Cold air and snow on the way

Hundreds of accidents have occurred from the Prairies to the upper Midwest as early snow covers a big portion of the country into the US. (Minnesota State Police)

Arctic air is moving across most of western and central Canada this morning, and is poised to move into southern Quebec and Ontario. A strong cold front is sweeping across Montreal currently, with the cold air pouring in behind it. Temperatures will reach 9C (48F) today before the colder air arrives. The rain will taper off by noon. The temperature will drop to the freezing point this evening under partly cloudy skies.

Further north and west freezing rain and snow is falling across northern Quebec and Ontario. As the cold air moves across Lake Huron, heavy lake effect snow is expected in the snow belts of southern Ontario. Warnings have been posted there. The prairies are just plain frigid this morning. It is -19C (-2F) in Calgary this morning and -16C (2F) in Edmonton. The cold air has poured into the Midwest US with heavy snow across Montana, the Dakotas, Michigan and Minnesota. The heavy snow caused hundreds of accidents, and four fatalities. The arctic cold has settled as far south as Texas and Oklahoma with some locations are 40 degrees colder than they were yesterday.

MONTREAL SNOW?
Over the weekend low pressure will move from the Great Lakes to the east coast with an area of snow falling along and to the northwest of the path. Snow may fall in Montreal for the first time this season late Sunday and Monday. The low will trail another arctic front with the coldest air this season moving into Montreal, Quebec and Ontario by Monday. Heavy snow is forecast around the snow belts of the Great Lakes and into Ontario and western New York. It may even work its way into the St. Lawrence Valley.Travel will become difficult in places with the first icy roads of the season. I will post much more on this developing weather story as the week moves along. Until then just scattered showers or flurries are possible.