Snow welcomes Spring 2024 to Montreal

Spring snow for southern Quebec. A picturesque snowfall on Ile Perrot early Wednesday morning. While the snow stuck to trees and lawns, roads were generally unaffected. (Valley Weather Photo)

Spring arrived at 11:06 PM Tuesday evening, and March is finally behaving, well like March. Slightly colder temperatures this week across southern Quebec have allowed some wet snow to sneak into the picture during the overnight hours. A slushy 2-4cm accumulated on grassy surfaces, trees and cars overnight into Wednesday morning across the Montreal region, bringing the monthly total up to 10cm. 

The sun has broken through the clouds and the snow is melting away as I write this post, but don't let that fool you. A strong cold front is moving across central Ontario currently, expected to move into the Ottawa Valley and southern Quebec later this afternoon into the evening hours. The front will be accompanied by some squally weather, with a mix of snow and rain, eventually becoming all snow. Some of the squalls may produce brief heavy snow and strong winds reducing visibility and making driving hazardous.

Behind the front, much colder, blustery weather will move in, with temperatures falling from daytime highs around 3C (38F), down to -8C (18F) by morning. Thursday will be windy, up to 50km/h, and cold, with high temperatures remaining below freezing for the first time this month! The high is expected to be around -2C (28F), but windchill values will be in the minus teens. It will feel very cold after our warm March. The high Friday is expected to remain below freezing as well at -1C (30F).

Welcome to Spring! A few centimetres of snow accumulated on cold surfaces such as cars and lawns early Wednesday morning. More snow is possible Thursday into Saturday across southern Quebec.

WEEKEND STORM?

Looking ahead to Friday, a significant storm system is expected to develop over the upper midwest and merge with a secondary low moving north along the eastern seaboard. The various computer models have been hinting at the potential for some snow in Montreal and across New England late Friday into Saturday, but nothing is certain at this time. The final storm track and strength will determine the northern extent of the precipitation. The complex storm system will move into Atlantic Canada Sunday, paving the way for high pressure the return of above normal temperatures early next week.