Stationary front sparks storms

A stationary front lying along the Ottawa River has been the focus for some big thunderstorms over the last two days. To the south of the front conditions are in the 20's with muggy air. The front is generating these storms which then slide southeast across the river and into Ontario. The result has been heavy rainfall and gusty winds. Some of the storms were affected by the southwest winds blowing south of the front and developed rotation north of Kingston this afternoon. A Tornado Warning was issued but none were reported as of this time.

The front will continue to provide energy and with daytime heating we can expect more storms tomorrow over eastern Ontario and west Quebec.

At this time a Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect for portions of Eastern Ontario including Lanark County and Smiths Falls. More storms are moving south of the front and about to leave the Gatineau Hills and move into Ontario. Stay alert and click on this link for updated warnings...

http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/warnings/son_e.html

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
for:Brockville - Leeds and Grenville Friday, May 25 2:50pm
CONDITIONS ARE FAVOURABLE FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP FROM 3 PM TO 8 PM. THIS IS AN ALERT TO THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS..LISTEN FOR UPDATED STATEMENTS. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES TAKE IMMEDIATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

Snow from the train last Monday near Rimouski, Quebec

Record Heat in Ontario

Well a week that started for me in snow on the Gaspe Peninsula is ending with record heat. Many areas of eastern Ontario surpassed record highs yesterday with temperatures from 31C to 33C. This beat records established in 1991. It was hazy and humid as well. Smog Advisories remain in effect across our area and into New York. The air quality will improve tonight as a cold front sweeps across the area. We can expect some thunderstorm activity along the front.

Saturday will be pleasant with seasonable temperatures. Sunday will be showery with some thunderstorms.

While we were enjoying the hot weather yesterday, portions of Alberta had snow. Calgary awoke to about 5cm of wet heavy snow as did parts of Saskatchewan. Frost was reported across the area last night and this morning.

Cool and damp May long weekend
on tap in the east

As the first long weekend of the year approaches, sadly so will cool air and rain for the east coast. It will be only slightly milder - with partly sunny skies in Ontario, while the southern Prairies will have the best weather.

This week's strong cold front and low pressure area that swept across Ontario with heavy rain, over 30mm in Kemptville, and severe weather in southern Ontario, including an F-0 Tornado, is well south of our area now. Cold air has poured in behind the storm with temperautres as cold as 5C in Kemptville. Snow even fell in Quebec and parts of New Brunswick. The front will stall off the east coast and spawn a coastal storm that will head north into Maine. The storm will assure cool and damp weather for the east through Monday, sad to say!

Severe Thunderstorms
in Eastern Ontario

The first outbreak of severe weather is occurring in Ontario and Quebec. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for all of southeastern Ontario including Lanark, Leeds Grenville and SD&G. Within the watch area severe storms have crossed the St. Lawrence River into the Seaway. The storms should begin to dissipate after sunset.

Keep and eye to the sky this afternoon. Hail and high winds are the main threat with these storms.

A mixed bag of weather

First named storm of season in Atlantic

Greetings weather fans...well it has been awhile since my last entry. I have been busy - with of all things, work! Imagine, that getting in the way of weather. Lots has been happening lately. We have taken on more of a spring and summer like pattern and have thankfully left the snow behind. It is 27C in Kemptville today, our first 80F day of the season.

In the US terrible thunderstorms produced tornadoes over the weekend. There are numerous sites with spectacular images - http://www.tornadochaser.com/ and others.

Also severe flooding is occurring across the Midwest including Missouri and Kansas. The flooding in many cases is the worst since the summer of 1993.

If that was not enough brush fires are burning across the parched state of Florida and it remains dry across the northeast and Great Lakes.

This morning, the first tropical type storm of the season, Subtropical Storm Andrea formed off the southeast coast (see above). The season does not start till June 1, this is not good news, similar to the wild Katrina season of 2005. Waters in the area are around 25C so it should not increase in intensity. It is drifting west at about 3mph with 45mph winds. Some rain and thunderstorms are pushing into the Carolina's with gusty winds from Hatteras to Jacksonville.