biting cold and snowstorms in the east. This morning we have a potent cold front moving across southeastern Ontario and southern Quebec. Light snow is falling in Montreal as we have dropped to the freezing point. The snow is mixed with rain in other parts of the region. The precipitation will taper off by noon with about 5cm in most locations. Winds will increase out of the northwest 30-60km/h shortly and temperatures will drop all day to -3C (27F) by evening. Skies will clear out this evening with a cold overnight low of -12C (10F). Wednesday will be sunny but cold for middle March reaching only -4C (25F). The normal high should be 3C (38F). By the weekend the coldest air in North America will be located over Quebec and New England.

On Monday the biggest snowstorm of the year dumped nearly 40cm of snow on Newfoundland with winds in excess of 100km/h. The snow closed most roads and stranded numerous motorists. The same storm had hit the Maritimes hard on Sunday with blizzard conditions. Meanwhile another couple of inches of snow in Boston has pushed them over the 1995 record to 108.5" of snow, the snowiest winter on record. As all this was going on in the east, portions of the northern plains and Midwest had record high temperatures in the 70's and 80's. Even normally cold and snowy Winnipeg managed a high of 14C (56F) on Sunday with no snow on the ground to speak of.

Spring on hold in southern Quebec & Atlantic Canada

Above & Below: Snowy late winter morning on L'Ile Perrot, Quebec. (ValleyWX Photos)

Nobody would blame you for staying in bed in eastern Canada this morning. A rather robust upper level low spinning over southern Quebec has been responsible for a wintry mix of precipitation over the last 24 hours. Rain, freezing rain and wet snow Saturday transitioned to a heavy wet snow overnight with 8-25cm falling across southern and eastern Quebec. I measured 9cm (3.5 inches) on my driveway here on L'Ile Perrot at 8am this morning. Sorel, Quebec reported 22cm of snow, Thetford Mines in the Townships 24cm and St Agathe 22cm. It is still snowing lightly with an increasing northwest wind. Roads have been plowed but are very icy with a temperature at -3C (27F).

The low will continue to produce snow today from Montreal east into Atlantic Canada. A second area of low pressure developing off the Atlantic coast will deepen rapidly and become the main system, blasting New Brunswick and Nova Scotia today. Blizzard conditions are expected with winds increasing to 50-80km/h from Quebec City east into Nova Scotia. They will gust in Montreal today as well, up to 60km/h producing blowing snow. We can expect a high near 1C (33F) today in Montreal. Skies will clear briefly tonight before clouds increase on Monday, the low will be -9C (16F). A series of cold fronts this week will bring us lots of flurries with windy and much colder weather by Wednesday. Temperatures will remain below freezing for highs and drop down to the minus teens for lows, well below the normal high/low of plus 3C and -6C.

Snowy weekend for Montreal

Welcome to the wild weather world known as the month of March. This month swings between record warmth and snowstorms, sometimes within a 48 hour period. Just this week, after such a cold six weeks, Montreal almost squeezed out a record high on Tuesday. The mercury soared to plus 8C (48F), short of the 10.3C record set in 1977. That was at Trudeau Airport, other locations in southern Quebec including L'Ile Perrot and St. Anicet actually went above the record high reaching 11C (52F). But, just 36 hours later here we are shivering again at -12C (10F) with a gusty wind.

WEEKEND SNOW
We can expect a partly cloudy Friday with temperatures warming to -3C (27F). Clouds will thicken this afternoon as a slow moving weak area of low pressure moves east from northwest Ontario. This system will bring very light snow or freezing drizzle overnight to eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. On Saturday, deeper moisture will stream northward from developing low pressure in the Mississippi Valley. This will likely produce a period of wet snow mixed with rain. The precipitation will change over to all snow by the evening and overnight hours Saturday. Montreal and points north of the city can expect 5-10cm of wet snow. South and east of Montreal across the Townships and into Maine closer to 20cm could fall. On Sunday precipitation will taper off to a few flurries or sprinkles. Temperatures throughout the weekend will be mild with highs just above freezing at plus 2 or 3C and lows near 0 or -1C. This same storm will intensify and bring the winter weary Maritimes more snow and strong winds on Sunday. Taking a quick look at the rest of March, it appears temperatures will remain below normal for Montreal with the likelihood of more snow.

Of note on this day in 1993, a massive storm hammered the east coast from Florida to Quebec. Take a look at it HERE.

Spring warmth feels so good

A byproduct of the snowy cold winter in Boston has been lots of ice tumbling off roofs. In the last week several cars have been crushed by falling snow. Thankfully no injuries have been reported. The trend will only continue as milder air moves north. Photo: Burlington, Massachusetts Fire Department.

The temperature soared to 10.9C (52F) Tuesday afternoon at my home on L'Ile Perrot. The water is running in the streets with the beautiful sound of melting snow. It is a wonderful break from the cold of February and a strong indication that we have turned the page as far as winter goes. That being said, I have lived in Montreal long enough to know what the rest of March and even early April can bring in terms of snowfall. As I have mentioned in the past, some of our biggest storms have occurred in March.

A spectacular image taken from a YouTube video posted by corbou2000. It was taken with a drone at the Berry Hills Road snow dump outside Moncton, New Brunswick. Snow from the more than 400cm that has fallen on that cities roads is trucked to this location. The snow pile towers high into the sky and may be there until the start of next winter! (TWN)

We can expect one more day of above normal temperatures before a cold front drops us down to near normal for Thursday and Friday. The overnight low will remain above freezing tonight leveling off at 3C (38F) before a high Wednesday of 6C (43F). Gusty southwest winds of 30-60km/h will develop and last into Wednesday along with increasing clouds and perhaps some light showers. Skies will clear out late Wednesday with colder weather and a low into Thursday morning of -8C (18F). Thursday and Friday will be fair with cooler highs near 0C (32F).

MARCH SNOWSTORM?
By Saturday morning, models are starting to come into agreement in bringing two low pressure areas, one from the southern US and another from the Great Lakes, northeast into New England. A surge of moisture along with mild air should arrive in southern Quebec and Ontario by Saturday. It may be just cold enough in Montreal and the St. Lawrence Valley for snow on Saturday. I am watching the different scenarios closely and hope to get a better handle on the weekend forecast within the next 24 hours. If the precipitation falls as all snow, amounts could be more than 10cm (4 inches). Some rain  may be possible as well. Skies will clear by midday Sunday with a return to sunshine and milder weather.

Spring weather this week for Quebec & Ontario

Finally a break in the action for tired snowplow operators this winter. The warming March sun is starting to melt the big piles of dirty snow like this one in Plattsburgh, NY on Saturday. (ValleyWX)

The clocks bounced ahead one hour over the weekend, a practice that dates back to World War I in order to save energy. The thought is simple, take the hour of daylight from the morning when we are less likely to need it and move it to the evening. I just wish they would do it at 4pm on Friday afternoon!

In any event it is a sign of spring and there will be others this week. The March sun is increasing in angle and strength and beginning to melt some of the massive piles of snow around. The temperature has responded in the last few days rising to the freezing point and making for some pleasant afternoons. We managed a little light snow Sunday and early this morning with 1-3cm across the region, bringing the monthly total up to 9cm at Trudeau Airport. Looking ahead to this week in Ontario and Quebec, we can expect very mild temperatures, the warmest so far this year. Highs today will rise above freezing to plus 2 or 3C (36 to 39F). Skies will be partly cloudy today and overnight with lows down to -4C (26F). Partly to mostly cloudy skies can be expected Tuesday and Wednesday with perhaps a shower, but with very mild highs of plus 5 to 7C (40 to 45F) in Montreal and eastern Ontario both days. That will feel almost summer like after the last 6 weeks. Cooler weather arrives Thursday, but only a couple of degrees below freezing at -2C (29F). No major storms are on the horizon at this time.

Warmer weather on the horizon for Montreal

AP Photo of Delta Flight 1086 from Atlanta, Georgia that slid off the runway at La Guardia Airport in New York City on Thursday morning. 

A break from the brutal cold is on the horizon, one that will hopefully last longer than a few hours. We managed 2C (36F) on Wednesday, the temperature making it above freezing in Montreal for the first time in 44 days. Sadly that was followed by an overnight low this morning of -21C (-6F), the 26th time since January 1st that we have surpassed the -20C threshold.

This winter has been brutal in eastern Canada and the US and this week has been no different. The storm track remains to our south as it has been all winter. Heavy snow on Thursday fell in a swath from north Texas into southern New England. One of the hardest hit states was Kentucky where 1 to 2 feet of snow fell. The snow stranded thousands of motorists on interstates forcing the State Police and National Guard to rescue many. Some drivers were in their cars for over 20 hours. The weather also played a role in Delta Flight 1086 from Atlanta skidding off an icy runway at La Guardia Airport in New York on Thursday morning. The McDonnall Douglas MD-88 nearly ended up in  Jamaica Bay. Only minor injuries were reported among the 132 passengers and crew. It was snowing at the time with rapidly dropping temperatures.

MONTREAL
So that brings us back to Montreal and our forecast gradual warming trend. Today will be sunny and cold with a gusty southwest wind up to 60km/h and a high of only -6C (21F). Weak low pressure will produce light snow or flurries on Saturday into early Sunday with highs both days near -3C (27F). We are not expecting much in the way of accumulations, perhaps 1-3cm for the day. Monday will see a little more snow but with temperatures warming above freezing to 2C (36F). We may see plus 4 or 5C (41F) by next Wednesday, which would break the 40F mark for the first time since December.
Looking beyond Wednesday, no major storms are in sight, however don't expect to get very warm either. The normal high for this time of year is 0C (32F) and it looks like we should be close to that or slightly below for the balance of March.

Quick shot of moderate snow for Montreal

AccuWeather.com

 We all want spring by now, and so I have been told by many to keep the bad news to myself. I am, and continue to be just the messenger, if I had more power, I would be making considerably more money. That being said, it is cold again this morning across southern Quebec. After yesterdays brief flirting with the freezing point, we had a few snow squalls and then clearing skies. The clear skies allowed the mercury to fall rapidly at sunset, down to -17C (2F) this morning at Trudeau Airport and -19C (-2F) on L'Ile Perrot. The temperature is rapidly turning the other way today and will rise up to plus 2C (36F) by midday Wednesday. That is the good news.

Here is the bad news, low pressure will move from the central plains into the Great Lakes tonight and east of Montreal Wednesday. Warm air overrunning the cold air at the surface will produce a quick moderate snowfall for southern Quebec. The snow will mix with freezing rain and rain in southern Ontario. Expect snow to start in Montreal around 6pm Tuesday and taper off early Wednesday morning. A good 10cm (4 inches) is forecast for the Montreal area into eastern Ontario with perhaps a little more along the US border. Gusty southwest winds up to 60km/h may cause blowing snow early Wednesday. Skies will clear Wednesday, and it should be the mildest day in over 6 weeks with a forecast high above freezing. Weather warnings for freezing rain and snow stretch from the lower Great Lakes and Ontario into New England but not metro Montreal at this time.

The warmth will be short lived as colder weather is expected by Thursday morning with lows back down to -12C (10F) and highs of -7C (19F) for Montreal.

Welcome to meteorological Spring

From WBZ news Boston, the collapsed roof of the Metropolis Skating Rink in Canton, Massachusetts. It, along with scores of other buildings in coastal New Hampshire and Massachusetts, have lost there roofs after record snowfall and cold in February. This roof collapsed Saturday morning, thankfully with no injuries.

Welcome to what meteorologists like to call the start of spring. True spring does not arrive until March 20 this year and actual spring weather may even be later than that, as we have become accustomed to in southern Quebec.

By all accounts we just survived the coldest February ever in Montreal. The data goes back about 115 years for the city, and I have looked back as far as the 1960's. The numbers still have to be crunched by Environment Canada but the monthly average will fall either side of -15C (4F) for Montreal. I recorded -14.8C here on  L'Ile Perrot. The 30 year average for the city is -7.7C, so we were cold to say the least! As far as duration goes, we are now starting our 41st consecutive day in a row of below freezing temperatures, a stretch that has included 18 days below -20C for nightly lows. There is an end in sight, but as I have overstated this past week, it will be very gradual. Already warmer air is trying to move northward. The warm air is being slowed by deep snow pack and lots of ice on area lakes and rivers. The result will be temperatures getting away from the minus 20's, but remaining below normal through middle March.

In the short term we are looking at two snowfalls this upcoming week with perhaps an end to our below freezing streak this coming Wednesday. Low pressure will pass south of Quebec today and bring a general 2-5cm snowfall tonight into early Monday. That will be followed by colder air once again along with gusty winds into Tuesday. Temperatures will be a mild today, -4C (25F) and -5C (23F) on Monday. By Tuesday stronger low pressure will approach southern Quebec from the midwest US and move down the St. Lawrence Valley. Snow will start late in the day Tuesday and mix with freezing rain early Wednesday before ending. Montreal can expect as much as 10cm of snow. There is a risk of some flurries or sprinkles Wednesday with the mercury perhaps making it up to 2C (36F). That would be welcome. Colder weather and clearing skies return for Thursday.