Frigid start to 2026 in Montreal - warmer weather on the way

The frozen locks in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue on Saturday morning. The New Year has started off frigid, with some of the coldest air in the last two years over southern Quebec. (Valley Weather)

Happy New Year! 

It has certainly been a very cold start to 2026 across southern Quebec, in fact some of the coldest temperatures in the last two years. The overnight low at Trudeau Airport on Friday morning was -24.8C (-12.6F). In fact you have to go back to February 3 and 4, 2023 to find a colder temperature. The low temperature was a wee bit of a surprise, but that happens in the winter, when you have ideal radiational cooling, light winds, clear skies and fresh snowpack. The coldest low in all of 2025 at Trudeau Airport was -21.8C on February 2. Other parts of southern Quebec were even colder Friday morning, with -29.2 (-20.6F) recorded in Sherbrooke.

A fast-moving clipper system from the Great Lakes dumped a quick 10cm of snow on southern Quebec to ring in the New Year. By morning skies cleared leaving us with frigid temperatures and gusty winds. (Valley Weather Photo)

The cold followed yet another clipper system, the brought around 10cm of snow to southern Quebec New Year's Eve into the start of 2026. That storm deepened as it moved east of Montreal, producing heavy snow and blowing snow in eastern Quebec, with over 30cm across the Gaspe region.

The good news is there is a significant pattern change expected for the upcoming week. Before that, we can expect at least two more very cold nights. Some flurries occurred Saturday morning and a few more are possible on Sunday. High temperatures will struggle to reach -10C (14F) through Monday, with overnight lows close to -20C (-4F).

A stronger system arrives mid week, with some snow forecast. Behind that system, a pronounced southwest flow will develop, with warm and moist air arriving from the Gulf of Mexico by Thursday. The warmer air will be accompanied by a rain and snow mix, changing to all rain by Friday, as temperatures rise to a warm plus 5C (41F). Specific amounts, temperatures and timing will be fine tuned as the week moves along. Enjoy the warm weather as all indications are that the weather will turn cold again by the end of next weekend. After all it is January in Montreal!