A second wave of high water possible for Montreal

Flood waters in Vaudreuil/Dorion and across southwestern Quebec have been lowering over the last week. However upcoming wet weather may force another surge of water down the Ottawa River towards Montreal over the upcoming week. (Photo: Ledy Quintero)

Flood warnings are in effect across the Ottawa River on the Ontario side of the border, as another wave of rising water is expected. The flood watch has remained in effect on the Quebec side from Pointe Fortune to Montreal. The recent dry weather has allowed water levels to drop across the region, but that will change with more rain in the forecast along with melting snow from the northern portion of the basin.

Water levels at the gauge in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue have dropped from 23.94 metres a little over a week ago down to 23.80 metres currently. This is back into the minor flood stage. 

Concern is on the rise that we may see another wave of high water throughout the Ottawa River Basin and its tributaries into the first week of May. Our dry weather is set to com to an end on Wednesday, with rainy weather forecast as a frontal boundary moves east. Both Ottawa and Montreal are forecasting 15-25mm of rain over the next 36 hours, with some regions in the Ottawa Valley expecting as much as 50mm.

Thankfully all flood mitigation efforts remain in place, with municipalities remaining vigilant and on high alert. It has been a welcome relief over the last week or so to see water levels lower in the Montreal region. The hope is that water levels will not reach those of earlier this month along the Ottawa River and Lake of Two Mountains. 

Our weather will not only turn wet, but sharply colder Thursday into the weekend, as an upper level low drifts over the region. Temperatures will remain in the single digits for highs through the weekend. Overnight lows will be close to the freezing point, with even a few flurries and scattered frost possible for some locations. 

One group that is happy to see some wet weather is SOPFEU, Quebec's wildfire management agency has been dealing with tinder dry conditions in our forests. Despite the flood threat, many regions have had very high fire danger, with burn bans in effect for several municipalities. The wet weather should alleviate that threat for the short-term.

Spring flooding continues across the Montreal region

A flooded boathouse along the shores of Lake of Two Mountains in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. Water levels remain high, with some flooding observed, but so far things remains stable. The next two weeks will be critical as to the extent of flooding this sprung. (Valley Weather Photo)

The flood watch remains in effect for most the Ottawa River Valley, including parts of the metro Montreal region.

Water levels are stable early Thursday morning, thanks in part to the dry weather across southern Quebec. The Ottawa River remains in moderate flood stage, with levels similar to those of 2023, but still below the devastating record-setting flooding in 2017 and 2019.

Lessons learned by municipalities during both those major floods are being applied in 2026, and so far those efforts are holding. Pallets of sandbags and pumps have been placed in many locations from Pierrefonds to Vaudreuil. Mitigation and protective measures will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

The raging Sainte-Anne Rapids under the Galipeault Bridge looking west at Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue on Tuesday evening. The water levels at this location are in moderate flood stage, at 24.19 metres Thursday morning. (Valley Weather Photo)

On Thursday, Vaudreuil placed a protective barrier along Boulevard Saint Charles to protect the road and adjacent dwellings from the advancing Lake of Two Mountains. Pumps are working 24/7 in that community as well as Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue to help keep storm sewers from backing into nearby homes.

Municipalities, such as Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, are pumping water from storm sewers 24/7 to help alleviate any back flow into nearby homes. (Valley Weather Photo)

The Lake of Two Mountains at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue was at 24.19 metres Thursday morning, in moderate flood stage, but lowering slightly. Pointe-Calumet was at 24.27 metres, minor food stage for that locations and stable.

Water levels are also stable at this point northwest of Montreal across the eastern Ontario. The forecast remains favourable for water levels, as no rain is forecast though Sunday. Cooler temperatures will also slow down melting where snow cover still exists across the northern portion of the basin.

So far in April, Montreal has has 89.1mm of rain, with Ottawa at 90.9mm. 

From summer to winter in 24 hours - flood risk increasing across metro Montreal region

Water levels in Vaudreuil are on the rise late Sunday afternoon, with minor flooding being reported in areas close to the shore of Lake of Two Mountains. The municipality completed installing pumps over the weekend to help prevent backflow into the stormwater system. (Valley Weather)

A flood watch remains in effect across eastern Ontario and southern Québec, as water levels along the Ottawa River and it's tributaries continue to rise. The station at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue reached moderate flood range, Monday, sitting at 24.00 metres. Water from the Lake of Two Mountains has starting creeping over the jetty near the boardwalk.

Flooding has also forced the closure of Chemin de 'Lanse-A-l'Orme from Senneville Road to Tiberlea Trail along the Senneville/Montreal border. Flooding has also occurred on Ile Mercier, threatening Louis Roch Street.

You can add Vaudreuil/Dorion to the list of municipalities preparing to fight the advancing Lake of Two Mountains. Public works have been installing pumps along Saint Charles in Vaudreuil to help prevent any backflow in the stromwater system. A dike was also installed at the end of Hotel-de-Ville Street as a preventative measure.

The good news at this time is that weekend precipitation proved to be less than forecast, with only 8mm of rain and a trace of snow falling at Trudeau Airport. Lake levels remain well-below those observed in both 2017 and 2019. Late Sunday afternoon, levels were reported as being stable, but they are forecast to rise slowly through Tuesday.

The strong cold front that moved across the Montreal region Saturday night, dropped temperatures from summertime warmth on Saturday back to near the freezing point Sunday morning. Montreal reached 23C (73F) Saturday, with some southwestern Quebec locations pushing 25C (77F). Gusty southwest winds reached close to 70km/h. By Sunday morning, the temperature had plunged to 2C (36F) in Montreal, with light rain mixing with and changing to light snow. Monday morning was even colder, with 0C (32F) at Trudeau Airport.

The week ahead looks chilly, but with little in the way of precipitation expected through Friday. Hopefully this will allow rivers to crest across the region and begin lowering.

Metro Montreal region under a Level 3 Flood Watch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

April showers bring May flowers...and spring flooding

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Has spring finally sprung in Montreal?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Another surge of cold air across southern Quebec

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rainy, icy week ahead for southern Quebec

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winter just won't leave Montreal alone!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More snow forecast for Montreal to welcome Spring

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wicked windstorm sweeps province - calmer weather returns to Montreal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Widespread power outages caused by strong winds

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

Wind warning posted for metro Montreal and southern Quebec.

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

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

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

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

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

Montreal to remain on the warm side of powerful storm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More snow on the way for Montreal - warmer air Monday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MORE SNOW!

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

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

Windy, icy day ahead for southern Quebec

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Significant freezing rain event for Montreal on Wednesday

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

STORM UPDATE...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Expect power outages and travel delays on Wednesday.

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

Significant freezing rain possible across the Montreal region by Wednesday

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

Special Weather Statement for significant freezing rain on Wednesday.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Roller coaster temperature ride forecast for Montreal

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

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

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

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

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

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