Happy Thanksgiving

THE GREAT PUMPKIN IS HERE: Time to pick that perfect pumpkin at Quinn Farms on Ile Perrot or anywhere across the region. The fall colors are spectacular and the weather will be perfect this weekend.

It is looking like a splendid weekend across most of the country as we celebrate Thanksgiving. The only exceptions will be both coasts but especially British Columbia where two Pacific storms will produce strong winds and heavy rain.

October has certainly crept up on us and I am still very much in denial that the summer has gone. I have worn shorts, been stubborn in putting the heat on and have yet to prepare the house or car for winter. I am struggling with my first cold in over 5 years and longing for 30C. We still have time to prepare for winter, but with the first frost expected this weekend, time is running out. Today, a cold front will slide south across the valley and into upstate New York and Vermont. Expect showers to develop from north to south across eastern Ontario and southwest Quebec shortly along with gusty west winds. The winds may increase to over 50km/h by this afternoon, especially across higher elevations. Any showers will come to an end before sunset followed by rapid clearing and much colder temperatures. The weekend will be sunny right through with just a few cloudy periods. Temperatures will be very close to the freezing point overnight with widespread frost away from metro regions, and rise to between 12 and 14C for daytime highs.

Tropical Update: Just a quick update on tropical storm Otto. This system is getting better organized this morning and is located about 520 miles south of Bermuda with 70mph winds. The storm has been producing torrential rain and high surf over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with numerous reports of flooding and landslides. The storm should become a hurricane today as it accelerates off to the northeast. There is a remote chance that Otto may affect Europe next week. The irony of this hurricane season is to obvious to overlook. We could have land falling storms in Canada, Mexico and Central America the Caribbean and Europe, but no direct hit from a hurricane in the US.

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving weekend...