Milder weather brings freezing rain threat to Montreal

An icy Thursday morning sunrise in Verdun. Multiple low temperature records were established this past week in Montreal, including the -18C (0F) recorded early Thursday morning. Warmer air is on the way this weekend and into next week, unfortunately so is the ice, rain and wet snow. (Photo Megan Branton)

Freezing Rain Warning in effect for southern Quebec and eastern Ontario, including Ottawa and Montreal.

After the record-breaking arctic chill of this past week, warmer air will be streaming into southern Quebec over the next 24 hours. Unfortunately the warmth will come with clouds and more precipitation. Low pressure is moving from the central US plains into the Great Lakes later today. A warm front will approach Montreal this evening. With plenty of deep, cold air available at the surface, freezing rain is likely to develop across eastern Ontario and the St. Lawrence Valley, beginning late this afternoon, and persisting through midnight. Temperatures will be very slow to warm up, as the cold dense air is very difficult to move out of the valley. Additionally, pavement temperatures will remain cold, even after the air temperature has warmed above freezing.

Montreal can expect 5 to 10mm of ice accretion this evening into the overnight. As much as 15mm may accumulate north of city into Laval and the lower Laurentians. Freezing rain is also expected in the Ottawa Valley and along Highway 401 towards Kingston. Icy weather is also occur southward into northern New York and Vermont. If you have travel plans this evening, anticipate widespread icy road surfaces. Travel conditions will improve early Sunday, as most locations rise above the freezing point. The high Sunday will be plus 3C in Montreal, with showers expected.