First snowflakes of the season on the way for southern Quebec

Slushy minor snow accumulations are possible in the Montreal region Monday morning, with more snow expected outside the city, especially in the higher elevations along the New England border.

Special Weather Statement posted for the Eastern Townships, Beauce, Laurentians and Quebec City

The high temperature on Saturday was 20.6C in Montreal, nearly 70F in late October. Then a cold front moved across the region, accompanied by some robust showers, and winds gusting to 60km/h. The heat is now gone reality has returned, with temperatures falling since midday Saturday, and are now in the single digits, 6C (43F) here on Ile Perrot, 5C (41F) at Trudeau Airport.

More cold air is on our doorstep, with overnight lows tonight down to near the freezing point for many locations in southern Quebec and eastern Ontario. The aforementioned cold front has stalled south of Montreal across central Vermont and New York. Moisture will begin to overrun that front tonight into Monday morning, allowing for a mix of rain and wet snow to fall along the St. Lawrence Valley. All snow is expected north and east of Montreal, as well as in the higher elevations of the Townships and Beauce.

As far as accumulations are concerned, a slushy coating on grassy surfaces is possible in metro Montreal. Elsewhere across southern Quebec, 5cm to as much as 15cm (2 to 6 inches) of wet snow is possible, the highest totals in the upper elevations along the Maine border.

If you have travel plans for Monday, especially outside of the Montreal region, plan for highly variable conditions, with reduced visibility and slippery roads at times. This will come as a big shock to many after our very warm fall to date.

Skies will clear out for Halloween Tuesday, but the weather will remain chilly, with high temperatures near 4C (39F) and morning lows, with frost, down below freezing to -2C (29F). Frost is likely again Wednesday and Thursday mornings.

Warmer, seasonable weather will return to end the week, along with showers into next weekend.