Winter weather returns to Montreal to start the holidays

A clipper system brought a slushy 1-3cm of snow to southern Quebec on Wednesday evening. Another shot of snow Friday, followed by the coldest air of the season, will likely result in a white Christmas for Montreal. This has been rather difficult to obtain in recent years, with six of the last ten years officially green at Trudeau Airport. Environment Canada defines a white Christmas as at least 2cm of snow on the ground at 7AM on December 25.

Expect another shot of light snow for Montreal late Friday into early Saturday, followed by the coldest air of the season to date this weekend.

With Christmas and the holidays right around the corner, colder weather is on the way as early as Thursday. But will it last?

The reality of the fall and winter season this year as it was in 2023, is that we cannot sustain cold air for very long. The result has been above to well-above normal temperatures, interrupted by a day or two of cold weather.

We experienced that this week, with the coldest air of the season to date arriving last weekend, followed by temperatures soaring to nearly 8C (48F) on Tuesday, with rain. So far this month, as a result of the mild temperatures, we have had 46.8mm of rain, with only 24.2cm of snow falling at Trudeau. Only a trace of snow fell in the city in November. Very little remains on the ground.

That brings us to the current forecast and any hopes for a whiter Christmas. A clipper system moved south of the province on Tuesday, with a messy mix of rain and snow in Montreal. In the end, a slushy 1-3cm of snow fell, that has since frozen Thursday morning as temperatures fall quickly behind the system. We will drop to -8C (17F) late Thursday afternoon, and -12C (10F) by Friday morning.

WINTER SOLSTICE

Winter officially arrives at 4:21 AM Saturday morning, and with it will be coldest air of the season so far as temperatures drop to -18C (0F) or colder for morning lows and struggle into the minus teens for daytime highs. The cold will be accompanied by gusty northwest winds and biting windchill values. On Friday, we can expect another 2-4cm of snow as a second clipper system slides to the south of Montréal.

This low will eventually merge with a developing coastal low bringing Atlantic Canada a significant storm.

For Christmas and the holidays, southern Quebec can expect a warming trend once again, with highs approaching the freezing point in Montreal by Boxing Day. While no major storms are on the horizon currently, there will be some nuisance precipitation for most of next week.

Heavy rainfall warning posted for southern Quebec

An icy glaze coats the trees and roads early Tuesday morning after close to 9mm of mixed precipitation fell on the Montréal region overnight. More rain is on the way over the next 24-36 hours. (Valley Weather Photo)

Freezing Rain Warning through 11AM.

Heavy Rain Warning Wednesday.

Storm one is nearly done for Montreal, storm two is on the way.

We still have some very light freezing rain and drizzle around southern Quebec Tuesday morning, making for a slippery commute. Late Monday and overnight, close to 9mm of precipitation fell on the city, first as snow and blowing snow, followed by freezing rain since midnight. Temperatures remain stubbornly below freezing in the St. Lawrence Valley, currently -2C (29F) here on Ile Perrot. The freezing rain should end by noon as temperatures warm to a high of 4C (39F).

A heavy rainfall warning goes into effect this evening for Montreal and the Eastern Townships, with flood watches across Vermont and parts of New England. Deepening low pressure will lift from the middle Atlantic states across New Hampshire and into southern Quebec on Wednesday. The storm will draw in deep Atlantic moisture, producing heavy rain across our regions. The combination of heavy rain, melting snow and frozen ground, will create significant runoff and rises in area lakes and rivers. At this time 25-50mm is forecast through early Thursday. As the storm moves north of our region, cold air will filter in chaning any leftover rain to snow. A few centimetres are possible.

As temperatures drop on Thursday, we can expect very icy conditions. In addition to the heavy rain, winds will begin to increase, especially on Thursday, gusting up to 70km/h at times.

Stormy weather week ahead for the St. Lawrence Valley

Between 10 and 20cm of snow fell across the Montreal region Saturday night and early Sunday morning as the first widespread storm of the season moved across southern Québec. After a breezy, cold Monday, more snow, freezing rain and rain is on the way for the balance of the work week.

Expect difficult driving conditions at times this week, with a wide variety of precipitation and highly changeable temperatures across the region.

We can expect a brief break on Monday between the 10 and 20cm of snow that fell over the weekend and our next storm system rapidly on the horizon. It will be a very stormy week here in southern Quebec. The temperature roller coaster will persist as warm and cold air continues to battle over our region. After a cold, windy day Monday, with a high of -5C (23F), temperatures will rise on Tuesday, well-above freezing to 4C (39F).

Before then however, we can expect a burst of moderate snow right around the evening commute Monday, as a warm front lifts northeast across the region. The snow will certainly have an impact on the rush hour drive in Montreal, with as much as 5cm of snow this evening. As temperatures rise overnight, the snow will mix with and change to freezing rain in the St. Lawrence Valley, with a couple of millimetres of ice accretion possible. The freezing rain will taper off to showers Tuesday morning. Expect icy roads for the Tuesday morning commute.

Streets were snow covered across the Montreal region in the pre-dawn hours Sunday morning, but quick work by Transport Quebec and contractors, as well as milder temperatures Sunday, quickly melted the snow from most roads.

On Wednesday, a more impactful storm system is forecast to develop along the eastern seaboard and deepen rapidly as it moves north across New England and into Quebec. Heavy rain is forecast, with as much as 25mm for many locations in southern Quebec including Montreal. Temperatures will be very mild with the system, up to 5C (41F), so expect lots of melting and ponding of water. Some minor flooding is possible, especially south and east of the city and across Vermont and parts of New York State.

Further west in the Ottawa Valley, less rain is expected, but more snow may fall as that region drops below freezing earlier on Wednesday.

Another component of the storm will be strong winds, gusting up to 70km/h at times. As the storm moves northeast of Montreal, a strong cold front will sweep east bringing much colder temperatures along with a rapid freeze as any leftover rain changes to snow Wednesday night.

Thursday will be windy and colder with clearing skies, a brief break again before yet another storm arrives next weekend with more precipitation.

Another round of snow for Montreal & southern Quebec

Winter driving conditions are back across southern Quebec and the Montreal region, with another 10-15cm of snow forecast Saturday night, followed by more snow and freezing rain for the week ahead.

Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Valley, with snowfall warnings for the Laurentians and Gatineau regions.

A potent Alberta Clipper will move across southern Quebec late Saturday into Sunday morning, with a quick burst of moderate snow. The snow is already spreading across eastern Ontario and should arrive in southern Quebec over the next few hours. Expect a quick 10cm of snow for most locations, including Montreal, with as much as 15cm across the Laurentians and Ottawa Valley.

Roads will become snow covered and slippery Saturday night, and visibility will lower to under a kilometre or two in moderate snow at times. Expect conditions to improve Sunday morning as temperatures rise close to the freezing point and precipitation tapers off to drizzle. 

The weather will remain very active this week, as several storm systems and frontal boundaries traverse the region. We are looking at a messy mix of precipitation across the area, with more snow, freezing rain and rain likely. The time frame to watch for mixed precipitation will be late Monday and again Wednesday evening. The entire mess will freeze up Thursday behind a cold front as temperatures drop.

Winter driving is certainly back so plan for a slippery week ahead at times, starting Saturday evening.

Finally the first snow of the season for Montreal

A snowy scene along Senneville Road after the first snowfall of the season on Thursday morning.

Snow has finally fallen across the Montreal region, with between 5 and 10cm accumulating for most locations in southern Quebec since late Wednesday. The snow was wet in nature, mostly falling overnight and into the Thursday morning commute. This guaranteed long travel times to work for many, with it taking no less than 45 minutes for me just to leave Ile Perrot this morning.

Plows and salters have done the job, and mild temperatures are helping melt the snow on most primary roads. However as temperatures drop this evening and winds increase, I expect we will have some slick spots around southern Quebec for the afternoon commute into the evening hours.

The snow has tapered off for the moment, as low pressure skirts along the international border and towards Atlantic Canada today. Temperatures are rather mild in Montreal, and should remain close to the freezing point for most of the day. A potent arctic boundary will arrive later this afternoon, accompanied by some snow squall activity. While the precipitation should be brief in nature, there may be some moderate snow falling along the front.

The commute was long for many Thursday morning as the first snow of the season fell across the Montreal region.

Winds will also increase along and behind the front, gusting in excess of 50km/h at times in Montreal. Temperatures are expected to fall quickly behind the boundary, down to -7C (19F) tonight, and remaining there on Friday. The end of the week will be cold and blustery, feeling like mid-winter, but it will be short-lived, with milder weather and even some mixed precipitation or rain returning by Monday.

The aforementioned arctic front is creating havoc across the Great Lakes region Thursday morning. Winds are gusting close to 100km/h across parts of northeast Ohio, Michigan, New York and Ontario, along with heavy snow and near-blizzard conditions at times for some.

Another round of lake effect snow will ramp up today into Friday, making travel difficult, if not impossible across several regions. This will impact Highways 401 and 403 in Ontario, as well as Interstates 81 and 90 in New York. Keep this in mind if you have travel plans south and west of Montreal. Some of the same locations that received over 100cm last weekend will be impacted again. The weight of the snow has caused damage to structures and trees across the lake effect zones.

Winter trying to return to Montreal - epic Great Lakes storm hammers NY & Ontario

A New York State Police vehicle blocks the entrance to a snow covered road in western New York, after an epic lake effect snowstorm dumped feet of snow on the region over the weekend. Montreal was left with only a few flakes around and little more. (New York State Police)

An Alberta Clipper type storm will skirt along the International border Wednesday into Thursday bringing gusty winds and the first significant snowfall of the season to Montreal.

While we are counting snowfall in flakes, parts of the Great Lakes were counting in metres! Over the weekend, arctic air flowing over the wide open and warm Great Lakes, produced epic amounts of snowfall to the south and east of the lakes. Off Lake Huron, close to 140cm of snow fell along provincial highway 11, stranding hundreds of motorists. The highway is slowly being reopened this morning after OPP and crews removed the abandoned vehicles. The weight of the snow also caused problems with power lines, trees and in some cases roofs of homes.

A dusting of snow on Ile Perrot Monday morning, as most of the lake effect remained well to our south and west over New York and Ontario.

Meanwhile south of the border it was much of the same from northwest Pennsylvania into western New York where 4 to 6 feet of lake effect snow piled up from Erie, towards Buffalo and along Interstate 81 in Watertown. There as well, thousands of cars and trucks were stuck for hours along the New York State Thruway.

More lake effect snow is on the way this week. While here in southern Québec, a few weak frontal boundaries, such as the one early Tuesday morning, have resulted in scattered snow showers. Depending where you are on the Island of Montreal, the ground may be white. The net result has been just a trace to perhaps a centimetre. Despite the light amounts, the nature of the snow falling on relatively warm surfaces, has created lots of black ice and the typical response from drivers. There have been many accidents across both eastern Ontario and southwestern Quebec since Sunday.

The bottom line, slow down, make sure you have winter tires on and that your windows are clear of snow and ice. Prepare for winter driving as we can expect accumulating snow Wednesday.

A quick moving low pressure system will move across the Great lakes and into southern Quebec on Wednesday. Mild, moist air flowing north along the track will result in a period of snow for the city starting late Wednesday. Montreal and most of southern Quebec can expect 5-10cm, with perhaps lose to 15cm locally. Accompanying the system will be gusty winds, up to 50km/h, producing some blowing snow, especially Thursday as temperatures drop behind the storm. Expect snow covered rods and slow commute times for Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning.

Winter storm sliding south of Montreal across New England

Snow is falling south of Montreal across the Adirondacks and Green Mountains on this Thanksgiving Thursday in the US. So far the storm system is producing mainly light rain here in the St. Lawrence Valley. If you have travel plans south today, expect winter driving conditions. (New England 511)

Widespread weather warnings are in effect across New England today as a messy winter storm brings precipitation to our regions. 

A strengthening winter storm is forecast to move across southern New England on Thursday and into Atlantic Canada. The storm will spread a messy mix of snow and rain across the region during the busy US Thanksgiving Day travel period.

Already this morning, snow is falling in Vermont and New York, with widespread accumulations of 15-25cm forecast, especially across the higher elevations. Temperatures are just above freezing in the valley locations, including Montreal at 2C (36F), where light rain is occurring. The rain will gradually mix with and change to some light snow later today, with minimal accumulation expected in the Montreal region, perhaps a dusting north of the city. Up to 5cm is possible across the Eastern Townships tonight.

Behind the storm, the coldest air of the season thus far will pour across the Great Lakes turning on the snow machine. Widespread warnings are in effect across Ontario and New York for several feet of lake effect snow through Sunday night.

In southern Quebec we can expect occasional flurries through the weekend, as temperatures gradually cool to below freezing by Monday for daytime highs and lows.

If you have any travel plans today and into the weekend, expect highly changeable weather, from light rain, to heavy wet snow, with low visibility and snow covered roads. Winter is here, so adjust your driving.