Eight days in July 1969

Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot of the first lunar landing mission, poses for a photograph beside the deployed United States flag during Apollo 11 extravehicular activity (EVA) on the lunar surface, July 20, 1969. The Lunar Module (LM) is on the left, and the footprints of the astronauts are clearly visible in the soil of the moon. Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, took this picture with a 70mm Hasselblad lunar surface camera. While astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin descended in the LM the "Eagle" to explore the Sea of Tranquility region of the moon, astronaut Michael Collins, command module pilot, remained with the Command and Service Modules (CSM) "Columbia" in lunar orbit. (NASA PHOTO)

"That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."

Neil Armstrong, July 20, 1969

The 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing
For eight days in July, 1969, three men, Commander Neil Armstrong, astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, would hold the world captivated as they completed the unimaginable, orbiting and landing on the moon. With no atmosphere to filter out the suns rays, temperatures on the barren lunar landscape can reach 125C on the sunny side, while the mysterious dark side can dip to as cold as -225C. A lunar day lasts 29 earth days, with 2 weeks of sunshine, followed by 2 weeks of darkness. NASA made the decision to land during what could be called the lunar dawn, a period at the start of the two weeks of sunshine, where temperatures would be more tolerable for the astronauts. So on July 16, 1969, the three men sat atop the Saturn V Rocket and blasted off from Florida towards the Moon's Sea of Tranquility and into history.

My entire life I have been in awe of NASA and the space program. I was much too young in 1969 to remember any of the original moon landing, however in subsequent years, my dad filled me in. There is no doubt that I was within feet of him on July 20, 1969, watching with 6 million others around the world, as Astronaut Neil Armstrong took the unprecedented first steps on the moon.

Earth and the Eagle Lunar Module as seen from the Command Module Columbia, hovering just above the surface of the moon in July 1969. (NASA Photo)

It was just what the world needed in 1969. Really, in my own humble opinion, these three men and the estimated 400,000 who worked on the Apollo program, saved the decade, at least for eight days. It was a much needed distraction from all the chaos of the 60's, if only for a few moments. The Apollo 11 mission started with the launch on July 16, 1969, and ended with the three man crew splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, southwest of Hawaii on July 24. Miraculously the entire mission was completed with only a few minor glitches, helped along by near-perfect weather during the take-off and re-entry.

The Space Shuttle Ambassador at the John F. Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida in February 1992. It was a thrill for me to finally visit the birthplace of space flight. (Stephen Balena)

I still have my first TASCO telescope given to me back in 1973, and remain infatuated with the mystery of the moon and the heavens. This would include watching the rest of the Apollo missions and those of the Skylab space station through the 70s, followed by the Space Shuttle era of the 80s and 90s. I am looking forward with giddy delight to NASA's Project Artemis, which promises to place humans on the moon once again by 2024.

Canada's contributions to the space program are many, including the Canadarm, first used on the Space Shuttle Columbia on November 13, 1981. (NASA Photo)

High heat and humidity through Sunday for Montreal

High pressure combined with the remains of tropical storm Barry, will deliver a dangerously hot and humid air mass to southern Quebec and the Eastern Seaboard from Friday through Sunday.

Widespread heat warnings have been posted by Environment Canada for the majority of southern and eastern Ontario into southern Quebec through Saturday. The last two weeks of July are traditionally vacation period here in Quebec, so plan your outdoor activities accordingly, taking into account the dangerous heat that is forecast.

South of the border, heat advisories stretch across the Midwest, Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, into New England, the Northeast and south all the way to the Carolinas. The combination of heat and humidity will push temperatures over 100F this weekend.

A warm front will move across southern Quebec Thursday night into Friday morning, accompanied by showers and isolated thunderstorms. On Friday, very warm and moist air will stream into the region on gusty southwest winds up to 50km/h. Skies will become partly cloudy and hazy by noon, with temperatures surging into the low to middle 30s. The forecast high for Montreal on Friday is 33C (92F), with humidex values approaching 40C (104F).

There will be no relief for Montreal Friday night, with lows remaining in the middle 20s. Saturday promises to be one of the warmest days of the year, with highs in the middle 30s and humidex values rising into the low 40s across southern Quebec.

The high humidex values pose a significant risk for heat stress and heat related illnesses. Drink plenty of fluids, seek out air conditioning for at least part of the day, make certain to check on older relatives and neighbours. Be extra vigilant if you work outdoors or have activities planned through Sunday. Never leave pets or children unattended in vehicles in any heat. Car interiors can reach lethal temperatures within minutes.

Relief will arrive during Sunday, with the approach of a vigorous cold front. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected across the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Valley southward into New England. Much cooler and drier air will arrive behind the front, remaining well into next week.

Post-tropical storm Barry to deliver heat, humidity and thunderstorms to Montreal

Post-tropical storm Barry will slowly move into the Ohio Valley by late this week. While the storm will largely dissipate, its broader circulation will draw moisture and heat into southern Quebec. (AccuWeather)

Monday will be the most pleasant day of the upcoming week in southern Quebec, with sunshine, low humidity and perfect July temperatures in the middle 20s. On Tuesday, much warmer and increasingly humid air will begin to stream into the region, pushed north by the remains of once hurricane Barry. High temperatures will be near 30C (86F) through Wednesday, and into the low to middle 30s (90F) by Friday.

Humidex values will approach 40C (105F) by the end of the week. A heat warning may be needed for portions of Ontario and Quebec. The dangerous combination of high heat and humidity will make outdoor activities rather uncomfortable. In addition to the muggy weather, abundant moisture will create very unstable atmospheric conditions, with daily chances for showers and thunderstorms from Wednesday into Saturday. By early next weekend, some of the storms may even be severe. Cooler, drier air should return to the region by next Sunday.

A very poor parking choice for this resident of Dauphin Island, Alabama. The storm surge from Hurricane Barry inundated portions of the northern Gulf Coast with up to 6 feet of water. (Weather Nation)

Barry
Hurricane Barry was a rather unconventional storm, developing over the northern Gulf of Mexico, in close proximity to the coast. The storm never really looked good on satellite images, rather elongated, with no clear center of circulation. Nevertheless, the small storm briefly reached hurricane status of 74 mph (119km/h) just prior to landfall near Intracoastal City, Louisiana on Saturday. While wind and storm surge were a threat, torrential rain and flash flooding were expected to be the real danger with Barry. However as Barry moved inland, most of the heavier rainfall remained over the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Still, 100 to 200mm of rain fell at many locations in Louisiana and Mississippi, with 250mm (10 inches) at Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Late Monday morning, what was left of Barry was located in southern Missouri, expected to drift towards Pennsylvania by the middle of the week, before being absorbed by a frontal boundary. Heavy rain will persist over the Mississippi Valley before moving northeast into the Ohio Valley and New England by the end of the week. Heavy rain from Barry, in the form of showers and thunderstorms, will also impact southern Ontario and Quebec by late Friday or Saturday.

Heatwave forecast for metro Montreal - warnings issued

Area beaches, such a the newly opened Verdun location shown above, will be extremely busy this week as temperatures soar into the 30s. (Global)

A very warm and humid air mass has prompted heat warnings for metro Montreal as well as the Ottawa Valley and eastern Ontario. High pressure will dominate the weather for the balance of the week, with sunny, hazy and humid days expected, along with very warm nights. High temperatures across the region will range from the middle 30s in urban areas to the low 30s (90-95F) away from the city. Overnight lows are forecast to be near 20C (68F). Humidex values will approach 40C, (104F), especially by Friday when the high is forecast to be 34C (94F) in Montreal. New records however will be hard to come by, as the heat will not be nearly as intense as that observed in July 2018. The only exception could come on Friday, with a forecast high of 34C easily beating out the record for the date of 30.2C set in 2016.

Environment and Climate Change Canada recommends that you protect yourself from the excessive heat by drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water per day, as well as spending several hours in air conditioned or cool places. Try to limit outdoor physical activities, especially during the daylight hours. As always, check on your elderly neighbours, love ones or those living alone. During the July 2018 heatwave, over 65 deaths were reported in Montreal alone. According to Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante, the city is ready this year to extend hours for pools, libraries, community centres and homeless shelters as needed. Workers will also be checking on residents and handing out water bottles to the homeless in an attempt to encourage citizens to stay cool and hydrated. Authorities also remind you the obvious, never leave your child or pet unattended in a hot car. In 30 degree plus weather, injury or even death can occur quickly.

The heat is forecast to ease slightly on Saturday, along with the risk for showers and thunderstorms. This heatwave comes during what has been to date a rather cool year. The first 6 months of 2019 have featured below normal temperatures in Montreal. The average high in June of 18.3C, was 0.3C below normal. The last month to have above normal temperatures in Montreal was back in September 2018. Montreal recorded 21 days over 30C in 2018, but only one day so far in 2019.

Threat for thunderstorms continues into the long weekend

Mother Nature put on an incredible light show late Thursday night on Ile Perrot. I managed to capture this shot looking south towards the Saint Lawrence River. The storm produced no damage in my community, but put down a quick 10mm of rain in less than an hour. Hail occurred across parts of the West Island. (Valley Weather Photo)

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been posted Saturday for metro Montreal and southern Quebec. The watch has been issued rather early due to the amount of camping, boating and other activates planned this holiday weekend. If you have any outdoor plans today, keep a close eye to the sky this afternoon.

Happy Canada Day long weekend. Summer seems to have finally arrived across southern Quebec. A warm and humid air mass has been in place for most of this past week, with daily rounds of showers and thunderstorms. The storms late Thursday produced spectacular lighting across the western portion of Montreal including here on L'Ile Perrot. The storms also generated some small hail across the West Island, specifically in Pointe Claire. Other parts of the province also had severe storms, with funnel clouds and hail reported. The isolated nature of thunderstorms cells meant some location in southern Quebec received quite a bit of rainfall, while other spots nothing at all. Case in point, I measured close to 16mm of rain from late Thursday into Friday, while Trudeau Airport 20km northeast of my location had only 1.4mm.

Severe weather outlook for this Saturday from Environment Canada.

In terms of temperatures, the daytime hours have been quite muggy, with highs approaching 30C (85F), but the nights have been comfortably cooler, with a good breeze. The holiday weekend will be rather unsettled through Sunday, however Monday looks sunny, warm and less humid. Saturday will feature a renewed threat for strong thunderstorms, especially south and east of Montreal. Some of the storms will produce strong winds, hail and torrential downpours. More showers and thunderstorms can be expected Sunday, but they likely will be of the non-severe variety. Highs will be near 28C (83F) Saturday, but cooler Sunday in the clouds and showers, 23C (73F).

Looking ahead to next week, high pressure will build in for a dry and sunny start to the work week. By Wednesday, the air mass will become increasingly humid and unstable, originating from the Gulf of Mexico, with showers and thunderstorms firing up late in the day Thursday and Friday. Temperatures will rise to near 30C (86F) from the latter half of the week into the weekend. We may even record out first 32C (90F) day of the season in Montreal by late next week.

Summer arrives in Montreal - right on schedule

The wrong place at the wrong time: Gusty winds over the last few days along with a very wet spring, helped this large tree on Monteith in Verdun to loose a section late Friday. The huge branch took out a fence and crushed this KIA. It is a warning to all homeowners to inspect there trees for damage or wear and weaknesses in the branches. (ValleyWeather Photo)

Summer officially arrived at 11:54 on Friday morning, and along with it came the best weather of the year in Montreal. The weekend has been nearly perfect with partly sunny skies, low humidity and very pleasant temperatures. The only bug in the forecast was a smokey high level haze from the western Canadian wildfires. The strong northwest flow aloft is carrying the smoke into eastern Canada at the highest levels in the atmosphere. The smoke will likely be around Sunday and Monday as well. Most will not even notice. Temperatures will warm to the upper 20's both days, with overnight lows in the middle teens.

A change in the weather arrives late Monday and Tuesday, with the arrival of a frontal system from the Midwest. Clouds will be on the increase, along with showers and perhaps an isolated thunderstorm. The thunderstorms have been few and far between this year, a strong indication of just how cool it has been in Montreal. To date, I have recorded only one at my home here on Ile Perrot. That may change later this week as the first warm and humid air mass of the season arrives by Wednesday. Daytime highs will be around 27C (81F) each day with muggy overnight lows in the upper teens. There will be a risk of afternoon convective showers and thunderstorms each day into next weekend.

Summer snow fell across portions of Alberta, B.C. and northern Montana on Friday. (Photo: Elizabeth Jones)

Summer Snow
Just a side note on the bizarre weather that has occurred across Canada this spring. Flooding, tornadoes, ice storms and now a snowstorm on the first day of summer. Parts of the Rockies in Alberta and B.C. had as much as 25cm of heavy wet snow on Friday. A childhood friend of mine from B.C. posted this photo on Facebook, taken in Elkford, B.C.

Wet weekend ahead for Montreal

With the exception of Grand Prix weekend, sunny days have been at a premium this spring in Montreal. More cloud cover, showers and even a rumble or two of thunder are possible from late Thursday into Monday.

With a ton of outdoor events scheduled this weekend from weddings and garage sales to car shows, I wish I had better news. A series of low pressure systems will impact the southern portion of the province as well as eastern Ontario, with showery weather from late Thursday through Sunday. While the weekend won't be a complete washout, it will be wet at least half the time. We may see less shower activity Sunday, but it will remain cloudy.

Along with the cloud cover and precipitation will come cooler than normal temperatures for Friday and Saturday. Overnight lows will be in the 14C (57F) range, with daytime highs around 18C (65F). The normal high for this time of year is 24C (76F).

By Sunday, slightly warmer air will begin to filter into southern regions of Quebec and Ontario. If we manage to see a break or two of sun, the temperature may rise into the lower 20s. More showers are possible Monday before high pressure moves into the region. Sunny, warmer weather is expected for Montreal by next Tuesday as temperatures rise back to normal values.

So far this June, Montreal has received 34mm of rain, keeping the trend of our cool, wet spring going. The normal rainfall for the entire month of June is 87mm in Montreal, so we are on track for another wet month.

D-Day - the most important weather forecast in history

Canadian troops on Juno Beach, June 6, 1944. (Canadian War Museum)

An accurate weather forecast was vital to the success of the mission to liberate Europe. This would be the most important forecast ever delivered.

READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE: The 75th Anniversary of the Allied invasion of the Normandy coast.

Strong thunderstorms and tornado strike Ottawa Valley

Photo via the Twitter feed of the Ottawa Paramedics (@Ottawa_9_1_1)

Strong thunderstorms are moving across eastern Ontario and western Quebec late Sunday afternoon and evening. The storms should dissipate by midnight as the front moves east.

The tornado above, formed just before 6pm near Cumberland, Ontario. The storm moved along the Ottawa River before moving into western Quebec. Damage has been reported in several regions including Orleans where trees are down and roofs torn from homes.

Water levels ease on Ottawa River rise on Saint Lawrence

Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River are expected to crest over the next few weeks above the record flood of 2017. The image above is from the Thousand Islands near Gananoque, Ontario in 2017. (CBC)

Tuesday was the 16th consecutive day with some form of precipitation in Montreal, a new record for the month of May, dating back to the late 1800s. It has rained at Trudeau Airport in Montreal on 24 of 29 days so far in May, totalling 95mm. The normal is 81.2mm for the month. Wet and cool weather is forecast to persist into early June as we remain trapped in this annoying cycle.

Cool moist air is dominating Ontario and Quebec, while very warm air remains trapped across the southeastern US. The battleground in between has featured several weeks of strong thunderstorms, devastating tornadoes and record flooding from the southern plains into the Ohio Valley.

In Montreal, the flood warning has been lifted and the long clean-up is underway. Hundreds of volunteers spent last weekend removing sandbags for homes in Pierrefonds and Vaudreuil-Dorion. Just this week, the barriers were removed that had been in place along Saint-Charles Avenue in Vaudreuil-Dorion for the last six weeks. They worked, the municipality managed to save the road as well as homes and businesses along it. The threat appears to have passed as water levels continue to lower. The level of Lake of Two Mountains at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue was 23.89 metres on Tuesday, finally dropping below the major flood stage of 23.90 metres.

Concern is now shifting to Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River which continues to rise to record levels. Flooding is occurring along both the Canadian and American shorelines. Lake Ontario is at 75.87 metres, a notch below the record set in 2017 of 75.88 metres. Water levels remain high in all of the Great Lakes. The International Lake Ontario-Saint Lawrence River Board is monitoring the levels and adjusting the outflow of the Moses-Saunders Dam near Massena, New York. This is in an attempt to balance the flooding on both sides of the dam, including here in the Montreal region. However for shoreline residents experiencing flooding for the second time in two years, it seems like little is being done. The lake is expected to crest over the next two weeks, but water levels are forecast to remain high well into the summer.

Crazy May weather from coast to coast

Flood waters are slowly receding in Vaudreuil-Dorion this week. (Valley Weather Photo)

April is typically a month of sharp transitions in the weather. This past April was just plain cold, so as a result May has become the battleground month between winter and summer. The weather is angry all over North America.

In southern Quebec, another 15mm of rain fell over the weekend, much of that coming in the first thunderstorms to rattle across the metro Montreal region. The nocturnal storms crossed the city shortly after midnight early Monday morning. Monday started off with a blanket of thick fog across southern Quebec, followed by strong southwest winds up to 70km/h and the warmest day of 2019 to date, reaching 24C (76F) at my home on Île Perrot.

The rain has little impact on water levels along the Lake of Two Mountains. On Monday, the lake was at 24.15 metres in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, forecast to drop to 24.02 metres by Wednesday. Major flood stage starts at 23.90 metres, with a little luck the lake will continue to drop over the coming days. Meanwhile both Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River continue to rise into major flood stage. Typically the Saint Lawrence River in Montreal does a good job of handling the excess water, but many municipalities remain on high alert. The word is, leave all your sandbags and dikes in place until told otherwise by your town.

A tornado forms over Oklahoma Monday afternoon.

The warm air and storms were part of a larger weather system that produced widespread severe weather over the southern plains and into the Midwest, parts of Ontario and the Eastern Seaboard. There were dozens of reports of tornadoes, wind and hail damage, as well as flash flooding. On the backside of this low pressure system, cold air is pouring into the Rockies and western US plains, with snow falling in several locations including Denver. Widespread winter storm warnings for heavy snow stretch from Colorado to Montana.

A friend sent me this photo of a May snowstorm in suburban Denver on Tuesday morning. This is part of the same low pressure system producing severe thunderstorms across Oklahoma and Texas. (Photo courtesy Amanda Comeau)

Meanwhile, very warm temperatures and strong winds are fuelling wildfires across northern Alberta. The region is very dry, with High Level, Alberta recording a paltry 4 percent of normal rainfall in March and April. According to Alberta Wildfire, the Chuckegg Creek fire has already consumed 69,000 hectares and remains out of control. The fire is only 3 km south of High Level, as a result a full evacuation in the town of 4000 was ordered Monday afternoon at 4pm.

If all this wild weather was not enough for you, the first tropical system of the Atlantic hurricane season formed on Monday. Sub-tropical storm Andrea, located 280 miles west of Bermuda on Tuesday morning, is already weakening with 35mph winds. The storm is forecast to dissipate later today.

A wall of smoke and flames generated from the massive Chuckegg Creek wildfire, looms just south of High Level, Alberta on Monday afternoon. (Alberta Wildfire)

Unsettled weather to continue in Montreal through May

Snow covers spring flowers in Northern Vermont on Tuesday morning. Rare May snow fell across portions of southern Quebec and northern New England on Tuesday, as a late season Nor'easter moved along the Atlantic coast circulating cold, moist air into the region. Below normal temperatures are expected to persist this week in Montreal. (AccuWeather)

Low pressure moving along the Atlantic coast continues to circulate cold, moist air down the Saint Lawrence Valley. Overnight, another 14mm of rain fell in Montreal, bringing our monthly total up over 60mm. The Ottawa River and Lake of Two Mountains remain well above flood stage. The lake level at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue was 24.36 metres on Tuesday. The lake should remain stable this week, however major flooding continues to occur along the Ottawa River.

The cold and dreary weather pattern across Ontario and southern Quebec is expected to continue this week, with near or below normal temperatures expected for the foreseeable future. The forecast high on Tuesday in Montreal was expected to be just shy of 10C (50F), this is well below the normal of 19C (66F) for the date. Several locations in northern New England, New Brunswick and southeastern Quebec even had measurable snow overnight. Killington, Vermont reported 15 to 20cm of new snow on the summit. The cold weather is even impacting the northeastern US, New York's Central Park recorded its coldest May 13 ever on Monday, with a high of only 48F. The previous record was 49F set in 1914.

The weather is actually warmer in northern Quebec today, with Eastmain on James Bay the warmest location in the province at 2pm Tuesday, at 20C (68F). Moosonee in northern Ontario is the warmest location in the country at 22C (72F).

Snow along State Route 112 at Kancamagus Pass in northern New Hampshire on May 14. (Photo by Chris Whiton)

Unfortunately the unsettled weather is expected to continue well into next week, with perhaps a decent day or two somewhere in between. An active weather pattern will produce plenty of opportunities for additional rainfall through the end of the month. 

Flood waters should crest this week in Montreal

Canadian Armed Forces patrolling a flooded neighbourhood in Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac on Monday. (Post Media)

Full details and updates on the spring flooding in Quebec and Ontario are available HERE.

Thousands evacuate Sainte-Marthe after dike failure

Firefighters along with Provincial Police and the Canadian Armed Forces rushed into Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac after a dike failed sending feet of water pouring into the community Saturday night. (CBC)

The state of emergency remains in effect in Montreal, Ile Perrot, Vaudreuil Dorion and several other western Quebec communities. Thousands of volunteers continue to fill sandbags and build dikes from Ottawa to Montreal in an effort to hold back Mother Nature. The Ottawa River flowing into Lake of Two Mountains and around the northern edge of Montreal via Riveres-des-Prairies, continues to flow at historic levels. The rain has finally come to an end Sunday, with a crest expected within the next 36 hours. Afterwards water levels should begin to stabilize. More rain is forecast by Wednesday, but let's take one day at a time for now.

DIKE FAILURE
Last evening around 8pm, a dike failed along Lake of Two Mountains in Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac northwest of Montreal. Several feet of water poured into homes south of Chemin Oka in a matter of minutes. The SQ and Canadian Armed Forces along with firefighters and police form at least 10 neighboring communities rushed to the region to evacuate more than 6000 residents. This morning, those evacuees are staying in the Two Mountains Legion, while efforts are underway to repair the dike. Hydro Quebec has cut power to the affected parts of the municipality, and a boil water advisory has been issued. Most evacuated residents had less than an hour to escape before the water rushed in. No injuries were reported. Police are going door to door Sunday morning along approximately 50 different streets in the community to make certain everyone is out.

Water creeps closer to Sainte-Charles Avenue in Vaudreuil-Dorion. The off-island municipality was forced to close the main north/south route on Saturday due to major flooding near Leger Street. (Valley Weather)

In Montreal and Ile Perrot as well as in Vaudreuil-Dorion and Hudson, Sunday will be a repeat of the last 10 days, the battle to stay ahead of rising waters. The Galipeault Bridge remains closed between Ile Perrot and Montreal, as does one lane inbound on Highway 40 at the Iles-aux-Tourtes Bridge. Tolls have been waived on Highway 30 towards Beauharnois, in an effort to provide an alternate route around the flooding and into Montreal. Exo has also announced that the Vaudreuil-Hudson commuter train line will be free starting Monday, and remain that way until the bridge is reopened.

In addition to the bridge and lane closures, numerous other roads and provincial highways have been forced to shut. Saint-Charles Avenue in Vaudreuil-Dorion is also closed near Leger Street due to major flooding.

State of Emergency declared for Montreal

Mayor Valérie Plante declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon in Pierrefonds. (CBC) 

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante has declared a state of emergency effective Friday afternoon. This is in response to widespread flooding occurring over the western and northern portions of the Island of Montreal. Major flooding is also expected in communities along the Ottawa River.

More flood coverage is available HERE.

More rain expected across southern Quebec

The City of Montreal is using snow clearing equipment to help push flood water back into Rivieres-des-Prairies. (West Island Flood Volunteers Photo courtesy of Doug Liberman).

The flood watch remains in effect for metro Montreal and the Ottawa Valley.

West Island Flood Volunteers need you - click here.

As volunteers and emergency personnel continue the effort of filling sandbags, building dikes and saving homes, more rain is falling across the swollen Ottawa River. Since late last evening, another 8mm of rain has fallen on Île Perrot, with more northwest of Montreal. The runoff, combined with melting snow and ice, continues to raise water levels along the Ottawa River and into Lake of Two Mountains. Water levels in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, were at 24.28 metres this morning, expected to rise to 24.36 metres by Thursday. The water spilling through the Carillon Hydro Station on the Ontario border is at 7700m3/second and forecast to rise to 8050m3/second by Thursday. For comparison, the mean flow is 2000m3/second. The current forecast has the water cresting by Thursday, but that is very dependent on the upcoming rain expected.

Flooding is also occurring in other parts of the province including across the Beauce region, and Gatineau, shown above. (Canadian Press Photo)

Volunteers continue to do amazing work in Laval, Île Bizard, Pierrefonds and Île Perrot among other regions. Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School has become sandbag central, with tons and tons of sand being scooped into bags and loaded onto trucks. The West Island Flood Volunteers continue to monitor the event, offering help and hope to homeowners. Volunteers are still needed. Visit their Facebook page for complete information or contact your municipality. The Canadian Armed Forces are also on the ground in Quebec, focusing their efforts at this time in Laval, Riguad and Gatineau.

Across the province, major flooding continues to occur south of Quebec City in the Beauce region as well as along the Ottawa River in Riguad and Pointe-Frotune. According to Urgence Quebec, over 1400 people have been evacuated province-wide, with 2900 homes flooded so far. Many more homes are isolated as roads become impassable by flooding.

The rain with our current system is almost over. Just some drizzle remains for Montreal on Wednesday. The weather will be breezy and rather chilly. High pressure builds into southern Quebec for Thursday, with a sunny day expected and normal temperatures around 14C (56F). Unfortunately, the dry weather will not last. Low pressure and a cold front will move across Ontario and Quebec Friday, with another 15 to 20mm of rain possible. The rain will be accompanied by gusty winds and dropping temperatures. Some parts of Quebec may even see snow late Friday. The weekend at this time looks cloudy and cool with showers.

Flooding will continue to be a threat across the entire region. Residents in the flood zone will need to remain vigilant well into next week.

West Island Flood Volunteers need your help

Flood water from Vaudreuil Bay surrounds a cottage on 7th avenue in Terrasse-Vaudreuil. The cottage, now owned by the municipality, was heavily damaged in 2017. (Valley Weather Photo)

West Island Flood Volunteers need your help now. Please visit their Facebook Page HERE.

The flood watch remains in effect for metro Montreal. For the latest information, please visit The Suburban Weather Page. CLICK HERE.

Flooding continues this morning along the Ottawa River, into Lake of Two Mountains and the rivers surrounding Montreal and Laval. The current level at the Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue locks is 24.24 metres, forecast to rise to 24.29 metres by Wednesday afternoon. Afterwards a steady decline is expected, however that may change as rain is in the forecast.

Major flooding has also been occurring in Rigaud, where nearly 200 homes have now been evacuated. 

After two days of perfect weather, rain is forecast across southern Quebec overnight Tuesday. A rather disorganized weather system is expected to bring showers and cooler temperatures through Wednesday, before the sun returns on Thursday. At this time, 10 to 15mm is possible, with more northwest of Montreal. Another system late Friday and Saturday could produce and additional 10 to 15mm of rain. Easter Monday was the warmest day of the year so far in Montreal, reaching 19C (66F).

WEST ISLAND FLOOD VOLUNTEERS

The sunshine was welcome by the hundreds of volunteers with the West Island Flood Volunteers who braved rising flood waters and damp, dreary weather most of this past weekend. The grassroots group, formed during the 2017 flood, has literally been saving home after home, one block at a time across the West Island, especially in hard-hit Pierrefonds and Île Bizard. The group, 2500 strong, responds to every single request for help. More volunteers are needed.

The Administrator of the group, Doug Liberman, raised the alarm early Friday, and the group sprung into action, filling and delivering thousands of sandbags and building dikes throughout the holiday weekend. Many others have been working behind the scenes, coordinating and dispatching teams and supplies, or reaching out to local restaurants and merchants for food and water. In many instances they have worked throughout the night.

When I asked Doug this morning if The Suburban could use one of his photos, his response was quick, amazing considering how busy the group has been.

"Yes! We need volunteers and anyone in need can post on our group and we will come. Help us get the word out. Thank you"

If you can help, reach out to the West Island Flood Volunteers via their Facebook page. The water continues to rise and the need is still great.

Flood risk on the rise across southern Quebec

Terrasse-Vaudreuil firefighters place sandbags along the swollen Ottawa River in May 2017. (ValleyWeather Photo)

Latest updates are available HERE.

A series of low pressure systems will deliver heavy rainfall across eastern Ontario and southern Quebec through Saturday. The heaviest rain is expected late Friday into Saturday morning, with showery weather persisting into next week. The rain, combined with melting snow and river ice, is expected to provide sharp rises to all area waterways. The focus in our region is on the Ottawa River and its tributaries, with flooding expected from Pointe-Fortune along the Ontario border into metro Montreal.

Several communities have been put on alert, including Rigaud, where devastating flooding occurred in 2017. Emergency measures have been put in place, with some evacuations expected. There is a real fear that water levels could be higher than the record flooding of 2017. To date, Montreal has already received 40mm of precipitation this month, while further up the Ottawa Valley, 54mm has fallen in Ottawa. Another 25 to 50mm or more of rainfall is anticipated through the upcoming weekend.

In metro Montreal, the Borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro has already taken steps to protect residents from flooding along Riviere-des-Prairies. The borough is in alert mode as we head into the upcoming weekend. Pumps have been set up in advance of the predicted rising water. The residents of Terrasse-Vaudreuil, Ile Perrot and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue have also been put on alert for potential flooding along the Ottawa River and Lake of Two Mountains. The gauge Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue locks is at 23.36 metres, just above flood stage of 23.30. South of Montreal, Lake Champlain is over 99 feet, with flood stage at 100 feet. Minor flooding is anticipated this weekend near Rouses Point, New York, with that water entering the Richelieu River Valley in Quebec.

Showery, mild weather is expected in Montreal Thursday, with breezy conditions and a warm high of 18C (65F). Strengthening low pressure will move along a frontal boundary during the day Friday, providing the region with heavy rainfall. The heavy rain will persist into Saturday. Temperatures will become cooler Friday afternoon as winds increase out of the north.

A special weather statement is in effect for Montreal, with potential warnings needed by Friday. Heavy rainfall warnings are in effect for the Ottawa Valley and eastern Ontario. A flood watch in in effect across most of northern New York and Vermont. Flooding has already occurred south of Quebec City in the Beauce region, and across portions of Vermont.

Freezing rain cuts power to over 300,000 Quebec homes

Widespread freezing rain across southern Quebec, produced massive power outages on Monday. Over 300,000 Hydro-Quebec customers were left in the dark and cold. The situation is only slightly better today. Utility crews have been brought in from other parts of the province. Above, crews work to restore power in Laval, north of Montreal. (CTV)

The winter that just won't end dealt southern Quebec another jolt yesterday, with a round of snow, strong winds and heavy freezing rain. More wintry precipitation is forecast today.

The late season ice storm cut power to over 300,000 southern Quebec homes from Laval north into the lower Laurentians and east towards Lanuadiere. Over 250,000 homes and businesses remain in the dark Tuesday morning as Hydro-Quebec scrambles to bring in crews from other parts of the province. The utility is working around the clock, but no estimate has been given for when power might be restored. The task is massive, with over 675 separate outages needing attention. Most schools in Laval and across the Laurentians have been closed today, with two warming shelters opened in Laval.

Tree damage along the north shore of Montreal. (Hydro-Quebec Photo)

On Monday, low pressure moved just south of Montreal producing over 15mm of freezing rain. Accompanying the frozen precipitation were winds in excess of 60km/h. Temperatures were just a touch colder north of the Island of Montreal, allowing the ice to accumulate rapidly on trees and power lines. Numerous branches made contact with hydro lines creating the massive power outage. Most regions south of Montreal, including at my home on L'Ile Perrot and across the south shore, were spared the freezing rain, with mostly liquid precipitation falling.

Hydro-Quebec is battling more wintry weather Tuesday as a second storm system slides south of the province. Additional weather warnings have been issued for the region for more freezing rain and up to 15cm of snow. The snow will spread into the region during the late morning and early afternoon.

Well below normal temperatures will prevail today, with a forecast high of only 1C (34F) in Montreal. The normal high should be 10C (50F) and the low 0C (32F).

Cool and stormy week ahead

Winter refuses to give up in Montreal, as another late season storm will pass close to the city on Monday, producing a messy mix of rain, freezing rain and snow. (AccuWeather.com)

Freezing Rain Warning in effect for metro Montreal.
Snowfall Warning posted for Quebec City.

It has been extremely difficult for any prolonged warm weather to become established across eastern Canada this spring. Each time it appears we may be in for a period of above normal temperatures, old man winter returns. The winter that started in late October, does not want to relinquish its hold on Montreal. Unfortunately this week looks no different, as our warm, spring-like Sunday will be replaced by another late season winter storm.

Strengthening low pressure will move along a frontal boundary just to the south of Montreal overnight into Monday. North and east of the front, cold northeast winds will prevail, along with wintry precipitation. Rain should start in Montreal late this evening and change to freezing rain overnight. The city will remain on the thin dividing line between rain and freezing rain. A freezing rain warning has been issued for the metro region, but I think most of the icing issues should be north of Montreal. That being said, we may have a few slick spots for the morning commute, especially in Laval, the Laurentians, and Ottawa Valley.

As you move northeast along the St. Lawrence River, the precipitation will change to snow, and become heavy at times. Quebec City along with regions of eastern Quebec, northern Maine and western New Brunswick, can expect 15-25cm of wet snow. Accompanying the precipitation across Quebec will be gusty winds of 50 to 70km/h. Any travel plans north and east of Montreal on Monday, should be reconsidered.

South of Montreal and across most of southern Ontario, the precipitation should remain in the form of rain. After a warm high of 11C (52F) in Montreal Sunday, temperatures will fall quickly down to the freezing point tonight, and only rise to 2C (35F) Monday.