Storm across southern Saskatchewan

A spring storm is expected to dump 10-15cm of snow across the extreme southwest portions of Saskatchewan tonight into Thursday. Hardest hit will be the Cypress Hills.

While Gravelbourg will be on the edge of the precipitation shield it will be affected by strong winds. Winds are expected to increase to the 50-70km/h range across the southland with gusts to 90km/h. Blizzard conditions may develop across the area closest to the Alberta border.

Winds and precipitation should subside from west to east early Thursday morning. Keep in mind that even where the rain falls, it may end as a period of wet snow Wednesday night, creating slick roads. Travel west into Alberta is not recommended tonight and tomorrow.

Cluster of storms along the 416 corridor into upstate New York...

First Thunderstorms of season

A big cluster of thunderstorms along a warm front is pushing into the North Grenville area this morning. A quick 10-15mm of rain with frequent lightning and thunder will occur east from the 416 towards Montreal till about noon. Lightning has already killed one person in Ontario this season. Remember to take cover when storms approach.

Heavy snow along the 416 at 6pm Saturday... PHOTO J. O'Halloran

Surprise Snow pounds 416 Corridor

A wild snowsquall produced low visibilities in heavy snow from Ogdensburg to Kemptville yesterday afternoon around the supper hour. Rain was forecast, but the squall moved in rapidly surprising most motorists, including me. I rarely get caught off guard. A forecast high of 7C with rain assured me of a safe trip to Watertown, NY. The day started with a brilliant sunrise, but rain began at noon, and then winds switched to the east and the air cooled just enough for one of the heaviest shots of snow in this area all winter. From 5-10cm coated everything and it fell in under two hours. Numerous cars hit the ditches.

A more springlike high of 8C with showers and thunderstorms is expected tomorrow and Tuesday will be even warmer, near 20C in Ontario.

Above: Kemptville this morning...Most of the snow melted by 4pm.

The Canadian Coast Guard ship the Martha L. Black, a light icebreaker based in Quebec City today traveling towards Montreal after going through the locks in Iroquois, Ontario on the St. Lawrence River. First commercial ship traffic to begin this Wednesday.

Photo J. Morin

Happy Spring!!!!!!!

Vernal Equinox, 8:07 P.M. EDT
The word equinox is derived from the Latin words meaning "equal night." The vernal, or spring, equinox is the point at which the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator from south to north, signaling the beginning of nature's renewal in the Northern Hemisphere...Old Farmers Almanac

St Patrick's Day Storm...

Snow is tapering off across the area with another 1-5cm expected in the area. Snow began in Kemptville around 9pm last night with the official measurement at 9cm. I have measured close to 15cm on my property so I am not sure why the big difference. In any event 15-25cm fell in most areas with winds of between 30-70km/h. Above and below are photos from this morning of the "9cm" of fresh snow, you be the judge.

Late Winter storm to slam area

A major storm system developing over the Mid-Atlantic Sates will move towards Boston overnight tonight. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for all of eastern Ontario excluding Ottawa, southern Quebec including Montreal, upstate New York and all of Vermont. Snow and blowing snow will overspread the area by 8pm and accumulate 15-25cm in most areas with 10-15cm in the Ottawa area. The snow will taper off Saturday afternoon. Already travel is being harshly affected in the northeast and expect more delay and cancellations in air travel. This comes on the heals of numerous flight cancellations from fog on Wednesday, ah March!

The snow will hamper Montreal's St Patrick's Day parade on Sunday, but the parade has seen major snow in the past. The storm is affecting the area very close to the anniversary of the March super storm in 1993.

If you can postpone travel Saturday please do so in southern Quebec and the 401 corridor.

The last of the Ice Fishing on the St. Lawrence River near Long Sault.

Photo: ValleyWeather

Warm temperatures and Flooding

Rapid & record warmth is melting the snow pack in a hurry. Area rivers are on the rise. A Flood Watch has been posted for upstate New York and New England. Adding to the flood potential is a slow moving cold front sagging south that is producing showers and the first thunderstorms of the season over Ontario and New York. 15-20mm of rain with isolated heavier amounts is possible over the next 24 hours. The temperature this morning in Kemptville was a warm 9C we are currently 12C, well above normal. Most of our snow disappeared overnight.

Speaking of snow, much colder air and low pressure developing over the US may provide us with a period of heavy wet snow Friday and Saturday. Forecasters use several computer models to help them prepare the forecast for any given area. All the models are proposing different scenarios at the moment, so there is not much confidence with the forecast. Stay tuned - updates to follow.

Spring has Sprung!

Spring is definitely making its presence known across most of southern Canada. Strong southwest winds in Saskatchewan pushed the mercury to the 20C mark in Maple creek, Gravelbourg and Assiniboia. Most of the snow is gone, and a dry southwest wind of 80-100km/h raced through the area. Peak gust was 102km/h in Maple creek.

The wind and record heat, 98F in Riverside California yesterday, fueled wildfires across southern California with fears of a long dry fire season in the west.

Meanwhile Ontario and Quebec are warming up. The mercury should be close to 10C today in many areas with near 20C in Windsor.

But.....

A strong cold front will bring us back to reality by Friday, with dare I say snow in the air...more on that later.

BIG Warm-up on the way

After the record setting cold of the last two nights a significant warm up is underway. It was -28C Wednesday morning, -26C yesterday and this morning in Kemptville. The transition will be marked by a little Freezing Rain in the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Valley's overnight. I have put the Special Weather Statement below. After the freezing rain, it will be mild right through next week with off and on showers. We could reach as high as 10C by mid-week.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA ONTARIO REGION. 4:34 AM EST FRIDAY9 MARCH 2007.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT ISSUED FOR...
BANCROFT - BON ECHO PARK CITY OF OTTAWA GATINEAU PRESCOTT AND RUSSELL CORNWALL - MORRISBURG HALIBURTON RENFREW - PEMBROKE - BARRY'S BAY ALGONQUIN.

A WARM FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL BE MOVING OVER THESE REGIONS FRIDAY NIGHT. AT THIS POINT IT IS EXPECTED THAT PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN AS SNOW OVERNIGHT AND SWITCH TO RAIN SATURDAY MORNING. THERE IS HOWEVER THE RISK OF SEVERAL HOURS OF FREEZING RAIN IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BEFORE THE TRANSITION TO ABOVE FREEZING TEMPERATURES IS COMPLETE. ENVIRONMENT CANADA IS MONITORING THE SITUATION CLOSELY AND WILL ISSUE A FREEZING RAIN WARNING FOR THE APPROPRIATE AREAS IF AND WHEN IT BECOMES NECESSARY. LISTEN FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY ALSO BE FOUND BY CONSULTING THE LATEST PUBLIC FORECAST. http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/city/pages/on-74_metric_e.html

Numerous accidents across region...

There were scores of accidents yesterday as high winds and squalls created white outs across Ontario. The picture above was taken by the Editor of The Iroquois Chieftain, Joe Morin along Highway 2 between Morrisburg and Iroquois. It had to be closed after several cars hit the ditch.

There were serious accidents north of Toronto as well where 75 cars were involved in a pile up on highway 400. Numerous injuries, some serious occurred.

The wind ushered in the coldest air of the season. It was -26C in Kemptville this morning with wind chills approaching -40C

Temperatures to plummet...

An Arctic front is on our doorstep this morning. The front just to the west of Ottawa at 7am will dive south and east across the forecast district today with temperatures dropping to -25 by Tuesday morning, and winds increasing. About 5cm of snow will accompany the front in heavy bursts along with 70km/h winds. The winds will persist into the evening producing cold windchill values and blowing snow. If travelling today be prepared for changeable weather. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the mountains across New York and Vermont. Lake Effect Snow Advisories are posted for the lee of the lakes. Windchill Advisories are also posted for southwest Ontario including the GTA.

The high school in Enterprise, Alabama was destroyed yesterday...

Powerful Storm moves east

What a storm system, it was not bad right here in Kemptville, only about 10cm of ice and snow fell, but it had far reaching effects elsewhere. The storm produced a terrible amount of severe weather across the US south including Alabama. In Enterprise (Above) the twisters struck a school killing 8 students. The toll across the south from storms has exceeded 20. It has been an awful start to the severe weather season in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi among other states.

In our area 10-20cm of sleet and ice and snow coated roads producing hundreds of accidents, several fatal. The 401 was closed in Kingston and again near Prescott because of serious accidents. The snow has moved east for the most part and is now over Montreal where it will end shortly. Winds were reported in the 30-50km/h range with the storm, however peak gusts of 85km/h were reported in North Bay and Toronto Island. Over 45mm or rain fell in Windsor/Detroit and thunder was reported as well.

Ice was falling off of the CN Tower this afternoon creating a very dangerous situation.

Only snow squalls and flurries will remain for the weekend. Icy patches still exist across Ontario so travel with care.

Highway 44 in North Grenville was icy today....

Winter Storm on our doorstep

The much talked about Winter Storm in as far east as Kingston at 3pm. Snow, sleet and Freezing rain has been falling across all of southwest Ontario with icing problems occurring. The snow will begin in Kemptville by about 9pm and into Montreal close to midnight. By morning amounts in the 10cm range could be on the ground with another 10cm on Friday. Winds will be a factor out of the east at 40-60kn/h and gusting over 70km/h in Montreal. Expect travel to be difficult on Friday. North/South roads like highway 13 and 15 will be difficult as will be the 401 between the Ontario border and Belleville.

Avoid travel if at all possible on Friday. It is always difficult to predict how much snow will fall in Kemptville, as we saw with the last storm. Best bets are that the heaviest snow will fall over Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec between Montreal, Ottawa and Cornwall. Checking with area weather offices the consensus seems to be for 15-25cm storm totals by Saturday morning.

Click on this link for updated warnings...Winter Storm Warnings are posted for all of our areas around the two provinces and upstate New York.