Keep your pets warm as well this weekend!

Serious Cold over Ontario & Quebec

A biting northwest wind is bringing the coldest air of the season across from the far north, over the Great Lakes and into the St. Lawrence Valley. Currently it is -20C with a windchill of -29C in Kemptville. It will "warm" a few degrees this afternoon but the wind will see that it remains dangerously cold. Windchill Warnings remain in effect for the St. Lawrence Valley today. Some flurry activity occurred as well. This created black ice on many roads.

Yesterday, squalls to the lee side of Lake Erie created a massive pile up on I-90 near Erie, PA. killing one.

Tomorrow- a clipper type system will move through our area with 2-5cm of snow and gusty winds. Behind the storm more cold air will be drawn south. The changeable winds will also cause more snow squalls along the Great Lakes. Travel with great care this weekend and make certain you have warm clothing in case your car breaks down. The cold air will last well into next week.

Polar Vortex set to move south

Sounds scary doesn't it. It should! The coldest air of the season is set to move into Ontario and New York this week. It is already having an effect on our weather as snow squalls developed in the southwest flow ahead of the polar front. 5-10cm of snow fell quickly in a stretch along the 401 from Belleville to Brockville today. Roads are slick and cars are in the ditch.

Further south in New York State, Lake Effect Snow advisories have been posted for St. Lawrence, Franklin and Jefferson Counties. 10-15cm of snow may fall in those locations. Gusty winds and dropping temperatures will occur as well. As the front approaches our area overnight, a shot of 5cm or so of snow may occur in Kemptville and the 416 corridor. Once the front passes very cold arctic air will surge south with temperatures dropping to -25 to -30C on Thursday and Friday mornings.

Winter weather woes

Above: AP Photo of Snow in Southern California. It fell for the first time since 1962. It is spreading east tonight into Texas and the deep South.

Meanwhile AP Photo of ice accumulation on trees and power lines, that has caused scores of power grids to fail across the Midwest US and now the Southeast. Over 60 deaths have now been blamed on the storms. Snow will spread into New England, Eastern Quebec and the Maritimes tonight and Friday.

Bitter Cold in Kemptville
More Winter Weather on the way

The snow of this week will be around for some time to come. Kemptville received about 10cm from Monday's storm with Ottawa 10cm and Montreal and The Seaway closer to 20cm.

The snow was followed by brisk winds and biting cold. This morning Kemptville bottomed out at -27C for our coldest morning in nearly two years. The extended forecast will see more cold air dive south for the weekend. Temperatures will warm slightly with flurries tomorrow and Friday. A general 5cm of snow may accumulate in our regions (Montreal/Ottawa/Kingston) with more across higher terrain and near the snowbelts of Lakes Erie and Huron. As the snow tapers late Friday more arctic air on strong northwest winds will develop. A departing coastal storm that is providing lots of ice across the deep south today will move into the Maratimes this weekend. Heavy snow will fall in New Brunswick and Eastern Quebec.

Next week several clipper systems will bring more light snow, wind and cold to the Great Lakes and Quebec. Winter is here for a little while longer!

Stormy day in Ontario & Quebec

The first snowstorm of the season is upon us. Snow began falling in Kemptville about 5am this morning and will spread east into Quebec as the day progresses. A general 10-15cm snowfall is expected with closer to 20cm along the US border. Freezing Rain and sleet is not out of the question in places. The 401 corridor is not recommended for travel today. If you can delay; tomorrow will be great. Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for the St. Lawrence Valley on both sides of the border and for southwest Quebec. Warnings are also posted for New York & Vermont.

The coldest air of the season will pour in behind the storm with temperatures down to minus 25C by Wednesday morning. More snow is expected later in the week.

The same storm has produced an ice storm from north central Texas into Illinois with power outages reported. In Ohio and Pennsylvania major flooding has occurred.

Winter Storm Watch

A Winter Storm Watch has been posted for the entire St. Lawrence Valley.
Low pressure organizing in the Midwest US will slide along a frontal boundary south of our area Monday. Snow will begin in Kemptville overnight and taper to flurries late Monday. Amounts are tricky as we will be on the fringe of the storm. Ottawa can expect 5-10cm while Kemptville south to the US frontier about 10-15cm.

On the US side watches have already been upgraded to warnings with 10-25cm of snow forecast. It will be a cold snow, unlike what we have had so far this year. Winds will be only about 30km/h throughout the storm. Roads will be icy and slippery. Plan your travel accordingly. Stay tuned for updates....

Potential Northeast
Snowstorm Sunday

As you go about your weekend routine keep and eye on the latest forecast. The front that is expected to slide through Ontario, Quebec and New England will stall south of our area tomorrow. Low pressure will develop in the Ohio Valley and intensify as it moves to the Atlantic Coast. At this time the potential exists for 15 or more cm (6 inches) of snow Sunday into Monday in Eastern Ontario, Ottawa and Montreal. Winds may produce blowing snow as well. It will be very cold - not like recent snow events. Stay tuned for further updates as the forecast becomes more clear.

Blizzard intensifies in
Saskatoon area

The Blizzard affecting central Saskatchewan has Saskatoon and area roads closed. Visibility at the airport has been zero for the last 7 hours with winds over 80km/h and moderate snow.

The following roads are closed according to Sask Highways:

TRAVEL NOT RECCOMENDED west of Yorkton towards Saskatoon, nor for highways north of Yorkton and east towards the Manitoba Border
HIGHWAYS IN WYNYARD AREA ARE TEMPORARILY CLOSED The following highways in the Saskatoon area are temporarily CLOSED due to zero visibility, blowing and drifting snow, and travel not recommended.Hwy 5, 41, 16, 11, 12, 7, 14, 219, 27, 2, 312, 20, 225, 320. North Battleford Area highways are temporarily closed due to zero visibility, blowing and drifting snow, and travel not recommended.
TRAVEL NOT RECOMMENDED In Unity, Kerrobert, Kindersley, Eston and Rosetown areas. #3 Highway East and West of Melfort is CLOSED due to Zero Visibility, Loose Snow, Snow Drifts, Swirling Snow, Drifting Snow, Travel is not recommended in the Tisdale, Nipawin, Melfort and Cumberland House areas.
TRAVEL NOT RECCOMENDED throughout the Prince Albert AreaMeadow Lake Area Highways are temporarily CLOSED due to zero visibility, blowing and drifting snow. Hwy 905 Points North Landing to Black Lake - water across road at km 21...

Blizzard across Saskatchewan
Colder in the east

Could it be that the much anticipated winter of 2006/2007 is finally upon us. The mild weather has had everyone and their sister speculating that Global Warming had reached us finally. This may be the case, too soon to tell, but I have a feeling this particular mild spell is more dramatic and short term in duration then Global Warming will be. Blame this warm spell and wild weather on El Nino.

We enjoyed double digit record highs last weekend, and even though it is -11C in Kemptville today, it really is not as cold as it should be. That is about to change and has already for some parts of the country. A fierce blizzard has closed highways and schools in Alberta and Saskcatchewan today. It will spread east into Manitoba. Meanwhile a storm system is expected to gather strenght in the US southwest and combined with cold air over our area, may provide us with freezing rain and snow into next week. It will definately turn colder next week and stay that way for awhile. Temperatures in Alberta will plummet into the -30C range with some of that cold air spreading east.

Prepare yourself for a shock now by getting out your boots and making sure your car is ready in Ontario and Quebec. It is on the way!!

Photo above is the little snow that fell over the

holiday period, about 12cm on Boxing Day.

Happy New Year everyone.....

Different year, Same weather!

The New Year has arrived with more incredible warmth here in Ontario and Quebec. It is 5C today or about 10-15 degrees above normal. We have had a run of 20-25 days above normal in Eastern Ontario, Northern New York and Southwest Quebec. Temperatures have been well above normal, and will continue that way into this weekend. As a matter of fact forecast highs in the teens Celsius may break all time records for Montreal over the weekend. No cold air or snowstorms are expected for the near future. A slight cool down will occur by Sunday.

Snowmobiles continue to sit idle and the Rideau Canal in Ottawa has no ice on it. We may be looking at an ice free year on the canal if we do not get some cold weather soon.

Black ice may be a problem on roads as evening temperatures sit just near 0C and frost occurs on elevated and shaded surfaces. Several cars hit the ditch this morning.