Photo by Kevin Farnsworth of PEI Ice Storm

Winter Storm Warning in effect...

Low pressure developing over the deep southern US will move northeast and slide south of the St. Lawrence River tomorrow. Deep moisture accompanying the storm will overspread all areas early tomorrow morning and become heavy at times. A general snowfall of 10-20cm is expected in Kemptville, Ottawa, The Seaway and Montreal before the precipitation mixes with or changes to freezing rain. Winds will be gusty out of the east & southeast at speeds of up to 70km/h. Travel be be extremely difficult in all areas tomorrow.

Another storm on the way...

After the wind and ice of yesterday, another winter storm is poised to hit Ontario Friday. A WINTER STORM WATCH has been posted for all of southern Ontario including Kemptville and southern Quebec as well. Snow will spread from west to east Friday becoming heavy in the afternoon. Freezing Rain and sleet are possible along the 401 corridor. Estimates currently are for 15-25cm of snow. The exact track of the storm will determine where warnings are needed later today. Tomorrow will be another difficult travel day in our area, plan your driving accordingly.

Meanwhile it was -59C in Uranium City, Sask yesterday, not a mistake or with the wind, for the coldest temperature on the continent. The extreme cold will ease in the southern Prairies today.

Above: PEI is in a state of emergency after two days of freezing rain. Power lines, poles and trees have toppled. Power is out to a major portion of the island and shelters have been set up.

Gusts to 100km/h knocked over this truck on the New York State Thruway

Squalls continue...


The winds continue to howl across Ontario and Quebec as well as New York State today. As of 4pm wind warnings remain in effect in Lanark, Leeds and Grenville. Snow squalls have been affecting our area all day with the most intense along the 401 from Cornwall to Trenton. These should subside later today. They are also occurring along I-81 near Watertown and in the Buffalo area. Lake shore flooding that occurred in Buffalo and Niagara has also began to recede as winds taper.

Hydro One is reporting 16,000 without power in the province down from 50,000 earlier today.

Our attention will now turn to the next developing storm that could bring snow to our area by Friday. A general 10-20cm may fall. More details tomorrow morning.

Squalls put down 2-5cm of snow in Kemptville today.

Prescott Street at 9am as the front raced through.

Now the wind and snow

The warm air finally, but briefly invaded Kemptville this morning, not before yours truly took a header on the ice. It was brief however because a line of snow and 60km/h winds has dropped temperatures back below freezing in Kemptville. We are currently at -2C and dropping.

The front has forced OPP to restrict travel across the International Bridges at both Cornwall and Ogdensburg. Trucks that are empty, have tarps, busses, cube vans, or high profiles are not being allowed across at this time.

Impressive winds and temperature drops have occurred along the frontal passage. In Windsor it was plus 9C at midnight and dropped to -13C in a few hours with drifting snow and 65km/h winds. In Port Colborne, the wind howled out of the southwest at more than 125km/h. Warnings remain posted. It will be an icy slow day province wide, so travel with care. Power is also out to over 50,000 homes according to Hydro One.

Below: Kansas City, MO. is in the teens Fahrenheit

while St Louis, MO. hit a record high of 73F.

A profile of a wicked cold front.

School Buses cancelled SD&G and Lanark, Leeds & Grenville
A mix of weather for the region

Cold air remains stubbornly in place this morning over the valley's of eastern Ontario and thus freezing rain continues to fall, in some cases quite heavily along an advancing arctic front. Kemptville is still at 0C and rain has been falling for several hours. The cold front is just to our west with damaging winds increasing to 60-100km/h and gusts to 120km/h expected along the shores of lakes Ontario and Erie.

A 10-15 degree temperature drop accompanies this front along with a rapid freeze and bursts of snow. Plan your travel accordingly today it will be nasty at times on area roads. There were several serious accidents yesterday as motorists did not adjust their speed to the icy roads.

High Wind Warning
Flash Freeze Warning... http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/warnings/report_e.html?onrm90

Flash Freeze and strong winds on the way

Cold air is having a difficult time this evening leaving the valley's of eastern Ontario. Therefore the Freezing Rain Warning remains posted for Ottawa. A new batch of rain from Michigan is sliding east and will enter the area later this evening. The temperature should slowly rise above the freezing mark this evening, briefly. Any precipitation that falls could freeze locally.
Icing this morning led to several serious accidents in the region Travel with care the remainder of the day. By morning a strong arctic front will be racing across Ontario with powerful winds and snow squalls. Winds will be in the 60-110km/h range with 60 or 70km/h winds expected in Kemptville. The front should arrive her by early morning. Behind the front temperatures will plummet to -10C or colder in just a few hours along with biting wind chills. Any snow that falls will be blown around reducing visibilities. The wind is expected to be strong enough to cause damage especially in the St. Lawrence Valley. Wind Warnings have been posted for all regions on both sides of the border as well as a flash freeze warning for southern and eastern Ontario. Travel will be poor especially for the first part of the day.

Freezing Rain & Wind for Kemptville

A Freezing Rain Warning has been posted for Kemptville as a band of precipitation slides east into the area this morning till about 11am or so. The freezing rain should last for several hours across the region. As the warm front lifts north any precipitation will taper to showers.

A strong arctic cold front will begin crossing the area overnight tonight and be accompanied by 60-100km/h winds and some snow. The front will be similar to the wind storm on January 9th that cut power to over 250,000 homes in the province. It should reach Kemptville by mid morning. Behind the front temperatures will plummet to -10C by the end of the day.

Blizzard across Prairies
Kemptville in store for freezing rain then wind

An arctic cold front is racing across the Prairies today with tremendous temperature drops and blizzard conditions. Winds are gusting to 70km/h producing white out conditions and dangerous wind chills. 5-10cm of snow is falling with this system. It has dropped from plus 2C in Swift Current to -28C with a windchill of -47C. The dangerous front is racing across Saskatchewan after plunging Alberta into the arctic deep freeze. Temperatures are in the middle -30's in Alberta. Next in line will be Manitoba where warnings have been posted.

The leading edge of the system will bring Freezing Rain to parts of Ontario tomorrow. Warnings are expected to be posted in our area shortly after being issued for central and southern Ontario at 3pm. The rest of the week will be active with a strong windstorm possible along the arctic boundary on Wednesday followed by snow Friday. The winds may be as strong as the January 9th windstorm that produced damage, accidents and power outages.
Stay tuned for more exact details later this evening or early tomorrow morning. Watch the links on the left for any WARNINGS.

The wreckage on the 401 westbound at Morrisburg, ON as captured by our

Iroquois Chieftain Editor Joe Morin. More photos will be in next weeks issue.

401 accident claims life of driver

A nasty accident on the 401 has claimed the life of a truck driver. The wreck involved 5 transports just after midnight this morning in the 401 westbound lanes 3km from Morrisburg. OPP are on the scene and the highway is closed between Mosrrisburg and Iroquois indefinitely. Detours are in place on County Road 2. Investigators are on the scene. The weather at the time was clear and cold. No other details are available at this time.

Kemptville yesterday in 10cm of snow

Lake Snows slide south


The heavy lake effect snows that had closed the 401 yesterday and gave over 10cm (4 inches) of snow to Kemptville, have slipped south of the border and are centered over southern Jefferson and northern Oswego Counties. The band, according to National Weather Service spotters, has dumped over 2 feet of snow on Redfield and other towns in the county today alone. Totals will reach over 3 feet under the most persistent bands. Travel is not advised within the band area including Interstate 81 south of Watertown and north of Syracuse. Warnings are out for the entire Lake Ontario shoreline on the US side.

Highway 401 CLOSED

The eastbound lanes of Highway 401 are closed from Cobourg for almost 200km east to Gananoque because of heavy snow and white out conditions in snowsqualls off Lake Ontario. The OPP have reported over 100 accidents so far.

The complete story is at...
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=b6e4095b-2233-4c82-b7aa-2d4da86a9d8b&k=42045

Steady snow moving
into Leeds Grenville at this hour...

Heavy snow and squalls are moving northeast of Lake Ontario and into our region at this hour. Radar is showing intense streamers with heavy snow and even some lightning. Winds are expected to increase to southwest at 40-60km/h and will cause blowing snow and reduced visibilities. The following was issued by Environment Canada for our area...

BLOWING SNOW WARNING for:Brockville - Leeds and Grenville
WHITEOUT CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON.
ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA AT 2:46 PM EST TUESDAY 22 JANUARY 2008
AN INTENSIFYING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK EASTWARD ACROSS LAKE HURON TODAY REACHING SOUTHERN QUEBEC BY THIS EVENING. BRISK SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP OVER MOST AREAS THIS AFTERNOON CAUSING BLOWING SNOW. LATEST ANALYSIS AT 2:00 PM IS SHOWING HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WITH VISIBILITIES BELOW 1 KILOMETRE ALONG HIGHWAY 401 BETWEEN OSHAWA AND KINGSTON. THIS AREA OF HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW IS EXPECTED TO PERSIST FOR A FEW MORE HOURS THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE SWEEPS THE HEAVY SNOW ACTIVITY EASTWARD EARLY THIS EVENING. AFTER THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE WESTERLY WINDS AROUND 40 KM/H WILL CAUSE LOCALIZED BLOWING SNOW WITH VISIBILITIES BELOW 1 KILOMETRE EARLY THIS EVENING BEFORE WINDS DIMINISH. IN ADDITION SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS ALONG THE LAKE ERIE SHORELINE FROM LONG POINT TO PORT COLBORNE AND ALSO ALONG THE LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE IN PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY ARE EXPECTED TO SURPASS WARNING THRESHOLDS THIS AFTERNOON REACHING 60 KM/H WITH GUSTS TO 80 KM/H. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DIMINISH THIS EVENING TO BELOW WARNING LEVELS AS THE DISTURBANCE PULLS AWAY EASTWARD. MOTORISTS PLANNING TO TRAVEL IN THESE REGIONS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION AND BE PREPARED FOR DANGEROUS WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS IN WHITEOUT. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE THIS EVENING AS WINDS SHIFT TO WEST.PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST PUBLIC FORECASTS FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

The public works building in Oswego, NY collapsed this morning under the weight of three feet of lake effect snow.

Wild lake effect

snow and bitter cold

It was a weekend of intense lake effect snow in isolated pockets around the Great Lakes. Hardest hit in Ontario was the area off Georgian Bay near Barrie and along the 400 series of highways north of Toronto. Zero visibility in heavy snow caused hundreds of cars to pile into each other closing the 400 for more than 12 hours. Several serious injuries were reported but no deaths. The same conditions forced the closure of Interstate 81 in New York from Watertown south to Syracuse after multiple accidents Sunday afternoon.

Over 3 feet of snow has fallen on Oswego County. The roof of the public works building in Oswego, NY collapsed this morning from the weight of the snow. No injuries were reported, but a state of emergency has been declared. At this hour I-81 is open, but heavy snow is falling from Watertown south for about 50 miles. Travel is not recommended. The squall will slowly drift north tonight and slowly diminish in strength.

Meanwhile low pressure will move into the Great Lakes form the US Midwest tomorrow. While it will warm things up in the temperature department from the bitter cold this weekend, it was minus 25C in Kemptville this morning, a general 5-10cm of snow can be expected in most areas including Kemptville, along with strong gusty southwest winds from 40-60km/h. Travel will be a little challenging at times on Tuesday.

Much colder air for the weekend

The light snow that is falling this morning will end quickly from west to east as the morning progresses. Around 2cm has fallen in the region. Kemptville is above freezing at the moment so the snow is actually melting off vehicles. The cold air will begin mixing down to the surface soon and temperatures should fall below freezing again. It will be windy this afternoon with gusts over 50km/h, so there could be some drifting snow in open areas. Tomorrow another arctic front will move through the area with gusty winds and another 5cm of snow. It could be nasty on the roads with strong winds at times and dropping temperatures. This will be especially true closer to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Valley. The colder air moves in behind that front with temperatures dropping to -20C Saturday and Sunday night before a slight warm up early next week back to normal temperatures. for a day or two.

Winter Storm Warning
for southern Prairies

A sharp arctic front is racing across the southern prairies this morning ushering in some of the coldest air of the season. The front is bringing rapid temperature drops and strong winds. Both Maple Creek and Swift Current dropped from highs of plus 6C early this morning to below freezing within one hour. Winds are gusting to 80km/h and light snow is falling - reducing visibility to near zero in places. The front will race east across Saskatchewan today and into Manitoba tonight. It will arrive in Ontario by Friday with similar results. Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for southwest Saskatchewan today for 5cm of snow and very strong winds with plummeting temperatures. Lows will be near -20C with cold wind chills. Travel is not advised.

AP Photo of Green Bay, Wisconsin on Saturday during the

Packers 42-20 win over Seattle in a snowstorm.

Kemptville on western

edge of Nor'Easter

Kemptville remains on the western flank of an east coast snowstorm that is dumping 15-25cm of snow from southern New England into the Maratimes today. Light snow has been falling since very early this morning. We can expect a general 3-6cm by the time it tapers off tonight. The steadiest snow is occurring at this hour with some blowing snow. Winds are gusty around the deepening storm and funneling down the St. Lawrence Valley. The winds are gusting at between 30-50km/h, making it feel damp and chilly and blowing the light snow around.

Numerous cars went into the ditches on area highways today. Roads are greasy and icy in many cases. SLOW DOWN and clean off your car. No matter how many times we suggest both these things, many drivers continue to do neither. Adjust your driving to the roads.

The Kemptville Creek is over it banks at Curry Park this morning. A Flood Watch remains in effect for the Rideau River. Freezing rain and rain will taper to showers later today.
Photo S. Balena

School Buses cancelled in SD&G and Leeds/Grenville
Freezing Rain Warning

Winter has returned to the area with snow overnight, about 5cm in Kemptville, that is now in the process of mixing with freezing rain. The culprit is low pressure over Michigan and a warm front east into Quebec. Along the warm front snow and the freezing rain are occurring. I don't expect a large accumulation of ice, but enough to make roads slick. It should all change over to showers by noon with the exception of the upper Ottawa Valley which may have a few extra hours of the freezing rain.

It will be breezy tonight with flurries as the cold front attached to the low slides east. The weekend should be calm before another storm system makes Monday interesting. More on that later.

Galop Canal Road in Iroquois after strong winds toppled trees. ..J. Morin Photo

100,000 without power in Ontario
The wind storm that swept the province earlier today continues to slip east of the region with wind speeds lowering slowly. In its wake is considerable damage and power outages. With numerous trees and power lines down, power is out to over 100,000 Hydro One customers, including over 15,000 in Leeds & Grenville and S D & G Counties. Winds have been reported in the 60-100km/h range. The bridge from Prescott, ON to Ogdensburg, NY has been reopened after being closed for several hours after a tractor trailer nearly tumbled over the side, knocked over by the strong winds. Winds should slowly abate tonight.

Joe Morin Photos of the toppled rig on the

International Bridge over the St. Lawrence

Ogdensburg/Prescott Bridge CLOSED

Wind creates havoc in region

Strong winds of over 100km/h have been racing through the area today creating damage, power outages and accidents. The winds have gusted to 133km/h at Point Petre, 100km/h in the St. Lawrence Valley, 72km/h at Ottawa, 76km/h at Montreal and 60km/h at Kemptville.

The wind knocked over a big rig on the International Bridge between Johnstown, ON and Ogdensburg, NY closing the bridge to all traffic. Edwardsburg /Cardinal FD and officials from both sides of the border are on scene at this hour. The driver is bruised but well.

Iroquois Chieftain editor Joe Morin took the pictures above a little over 1 hour ago. He reports trees down in the region. The Hydro One website is reporting over 10,000 customers without power in the Province but with no exact details. On the New York side of the border, several 18 wheelers have been blown off Interstate 81 and over 75,000 people are without power in western and central New York. Jefferson County State Police are advising no travel in the county till further notice. Schools have been closed as well.

Wind Warning for Leeds Grenville

The bizarre January weather continues this morning. Kemptville is currently 12C only about 25 degrees above normal for a January 9 morning. Ottawa reached 10C yesterday breaking the record for the day set in 1955. It was day two of record highs and record high lows!

I went to bed with snow covered fields and now I wake up the proud renter of lakefront property. Water as far as I can see...with some snow still in banks here and there. The wind is increasing this morning in response to a cold front. Point Petre on Lake Ontario has just reported a wind gust to 133km/h and winds are fierce along the front on both sides of the border. Heavy thunderstorms have also been reported with the front in Buffalo.

A WIND WARNING has been posted for Leeds/Grenville and Lanark for winds in excess of 60km/h with gusts to 90km/h beginning soon/ The warning contiues east into Montreal.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH is in effect for St. Lawrence County in New York including Ogdensburg and the International Bridge area.

A Flood Watch remains in effect for the entire region, some minor flooding is being reported in fields and areas adjacent to waterways.

Fog on the 416 slowed travel...Photo: C. Hofley

What a day...and night!

It is 11C in Kemptville, 13C in Cornwall and 18C in Watertown at 1pm. Feels like mid-April when the sun comes out. It won't last, radar is showing heavy returns across central Ontario, and that thunderstorm and shower activity is moving east. So much snow has melted in the last 24 hours, it is amazing...I believe the National Weather Service office in Watertown used the words "obscene warmth."

I spent most of the overnight unable to sleep and listening to my police scanner following the Kemptville Fire Department as they raced water back and forth to a huge barn fire on South River Road just off Actons Corners Road. What a job they did shuttling water back and forth from Kemptville to the fire scene with the help of the Merrickville FD, Edwardsburg/Cardinal FD and Ottawa FD. The good news was the weather was tame by any standard let alone January. We had some thunderstorm activity earlier in the overnight. Then through the bulk of the fire episode, the fog lifted, the rain stopped and it was almost 10C. The fog and rain moved back in by daybreak.

The Fire Department in town are volunteers who give so much of there energy and time...kudos to you all. We are lucky to have you.

Rain and Fog along the rising Kemptville Creek

Minor flooding possible this week

It is currently plus 8C in Kemptville with rain and fog. The fog will continue through the evening making travel difficult at times, extreme caution is advised.

As far as the rain goes, it will become heavy over the next 24-48 hours as moisture streams north from the southern US. The rain and rapid melting of the record snow pack will cause rises in area streams and lakes. The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority issued a press release that they are monitoring the conditions closely. They are advising people and especially children to stay away from all area waterways. While no major flooding is expected, home owners should monitor the Rideau River closely. With embedded thunderstorms, from 25-50mm of rain is possible over the next few days. Mild weather will continue as well. The entire snow pack many disappear this week, which is incredible considering we had over 50cm on the ground.

A big warm up underway
10th Anniversary of the Ice Storm
January 5-10th, 1998

A major warm up is underway in eastern Ontario this morning. You can actually hear the snow melting. As surprise introduction to the warm air was a quick shot of 5-7cm of wet snow last night in Kemptville that made roads nasty to drive on. The warm air will continue to invade our region till mid-week before a cold front brings us back to reality.

The warmth may reach record levels with highs at or above 10C for the area. Fog and drizzle will occur often as the air remains very moist as a result of the continuous melting.

The Ice Storm: The great Ice Storm is 10 years old already. The storm claimed 35 lives, created hardship for over 4 million people in eastern North America, but especially Ontario and Quebec. Over 3 billion in damages, the costliest natural disaster in Canadian history, 130 transmission towers down and over 120,000km of power and telephone lines needed to be repaired.

Whew, what a storm and I missed it. Only weather people can know how difficult it is for me to talk and write about this subject. When you are into weather you want to be where the action is. Not always possible, so when it comes to you...great. I had lived in Montreal for all my life at the time, 31 years. But just 5 months before the great storm I moved to Saskatchewan for work and had to leave my beloved Montreal. I had to watch from a distance of 3500km as all my family, friends and former co-workers struggled through it. All I wanted to do was be home, as a matter of fact I almost quit my job and came back east. That is a story for another day.

Anyway check out this awesome link by the Montreal Gazette about the Ice Storm...
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/features/frozenintime/index.html

BOIL WATER ADVISORY
FOR KEMPTVILLE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE....

http://www.northgrenville.on.ca/

Here comes the January thaw

Right on schedule a major warm up is underway. At 8pm last night in Kemptville it was -19C, by 6am this morning we are at -4C. Can you say warm front? Along that front a shot of 1-3cm of quite heavy snow fell for an hour or two early this morning. That has passed now and we can expect a mild, partly cloudy day.

Beyond today the warm up will continue with temperatures approaching record levels by the middle of next week. Expect high temperatures to approach plus 10C. The evenings will still be at or below freezing so watch for icy roads. Enjoy the week because it looks colder and snowier by the middle of this month.

Keep in mind we have a tremendous snow pack around, in many cases over 55cm. That will begin to melt quickly, so make sure the sump pumps are working and that sewers and catch basins are clear of ice and snow.

AP Photo of the Day is Sydney Crosby of Pittsburg scoring the winning goal on Ryan Miller in Buffalo, NY before 71,000 fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The New Years Day game was the first regular season NHL game played outside in the US. The weather was pure Buffalo, snow squalls, breezy and dropping temperatures. Pittsburg won the game 2-1.

Blowing snow during yesterday's storm.

Storm Summary...

Another 15-25cm fell across the region yesterday with very strong winds. Today it is bitterly cold with northwest winds over 30km/h and wind chills in the -25 to -30 range. About 20cm of snow fell in Kemptville, with 23cm in Brockville, 25cm in both Montreal and Cornwall and around 15cm in Ottawa. Roads this morning remain snow covered in places and icy. Some blowing snow is occurring as well. There were numerous accidents yesterday across Ontario and Quebec. This morning on my drive in from Montreal, I counted over 10 cars in the ditches. Drive with care today, slow down.

Plowing Highway 15 along Montreal's South Shore on New Years Eve

Welcome to 2008
A New Year...same weather

Thank you for reading and making my blog reach 2600 hits on New Years! I am always excited about the weather, and being able to share that with you is amazing for me...thanks!

Well January will begin the same way December ended, with snow. Winter Storm Warnings are flying up and down the St. Lawrence Valley at 11am. Low pressure over Lake Erie will move to Cape Cod while deepening today. Heavy snow has begun and will continue into the evening on increasing Northwest winds. Travel will be rough today so if you can delay go tomorrow. An expected snowfall of 15-25cm is expected across the region from Montreal to Kingston and south into northern New York. Ottawa will receive less at about 10cm and is not included in the warnings.

The snow will be followed by some of the coldest air of the season. Ironically enough that will be followed by near record warmth next week. So just hold out till weeks end and we should see a thaw begin on the weekend. Indications are it could warm to 8C by the middle of next week!