Tranquil weather for Montreal - massive snowstorm buries parts of Atlantic Canada

The biggest storm in over two decades has dumped up to 100cm of snow since Friday night on parts of Nova Scotia, including Sydney, shown above. That is more snow than Montreal has received all winter. (CBC New Photo)

Strong high pressure anchored over central Quebec will provide our region with a quiet, springlike weather week ahead. More typical of mid March weather, we can expect abundant sunshine, with mild days and chilly overnight lows. Skies should remain clear for the most part, with just a few stray clouds from time to time through Thursday. High temperatures will be between -2C and -5C (23F to 29F), with overnight lows between -10C and -15C (5F to 14F) for most of us. 

Despite the clear weather, keep in mind there may be some icy patches around in the morning. On Sunday, a major multi-vehicle accident closed the southbound ramp off the Mercier Bridge into Chateauguay around 8:30AM. Local ice fog had developed, making the bridge surface slippery resulting in several accidents. 

So far this month we have only had a trace of snow on Montreal, with no major systems on the horizon. The El Nino effect continues to influence the North American weather, keeping the arctic air locked up across the far north and the storm track primarily along the coast from California along the Gulf Coast and then northeast into Atlantic Canada. 

Over the weekend a powerful snowstorm slammed parts of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island with the heaviest snowfall in two decades. Deep low pressure stalled southeast of Sable Island, pumping copious amounts of moisture across central Nova Scotia and Cape Brenton Island. The snow is still falling Monday morning, after 84cm at Stanfield Airport in Halifax since Friday night. In Sydney, over 80cm has fallen as well. Drifts are metres highs, as winds gusted over 80km/h producing widespread blowing and drifting snow. 

Numerous roads are impassable, schools and businesses are closed Monday. A local state of emergency has been issued for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. By the time the snow ends later Monday, several locations will exceed 100cm (40 inches).