Spectacular fall weather for Montreal and southern Québec

Another spectacular sunrise over Ile Perrot on Thursday morning, in what has been a near-perfect stretch of fall weather across southern Quebec. (Valley Weather)

Montreal and southern Quebec continue to enjoy a long stretch of near-perfect fall weather. It does not get much better than this for October in Montreal. No precipitation has fallen since last Thursday, and with the exception of some clouds along a weak cold front Thursday, we have had nothing but sunshine.

Daytime temperatures have been seasonable, reaching into the low teens, while overnight lows have been cool, dropping very close to the freezing point for many locations. Here on Ile Perrot, we have had frost each of the last few mornings, with the growing season essentially coming to an end now.

The fall colours are also accelerating here in the city with the current dry and cool weather. Most locations are at or past prime, with the leaves beginning to tumble to the ground quickly.

Looking ahead into the upcoming weekend and early next week, we have another strong ridge of high pressure that will arrive Friday, with nothing but sunshine forecast through next Tuesday. Temperatures will be cool, with daytime highs either side of 10C (50F) and morning lows at or slightly below freezing.

Get those snow tires on! Despite our nice weather of late, you know winter is on the way. This was the seen last Thursday north and east of Quebec City as the first snow fell in many parts of the province. (Surete du Quebec)

Behind Thursday afternoons cold front, some gusty north winds will prevail into Friday, adding to the chill in the air. Now is the time to prepare for winter. Mild or not, we will still have snow and ice to deal with as some parts of Quebec have already experienced.

For the second time in less than a month, portions of Highway 12 on the Outer Banks of North Carolina were washed away. Sub-tropical storm Josephine will now bring hurricane force winds to the offshore waters of Atlantic Canada. (OBX Voice)

Sub-Tropical Storm Josephine

The aforementioned area of high pressure is helping to steer sub-tropical storm Josephine east into the open waters of the Atlantic. Josephine formed on Wednesday from what was a strong nor'easter located east of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The barrier islands have been hammered all week by heavy surf and strong winds. The result has been significant damage to coastal highway 12 as well as some property damage. This is the second storm is less than one month to wash out portions of the highway that connects the fragile barrier islands along the North Carolina coast.

The forecast track of sub-tropical storm Josephine, expected to move south and east of Atlantic Canada through Sunday. (Canadian Hurricane Centre) 

Early Thursday morning Josephine was located 765 kilometres south, southwest of Halifax, with 100km/h winds. The storm was forecast to move northeast at 20km/h, while transitioning into and powerful extratropical low. Josephine will remain south and east of Atlantic Canada, however some clouds, gusty winds and heavy surf are likely for coastal Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, along with a few heavier rain showers and isolated thunderstorms.