Powerful Atlantic storm to develop today

AccuWeather map showing the forecast location of major storm over the Atlantic on Wednesday. Montreal will not be affected by the system but it will drive cold northerly winds down the St. Lawrence Valley through Thursday.

We are still on track to see much warmer air and spring weather arrive in Montreal by the weekend, but before then, there are a few hurdles in our way. The first being this stubborn cold air that has my thermometer showing -13C this morning, another cold morning in this endless streak. We will warm today to -1C, still well below normal, but pleasant in the sunshine.

The second is an advancing trough of low pressure that will move into the region late today and on Wednesday with perhaps a little light snow. At the same time a very strong winter storm will take shape off the Carolina coast today and explode into a monster ocean storm. This system has the potential to be as strong as a category one hurricane with winds in excess of 110km/h, towering waves and surf as well as copious precipitation. The low is forecast to move from the middle Atlantic off the New England Coast and finally just east of Nova Scotia by late Wednesday. Blizzard warnings are in effect for portions of Atlantic Canada with very dangerous travel conditions expected there Wednesday. Snowfall is forecast in the 20-50cm range along with winds from 90 to as high as 150km/h in gusts. The system will remain far enough offshore to only affect coastal areas of New England and perhaps just clip the Gaspe region of Quebec. It will help push gusty northeast winds down the St. Lawrence Valley with clouds and flurries expected and cold air remaining in place through Wednesday with highs of only -4C in Montreal.