Mild weather returns to Quebec and Ontario

The warmer weather will help melt away some of the ice and snow that has accumulated over the last two weeks. (ValleyWeather)

A pattern change is well underway this week that will see mild weather to end the month of February across eastern North America. Temperatures are forecast to be well above normal values through next week. The only exception should be this Saturday, behind a cold front, when the high will be -7C (19F). Otherwise, look for temperatures at or above freezing. Thursday, a warm front will produce periods of drizzle in Montreal, with a mild high of 6C (43F). Rain is forecast to develop late Thursday along the aforementioned cold front, temperatures will remain above freezing into Friday morning. On Friday, the rain will eventually change to snow before ending. Little accumulation is expected at this time. The temperature will drop all day to overnight lows of -18C (0F) by Saturday morning. The weather this weekend will remain fair and dry.

The cold weather will be very brief in Montreal, with temperatures warming overnight Saturday into Sunday. Sunday through Tuesday, we can expect highs between 0C and 3C (32-38F). Depending on which commuter model output you prefer, the weather for the remainder of next week will either be very warm and wet, or mild with mixed precipitation. The details still need to be fine-tuned, but one thing is certain, the weather will be warmer than the long-term average for late February.