Record high for Montreal - extreme fire danger across southern Quebec

Sunday was a spectacular day in the Montreal region, with nothing but sunshine and a record high of 31.2C at Trudeau Airport. Unfortunaelty the weather is dangerously dry and breezy, perfect for outdoor fires to spread quickly is they occur. An outdoor fire ban is in effect. 

Hot, dry and breezy weather expected this week for southern Quebec.

Sunday was the warmest day of the year to date, and a record for May 28 dating back to 1978. The high was a scorching 31.2C (88F), surpassing the 1978 record of 31C. A weak backdoor cold front moved across the St. Lawrence Valley late last night, with very little fanfare. A few clouds accompanied the front, along with a wind shift to the northeast and slightly cooler air. Monday will be another sunny and warm day, albeit a touch cooler, with a high of 25C (77F). This will be the "coolest" weather for the upcoming week. We will likely observe our first 32C (90F) high of the season this week here in Montreal.

The balance of the work week will feature strong high pressure moving slowly across eastern North America. The result will be increasing warmth, along with very dry and breezy conditions. Temperatures will be in the upper 20s to low 30s across a large portion of southern Quebec. No rain is expected before late Friday and even then, significant amounts are not expected. It has been a very dry month in Montreal, with only 43.6mm of rain recorded at Trudeau Airport.

The fire risk is quite high across most of Quebec and into Atlantic Canada. The risk in the Montreal region is extreme, and an outdoor burn ban is in effect according to SOPFEU. The agency is advising against any type of outdoor fires, including campfires. You are also reminded to be extremely vigilant with the disposal of lit cigarettes. To date the agency has battled 176 fires in the province that have burned more than 300 hectares (740 acres). There are currently 11 active fires burning in Quebec.

Thousands of residents evacuate the suburbs northwest of Halifax on Sunday afternoon, while firefighters race to control the fast-moving flames. (CBC)

The dry, windy weather is also affecting eastern Ontario and Atlantic Canada. On Sunday, a fast moving wildfire forced the evacuation of over 18,000 residents in several suburbs northwest of Halifax. The fire destroyed numerous homes and dwellings, and continues to burn out of control on Monday morning. A state of emergency is currently in effect across the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Humidity levels will begin to rise midweek, which will help to lower the extreme fire risk here in the Montreal region.

Summer weather surges into southern Quebec

The first summer weather of the year is upon us, with an extended period of sunny, warm weather forecast for all of southern Quebec. Temperatures will soar into the low 30s by next week.

 After an April ice storm, spring flooding and a frosty May in Montreal, summer weather will finally surge into southern Quebec for the last few days of the month. May has featured a veritable roller coaster of temperatures from the middle 20s to the low single digits. We have had more than our fair share of frost for spring,  especially for off-island communities. But after Friday mornings single digit lows, 5C (41F) here on Ile Perrot, summer temperatures are on the way.

Strong high pressure at all levels of the atmosphere will slowly drift across Ontario and Quebec we1l into next week. This sets the stage for a prolonged period of dry and increasingly warmer weather. Sunshine is forecast from Friday through next Thursday, with just the chance of a few clouds late in the weekend along a weak front. Dry weather is expected during this time-frame as well, with no precipitation expected until at least next Friday. 

In terms of temperatures, the high Friday will be near 21C (70F), warming through the 20s and reaching as warm as 32C (90F) by next Wednesday and Thursday. For now, relative humidity levels will remain low, the overnight periods will be comfortable, with minimum temperatures in the low to middle teens.

The relatively dry weather for the second half of this month has allowed the spring flood threat to virtually be eliminated in Montreal, as waters have receded rapidly. To date, 43.6mm of rain has been recorded at Trudeau Airport, and with no rain expected through the end of the month, we remain well-below the normal May value of 81.2mm. That saved the city from any major flooding.

The dry and increasingly warmer weather means you should be extremely careful with any outdoor burning and camp fires. This is already turning into quite an active fires season across the country.

Any wet weather for the next few days will be held well south of Quebec and New England, across the middle Atlantic states, where a potent ocean storm is expected to bring high surf, gusty winds and heavy rain from Maryland south into the Carolinas throughout the busy Memorial Day weekend.

Brief cold snap delivers May frost and flurries to Montreal

Frost and freeze advisories are widespread across southern Quebec, Ontario and into New York and New England tonight as an unseasonably cold air mass is expected to drop temperatures below freezing. The record low for Montreal is -0.6C set in 1944.

Frost Advisory posted for southern Quebec

A strong cold front late Tuesday afternoon, has ushered in an unseasonably cold airmass into southern Quebec on Wednesday, with temperatures well-below normal values. Scattered frost was reported early Wednesday morning, especially north of Montreal. A more widespread frost is expected for Thursday morning, with expected lows between 0C (32F) and -3C (27F) forecast. Widespread frost and freeze advisories are in effect covering a large portion of southern Ontario, Quebec, New York and New England. Several hours of below freezing temperatures are possible away from the city. The growing season has started for many, so if you have flowers or plants outdoors, you may want to take precautions to protect them from the cold.

It is hard to see them, but those dark clouds were producing May flurries here on Ile Perrot during the noon hour on Wednesday. Much warmer weather is on the way. (Valley Weather Photo)

A few flurries were even observed at several locations today, including here on Ile Perrot during the noon hour. Clouds began to thin this afternoon allowing the mercury to reach 9C (49F) for the daytime high in Montreal. We just missed the record for the lowest maximum temperature for May 17, which was 8.7C set in 2007. The record low for tonight is -0.6C (31F) set in 1944, we definitely have a shot at that with our current forecast.

As far as snowfall goes, with just a few flurries today and nothing more, we fell short of the daily record of 1.8cm that was set in 1959.

Much warmer air is on the way, along with sunshine Thursday into early Saturday. High temperatures will rebound quickly, up to 16C (61F) Thursday and a summery high of 25C (77F) on Friday. Overnight lows will respond as well, 7C (45F) Friday morning and a warm 16C (61F) into Saturday morning.

Prolonged period of dry weather lowers water levels in the Montreal region

The Ottawa River at Ile Perrot is beginning to recede after moderate flooding in the region. (Valley Weather Photo)

Like a gift from Mother Nature, strong high pressure has dominated the Montreal region for nearly a week now, keeping any wet weather at bay. The only exception was a few sprinkles early Friday morning along a frontal boundary that resulted in only a trace of rainfall. The total this month at Trudeau Airport stands at 26.2mm, all of it falling in the first two days of the month.

As a result, water levels have lowered considerably along the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers. Flooding has eased in most municipalities, allowing for roads to be reopened. Volunteers and sandbags remain ready in case the situation worsens, but right now, the forecast is on our side. The upcoming weekend into Monday will be fair and warm. A couple of millimeters of rain is possible late Tuesday along another frontal boundary, with perhaps a more significant system by next Friday. Neither is posing any concern at this time.

Flooding in Senneville and Pierrefonds resulted in the closure of several roads last week. They have since been reopened as water levels on Lake of Two Mountains have dropped. (Village of Senneville)

As of Saturday morning, Lake of Two Mountains at Pointe-Calumet was at 23.66 metres, down from over 24 metres, lowering from major flood stage to minor flood stage. The same is true at both Terrasse-Vaudreuil (23.57 metres) and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (23.60 metres). The St. Lawrence River at Notre-Dame-de-L'Ile-Perrot is also down, sitting at 22.31 metres. All levels are forecast to remain stable or slightly lower over the next 48 hours.

Sunshine, with temperatures close to 20C (68F) are expected all weekend. The nights will be chilly, dropping down to 6C (43F). Friday was one of the warmest days of the year to date, reaching 25.8C (79F) in Montreal.

A NOAA satellite image of high altitude smoke from Alberta wildfires drifting over Ontario, Quebec, New York and New England last Monday. (NOAA)

Flood to Fire

During this past week, we had several days of haze and high altitude smoke, generated by wildfires in Alberta. Northwest winds of 20-40km/h are expected Saturday, which should keep the skies blue and the air clear.

The risk for forest fires is back up in southern Quebec, as a result of the aforementioned dry weather. According to SOPFEU, southwestern Quebec remains under a very high to extreme fire risk, and any outdoor burning should be avoided. Check with your local municipality for any restrictions for burning. Industrial burning permits were suspended in the Montreal region and most of southern Quebec as of May 8, until further notice.

Flooding persists in Montreal - better weather on the horizon

Volunteers are out in full force in the Borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro. Dry weather is finally expected on Friday, after several days of rain in the Montreal region. Water levels remain high and the flood risk will persist into next week.
(Courtesy Photo Benoit Langevin)

Flood watch for the Montreal region. Montreal remains in Intervention Mode - Level 1

We have one more day of showery, cold and windy weather for southern Quebec, as a stubborn upper level low moves east of the region. It will be replaced by a strong ridge of high pressure, with sunny, warm and more importantly, dry weather into next week.

The rain has been relentless in parts of Quebec, along with moderate to major flooding across many regions. The hardest hit by far this week has been the Charlevoix region, where spring runoff combined with nearly 100mm of rain, has resulted in serious damage and sadly the loss of two volunteer firefighters. There bodies were found on Wednesday after being swept away Monday by fast-moving flood waters.

In Montreal, nearly 50mm of rain has fallen since Sunday. West of the city, 54mm fell at Saint Anicet and 63mm in Ottawa.

Pumps are in place in several municipalities in the western half of metro Montreal.
(L'Île-Bizard Sainte-Geneviève)

In the Montreal region, water levels continue to rise, especially along the western facing shorelines of Lake of two Mountains. The lake itself, part of the Ottawa River Valley, is in major flood stage Thursday morning at 24.36 metres at the gauge in Pointe Calumet. Major flood stage is 24.30 metres. If you are keeping score, it is the third "100 year flood" in the last 6 years. Water levels are also high in Pierrefonds, Senneville, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Ile Perrot and Vaudreuil-Dorion.

In Sainte Anne, the gauge is measuring 24.30 metres Thursday morning, still well below the major flood stage of 24.50 metres. In Terrasse Vaudreuil, the level of the lake is at 24.27 metres. Flooding is occurring to several properties immediately adjacent to the lake.

In Vaudruil-Dorion, precautionary measures have been taken along Boulevard Saint Charles, where flood waters have crept up onto the road in several sections. Shoreline parks have been flooded as well.

In Pierrefonds, sandbagging has been organized to help protect several properties, and volunteers are out in full force Thursday morning. For assistance or to volunteer, you can contact Pierrefonds/Roxboro Councillor, Benoit Langevin at benoit.langevin@montreal.ca 

In Senneville, the municipality has closed Chemin de l'Anse a l'Orme due to flooding. They are monitoring high water levels adjacent to Senneville Road.

In all cases water levels are rising, but the good news is today will be the last day with showers for the region. High pressure will build into southern Quebec starting Friday and remain in place well into next week. The end result will be flood waters stabilizing and beginning to slowly recede. But the next 10 days will be critical for the Island of Montreal and points west, as the water from the Ottawa River drains through the city and east.

Temperatures have been cold for early may, but will rise to near 20C (68F) starting Saturday.