Much calmer weather week ahead for southern Quebec

The weekend was spectacular across southern Québec, with sunny, warm weather. Conditions were less humid and thankfully no thunderstorms. (Valley Weather)

We are looking at the calm after the thunderstorms for most of southern Quebec. Last week was filled with multiple rounds of thunderstorms, wind damage, power outages, flooding and searing heat. By stark contrast, the weekend was calm and spectacular, finally dry for many, warm but less humid. 

High pressure has settled into eastern Ontario and southern Quebec to start the work week. This will keep low pressure well to our south across the Ohio Valley, eastward into the middle Atlantic states. This region will be the focus of heavy rainfall Monday along with thunderstorms. Flash flooding has occurred or is expected from Ohio east towards New York City. Flood watches are in effect from Virginia to southern New England.

Meanwhile here in Montreal and across southern Quebec and eastern Ontario, we can expect nothing but sunshine, with highs between 28C and 30C (83-86F). Overnight lows will remain pleasant, dropping into the middle teens. 

The next chance of shower activity will not be until Thursday, with the arrival of a cold front. Showers and scattered thunderstorms are possible. Skies clear out for Friday, with another fair weekend expected at this time.

Rainfall has been highly variable across our region this July. Parts of Ontario and Quebec have measured well over 100mm of rain to date, while Trudeau Airport sits at 24.5mm. I have recorded a paltry 2.6mm at my weather station on Ile Perrot. Municipalities on the West Island are still cleaning up from the major flood on June 22, while nearly 1900 homes were flooded in the Ottawa area on July 1st.

Thunderstorms cut power to over 125,000 customers across Quebec in sweltering heat

A powerful gust front enters the Montreal region form the north on Thursday evening, the leading edge of severe thunderstorms. Thunderstorms have been occurring everyday during our current heatwave, however this was the first cells that have targeted the Montreal region. The storms knocked out power to over 125,000 across the province. (Photo: Brenda Gartshore)

Heat warning remains in effect for southern Quebec and eastern Ontario.

For the third consecutive day, strong thunderstorms developed across southern Ontario, central and southern Quebec. The storms produced wind gusts of up to 100km/h, with 96km/h at Trudeau Airport. In addition to the winds, as with previous days, there were thousands of lightning strikes.

The result was predictable, with over 125,000 Hydro-Quebec customers left without power, and 250,000 in Ontario. Here in Quebec, the utility has been working all night, lowering the number to 50,000 clients early Friday morning, including 10,000 in Montreal and Laval. In addition to the downed power lines and in some cases utility poles, there was also damage to trees and several homes reported. The storms were moving quickly, which lowered the flood risk in Montreal.

The loss of power comes as we enter day three of a sweltering heatwave, that has pushed temperatures well into the 30s from Ontario to Atlantic Canada.

Here in Montreal, the temperature reached 32.3C (90F) on Wednesday, and 32.5C (91F) Thursday. Parts of Ontario reached the middle 30s, including Toronto at 36C (96F). Record highs stretched across Atlantic Canada as well. If you add in the elevated humidity levels, temperatures felt like the middle 40s for millions of Canadians.

Friday will be much of the same, hot and humid, into the 30s, with a risk of afternoon and evening thunderstorms. The thunderstorms have been potent, but isolated in nature. One firsthand example was Thursdays storm in Montreal. Trudeau Airport measured 23.5mm of rain in less than one hour, while at my weather station located on Ile Perrot, 24 kilometres to the southwest, I recorded nothing.

A weak cold front will move across the Montreal region overnight, bringing in only slightly cooler air but lowering the humidity considerably. The weekend will be partly sunny, with high temperatures in the upper 20s to near 30C.

Eastern Ontario hammered by storms - heat persists in Montreal

It was Ottawa's turn on Canada Day, as torrential rain turned parts of the city into a lake, including Highway 417 above at Bayshore Road. Record rainfall amounts exceeded 110mm in just a few hours as storms trained over the National Capital Region for hours. (OPP East Photo)

Heat Warning in effect for Montreal.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for southwestern Quebec.

Another severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for the Montreal region on Thursday. Fortunately for flood weary parts of southern Quebec, the activity has remained west of the city over the last 48 hours across hard-hit Eastern Ontario. That may change Thursday.

Temperatures continue to be dangerously hot across a large portion of eastern Canada, with highs soaring into the middle 30s and humidex values in the middle 40s.

The high heat and humidity spawned several clusters of severe thunderstorms on Canada Day, with hours of torrential rain in the Ottawa region. The storms forced cancelation of the Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill, as well as many local events. The rain also set a July record for Ottawa, with 111.4mm falling in just a few hours. Like Montreal two weeks ago, that amount of water was too much for the urban sewer system to handle. Numerous roads and homes were flooded, with widespread damage to cars and basements reported.

More flooding in the central part of Ottawa near Highway 416. (OPP)

On top of the flash flooding, strong winds, over 100km/h in places, knocked down trees and power lines in a wide area from the Ottawa River south to the St. Lawrence Valley and west into southern parts of the province. Over 100,000 customers lost power between Ontario and far western Quebec.

The storms prompted tornado warnings for the second consecutive day. They also generated over 20,000 lightning strikes from Ontario south into upstate New York.

So what can we expect Thursday? More of the same, isolated strong to severe thunderstorms. This time, they may be a little closer to Montreal or even north of the city. The high for Montréal is forecast at 33C (92F). Overnight lows will be warm and muggy in the middle 20s. 

More heat is expected on Friday, up to 34C (94F). Some relief is forecast for Saturday in southwestern Quebec, as a weak cold front arrives with lower dew points behind it thus slightly less-humid. Warm temperatures however are expected to remain into next week.

Elevated heat and thunderstorms for southern Ontario and Quebec

Temperatures are forecasting to soar into the middle 30s across many locations in Ontario and Quebec on Wednesday. If you have outdoor plans on this Canada Day, do so carefully.

Happy Canada Day! Stay cool, stay hydrated.

Heat warning in effect for eastern Ontario and southern Quebec, including metro Montreal.

The heat is on! Numerous forms of weather warnings and advisories are in place for extreme heat, impacting millions of residents across the eastern United States and Canada, as high heat and humidity levels prevail. If that were not enough, we are contending with strong to severe thunderstorms as well.

Starting with the forecast, we are already warm Wednesday morning in Montreal, despite persistent cloud cover and even a few showers around. Temperatures are already in the middle 20s, with humidex values over 30C. Wednesday will be warm and humid, with a high near 33C (92F). There is a risk of strong thunderstorms late in the day. Overnight will remain very warm and muggy, with temperatures around 25C (77F). Thursday will be a repeat of today.

As far as thunderstorms are concerned, the risk remains high, but the exact location of the storms is not so clear. On Tuesday, several strong clusters of storms moved around the edge of the high pressure producing all this heat, sliding southeast across Ontario, between Cornwall and Kingston. The storms occurred in waves, prompting tornado warnings and resulting in damage. Widespread power outages occurred along with significant tree damage and flooding. Winds gusted in excess of 100km/h at sveral locations, and there were thousands of lightning strikes.

Similar storms are possible later Wednesday and again Thursday afternoon, stay alert if you have outdoor plans, especially across our western locations towards the Ontario border.

Wednesday will be hot. Some locations in Ontario and upstate New York, less likely in Québec, may flirt with the 100F mark Wednesday. On Tuesday, Windsor, Ontario reached 35C (95F), they are forecasting 37C (98.6F) on Wednesday. 

Montreal's warmest temperature occurred on August 1, 1975, when Trudeau Airport reached 37.6C (99F). Unofficially several downtown locations exceeded the 100F mark during the 1975 heatwave, however officially, the city has never hit the century mark. That record has come close to falling, but still stands after 51 years, and should remain safe this week.

Montreal heatwave to last through Saturday

Elevated heat and humidity is expected in Montreal through at least Saturday. Daytime high temperatures will range from 32C to 34C (90 to 95F), with humidex values well over 40C (104F).

A yellow weather warning for extreme heat is in effect for metro Montreal.

In fact, heat warnings and advisories of some form stretch across southern Ontario, southwestern Quebec and a large portion the Untied States, east of the Mississippi River.

Strong high pressure over the southern US is pushing a very warm and moist air mass into our region. Temperatures will rise into the low and middle 30s for some locations, with elevated humidity levels, especially Wednesday and Thursday resulting in humidex (real feel) temperatures over 40C (104F).

The reminders are the same with this kind of heat, drink plenty of water, refrain form strenuous outdoor activities, especially during the afternoon hours. Try to spend some time in air conditioned spaces if possible. The most simple advice is often the most difficult for some to follow, under no circumstances, none, do you leave pets or children unattended in vehicles.

Extreme heat can be a killer. Watch for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Know the difference and most importantly know how to respond. Always stay hydrated. (NWS)

If you have plans to move on July 1st, as many do in Montreal, plan for very uncomfortable and at times dangerous conditions. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol, pizza is ok :) and take frequent breaks.

Little relief is expected overnight, with temperatures remaining very warm in Montreal, in the middle 20s (70s F). The cumulative effect of a few days of extreme heat is often what leads to health issues.

There is a chance of some strong thunderstorms late each day as disturbances in the atmosphere ride along the northern edge of the high pressure ridge. The first risk arrives Tuesday afternoon. Some of the storms may be severe, with high wind gusts and torrential rainfall.

Relief may arrive by Saturday as a cold front moves southeast from western Canada. The timing is not clear at the moment, but temperatures should cool slightly by Sunday.

Heat, humidity and thunderstorms - July in Montreal

The calm after the storm as a vibrant rainbow graces the Montreal skyline. The weather has been very active and highly changeable this month in Montreal. (Photo Norman Leblanc)

A dome of high pressure is forecast to strengthen across the midwestern United States this weekend and into next week, providing a large portion of eastern North America with increasing heat and humidity. The warmest temperatures, approaching 38C (100F) in some locations, will be found across the Ohio Valley, Midwest and Middle Atlantic states.

Montreal, southwestern Quebec and eastern Ontario will be on the northeast edge of the heat dome, with warm and humid weather and occasional thunderstorms starting Monday. We call those systems that produce then thunderstorms ridge runners or ridge rollers, disturbances the move along the periphery of the nearly stationary ridge of high pressure.

Typically these can produce strong, very moist thunderstorms, just what Montreal does not need. The best chance for those storms would be next Wednesday and Thursday, however isolated cells can pop up anytime in the warm and humid airmass.

June in Montreal can be summarized in this one photo, as thunderstorms and sunshine have battled all month. The result has been highly changeable weather along with plenty of rainy weekends. (Valley Weather Photo)

Before that, we have a cold front arriving Friday, with scattered showers and thunderstorms. It does not look like a repeat of last Saturday, with most storms rapidly moving from west to east across the region. My experience in Montreal in both the recent flash flooding event all the way back to the infamous 1987 Decarie Expressway flood, is that it is the north to south or south to north moving storms are the ones that cause us the most trouble.

It has been a wet June, already closing in on 150mm (6 inches) of rain at Trudeau Airport, with some locations in the city easily surpassing 250mm (10 inches), so anymore rain will only add the saturated ground and full rivers and lakes.

As far as temperatures are concerned, we will reach 22C (72F)  Friday, before the heat starts to build through the weekend and into next week. High temperatures will rise into the upper 20s and low 30s by the middle of next week. High humidity will push humidex values into the upper 30s to near 40C across large parts of southern Quebec and eastern Ontario.

Devastating flash flooding on the West Island

Heavy rain from strong thunderstorms quickly overwhelmed the sewer system, inundating roads across parts of the West Island on Saturday afternoon. (West Island Community Page via Facebook)

Powerful moisture-latent thunderstorms swept across parts of the West Island and South Shore on Saturday afternoon, producing nearly two month's worth of rainfall in just a few hours. The slow moving thunderstorms impacted a relatively small area of the Island of Montreal, focusing on Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Pointe-Claire and Dollard-Des Ormeaux. In those communities as much as 170mm of rain fell between 3 pm and 7 pm.

Heavy rain also fell in Dorval, with 60mm at Trudeau Airport. In stark contrast, I only measured 5mm at my weather station here on Ile Perrot.

The result of the torrential rain was immediate, with several main roads, including Highway 40 between Sources and Saint John's Boulevard becoming inundated with water and impassable. Drivers became trapped in their cars by rising flood waters, with at least 15 requiring rescue by Montreal Firefighters. Montreal Division Fire Chief, Martin Guilbault, said his department responded to nearly 800 calls within the first hour of flooding and close to 1200 overall.

At least a dozen communities have been impacted by devastating flooding, affecting hundreds of homes and vehicles.

The Montreal Fire Department responded to over 800 calls in  first hour after the flooding began. Above the department arrives to rescue drivers trapped in their vehicles on Gouin Boulevard in Pierrefonds. (Photo Peter Turnbal)

Nearly four hours of lightning at Trudeau Airport, resulted in a ground stop for safety reasons. Dozens of flights were canceled or delayed and at least 25 incoming flights were diverted to other airports. Between 3 pm and 7 pm it was a constant rumble of thunder to my east over the West Island as dark clouds moved from northwest to southeast and onto the South Shore.

Hail and strong wind gusts also occurred with the storms. As a result of the flooding, Hydro-Quebec needed to cut power to most of the affected area. That combined with other storm effects, such as wind and lightning, resulted in the loss of power to over 25,000 customers. Most of the power was restored early Sunday according to  media relations spokesperson Paule Veilleux-Turcotte.

At least 300 homes were severely damaged by flood waters, but that number is likely much higher. The clean up began in earnest on Sunday, but was interrupted by more weather warnings and thunderstorms. Sunday's storms were a little more tame, as the Atlantic Canada system began to weaken. They still managed to dump heavy rain over the area, with 16.2mm on Ile Perrot in just 30 minutes. That storm also produced hail and strong wind gusts.

As Saturday's storms moved onto the South Shore, more significant flooding and road closures occurred in Saint-Constant, La Prairie, Chateauguay and even as far south as Napierreville.

The thunderstorms were the result of deep moisture pinwheeling around low pressure located over Atlantic Canada. It was the same storm the brought heavy rain and severe weather to Ontario and Quebec last Thursday.

Strong thunderstorms produce flash flooding in parts of Montreal and South Shore

Flash flooding in Pierrefonds on Saturday afternoon. Strong thunderstorms have been moving over the same area for several hours now producing torrential rain, in some cases in excess of 100mm from Laval southeast across Montreal and onto the South Shore. (Photo: Luka Korda via West Island Community Page)

Severe Thunderstorm watches and warnings for southwestern Quebec including metro Montreal through this evening.

Strong thunderstorms have been moving southeast across portions of Laval, through Pierrefonds, Dorval and central portions of the Island of Montreal and onto the South Shore Saturday afternoon, producing widespread lightning and torrential rainfall. Radar estimates and reports form local weather stations are indicating anywhere from 30mm to as much as 100mm has fallen in the last several hours.

At Trudeau Airport, 32.1mm has fallen in the last few hours, with nothing at my weather station on Ile Perrot.

The storms are training over the same region. Flooding has been reported in Pierrefonds and well as on the South Shore in La Prairie and Saint Constant. Several roads have been inundated, while others have significant water accumulations.

Radar is showing more storms developing over the lower Laurentians moving into the Montreal region. Remain vigilant this evening especially after dark. Do not attempt to cross flooded roadways.

Hydro-Quebec is reporting outages to just over 9000 customers at 5:40PM

The showers and storms should weaken after sunset, but more are expected on Sunday. The culprit is strong low pressure over Atlantic Canada sending disturbances in the atmosphere pinwheeling into our region. Conditions should improve Sunday night. 

Radar shows a plume of thunderstorms extending from Laval onto the South Shore. They have been dumping torrential rainfall over the same sections of the city, with 30mm to as much as 100mm falling just in the last few hours.

Another unsettled weather weekend for southern Quebec

The weather has been very active over the last few days in Montreal, with plenty of gusty winds, showers and thunderstorms. Sadly this trend will persist into the upcoming weekend. The tree above tumbled across a Pierrefonds road during Wednesday afternoons storm that hit the West Island. That storm also cut power to more than 60,000 Hydro-Quebec customers. (Photo: Jessica Wasserscheid)

That big low pressure system spinning its way slowly down the St. Lawrence Valley early Friday morning, will continue to influence our weather through the upcoming weekend. Unfortunately that means another weekend where we will be dodging frequent showers and thunderstorms.

The system is strong for June, producing very low barometric pressure readings in southern Quebec, strong wind gusts and plenty of rain and thunderstorms. Fortunately for Montreal, the strongest thunderstorms remained over eastern Ontario, southward into Upstate New York and New England. On Thursday, several tornado watches and warnings were issued in Eastern Ontario as well as Vermont. At least one potential tornado occurred near Woodstock, Vermont and there was rotation observed near Alexandria, Ontario. In the Vermont storm, extensive damage and power outages occurred. Vermont power outages reached over 20,000 Thursday afternoon.

In southern Quebec, winds gusted a high as 70km/h, slowing recovery efforts from Wednesday's storms. Power remains out to just over 5500 Hydro-Quebec customers Friday morning.

In Montreal, it was rain and plenty of it. Another 30-60mm fell across the region. I measured a storm total of 33.2mm on Ile Perrot, bringing my monthly total to 105mm. Trudeau Airport sits at 85.4mm for the month. So if you thought it was a wet June, you would be correct.

Friday will be breezy in Montreal once again, up to 50km/h from the west, along with a few breaks in the clouds. A few disturbances will rotating around the main storm located over the Gulf of St. Lawrence, producing scattered showers and afternoon thunderstorms through at least Sunday. High temperatures will remain cooler for late June, near 20C (68F), perhaps warming into the middle 20s Sunday. Overnight lows will be in the middle teens. 

Another 10-20mm of rain may fall over the next 48 hours, perhaps more in thunderstorms. No severe weather is expected for our region, but gusty winds may accompany any showers or storms.

Airport delays - power outages caused by storms - more expected Thursday

Hail covers the ground in Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague southwest of Montreal during strong thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon. More storms are expected on Thursday. (Photo: Amy Reynolds via Facebook)

A round of strong thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon impacted the extreme southwestern corner of the province, including the West Island portion of Montreal as well as Ile Perrot. The intense cells moved northeast from the New York state border region, later weakening over Laval by late afternoon.

The storms resulted in the loss of power to more than 60,000 Hydro-Quebec customers at the height of the outage. That number was down to 80 breaks Thursday morning, totaling just over 11,000 customers. Most of the damage to the power grid was caused by lighting strikes. Power was also out at Trudeau Airport and most of Dorval, resulting in major flight delays during the late afternoon hours.

The storms also produced significant hail across the region from Ile Perot southwest towards Valleyfield.

On Thursday morning, strong low pressure is lifting across the Great Lakes early, forecast to move north of Montreal to lie near the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on Friday. A warm front will produce heavy rain Thursday morning, followed by a break in the early afternoon. It will be a muggy day, with temperatures in the low 20s.

The trailing cold front will produce strong thunderstorms late afternoon in Montreal, with the risk of  gusty winds up to 90km/h, more hail, lightning and torrential downpours. The unusually strong June low pressure will also generate brisk winds outside of thunderstorm activity, gusting up to 70km/h into the evening hours and 50km/h on Friday. 

Wind warnings are in effect across a large portion of upstate New York and New England and may be extended into southern Quebec. Heavy rain with the storm has prompted warnings north and east of Montreal for up to 80mm of rain. Montreal can expect storm totals of 25-50mm. As of 8AM, 13mm had fallen here on Ile Perrot.

Strong winds both today and Friday may result in isolated tree damage and scattered power outages across the province.

Another round of rain and thunderstorms for Montreal

Just about every other day this month has featured some form of rain or thunderstorms across eastern Ontario and southwestern Quebec. Some have been forecast, while others seem to pop up out of nowhere. Sadly this trend is expected to continue through  the upcoming weekend. (Valley Weather Photo)

Strong low pressure for June is forecast to deepen as it lifts northeast form the Midwestern United States down the St. Lawrence Valley towards Quebec City over the next 24-36 hours. This storm system on the weather maps is more typical of a winter storm and not one you would expect to find in June. That being said, only liquid precipitation is forecast, as it is June!

On Wednesday, clouds will begin to increase as a warm front associated with the storm moves northeast. A few showers and thunderstorms are expected ahead of the main event on Thursday. While no severe weather is anticipated Wednesday in Montreal, some heavy rain will be possible with any storms that develop.

Thursday will be a more active day, with a round of heavy rain in the morning, with as much as 30mm possible for Montreal. A few breaks in the cloud will stir up afternoon showers and thunderstorms, some with torrential rain, gusty winds and small hail. The activity should diminish by sunset. 

Rain totals over the next 4 days could easily surpass 50mm for some locations in our region. Heavy rainfall warnings are currently in effect from Sorel-Tracy towards Quebec City along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River.

Temperatures will remain in the middle 20s both Wednesday and Thursday, with overnight lows in the teens.

Gusty winds will develop with this storm system, even outside of thunderstorm activity. The winds will back from southeast to southwest on Thursday, gusting between 30-60km/h.

As the storm system moves towards the lower St. Lawrence River Valley, it will begin to slow, resulting in stubborn clouds, scattered afternoon showers and chilly temperatures for mid-June. These conditions will persist into Sunday, before yet another storm system approaches for the start of the new work week.

June has already been a wet month in Montreal, with rain falling on more than half the days already. Amounts range from 60mm (2.3 inches) to more than 100mm (4 inches) to date across the southern portions of the province. At Trudeau Airport, 61.1mm has fallen, while I have measured 73.2mm at my weather station on Ile Perrot.

Dry weather with seasonable seasonable temperatures should return for the St Jean Holiday by next Wednesday. 

Increasing heat, humidity and thunderstorms for Montreal

A warm and humid airmass will invade southern Quebec through the end of the week. Humidex values will soar into the middle and upper 30s. Some heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible, with 25-50mm of rain falling for some locations. (Valley Weather Photo)

Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect for Southern Quebec including metro Montreal for Wednesday.

A few strong thunderstorms are possible late Wednesday and again on Friday across Southern Quebec.

A summery airmass will move into southern Quebec through Sunday, with increasing heat and humidity as well as showers and thunderstorms. A warm front will lift across the region on Wednesday, accompanied by showers. Late today, increasing humidity will lead to scattered thunderstorms, some may have heavy rain and gusty winds. High temperatures will remain in the middle 20s Wednesday in Montreal, rising into the upper 20s to near 30C through Saturday. Overnight lows will remain on the warm and muggy side, near 21C (70F).

Cooler air arrives by late Sunday along with more widespread showers and thunderstorms. Highs will drop into the low 20s. Much cooler air will move into southern Quebec early next week, and is showing signs of remaining in place through the end of the month. Highs will be in the low 20s, with morning lows in the low teens.

A rotating shelf cloud southeast of Winnipeg near the community of Ste Anne, Manitoba, likely produced a tornado on Tuesday afternoon. It was part of a significant severe weather outbreak across Saskatchewan and Manitoba including torrential rain and large hail. (CBC)

Severe Weather in Manitoba & Saskatchewan

A significant severe weather outbreak occurred on Tuesday afternoon and evening across southeastern Saskatchewan, Southern Manitoba and adjacent North Dakota. In Saskatchewan, a tornadoes were reported at North Portal, Alemeda and Oxbow, with significant damage occuring. Heavy rain and tennis ball size hail was also observed. 

Storms were more widespread in Manitoba, with tornadoes observed near Ste Anne and Otterburne. Funnel clouds occurred across the Red River Valley. Hail the size of tennis balls fell in numerous locations. Torrential rain fell with the storm cells, causing widespread flash flooding across the southern portions of the province, including Winnipeg. Over 250mm fell in Stonewall, with 117mm at The Forks in Winnipeg. Winds gusted to 94km/h in the city as well. A peak non-tornado wind gust of 130km/h was recorded at Dand and Deloraine. Wind and hail damage as well as flash flooding occurred and is still being assessed on Wednesday.

Widespread tornado watches were in effect from Saskatchewan into northwest Ontario on Tuesday. The severe weather, though less intense, will shift into southern and eastern Ontario on Wednesday.

Wet, muggy weekend on tap for Montreal - hot next week

Rainfall forecast for the weekend can be a nuisance, however it is much needed. Many municipalities across southern Quebec have some form of watering restrictions in place, including Vaudreuil-Dorion, where it is completely prohibited.

Some much needed rainfall is on the way for Montreal and southern Quebec, unfortunately falling over the upcoming weekend. This seems to be a trend developing, with pleasant weather during the week and rainy weekends. That being said, I don't believe this weekend will be a washout.

Stubborn cloud cover and filtered sunshine is keeping temperatures a little cooler than forecast on Friday. The current temperature is 24C (76F) in Montreal, while Ottawa sits at 29C (85F). A frontal boundary will slide across the region overnight and Saturday, tapping into warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, allowing for frequent showers and isolated thunderstorms Saturday. Any clearing that does occur will make conditions more unstable and lead to additional showers and storms. The same is true for Sunday. Some of the showers may produce heavy rain at times. Small hail, lightning and gusty winds are possible as well, but the risk is slight. As we witnessed last Sunday, it only takes one thunderstorm cell or two to creates problems.

High temperatures both days this weekend will be in the middle 20s, with overnight lows in the teens. Warmer, increasingly muggy weather returns next week, with temperatures again rising to around 30C (86F) by Tuesday and maybe the low 30s through Thursday.

The rain is welcome, especially for those towns and cities restricting watering. Many municipalities are evoking water restrictions this summer to help conserve drinking water, so check with your municipality before you water the lawn. In Montreal, major repairs to infrastructure will result in water shortages. As a result residents are being asked to conserve water, especially when it comes to lawns, swimming pools and washing your vehicles.

In the case of Vaudreuil-Dorion, outdoor watering is completely prohibited year-round since January 1st of this year. Fines range from $250 up to $2000 for individuals and up too $4000 for businesses. This includes automated sprinkler systems. Washing vehicles is allowed, as long as the hose has an automatic shut-off nozzle.

With May behind us, it is safe to say it was a rather chilly month. The data backs that up, with an average temperature of 13.3C (56F), which is slightly below the long-term average. Recent years have seen very warm and dry weather in May for Montreal, so this year seemed rather unusual. Below normal rainfall occurred, with 78mm falling at Trudeau Airport.

Calmer, warmer weather week ahead for Montreal

Strong winds and isolated thunderstorms produced widespread power outages and damage over the weekend across southern Quebec. This tree fell onto several parked cars on Leclaire Street in the Hochelaga district of Montreal late Sunday afternoon. (Submitted photo to CTV News)

Happy Meteorological Summer!

The weekend was unsettled as predicted, with cool weather and scattered thunderstorms at times. An upper level low drifted southeast off the New England coast and is moving away from southern Quebec. The circulation around that storm may produce some afternoon clouds and perhaps a shower or rumble of thunder in Montreal, but that should thankfully be the end of this system as it drifts into Atlantic Canada.

High temperatures on Monday, will be warmer than over the weekend, reaching 21C (70F). Winds should ease after a very blustery weekend. The balance of the week looks sunny and dry, with increasing warmth through Friday. Highs will range through the middle and upper 20s, with lows in the middle to high teens.

Speaking of wind, at Trudeau Airport, peak gusts were observed at 78km/h Friday, 67km/h Saturday, and 68km/h on Sunday. Gusts reached as high as 90km/h in other locations. Those winds caused widespread power outages, especially Friday, when over 40,000 customers were in the dark. The same was true across eastern Ontario, where nearly 90,000 homes and businesses were in the dark. In Montreal rain fell heavy at times, with 20-30mm falling since Friday afternoon. 

The thunderstorms also produced a significant amount of lightning strikes in the Montreal region Friday afternoon, the most this year to date. A cooler spring has resulted in fewer thunderstorms so far in Montreal.

Strong low pressure that produced heavy thunderstorms across southern Quebec, delivered a late season snowstorm to Mount Washington, New Hampshire on Saturday. As much as 15cm fell at the summit. (Mount Washington Toll Road)

The storms on Sunday were isolated in nature, but packed a punch. One storm knocked down several trees, including one onto several parked cars in the Hochelaga district of Montreal. Meanwhile in LaSalle, an inflatable play structure was lifted into the air at an outdoor celebration at Oullette Park, causing 11 injuries, 6 serious enough to require hospitalization.

The low pressure produced heavy rain and gusty winds across all of eastern Canada and New England. There were widespread reports of very strong winds as well several boats were damaged along the New England coast. Inland heavy snow blanketed portions of the highest elevations, including Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

Strong wind gusts Friday also resulted in widespread power outages across eastern Ontario. Over 90,000 homes and businesses were left without power, stretching into the weekend for many. (Ontario Provincial Police Photo)

Rainy and windy start to the weekend for Montreal

Periods of heavy showers and gusty winds are possible late Friday into the overnight hours in southern Quebec. Winds may gust to 80km/h in the St. Lawrence Valley.

Special Weather Statement issued for Montreal for gusty northeast winds between 50-80km/h this evening.

An unsettled weather pattern is with us for the next several days as an omega block in the atmosphere dominates our weather. An omega block, named after the Greek letter, is basically an atmospheric traffic jam allowing for a stagnant weather pattern. In our case, strong high pressure lies over the central portion of the continent, while deep upper levels lows sit near both coasts.

Here in Montreal, we can expect a rather cool, wet period of weather, with frequent troughs of low pressure pinwheeling around the aforementioned upper low over central Quebec. As the upper level low slowly slides to our southeast, west winds will veer to the northeast and increase Friday afternoon, gusting up to 80km/h at times into the overnight hours.

Rainfall may be briefly heavy at times Friday, with a few embedded thunderstorms possible late this afternoon and into the overnight hours. Amounts may reach 15-25mm for Montreal. Temperatures will be on the cool side in the middle teens to perhaps 20C (59F to 68F) for those who see some sunny breaks. Morning lows will be near 11C (52F) overnight Friday and again Saturday.

Partly cloudy skies will prevail most of the weekend, but with plenty of instability in the air. Therefore the risk for cloudy periods and showers remains all weekend and even into Monday. Some of the highest elevations across southeastern Quebec and northern New England may even see a snowflake or two.

Warmer and drier weather will return by the middle of next week, as the block begins to breakdown and the weather systems begin to move freely again from west to east.

Warmer weather briefly returns to Montreal

Intervals of rainy weather and warm sunshine over the last two weeks has resulted in an explosion of growth and colour across southwestern Quebec. Unfortunately along with that has been a significant increase in pollen for suffering from seasonal allergies. (Valley Weather) 

Spring can certainly be a little fickle in Montreal, for lack of a better scientific term. Saturday was short and t-shirt weather, with a muggy high into the middle 20s. Sunday on the other hand was unseasonably cold and damp, with a biting northeast wind up to 50km/h. The high managed to reach 13C (55F) late in the day, along with up to 20mm of rainfall as of early Monday morning.

The good news on Sunday was that the rain ended just in time for the waving of the green flag at the Formula-1 Canadian Grand Prix. The race was won by F-1 Mercedes driver, 19-year old phenom, Kimi Antonelli. Just some light drizzle occurred during the race, but the cooler temperatures did make the track surface a little slick at times.

As we start the week, a warm front lies just to our southwest, with a chilly rain falling. That will change quickly as the front lifts north of Montreal later today, with a wind shift to the southwest. Winds may gust up to 60km/h into Tuesday afternoon. The front will set the stage for a warm and at times muggy weather through midweek, with highs in the middle to upper 20s through at least Wednesday.

A cold front arriving late Wednesday will produce isolated showers and perhaps a thunderstorm, before cooler weather arrives on Thursday. High temperatures will fall to around 20C (68F), with lows into Friday morning near 11C (52F)

Briefly looking ahead to next weekend, an upper level low may bring us another shot of unseasonably cool air, along with scattered showers on both Saturday and Sunday. High temperatures are expected to fall back into the middle teens, with breezy northeast winds returning. The poor weekend forecast is still a few days away, so lets hope for a significant change in this pattern that has resulted in such variable weather through April and May. 

Go Habs Go!

Rainy cool weather expected for the Canadian Grand Prix

Regardless of the date the event is held, the Canadian Grand Prix has often been impacted by challenging weather. A rainy, cool race day is forecast for this Sundays race. (Formula1.com)

Montreal has had a stretch of spectacular weather over the last week or so, but sadly that is about to end just in time for the F1 Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Sunday. Rain is forecast most of the day Sunday, along with breezy and cool conditions. Low pressure will lift across the central Great Lakes and allow for a southeast flow of cool and damp air off the Atlantic on race day.

The result will be 10-15mm of rainfall on Sunday, along with race temperatures between 10C and 13C (50-55F). The good news is that with a later start time than usual of 4pm, the rain may become more showery late in the day, with a chance that the bulk of the precipitation will have ended.

The very first F1 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal was held on October 8, 1978 in rainy, cold weather, with even a hint of a few wet snowflakes in the air. The race was won by hometown hero Gilles Villenueve, his first career F1 win. The temperature at race time was only 6C (43F). (Formula1.com)

The last week has presented typical May weather for southern Quebec. We managed a 5 day stretch of sunny and warm weather, the highlight being Tuesday when we reached 28.3C (83F), the warmest day so far in 2026. A dry, breezy cold front swept across the region late in the day Wednesday, leaving us with a couple of sunny, but unseasonably chilly nights. The Friday morning low at my weather station Ile Perrot was only 3C (38F).

The good news for race fans is that we have two spectacular days on tap for all the events taking place around Montreal and on Ile Notre-Dame. Highs on Friday will be near 20C (68F), warming into the low 20s Saturday, along with increasing high clouds. Unfortunately the weather will not hold for Sunday.

Warmer weather along with clearing skies will return for Monday.

Soaking rain to start - much warmer weather on the horizon

Dark clouds advance across the Montreal region on Tuesday, as a stubborn, chilly and moist airmass remained in place over the last few days. There was even some overnight frost reported outside the metro locations. Warmer weather is on the way for the upcoming holiday weekend. (Valley Weather Photo)

Spring has certainly been off to a rather slow start across southern Quebec, with a frequent chill in the air. Even over the weekend when the sun was out, a chilly wind held temperatures down in the lower teens. We may see that change over the course of the next week.

After a couple of cold nights, cloud cover managed to keep overnight lows near 10C (50F) in Montreal. This will set the stage for a slow warming trend into next week.

To start however, we are dealing with several areas of low pressure, the main culprits off the New England coast and a secondary system over Michigan. A warm front will lift north of Montreal over the next 24 hours, accompanied by a soaking rain. There may even be a rumble or two of thunder. Amounts will range from 15-30mm over the region.

Thankfully the flood risk has lowered to the point that many municipalities are removing pumps and flood barriers. The level Wednesday morning in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue was at 23.11 metres, now below minor flood stage which is set at 23.30 metres. Some fluctuation in levels may occur over the next few days, but it appears the spring flood risk is now over for the Montreal region.

After two days of cloudy, wet weather, sunshine is set to return for the upcoming Victoria Day holiday weekend. Highs will climb to near 21C (70F) all weekend, with lows warming into the low teens. By Monday and Tuesday, our daytime highs may nudge to the warmest reading so far this year as we push 25C (77F), locally even warmer close to the Ontario and New York borders.

A battle of the seasons - flood risk lowering for Montreal

Despite water levels lowering on the Ottawa River this weekend, pumps will remain in place in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and other municipalities until the threat is over. (Valley Weather)

The weather was anything but May-like on Saturday across southwestern Quebec, with a cold northwest wind, chilly temperatures and even some sleet and graupel falling from the sky. An upper air disturbance produced enough instability to generate a few lightning strikes early Saturday afternoon. Temperatures remained quite chilly throughout the weekend, with scattered frost reported. Highs were in the 9C to 12C range (49-54F), with low temperatures a few degrees either side of the freezing point.

Early Monday morning, we have milder air trying to work into the region, accompanied by some robust showers along a warm front. That front should clear the region by noon, allowing for a few breaks and gusty, warm southwest winds. Temperatures should warm into the upper teens and even a fews 20s around. The same can be expected for Tuesday, before a cold front sweeps across eastern Ontario and southern Quebec.

That front will produce a few showers and even a thunderstorm, before a soaking rain develops into Wednesday. Temperatures will fall back to the single digits for highs on Wednesday, as the seasons continue to battle across most of Canada.

The weather was cold enough for sleet to fall over the weekend in parts of southern Quebec. (Valley Weather)

Spring Flooding

The news is better concerning the ongoing spring flood potential. Pumps and dikes remain in place, but most roads have been reopened as water levels continue to drop along the Ottawa River and Lake of Two Mountains. Over 100mm (4 inches) of rain fell in April across the region, allowing for water levels to rise sharply late last month. Since May 1st, another 5-10mm has fallen, with 15-20mm possible this week. That being said, water levels remain stable in the Ontario portions of the river and are even lowering in some cases. The end result is that mitigation and observation efforts will remain as is for most municipalities in the greater Montreal area, but the forecast looks favourable at this time for a continued drop in in levels.

The gauge at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue remained in minor flood stage Monday morning, at 23,83 metres and slowly rising. However most other gauges on other portions of the Ottawa River upstream from Montreal are showing levels stable or even lowering.

Over the weekend the bridge to Île Mercier was reopened, as was Chemin de l'Anse à l'Orme late last week. Both had been clsoed since mid-April after being inundated by high water from Rivière des Prairies.

A second wave of high water possible for Montreal

Flood waters in Vaudreuil/Dorion and across southwestern Quebec have been lowering over the last week. However upcoming wet weather may force another surge of water down the Ottawa River towards Montreal over the upcoming week. (Photo: Ledy Quintero)

Flood warnings are in effect across the Ottawa River on the Ontario side of the border, as another wave of rising water is expected. The flood watch has remained in effect on the Quebec side from Pointe Fortune to Montreal. The recent dry weather has allowed water levels to drop across the region, but that will change with more rain in the forecast along with melting snow from the northern portion of the basin.

Water levels at the gauge in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue have dropped from 23.94 metres a little over a week ago down to 23.80 metres currently. This is back into the minor flood stage. 

Concern is on the rise that we may see another wave of high water throughout the Ottawa River Basin and its tributaries into the first week of May. Our dry weather is set to com to an end on Wednesday, with rainy weather forecast as a frontal boundary moves east. Both Ottawa and Montreal are forecasting 15-25mm of rain over the next 36 hours, with some regions in the Ottawa Valley expecting as much as 50mm.

Thankfully all flood mitigation efforts remain in place, with municipalities remaining vigilant and on high alert. It has been a welcome relief over the last week or so to see water levels lower in the Montreal region. The hope is that water levels will not reach those of earlier this month along the Ottawa River and Lake of Two Mountains. 

Our weather will not only turn wet, but sharply colder Thursday into the weekend, as an upper level low drifts over the region. Temperatures will remain in the single digits for highs through the weekend. Overnight lows will be close to the freezing point, with even a few flurries and scattered frost possible for some locations. 

One group that is happy to see some wet weather is SOPFEU, Quebec's wildfire management agency has been dealing with tinder dry conditions in our forests. Despite the flood threat, many regions have had very high fire danger, with burn bans in effect for several municipalities. The wet weather should alleviate that threat for the short-term.

Spring flooding continues across the Montreal region

A flooded boathouse along the shores of Lake of Two Mountains in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. Water levels remain high, with some flooding observed, but so far things remains stable. The next two weeks will be critical as to the extent of flooding this sprung. (Valley Weather Photo)

The flood watch remains in effect for most the Ottawa River Valley, including parts of the metro Montreal region.

Water levels are stable early Thursday morning, thanks in part to the dry weather across southern Quebec. The Ottawa River remains in moderate flood stage, with levels similar to those of 2023, but still below the devastating record-setting flooding in 2017 and 2019.

Lessons learned by municipalities during both those major floods are being applied in 2026, and so far those efforts are holding. Pallets of sandbags and pumps have been placed in many locations from Pierrefonds to Vaudreuil. Mitigation and protective measures will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

The raging Sainte-Anne Rapids under the Galipeault Bridge looking west at Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue on Tuesday evening. The water levels at this location are in moderate flood stage, at 24.19 metres Thursday morning. (Valley Weather Photo)

On Thursday, Vaudreuil placed a protective barrier along Boulevard Saint Charles to protect the road and adjacent dwellings from the advancing Lake of Two Mountains. Pumps are working 24/7 in that community as well as Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue to help keep storm sewers from backing into nearby homes.

Municipalities, such as Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, are pumping water from storm sewers 24/7 to help alleviate any back flow into nearby homes. (Valley Weather Photo)

The Lake of Two Mountains at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue was at 24.19 metres Thursday morning, in moderate flood stage, but lowering slightly. Pointe-Calumet was at 24.27 metres, minor food stage for that locations and stable.

Water levels are also stable at this point northwest of Montreal across the eastern Ontario. The forecast remains favourable for water levels, as no rain is forecast though Sunday. Cooler temperatures will also slow down melting where snow cover still exists across the northern portion of the basin.

So far in April, Montreal has has 89.1mm of rain, with Ottawa at 90.9mm. 

From summer to winter in 24 hours - flood risk increasing across metro Montreal region

Water levels in Vaudreuil are on the rise late Sunday afternoon, with minor flooding being reported in areas close to the shore of Lake of Two Mountains. The municipality completed installing pumps over the weekend to help prevent backflow into the stormwater system. (Valley Weather)

A flood watch remains in effect across eastern Ontario and southern Québec, as water levels along the Ottawa River and it's tributaries continue to rise. The station at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue reached moderate flood range, Monday, sitting at 24.00 metres. Water from the Lake of Two Mountains has starting creeping over the jetty near the boardwalk.

Flooding has also forced the closure of Chemin de 'Lanse-A-l'Orme from Senneville Road to Tiberlea Trail along the Senneville/Montreal border. Flooding has also occurred on Ile Mercier, threatening Louis Roch Street.

You can add Vaudreuil/Dorion to the list of municipalities preparing to fight the advancing Lake of Two Mountains. Public works have been installing pumps along Saint Charles in Vaudreuil to help prevent any backflow in the stromwater system. A dike was also installed at the end of Hotel-de-Ville Street as a preventative measure.

The good news at this time is that weekend precipitation proved to be less than forecast, with only 8mm of rain and a trace of snow falling at Trudeau Airport. Lake levels remain well-below those observed in both 2017 and 2019. Late Sunday afternoon, levels were reported as being stable, but they are forecast to rise slowly through Tuesday.

The strong cold front that moved across the Montreal region Saturday night, dropped temperatures from summertime warmth on Saturday back to near the freezing point Sunday morning. Montreal reached 23C (73F) Saturday, with some southwestern Quebec locations pushing 25C (77F). Gusty southwest winds reached close to 70km/h. By Sunday morning, the temperature had plunged to 2C (36F) in Montreal, with light rain mixing with and changing to light snow. Monday morning was even colder, with 0C (32F) at Trudeau Airport.

The week ahead looks chilly, but with little in the way of precipitation expected through Friday. Hopefully this will allow rivers to crest across the region and begin lowering.

Metro Montreal region under a Level 3 Flood Watch

Water levels along the Ottawa River on Ile Perrot are on the rise Thursday afternoon, in response to a wet April to date, as well recent ice and snowmelt across the region. A flood watch remains in effect for Montreal. (Valley Weather Photo)

"We have just come up to Level 3, which is the highest level of emergency the city can bring it up to" Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada.

A Level 3 Flood Watch is now in effect for Montreal - allowing for the mobilization of personnel, material and resources in the event of flooding.

Municipalities across the Island of Montreal, Laval and up and down the Ottawa River Valley are in flood watch, as waters levels continue to rise. Many parts of eastern Ontario and southwestern Quebec have had a very wet spring to date, with rainfall closing in on 75mm at Trudeau Airport since April 1. At this time the St. Lawrence River and Lac St. Louis are stable and below flood stage.

Municipalities like Senneville and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue on the western tip of the island are in flood watch mode as water levels continue to rise along Lake of Two Mountains. Pierrefonds as well as parts of Laval are also watching water levels rise. (Valley Weather Photo)

The gauges on Lake of Two Mountains at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and Terasse Vaudreuil are at 23.50 metres, or about 200mm (8 inches) above minor flood stage. Water levels have stabilized at both locations for today but are expected to rise slowly in the coming days in response to higher water levels upstream. Pointe Calumet is at 23.58 metres and rising. Minor flooding has been observed.

Montreal and the Burroughs will be monitoring the levels 24/7 at the cities emergency operations centre for the near term, ready to provide assistance as needed.

As far as the forecast goes, the city remains under a special weather statement for the potential of more heavy showers through Sunday. Rainfall amounts of 15-25mm are possible. The good news is that Saturday looks dry now, and cooler, drier weather next week may slow down runoff and water levels.

Across the province, 12 rivers are in minor flood stage, while 17 more are on the rise, and being monitored. Vigilance will be important over the next week as water levels fluctuate. At this time, we are not expecting to reach the record levels and subsequent flooding that occurred in both 2017 and 2019.

A strong cold front will push across southern Quebec on Saturday night accompanied by showers and maybe even a rumble of thunder. Sunday looks much colder, with temperatures falling from highs in the low 20s (70F) Saturday, down to 5C (41F) Sunday. Montreal will likely drop below freezing into Monday morning, -3C (27F), and I can't rule out a stray snowflake or two.

April showers bring May flowers...and spring flooding

Rainfall over the last 72 hours has dropped 30 to 35mm across southern Quebec. The rain along with melting snow and ice has resulted in sharp rises in area rivers. Several are approaching minor flood stage. Vigilance is important over the next few weeks, especially if you live along or near  flood prone areas of southern Quebec. More rain is forecast over the next three days in Montreal.

It is that time of the year again where we hold our breath as rapid snowmelt and spring rain swell our rivers. During the past two weeks across our region, most of the ice has melted away from both the Ottawa and Saint Lawrence Rivers as well as the tributaries in and around southern Quebec. This combined with rainfall this April has resulted in sharp rises in the rivers that surround our island as well as Laval.

Since April 1st, 72.4mm of rain has fallen at Trudeau Airport. Rain has fallen on 12 of the 14 days this month, with more forecast over the next 72 hours. Sécurité Publique Québec has been monitoring the gauges around southern Quebec and reports one in medium flood stage, 7 at minor stage and 18 under surveillance.

Parts of the Mille Îles River are reporting minor flooding, while the gauge in Lake of Two Mountains at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue is reading 23.28 metres, just below minor flood stage. Most rivers are slowly rising, with the next 72 hours being critical as to where we go from here. North of Montreal, the Ouareau River near Rawdon is in moderate flood stage.

A wavy stationary front stretching from Iowa to Maine, has been the focus of rain and strong thunderstorms at times. The front lies southwest of Montreal, keeping very warm and humid air just to our south. Most of the storms have been firing up along and south of the front in southwestern Ontario and New England. The front is separating summer from spring, with Windsor, Ontario reaching 27C (81F) on Tuesday afternoon, while Montreal struggled to reach 9C (49F). As I write this blog, Montreal is siting at 7C (45F), while New York City is currently 28C (83F).

Several areas of low pressure will ride along the front producing more showers and thunderstorms through Sunday, with another 15-25mm of rain possible. A cold front will sweep across the region late Sunday, ushering in unseasonably cold air for a day or two. There may even be some flurries around.

Residents across the metro Montreal region who live in flood prone areas adjacent to our rivers, should continue to monitor water levels and listen to information supplied by your burrough or municipality.

Has spring finally sprung in Montreal?

Barring any surprises, Wednesdays snowfall of 1-2cm should be the last of the winter season here in Montreal. (Valley Weather Photo)

Montreal managed a breezy, warm high of 16C (61F) at Trudeau Airport on Thursday, with the mercury inching past 20C for some southwestern Quebec locations. I must admit, it felt good. The final traces of snow have melted away and the cleanup of our fair city has begun.

What could be the final snow of the season, barring any big surprises, put down a centimetre or two on Wednesday. That melted away quickly, but it was enough to create some areas of black ice and several serious collisions. One incident closed the Ville Marie Tunnel eastbound while yet another snarled the Mercier Bridge. You are reminded that despite the warmer weather, we often dip to or below the freezing pint at night in April, so treat any standing water like ice.

In terms of the future, we are looking at a cold front approaching southern Quebec on Friday, with rain expected ahead and along the front. As much as 10-20mm is possible. Temperatures are mild Friday morning, but will dip as the day moves along. Some wet snow may mix in well north of the city and across the Ottawa Valley.

The weekend looks like typical early April weather, with fair skies and highs in the low teens. Another front will bring rain to the region Monday. Next week looks warmer and wet. We may see significant amounts of rainfall over the next week or so.

Looking back at March, Montreal (Trudeau) received 33cm of snow and 45.9mm of rain, including lots of freezing rain. Winter 25/26 has hopefully drawn to a close, with the seasonal total for snow sitting at 213.6cm (84.1 inches).

Another surge of cold air across southern Quebec

Despite the colder-than-normal weather and the occasional snowflakes, the annual spring cleanup is underway in Montreal. Hundreds of city workers are stripping away the layers of dirt and debris left behind by the melting snow. (Valley Weather Photo)

After a highly variable weekend in the weather department, we are looking at another surge of cold air to start the work week. The easter weekend featured both winter and spring seasons at times. We even managed some early morning thunderstorms on Friday, with between 20-25mm of rain falling over the weekend between early Friday and Sunday morning. Despite the rain and clouds Friday, temperatures still managed to reach 15C to 18C (60-65F) across southern Quebec.

A strong cold front late Sunday has brought cold temperatures and even some flurries for Monday morning. Temperatures will struggle today to reach 3C or 4C (35-40F) under clouds, gusty northwest winds up to 50km/h at times and the occasional snow shower.

It has certainly been a cold start to Spring 2026 in Montreal, but it could be worse. On April 3 and 4, 1975, a fierce snowstorm dumped between 30 and 50cm of heavy wet snow on southern Quebec, driven by 100km/h winds. I remember it well, with a two day holiday from school as a result of the late season storm. (La Presse Archives)

A frontal trough will rotate though the region late overnight into Tuesday morning, with another round of light snow or flurries likely. A centimetre or two is possible in the most persistent snow showers. Cold air will remain in place through Tuesday, with daytime highs only near the freezing point and overnight lows tumbling to -7C (19F). Some slightly milder air should arrive by Thursday, with the return of sunshine. Highs will back close to normal, or slightly above near 10C to 13C (50-55F).

Briefly taking a look beyond this week, there is no real warm air in sight, with temperatures remaining either side of 10C (50F) and overnight lows close to the freezing point. As expected, spring is off to a very slow start in 2026.