Tropical Storm Karen heads for Florida - Blizzard in Dakotas

Tropical storm Karen (lower center of image) and a blizzard (upper left) on the map at the same time. You have to love October. 

Two very distinct weather features are on this mornings map, a blizzard over the Dakotas and a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico all at the same time. Both will have an impact on our weather by Monday, finally bringing an end to this stretch of incredible sunshine and warmth. We managed another sunny day on Thursday with temperatures in the low 20's. Today clouds and a few sprinkles along a very weak cold front this morning, but otherwise partly cloudy, mild and dry through Saturday.

Meanwhile Tropical Storm Karen has prompted warnings for the central Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida this morning with the center about 300 miles from the mouth of the Mississippi River. Maximum winds are at 60mph and some strengthening is possible before landfall late Saturday, likely in the Florida panhandle. Karen will produce a 3-5 foot storm surge along with 4 to 8 inches or rain. This system will then move inland towards the Carolina's and become absorbed by a larger storm that is affecting the northern plains and Rockies this morning. A record breaking snowstorm is forecast for the Black Hills of South Dakota with one to two feet of snow and 40-70mph winds possible over the next 24 hours. It is already down to 32F and snowing at the Black Hills Airport near Sturgis this morning.

This large upper level low will spin into the Great Lakes by Sunday, tapping into the Gulf moisture from Karen and bringing an end to our dry weather. Rainfall amounts could be modest Sunday and Monday here in Montreal and across Eastern Ontario into northern New England. There could even be some thunderstorms. Temperatures will however remain mild into next week for Montreal
.