Snow and freezing rain for the Thursday morning commute

After a very mild October, many parts of Quebec have been thrown straight into winter. Heavy snow fell across portions of central Quebec on Monday and Tuesday, with more snow forecast Thursday, this time including Montreal and southern Quebec.

Expect wintry precipitation and slippery roads for the Thursday morning commute in Montreal and across the entire region.

A messy mix of snow and freezing rain is on the way for the Thursday morning commute from Ontario into southwestern Quebec. A clipper system from western Canada will move across the Great Lakes and down the St. Lawrence Valley. Typically these storms are moisture starved, but can benefit from the Great Lakes.

This system will provide many regions with the first snow and ice of the season. Special Weather Statements and Winter Weather Advisories have been issued for a wide swath of southern and eastern Ontario as well as New York and New England. They will likely be extended into portions of Quebec later today.

In terms of weather, Wednesday will be fair, but chilly, with a gusty northwest winds of up to 50km/h. Tonight will start off clear, with temperatures dropping quickly after sunset before levelling off neat midnight. The early low will be -5C (23F) in Montreal. That cold air will set the stage for a burst of snow before sunrise, with up to 5cm possible for many locations. The snow will eventually mix with and change to freezing rain and rain from south to north. Precipitation should taper off to drizzle in the afternoon, with temperatures rising above freezing to 3C (38F).

Friday looks a touch milder, up to 6C (43F). The weekend at this time will be cooler, but dry. Briefly looking ahead to next week, our taste of winter looks brief as mild temperatures are set to return.