Dreary and wet Halloween expected in Montreal

Several vehicles spun off Highway 401 near Mallorytown, Ontario on Saturday afternoon. The weekend storm produced widespread wet snow and rain across southern Ontario and Quebec. (Ontario Provincial Police Photo)

Sunshine has been at a premium these days across southern Quebec. Over the weekend, low pressure moving up the east coast, produced the first widespread snowfall of the season for many portions of eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. In Montreal, 3 to as much as 5cm of very wet snow fell on the metro area, with most of it melting on contact. North of the city and towards Quebec City, some of the white stuff remained on the ground. West of Montreal, snowfall was thicker with 5 to 10cm falling in eastern Ontario. Roads were very poor in sections of the province as well as along Highway 401 and 416 in Ontario. Numerous accidents were reported as unprepared driver failed to adjust their speed in the snowy conditions.

The storm also produced strong winds, gusting over 50km/h in Montreal, and as high as 100km/h along the St. Lawrence River near Quebec City. The weather was responsible for numerous power outages in the province. Along the US east coast, heavy rain and pounding surf produced flooding in many locations including New England, Long Island and New Jersey.

Wet Halloween in Montreal
The weather remains damp and chilly on Tuesday, with temperatures struggling to clear 5C (41F) in Montreal. The normal high should be 9C (49F) for late October. The balance of the week will be dreary and cool with plenty of rain at times. The best day of the week will be Tuesday, where a few breaks in the cloud cover may occur. By Halloween, another frontal system will cross the region with steady rain from late afternoon into the evening hours. Expect a cool, wet Halloween night, with temperatures around 4C (39F). I am trying to squeeze out a window of opportunity for trick or treating in Montreal, but sadly at this time, it looks wet. On Thursday, more clouds and showers are expected, with slightly milder high temperatures, perhaps 10C (50F). Another area of low pressure is forecast to bring steady rain on Friday, with as much as 25mm falling across the region. We may finally see some clearing by the second half of the weekend. Briefly looking ahead into early November, the stormy pattern is expected to continue, but with slightly milder temperatures.