Arizona tornadoes

It is another gray and dull morning in Montreal with low clouds and light rain. The back edge of the rain can be seen on radar so this should end by noon with slowly clearing skies and increasing westerly winds to follow. The winds will gust out of the northwest at 30-50km/h by midday. In terms of rainfall amounts, the airport measured 15mm as of 2am this morning. I had 30mm in my rain gauge this morning at 7am. The system, a coastal low over New England, will slowly lift into Atlantic Canada today.

Yesterday low pressure over the southwest US produced at least 4 tornadoes in Arizona. Tornadoes are very rare in that state. The storms produced widespread damage to homes, power lines and trees but no injuries were reported. It was chilly way down into Texas and the deep south yesterday morning. Portions of west Texas and northern Louisiana and Alabama had lows between 35 and 40F. It was 32F in Asheville North Carolina. Many of these areas made the leap from record heat to record cold within the last week.

Subtropical storm Otto has developed about 635 miles south southwest of Bermuda. The storm is expected to remain over open waters moving northeast across the Atlantic. Rain and gusty winds are affecting portions of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. No other land will likely be affected by Otto.