Winter Storm Warning for Montreal

Yes you are seeing right! Last years record high of 23C on this day is being replaced by a winter storm warning for this year. (AccuWeather)

The high temperature in Montreal one year ago today was 23C (73F), that would be followed by an all time March record high of 25.8C (79F) on the 21st. Well not this year, it is a cold morning by any standards here on L'Ile Perrot as we sit at -15C (7F), two days before spring arrives, and we have a big storm on the way.

Sunshine today will slip away to increasing clouds as we have a major winter storm heading for Ontario and Quebec. A winter storm warning has been issued for southwest Quebec, as well as the Champlain Valley and Adirondacks of New York and the Green Mountains of Vermont. Warnings will likely be needed as well for eastern Ontario east of the 416 later today. The storm will come in two distinct waves. The first will come from low pressure moving from Minnesota to Michigan. This system will push a warm front just south of the St. Lawrence Valley late today with snow accumulating to 10cm from about 3am in Montreal on Tuesday to mid morning  It will be accompanied by gusty northeast winds. Meanwhile a second area of low pressure will develop near Delaware and move towards Boston. This will become the main storm as it deepens rapidly. Heavy snow will once again overspread the region this time from the southeast by late in the day Tuesday and fall at the rate of 2-4cm an hour for a time. Once the snow ends on Wednesday most areas will have received 25cm (10 inches) of wet snow. Areas in the Townships and along the US border could have as much as 35cm (14 inches). Strong winds will create poor visibility especially south and east of Montreal. It will remain cold with highs near 0C (32F) and lows down to -6C during the storm. These temperatures are well below normal for March. Expect travel delays on the ground and in the air starting late today across southern Ontario.