Arctic chill - snowy weekend ahead

The current batch of arctic air is creating big lake effect snows south and east of the Great Lakes. Portions of Ontario and western New York have seen as much as 60cm of snow. The image above is from Wales, NY on Wednesday.
(The Buffalo News).

Forecast models are now backing off from a big storm this upcoming weekend across Ontario & Quebec. With arctic high pressure over the region, it appears the bulk of the moisture will remain state side. That being said it will remain frigid with some snow this weekend, perhaps as much as 10cm for Montreal by midday Sunday. Today will be sunny to start but bitterly cold with current temperatures of -20C in Montreal, but as cold as -28C in Ste Jovite and -22C in Sherbrooke. It will take all day for the sun to warm us up but we may make it to -12C or so. Another cold front will approach the region late tonight with more flurries and perhaps a snow squall. Most of the snow squall activity has remained closer to the Great Lakes and across eastern Ontario. Lows tonight will be near -18C rising only to -15C Friday.

WEEKEND SNOW FOR MONTREAL
The weekend will feature increasing clouds on Saturday and very cold with highs of -15C. Look for light snow to develop late Saturday night as low pressure approaches from the Ohio Valley and a second storm develops along the east coast. That second storm will become the dominating system providing a big snowstorm for Atlantic Canada, but sucking the moisture out of southern Quebec. At this time Montreal is looking at 5-10cm of snow perhaps 15cm near the US border. Winds will increase out of the northeast up to 60km/h Sunday in the St. Lawrence Valley creating blowing snow and dangerous wind chills.