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.

Partly cloudy skies in Montreal for lunar eclipse early Tuesday

The spectacular full worm moon will turn blood red early Tuesday morning, as a full lunar eclipse occurs here in Montreal. The eclipse will be visible to billions across North America, Australia and Asia. (NASA)

The full worm moon will take on a blood red appearance early Tuesday morning during the full lunar eclipse visible across North America. Here in Montreal, the eclipse will begin at 3:44 AM, becoming partial by 4:50AM and total at 6:27AM. Skies are expected to be partly cloudy in Montreal for viewing, with cold temperatures around -12C (10F). 

Unfortunately here in Montreal, the moon will be close to the horizon during the period of totality, so you will need an elevated, unobstructed location for ideal viewing. Adding to the setting moon, will be the rising sun, set to occur at 6:28AM in Montreal on Tuesday morning. This will effectively put an end to the eclipse at that time. The lunar eclipse occurs as the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the moon's surface.

Meteorological Spring

Did you feel Meteorological Spring arrive Sunday? Hard to with temperatures in the minus teens and windchills in the -20s, along with a dusting of fresh snow to start March. Monday morning was cold as well, -19C (-2F) at Trudeau Airport, with -22C (-8F) at my home on Ile Perrot. Southwest winds will develop Monday up to 40km/h, making it feel brisk outside, as temperatures slowly rise to -7C (19F).

The good news is that very warm weather is on our doorstep. The snow we expected late Tuesday will pass well south of Montreal. We can expect fair weather through Thursday, with above freezing temperatures, starting Tuesday at 1C (34F). We have a chance for some rain and freezing rain along a warm front into Friday morning, that may cause some travel concerns. By Friday afternoon into next weekend and beyond, expect well-above normal high temperatures, soaring into the low teens by next weekend, with a forecast high of 12C (54F) by Saturday.

Much colder weather to start March - but it won't last long

Another 10 to 15cm of snow fell across the Montreal region this past Wednesday. With the cold temperatures experienced this winter, most of the snow remains piled high across suburban neighbourhoods. Much warmer weather is on the way once we move past the next 48 hours, which should help begin to melt away the snow and ice.

February is ending on a spring-like note, as temperatures have soared to 9.2C (49F) here on Ile Perrot and just slightly cooler at Trudeau Airport. While today is the warmest day of the year so far, it is well short of the 2024 record high for the date of 13.8C (56F).

The weather has been windy and warm, with just some scattered light showers along a cold front that crossed the region Saturday morning. Frigid air is set to filter southeast across Ontario and southern Quebec over the next few hours, with temperatures falling to morning lows Sunday of  -10C (14F).

Gusty winds of 40-60km/h Saturday afternoon, will slowly dimmish overnight, with light winds expected Sunday. Some flurries are possible both Saturday night and Sunday. Monday morning will be very cold, with lows around -20C (-4F) expected in Montreal.

Conditions will begin to warm quickly as we start March, with some snow possible Tuesday into Wednesday as low pressure moves south of Montreal. Beyond that into the second week of March, we are expecting well-above normal temperatures, with highs in the upper single digits above freezing. Overnight lows will remain milder than normal as well. Good news for those if would like to see the piles of snow and ice begin to melt away.

Taking a brief look back at February, it was a cold month, but with limited precipitation. The coldest low at Trudeau Airport was -21.5C (-6.7F) on the 8th. The temperature remained below freezing on 22 of the 28 days. In terms of precipitation, we measured 31.4cm of snow and 0.2mm of rain, both below normal for the month, with the main storm track passing either south and west of Montreal, or along the Atlantic Coast. The normal snowfall for February is typical closer to 47cm for Montreal.

After 50 Years - Weatheradio Canada will fall silent

A sad day for weather enthusiasts! My first weather radio purchased by my parents in 1978 at Radio Shack on Wellington Street in Verdun for my 12th birthday. After close to 50 years the radio will fall silent on March 16 as Environment and Climate Change Canada ends Weatheradio Canada broadcasts.

Many readers may not be aware of this, but Environment Canada has been operating a Bilingual 24/7 Weather Radio channel that currently broadcasts over 185 VHF transmitters across the country. The service covers nearly 90 percent of Canada providing detailed weather forecasts, observations, marine forecast and most importantly severe weather warnings. The service broadcasts over the airwaves here in Montreal at 162.550 MHz, from the tower located on Mount Royal.

Environment Canada has decided to end the service on March 16, citing the availability for forecast information and other weather services through their app and website. The obvious problem I see, is that information is not always available in all corners of our country by WIFI or mobile phone. The availability for accurate and timely weather warnings is the biggest concern I have. At a time when our weather is changing rapidly, and in many cases becoming more life-threatening at times, I see great value in continuing this service. In the end, delivering the the urgent message associated with dangerous weather to as may Canadians as possible, should be the end goal.

My mobile weather radio, also purchased from Radio Shack in the 1980's, would later be replaced by two separate mobile scanners in the early 2000's and eventually my mobile phone, as digital replaced crystals. I even had a mobile unit installed in my truck. Even with all the new technology, the service will be sadly missed.

I have been a listener for over 40 years, since my parents bought my first weather radio from Radio Shack in 1978. For the first 20 of those years, whether at home or on vacation, listening to that radio was the first thing I did each morning. I also had travel size versions. The radio was never far from me at any point in the day. The unit you see in the top photo also had a tone alarm that would sound in the case of dangerous weather, mainly thunderstorms in the summer or freezing rain in the winter.

Weatheradio Canada first broadcast in Montreal and 9 other cities in 1976, before spreading across the country, with a high of 230 transmitters. There was a significant upgrade to the digital S.A.M.E. (Specific Message Area Encoding) technology in 2004. Originally, the forecasts were actually broadcast by Meteorologists. However in the early 2000's computer generated voices took over. At one point, the service was deemed so important by Environment Canada, they were quoted as saying, "It is as important as having a smoke detector in your home." Apparently not anymore.

While mobile phones and the internet have made information readily available through alternate sources, having this duplication of services, such as weather warnings, would be well worth the continued investment.

On a personal note, Weatheradio Canada is a big reason I have been a weather enthusiast my entire life. The radio taught me lots about meteorology, not to mention being fluently bilingual in weather terms. I'm  also a regular listener to NOAA Weather Radio, which is operated by the National Weather Service from Burlington, Vermont on 162.400 MHz. NOAA operates 1000 transmitters covering all 50 states. Thankfully that option will remain, but only for those located close to the international border.

Others across the rest of Canada who rely on Weatheradio Canada, will need to look elsewhere for their daily forecasts and weather warnings.

Marine forecasts will continue to be broadcast over Canadian Coast Guard Radio at 161.65 MHz in English and 161.75 MHz in French.

Powerful East Coast storm bypasses Montreal

Heavy snow has virtually shut down east coast cities from Washington to Boston. (NYPD Photo)

UPDATE - Tuesday, February 24: The monster Nor'Easter is now pushing into Newfoundland as skies slowly clear across the region. Amounts were beyond impressive, surpassing those of the famous Blizzard of 78. Providence, Rhode Island received a record-breaking 38 inches (96.5cm) of snow in less than 24 hours. To put that into perspective, here in Montreal our seasonal snowfall stands at 168cm (66 inches), but that is since November 1st. This has been a winter of small snowfalls for Montreal, the largest 24-hour snowfall was only 11cm (4.3 inches) on December 10. 

Winds gusted to hurricane-force, over 125km/h across coastal New England. Power was out to over 500,000 across the region. Air travel was greatly affected, with over 11,000 flights cancelled, rippling across North America.

The storm also hit Atlantic Canada late Monday and overnight, with winds topping 100km/h and 25 to 40cm of snow. 

Previous Post: An absolute monster of a storm is moving along the northeast Atlantic Coast Monday morning, producing blizzard conditions from Delaware to Nova Scotia. The central pressure has tumbled down to sub 970mb, making it the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane. The Nor'Easter is a marvel on satellite, while on the ground, heavy snow and strong winds have closed down the northeast and southern New England.

Here in the St. Lawrence Valley, we remain on the extreme northwest cloud shield of the massive storm. Montreal will experience clouds most of the day, along with a biting northeast wind up to 50km/h. Temperatures will flirt with the freezing mark, but that wind will make it feel raw. Skies will clear briefly Tuesday, before another weather system, this time from the Great Lakes, brings us more snow Wednesday.

Friday nights system produced 6cm of snow officially at Trudeau Airport, while I measured a good 10cm on Ile Perrot.

The storm is a masterpiece on satellite images Monday morning, resembling a hurricane, with the deep 970mb center lying southeast of Long Island, New York. The classic comma shaped storm extends from Nova Scotia to the Bahamas. Montreal remains on the extreme northwest edge, with high clouds and gusty northeast winds being the only weather we will see from this system. (NOAA)

The east coast storm will lift northeast today towards Atlantic Canada offshore waters, while weakening slightly. Heavy snow will continue from New York to Maine, with 40-60cm possible. Less snow is expected in Nova Scotia, with 15-25cm possible. Some locations across the middle Atlantic are already flirting with 50cm (20 inches), including Newark Airport at 45cm (18 inches). The snow has been accompanied by thunder and lightning along the coast.

Schools are closed, travel bans are in effect, thousands of flights have been cancelled from Washington to Boston. Winds with the storm are gusting to hurricane force, in excess of 100km/h at many locations. In addition to the snow and wind, powerful waves and a storm surge are inundating coastal areas with 2-3 feet of water. Over a half million customers are without power across the region. Many states including New York and New Jersey had issued a state of emergency prior to the storms arrival. A travel ban is in effect statewide in Rhode Island,

Another round of snow for Montreal Friday - decent weather for the weekend

The burst of snow expected Friday evening will be similar to that which fell on February 10. The snow will be short-lived, lasting just a few hours, with perhaps 5-10cm expected for Montreal and point south and west. Less is forecast north and east of the city, including Laval. (Valley Weather Photo)

While the weather was relatively tame and mild over the last week in Montreal, the same could not be said for many other parts of North America. A wild low pressure area combined with cold air from northern Canada to produce a windy weather system that spread across the Rockies into the Plains and Prairies, Ohio Valley and Great Lakes. That system is set to bring us a burst of snow Friday evening.

Clouds will increase early Friday as a warm front lifts across the eastern Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Valley. The front will stall to the south of Montreal, with precipitation overrunning it late in the day. Snow will develop by the evening commute and taper off overnight. The event will be similar to one that occurred on February 10. Accumulations will be in the 5 to 7cm range for the Island of Montreal, with 10-15cm from the off-island communities to the southwest, towards Cornwall, Ontario. Lesser amounts are expected northeast of Montreal, with no snow expected as you head towards Quebec City.

For Montreal and points south and west, roads will become snow covered and slippery late this afternoon and tonight with significantly reduced visibility. That includes the 20/401 corridor to Cornwall and the 40/417 highways to Ottawa.

South of Montreal, up to 20cm is possible in upstate New York. Winter Storm warnings and Advisories are in effect for regions south of the border, with a Special Weather Statement in Ontario.

In Montreal, temperatures will warm to -2C (29F) today, before falling back to -8C (18F) overnight. Gusty northeast winds will develop north of the warm front across the St. Lawrence Valley, reaching speeds of 30-50km/h. Those winds combined with falling snow will reduce visibility across southwestern Quebec this evening. 

The weekend will be variable, with partly sunny skies Saturday and perhaps a few flurries Sunday. Temperatures will be seasonable, with highs between -3C (27F) and -5C (23F) and lows of -8C (18F).

Above freezing temperatures finally forecast for Montreal

Snowy scene on St. Joseph Blvd on Ile Perrot late Tuesday, February 10. The quick hitting storm made a mess of the evening commute in Montreal. Heavy snow fell for several hours, with 7-12cm accumulating across the region between 3pm and 9pm. That brought the monthly total up to 12.4cm at Trudeau Airport, with 163cm measured so far this season since November 1, 2025. (Valley Weather Photo)

It was another cold morning in Montreal on Friday, with temperatures dropping to -15C (5F). Today will mark the 28th consecutive day below freezing in the city. There is some hope on the horizon.

Skies will be sunny today, with a high near -5C (23F). A weak clipper system will pass just south of Montréal tonight, producing a few flurries, with perhaps a dusting to 1cm in some locations. The weekend at this time looks sunny, along with warming temperatures. By Sunday we may approach the freezing point.

Even milder air will arrive on southwest winds Monday and Tuesday, along with perhaps a few showers. Highs will be near plus 5C (41F) on both Tuesday and Wednesday. 

To date winter 2025/26 has produced 163cm of snow at Trudeau Airport. The most bewildering statistic from Environment Canada for me, is that only 14cm of that snow officially remains on the ground at Trudeau Airport. Ignoring all the massive piles of snow around the city, I took to my fresh untouched backyard with a yardstick and measured close to 40cm on the ground in several undisturbed spots. I'm sure your backyard has just as much snow if you live anywhere in the metro Montreal region.

By comparison, Ottawa International Airport has measured 171.3cm of snow this winter and is reporting 50cm still on the ground. This is a much more accurate representation of the winter to date, especially considering that we have been below freezing for the last month, with very little melting observed. I question the accuracy or location chosen for the Montreal measurement, as it seems to not be representative of the city wide average

Looking ahead briefly to the end of February, we see colder air returning. While the air does not look frigid, it will certainly be cold enough for snow. There will also be several opportunities for measurable snow through the end of the month. Don't put the shovel away just yet.

Speaking of cold, Thomsen River in the Northwest Territories was -48.6C (-55.5F) on Friday morning, the coldest spot in the country.