Major storm skirts region

AP Photo of big snow clearing operations in Kansas. Topeka had a record (31cm) 12.5 inches of snow on Tuesday.

Snow has started falling in Montreal at 8am this morning with 5-10cm forecast. Low pressure over the Ohio Valley will move east across southern New England today and into the Atlantic. Snow is falling across a wide area from the Midwest into Ontario and extreme southern Quebec. A winter storm warning is in effect for all of Vermont and into the Eastern Townships today for 15-25cm of snow. As mentioned Montreal will remain on the northern fringe of the system with light snow tapering off by late this afternoon. Temperatures will be around -6C today.

The snow is also falling across the major cities of the US Northeast, so travel delays are increasing. Thousands of flights have been cancelled or delayed including many from Trudeau Airport in Montreal. The airlines are asking that you call ahead before leaving for the airport. It will be just another one of the many long snowy days for winter weary residents of the central, northeast US and eastern Canada. South of the snow, freezing rain has been coating everything across the middle Atlantic southwest into Tennessee and Arkansas. Numerous trees and power lines are reported down with power outages mounting.

In Ontario snow is falling across the 401 corridor from Windsor to the Quebec border producing poor driving conditions. Gusty winds out of the northeast are causing blowing and drifting snow. Delays are also reported at Pearson Airport in Toronto.