Winter Storm Warning

Harnessing the wind in advance of this latest storm some creative enthusiasts enjoy Sunday afternoon near the Beauharnois locks in southern Quebec.

Low pressure over Indiana with a secondary storm taking shape along the Atlantic coast is combining to produce heavy precipitation tonight in eastern Ontario and western Quebec. The snow has begun in Kemptville as of 7pm, and we are at 0C and under a Winter Storm Warning. Most of southern Ontario is expecting similar conditions tonight with a period of steady snow, followed by mixed precipitation. Snowfall totals will range from 5cm in the GTA to 25cm in the upper Ottawa Valley and along the shores of Lake Huron. In southern Quebec snow and sleet will change to an extended period of Freezing Rain by early Monday. South of the border, heavy mixed precipitation is occurring over northern New York and Vermont with rain further south. Winds are also expected to increase from the Northeast up to 50km/h tonight especially along the 401 corridor. Some blowing snow is possible. Travel will be very difficult for the Monday commute.

Winter Storm Watch

A nasty winter storm is moving in from the US this afternoon. One low pressure area is located over the Great Lakes while the second is developing along the east coast. The twin system will spread a wide area of steady precipitation from south to north as the evening and overnight period wears on. By morning steady freezing rain is expected in many parts of the province including Kemptville. Look for the precipitation to begin as snow late tonight and transition to freezing rain and then rain by mid morning Monday. Roads will become icy and travel poor tonight. A Winter Storm Watch in in effect for all of eastern and southern Ontario as well as Winter Weather Advisories for New York and Vermont. Over 25mm of ice, rain and snow is expected. Areas in the upper Ottawa Valley may see 20cm of snow as well as the northern Laurentians. The St. Lawrence Valley including Montreal will see more ice and rain than snow. Freezing Rain Warnings are out for those regions.

Next storm update by 7pm tonight.

Lake effect snow across the river

Kemptville this morning. My tree was the first to turn color and will be the last to stubbornly let go of its leaves.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American friends. Travel for the most part in our region is good today. We had a couple of inches of wet sticky snow overnight in Kemptville but most of that has melted off the roads. You will need lots of washer fluid but that should be it for the snow in our area. It is not the case just south of the St. Lawrence River in Jefferson and southern St. Lawrence County in NY. Heavy lake snows are moving off the eastern end of Lake Ontario. Spotters have reported from 10-15 inches of snow in those areas. Visibility is low and travel very difficult along roads west of county road 58 along US 37 into Watertown. The snow will continue into the evening hours before tapering off.

The next weather system will be a weak front that brings scattered rain and snow showers to all of southern Ontario and western Quebec on Friday. Saturday will be fair before a major storm takes shape over Ohio and affects our region late Sunday and Monday. More on that later.

More light snow

I love this from from Accu-Weather.com - the US Thanksgiving forecast!
Works for me!

On the eve of the US Thanksgiving snow continues to fall across eastern Ontario and into western Quebec this afternoon. Heavier snow is also falling along I-81 from the Thousand Islands south into Watertown. A snow advisory is in effect in Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties where up to 20cm may fall tonight. Elsewhere outside the advisory area look for about 2-5cm of wet snow. Travel is slippery and visibility reduced in all our regions at this hour.

Another clipper system is expected to give light snow and rain on Friday before a more intense system threatens the region by weeks end. More on that Thursday.

Slick Roads

KFD responding in the snow to a vehicle roll over at km marker 28 on the 416.

The temperature in Kemptville has dropped to 0C at 5pm and the light wet snow that has been falling most of the day is beginning to stick. KFD have responded to several cars in the ditch on the 416, and the OPP are advising that you slow down. A mix of rain and snow will continue for the evening and overnight hours, with another 5-10cm forecast. Doppler radar shows steady light snow falling from Ottawa to Montreal and along the Seaway at this hour.

Mixed Precipitation

Kemptville this morning.

A mix of light rain and wet snow continues in Kemptville this morning. About 7cm has fallen here in town with more to the north and less to the south. Roads are slushy in most cases with the temperature at or just above freezing. The system causing the snow is rather complex with several areas of weak low pressure from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Coast. The light precipitation will continue all day and into the evening with several more centimetre of wet snow possible. Travel with caution and allow yourself extra time today. It will not clear before Thursday.

Snow spreading east

Steady wet snow has started in Kemptville at 8pm and is overspreading eastern Ontario. The snow will continue to increase in aerial coverage and intensity over the course of the evening and into the overnight with 5-10cm expected in most regions. The upper Ottawa Valley and the Laurentians could see close to 20cm by the end of Tuesday. It will be a mixed precipitation event along the St. Lawrence River with less accumulations - under 5cm - expected. Roads will become slippery in all regions with lowering visibilities tonight. Winds are gusting out of the Northeast and will increase in speed to over 50km/h on Tuesday. Low pressure over the lower Great Lakes will move into northern New York overnight, and then slowly north into Quebec.

Wintry Week Ahead

From ctv.ca Crews clear Halifax streets from more than 30cm of wet snow.

Kemptville, Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec remained sandwiched between weather systems this past weekend with heavy lake snows to our west and the first big coastal snowstorm for the Atlantic coast to our east. Many towns in the maritimes including Halifax had close to 30cm of wind driven heavy wet snow from a nor'easter over the weekend. Roads were closed and the disturbing pattern of drivers being stranded in there cars so far this winter season continued. Road crews were slow to respond and numerous drivers had to spend a long night trapped in their cars. The same scenario had played out along the 402 in Ontario late last week, but by all accounts that situation was caused by unprecedented snowfall rates and not poor plowing.

This week we are awaiting low pressure that is getting organized in the Ohio valley. The storm is expected to intensify as it moves to lie near Brockville by Wednesday. It will be a slow moving system with precipitation and wind occurring from late today into Thursday morning. Early indications are that close to an inch of precipitation will occur with this storm. It translates into 10-20cm of wet snow for most areas with more rain than snow along the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. The precipitation with this storm will be very elevation and temperature dependant with lots of mild air accompanying the storm. Expect very changeable weather and road conditions, plan to drive slowly this week and adjust your speed and distance.

Snow forecast:

Kemptville: 5-10cm

Brockville: 5cm

Ottawa & The Valley: 10-20cm

Montreal: 5cm

76cm of snow

From CityTV, Grand Bend, Ontario on Lake Huron.

Arkona, Ontario is the snow champion today with 76cm of new lake effect snow on the ground and counting. Most of Lambton County has experienced heavy lake effect snow from Lake Huron with motorists stranded on the 402 between London and Sarnia. Snow was falling at the incredible rate of 5-8cm per hour overnight and the OPP gave in to mother nature at around 3am closing a stretch of the 402. Some motorists were trapped for over 15 hours. The heaviest snow has shifted slightly east now and is affecting London north to Collingwood and Barrie. Travel in this area is not advised.

The rest of Ontario will remain cold this weekend with a spell of steady snow arriving from west to east late Sunday night and Monday. It could be a general 5-10cm in most regions including Kemptville.

Meanwhile heavy snow warnings are in place for portions of Nova Scotia, PEI and New Brunswick as a strong coastal storm brings snow and strong winds to the region late tonight and Saturday.

30-50cm of Lake Effect Snow

A contrail from an airplane lines the sky in Kemptville this morning, as the sun rises through high clouds generated by the Alberta Clipper.

A Lake Effect Snow Warning is in effect for the counties around the Great Lakes from NY to Michigan and in Ontario from Windsor through London towards Barrie. An Alberta Clipper dropped 5-10cm of snow last night in southwest Ontario and has raced south into the US. On the backside of this system strong northerly winds will flow across the open waters of Lake Huron, Ontario and Erie and generate very impressive bands of heavy lake effect snow. Over 30cm is a real possibility in Ontario and New York with some locations approaching 50cm. Travel in southwest Ontario along the 400 series of highways and north from Toronto towards Barrie and points west to Georgian Bay may become very difficult if not impossible over the next 24 hours.

Cold weather continues

A damp cold continues in Kemptville this afternoon with a mix of clouds and sun and a chilly breeze. We remain well below freezing at -3C after an overnight low of -9C. An Alberta clipper is expected to remain southwest of our area tonight and give a general 5-10cm snowfall to the GTA and points north towards Lake Huron. We should only have a few flurries and a wind shift here in Kemptville. We can expect another shot of cold air to move into the area Thursday and last well into the weekend. Overnight lows will be as cold as -13C with daytime highs no warmer than -4C. Bundle Up....

A sure sign of the seasons is pictured below.... No not the snow, or the cold or the stores decorated for Christmas packed with shoppers. I know the season has changed when the Tim Horton's Christmas coffee cups are out...now it feels like the Holidays are coming!

Squalls in Kemptville

This 3pm squall left roads snow covered and icy in Kemptville.

A very cold and unstable air mass continues to establish itself across Ontario this afternoon. The cold air is generating numerous snow flurries and squalls. The heaviest snow has been confined to the Great Lakes where 30-60cm has fallen. This afternoon some steady snow has been falling also along highway 15 between the 417 and Kingston and also along the 416 corridor towards Kemptville. Roads have become slippery and in many cases snow covered. Drive with extreme caution on the way home today. The flurries in Kemptville will taper with the setting of the sun.

Cold week ahead

Strong winds and snow squalls in the Seaway near Cornwall on Sunday

Cold arctic air continues to pour into Ontario behind this weekends rain. Nearly 25mm of rain fell in Kemptville over the weekend with very strong winds over 50km/h. I drove home yesterday along the 401 and it was like a giant hand kept pushing my car off to the side. Winds along the Seaway were even stronger gusting over 60km/h.

The winds have ushered in the coldest air so far this season. Temperatures will likely not rise above 0C all week. The wind and cold has also turned on the Great Lakes snow machine. Nearly 20 inches of snow has piled up in parts of northeast Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. In Ontario over 25cm has fallen from north of Sarnia towards Grey/Bruce, Barrie and London. Travel in these areas is difficult as it is south of us along Interstate 81 between Watertown and Syracuse. The heavy lake snow will continue today with another 25cm possible from Barrie to London.

This morning some light snow showers have made there way into Kemptville and the 416 corridor, putting a light coating on area roads. Travel with care today. The snow should end shortly but scattered flurries will continue closer to the Seaway and Lake Ontario.

Major weather changes on the way...

A brilliant sun sets over Glengarry County, Ontario along the Quebec border, on possibly the last mild day of the year. The second photo is of fog this morning in the St. Lawrence Seaway. Believe it or not a ship in the photo is blowing its fog horn.

Big changes are in store for Ontario and Quebec beginning today. This morning is mild and foggy in the St. Lawrence Valley with a light southerly breeze. Low pressure is developing over southern Ohio and will spread north into Quebec. On the back side of this system the coldest air of this season will establish itself in the region.

Heavy rain on radar this morning will overspread eastern Ontario shortly with accumulations of 20-40mm forecast in our region. It will be all rain today but as the cold air moves in Sunday the rain showers will change to snow showers from west to east. Along the western edge of the storm a general snowfall of 10-20cm is expected from Deep River north through Algonquin Park and into the Pontiac region of Quebec. Heavy Snow warnings are in place for those regions. Accompanying all precipitation will be strong east winds that will back to the northwest Sunday and gust from 40-60km/h.

Any travel west of a line from Renfrew south and west towards the Lake Huron and Georgian Bay area should be done with caution. Once the cold air moves in late Sunday it will remain with us with lake effect snow possible in Ontario and New York. An Alberta Clipper is forecast to move through the region early in the week with some light snow in all regions. Be ready for winter driving this week.

Rain then SNOW

I would enjoy today. Weak high pressure will nudge into our area behind yesterdays warm front and will give the area a partly cloudy day with temperatures approaching 15C. That may be the last 15C for some time. Low pressure will organize along a cold front tonight in southern Ontario and spread a steady rain across the area on Saturday. As the front moves south and east of our area, the coldest air of the season will plunge southward into eastern Ontario. The rain will change to some wet snow late Sunday into Monday. At this time no big accumulations are expected in our area, with the exception of the traditional snow belts south and east of the Lakes.

Next week will be cold with temperatures below freezing and more snow forecast for all regions by Thursday. Some models suggest maybe 5-10cm on Thursday but it is early in the forecast period, just a heads up!

Freezing Rain Warning

The leading edge of precipitation in the form of rain has moved along the 401 towards Brockville. It will be in the Kemptville area by 8:45am and towards Ottawa by 9am. Temperatures at the surface remain below freezing, and several hours of freezing rain is forecast for our region. Around 2-4mm of ice accretion may occur before the change to rain by noon in most areas. The change will occur first in the St. Lawrence Seaway and after lunch in the upper Ottawa Valley. Many roads have been pre-treated this morning with salt and sand, but any that are not will become slippery quickly as the rain begins. A Freezing Rain Warning is in effect for Kemptville, Leeds and Grenville and most of the Ottawa Valley. Once temperatures warm into the low single digits they will remain above freezing most of the weekend, with plain rain and gusty winds forecast.

Lest We Forget

Lest We Forget

Please take time today to remember the men and women who have paid the supreme sacrifice so that we can live in such a free and peaceful country.

Most services begin between 10:30-11am in our region including Kemptville (at the high school). Plan to attend one and to wear a poppy with pride. The weather will be chilly in Ontario with temperatures around 2C and clouds with isolated flurries.

The photos are of the Veterans Commemorative War Memorial on Highway 416 at the Rideau River at sunrise this morning...

Lake Snow Machine ON

Greetings everyone, I apologize about the lack of posts this weekend I was away. Busy today as well so this will be brief. We have cooled down considerably behind yesterdays cold front. We are currently siting at 4C in Kemptville, a far cry from last weeks 20 degree temperatures. The lake effect snow machine is also on today spreading steady bands of snow across the area south and east Lake Huron in Ontario and on the US side of the border south of Buffalo and in Jefferson and St. Lawrence County. Advisories are in place. If you are travelling south along Interstate 81 expect some snow covered roads and poor visibility south of Watertown. Kemptville and eastern Ontario can expect just a few flurries or showers most of the week with cool temperatures, typical November weather.

I did not write much on Hurricane Paloma that blossomed into a Category 4 storm before moving inland near Santa Cruz del Sur, Cuba. Paloma packed 145mph and destroyed over 435 homes, but because of Cuba's excellent evacuation procedures, no deaths were reported. Paloma has since been sheered apart and went from a Cat 4 to a depression in less than 24 hours. The photo below from the National Hurricane Centre is a very impressive Paloma at his strongest south of Cuba on Saturday.

One more warm day

Update: The temperature is at 19C in Kemptville at 1pm. Absolutely amazing when you consider that we were at 1C at 7am this morning. In Fahrenheit is so much more dramatic 33F to 66F in just 6 hours. Enjoy the rest of the day it is record setting and spectacular.
Meanwhile that fierce storm in the central plains has dumped 3 feet of snow in South Dakota with hurricane force winds. The system is heading for Manitoba.

Fog this morning in Kemptville as the temperature hit 1C at 7am.

Happy Birthday Julie!

Kemptville and eastern Ontario remain sandwiched between two major storm systems, one on the east coast and the other over the northern plains. We will benefit with abundant sunshine and very warm temperatures with highs close to 19C again today. We have a way to go, calm winds and clear skies allowed the temperature to rapidly fall from yesterdays high of 19C all the way to 1C at 7am this morning here in Kemptville. No frost occurred, but lots of fog. Our recent Indian Summer like spell of warm weather will come to an end this weekend as showers from the western system begin to move in with cooler temperatures. Colder air and the possibility of snow may return for next week.

Tropical Storm Paloma has developed north of Nicaragua and is expected to rapidly intensify into a Hurricane before threatening Cuba and possibly the Bahamas this weekend as a major storm. More details to follow.

Non Weather Post.... I would be amiss if I did not acknowledge the tremendous political and historical event that took place in the U.S. on Tuesday. Congratulations to Barack Obama for his win in the Presidential elections. It is truly a special time in US politics and I felt privileged to be able to watch it unfold. I hope and pray that he can bring some much needed positive change and peace to the U.S. and the world. Locally all of the Vermont counties sided with Obama along with the northern NY counties of St. Lawrence and Clinton. Jefferson County, home of Watertown, N.Y. went with McCain.

Record Warmth

Record warm air continues to stream northward into Ontario today. Kemptville nearly broke a record yesterday reaching 18C. Today we are already at that temperature and looking to push 20C by the end of the day. The normal high for November 5 is 7C. People are out in shirt sleeves and shorts again...a nice break from the early winter weather of last week.

Meanwhile strong storm systems lie to our west and east. A powerful Colorado low is strengthening in the Dakotas today and will move northeast into Manitoba. Heavy rain and wet snow are expected across the region with very strong northeast winds over 50km/h.

To the east of us is another strong nor'easter, the third in a month, is on the Atlantic coast near North Carolina. This storm unlike the last will remain well south of our area, but will usher in some cooler air for the weekend. Along the east coast from New York City south to the Outer Banks, very strong winds and heavy surf continue to pound the region. There has been coastal flooding and beach erosion along with heavy rain and wind. The storm will slowly drift northeast today. The photo below is from the Outer Banks of North Carolina near Rodanthe this afternoon. High surf has forced the NCDOT to push sand up along the highway to try and protect the roadway from the surging Atlantic Ocean (at left).

Very warm week ahead

A brief period of freezing rain this morning was the introduction to what will become a very warm week. A strong southwest flow of mild air will stream into the region beginning today. It will reach 9C in Kemptville with showers along the warm front. Tuesday through Thursday of this week will be sunny, and very mild with high temperatures from 15 to 18C. The next threat of rain will come along a cold front by Friday. It will then turn cooler for the weekend, but no major storms or snow is in sight at this time.