Winter Storm Warning in effect for Montreal

Widespread weather warnings for extreme cold and heavy snow stretch from central Canada to the Atlantic coast.

Winter Storm Warning in effect for Montreal, southern Quebec and the St. Lawrence Valley

A strong winter storm is forecast to impact the St. Lawrence Valley beginning late today and persisting though Sunday. A dangerous combination of heavy snow, strong winds and bitter cold will make for near-blizzard conditions at times. Travel is not recommend on Sunday anywhere in our region. Widespread weather warnings and advisories stretch form the US Midwest across Ontario and Quebec and into Atlantic Canada. Across New England and New York heavy snow will fall to the north, with a mix of snow and ice across the south.

Storm totals could easily exceed 60cm in several locations across eastern Canada and the US over the next 48 hours. Here in Montreal, we will remain on the northern edge of the storm, with 15 to 25cm expected. (AccuWeather)

Near blizzard conditions
For Montreal, the snow will begin after 5pm Saturday, and become heavy overnight. Winds will increase out of the northeast up to 40km/h today and 70km/h on Sunday. The wind will produce considerable blowing and drifting snow. Forecast accumulations will be in the range of 10cm for Ottawa and the lower Laurentians, 15-25cm for Montreal and the St. Lawrence Valley, and 30 to 60cm from the Townships into northern New England.

Dangerous windchill values
Temperatures will be dangerously cold. The overnight low this morning was the coldest of the season in Montreal at -21C (-7F). The high today in Montreal will only be -20C (-4F), that combined with a strengthening wind, will produce a windchill in the -30s. On Sunday, the high will only be -16C (4F), with windchill readings remaining in the minus 30s to near -40C locally.

The storm system in question will move from Washington D.C. tonight, across southeast New England and into New Brunswick on Sunday. Behind the storm on Monday, expect flurries with gusty northwest winds and very cold temperatures. Warmer weather returns by Wednesday, but with the threat for more snow.