Arctic chill - snowy weekend ahead

The current batch of arctic air is creating big lake effect snows south and east of the Great Lakes. Portions of Ontario and western New York have seen as much as 60cm of snow. The image above is from Wales, NY on Wednesday.
(The Buffalo News).

Forecast models are now backing off from a big storm this upcoming weekend across Ontario & Quebec. With arctic high pressure over the region, it appears the bulk of the moisture will remain state side. That being said it will remain frigid with some snow this weekend, perhaps as much as 10cm for Montreal by midday Sunday. Today will be sunny to start but bitterly cold with current temperatures of -20C in Montreal, but as cold as -28C in Ste Jovite and -22C in Sherbrooke. It will take all day for the sun to warm us up but we may make it to -12C or so. Another cold front will approach the region late tonight with more flurries and perhaps a snow squall. Most of the snow squall activity has remained closer to the Great Lakes and across eastern Ontario. Lows tonight will be near -18C rising only to -15C Friday.

WEEKEND SNOW FOR MONTREAL
The weekend will feature increasing clouds on Saturday and very cold with highs of -15C. Look for light snow to develop late Saturday night as low pressure approaches from the Ohio Valley and a second storm develops along the east coast. That second storm will become the dominating system providing a big snowstorm for Atlantic Canada, but sucking the moisture out of southern Quebec. At this time Montreal is looking at 5-10cm of snow perhaps 15cm near the US border. Winds will increase out of the northeast up to 60km/h Sunday in the St. Lawrence Valley creating blowing snow and dangerous wind chills.

Much colder weather ahead for Montreal

Snow slowed the morning commute to a crawl on Monday in Montreal. CTV News

More snow flurries and squalls can be expected across Ontario and Quebec as cold arctic air continues to deepen in the region. After 7-15cm of snow fell on metro Montreal Monday temperatures briefly nudged above the freezing mark late in the day. They are back below freezing this morning along with gusty winds in excess of 60km/h at times. Some of the frigid air that has gripped the northern plains and western Canada will slip into Montreal as the week move along. Highs by the weekend will struggle to make it to -10C. Most of the country now has snow cover with nearly 60 per cent of the US covered in snow as well. Another storm is moving across the middle Atlantic this morning with 3-6 inches forecast from Washington to New York. The storms have really slowed travel across the east and Midwest. Around the Great Lakes and even into the Ottawa Valley snow squalls are reducing visibility and dropping a quick coating of snow this morning.

Looking ahead the cold air will remain in place right through the middle of this month at the very least. Another surge of arctic air will arrive late Wednesday along a strong cold front. The front will produce widespread flurries and squalls with a very quick 2-4cm possible across the region. The snow will be accompanied by dropping temperatures and strong winds. Travel may become poor late in the day Wednesday, just in time for rush hour in Montreal. Temperatures are currently at -4C and will remain there today.
.

Brutal cold western Canada - snow for Montreal

Frigid conditions continue in western Canada this Sunday evening with current reading in the minus 20's across Saskatchewan. On Saturday morning the coldest spot in the country was Brooks, Alberta at -42.2C, Val Marie, Saskatchewan was not far behind at -42.1C. It has "warmed" today to -21C in Val Marie. Winds have abated today but were strong yesterday with windchill readings as low as -50C. Some of that brutally cold air will filter into eastern Canada and southern Quebec by late this week.

MONTREAL SNOW
A weather system from the US will begin to influence our weather late tonight and into Monday morning. Light snow will develop around sunrise in Montreal and persist most of the morning hours. Accumulations will range from 5cm in the city to as much as 15cm across the Laurentians. The snow may be briefly heavy at times. While this is not a big storm, expect some travel issues given the timing of the onset of the snow during rush hour. Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for a big chunk of Vermont and New York excluding the Champlain Valley as well as Snowfall Warnings for the Laurentians and Lanaudiere region north of Montreal. Temperatures are cold right now, -8C here on L'Ile Perrot, but will warm to above freezing by midday Monday. Some freezing rain or rain may mix in at times with the snow before it tapers off. The balance of the week at this time looks sunny and turning colder.

Fans shiver in the snow before the game in Philly on Sunday afternoon. (NFL.com)

This same storm today produced some heavy snow across the middle Atlantic US with as much as 5 inches of snow falling in Philadelphia during the football game today against the Detroit Lions. It made for a very interesting game to watch in the comfort of my home, not shivering in the 27F weather in the stands. Philly beat Detroit 34-20. The same weather has closed the Pennsylvania Turnpike after a fatal accident in which 50 cars were involved. Travel remains very poor across New Jersey and Pennsylvania tonight. A December 8 record 6 inches of snow fell in Wilmington, Delaware today.

Cold weekend - potential Monday snowstorm for Montreal

There is plenty of weather to talk about this morning. Montreal had a cold front go through overnight, just before it did, the temperature here on L'Ile Perrot surged to 10C (50F) near 9pm. After that it has fallen to where we sit this morning, a windy, chilly 2C. That will likely be our high for the day and moving forward I see no real mild air for the rest of this month. Speaking of cold, it is frigid across the prairies this morning with Regina sitting at -32C currently with an extreme windchill of -44C. Further south the cold air has met moisture and is producing an area of freezing rain, snow and sleet from north Texas into the Ohio Valley. The US weather map looks like a Christmas tree this morning, lit up with warnings stretching from the northeast into the deep south and most of the west. Those warnings continue on the Canadian side of the border for dangerous windchill's across the west.

Waves crash onshore from the North Sea into a German ferry terminal on Thursday. (Weather Underground) 

Across the pond in western Europe an intense ocean storm is approaching Germany and the Netherlands with hurricane force winds. Wind reports from North Sea oil platforms have indicated gusts in excess of 100mph with up to 60mph reported along the coast. For the first time since 2007 the elaborate series of flood gates have been closed to protect coastal Denmark.

Our next storm arrive Monday.

MONDAY SNOWSTORM
It is looking more likely that a decent snow event will take place on Monday. I refrain from calling it a storm, but the arrival of snow at rush hour Monday in Montreal will have major implications regardless of the amount that falls. After a sunny, cold and dry weekend, high -4C, low pressure over the Mississippi Valley will move northeast towards southern Quebec with a second low developing off the Atlantic Coast. Both systems will surge moisture north into the cold air with snow likely after midnight Sunday night. Snow with a mix of freezing rain over the border regions will last well into Monday with early estimates from different sources looking at 8 to as much as 15cm of snow. It will be milder near 0C for the high temperature. After Monday more flurries Tuesday and colder once again. I will monitor this all weekend and provide updates.

Mild Thursday expected for Montreal

Temperatures have nudged above the freezing mark here on L'Ile Perrot so the threat of any freezing rain will be diminishing here in the St. Lawrence Valley. Only light rain showers are forecast today as a messy low pressure area moves from the Great Lakes north to near Hudson Bay. This is the same system that brought the blizzard to western Canada and the northern plains. Freezing rain warnings are in effect for the Ottawa Valley and points north of Montreal but so far any precipitation has been light. The warm front should clear Montreal this morning with temperatures surging to well above normal highs of 8C (48F). A trailing cold front will cross the region this evening with a round of showers gradually changing to light snow and ending overnight as temperatures drop rapidly to 1C and remain there on Friday. The weekend at this time looks much colder but dry with some much needed sunshine.

By Monday another developing storm over the Ohio Valley will begin to move towards southern Quebec. Snow or a wintry mix look likely for Monday with perhaps enough snow to shovel. We will have to monitor that storm as the event draws closer with the path and type of precipitation still uncertain.

Colder air arrives in Montreal by the weekend

Strong low pressure along with frigid air has swept across Alberta into Montana producing blizzard conditions. Some of that cold air will arrive in Montreal by the weekend. (Photo: Country 105 via Twitter)

It is another grey and damp morning across the St. Lawrence Valley, with very poor air quality. A weak area of high pressure is over southern Quebec with very little in the way of air movement. Some moisture last evening put down a quick 2-3cm of snow, enough to plow. This morning the temperature remains steady at -1C where it has been since 6pm last evening. Little movement of the air indicates an inversion at the surface here in Montreal, therefore a smog alert has been posted.

The forecast for today calls for more of the same with a high near 1C and perhaps a few flurries. There is also lots of freezing fog and mist around as well so roads can be slick in spots. Looking ahead low pressure that has brought blizzard conditions to Alberta during the last 24 hours, will move from the northern plains into the Great Lakes. A warm front will try to lift across the area late Wednesday, accompanied by spotty rain or freezing rain. Mild air will spill into the region on Thursday with highs possibly up to 8C (48F). It will be short lived with a piece of that arctic air over the Prairies moving into Montreal by the weekend. The cold air will be accompanied by some snow as well, perhaps a few centimetres. Temperatures will drop to daytime highs around -5C by Sunday.

Mild week ahead for Montreal

Very weak low pressure is crossing the St. Lawrence Valley this morning with just a few snow flurries. Some area may see a dusting to perhaps 2 or 3cm, not much more. Temperatures remain chilly this morning in Montreal at -4C but should warm to 0C. The week ahead looks rather mild and a touch unsettled with flurries possible each day and perhaps even a few showers in the mild air on Thursday. High temperatures will be near 0C until Thursday when they will rise above to 2 or 3C. Lows will be near normal between -2 and -4C. It will turn colder by next week as an Arctic air mass moves east from the Prairies.

Arctic air settles into Montreal

Happy Thanksgiving to my family, friends & readers in the US.

Our first winter storm of the year is off into Atlantic Canada this morning after bringing a good 25mm of precipitation to Quebec and Ontario. That included around 13cm of snow for Montreal, with as much as 25cm in Ottawa and varying amounts in between. Winds howled in eastern portions of the province with gusts exceeding 90km/h. Lots of rain also fell with up to 90mm in the Gaspe.

This morning we are left with icy side streets and a cold northwest wind up to 50km/h in Montreal. The temperature here on L'Ile Perrot is -10C but the windchill is close to -18C. It was a brisk walk this morning with Bella, and I had to remind myself there is 4 more months of this to go. At least we are looking at a sunny day, but cold with temperatures no better than -7C. Clear and cold tonight with diminishing winds and lows down in the minus teens. Friday will be sunny and a touch milder, perhaps -5C The weekend it shaping up to be unsettled with a clipper system from western Canada bringing us some light snow late Saturday. It will be milder this weekend near the freezing point.

More snow - gusty winds & cold tonight

This spectacular shot was taken this morning by my friend and longtime reader Jane. This is the Kemptville Creek near Kemptville, Ontario. (Photo Jane Kinnear)

There has been a lull in the precipitation this afternoon with a steady temperature of around 1C in the metro region. About 13cm of snow fell at the airport in Dorval with upwards of 25cm across eastern Ontario. Warnings have been allowed to expire on the Canadian side of the border but remain posted for upstate New York. More snow will develop this evening on very cold northwest winds to 60km/h. The fresh snow along with dropping temperatures will create very dangerous road conditions into the evening and overnight hours across the entire region on both sides of the Ontario/Quebec and New York border. Look for between 2-8cm of additional snow with the lower amounts in Montreal. Temperatures will be the other story as they plummet from daytime highs of 1C down to between -7 and -10C by morning. Little rise is expected Thursday along with flurries but skies should clear.

Messy storm slams region

Just some of the 10cm of heavy wet snow that fell on L'Ile Perrot overnight.

About 10cm of very heavy wet snow has fallen overnight in and around Montreal with 19cm so far in Ottawa. All this has created problems this morning with icy roads north and west of the city and flooded roads in Montreal and south of the city. Temperatures are right at the freezing point so it remains a mixed bag depending where you are in metro Montreal. It is all snow in Ottawa. 

Schools are closed north of the city across the lower Laurentians. All school bus service has been cancelled in eastern Ontario. There are delays at the airport and some power outages are reported with the Hydro Quebec website indicating 11,000 in the dark. I was awakened this morning by the distinct flash and sound of a transformer shorting out to my north. Low pressure continues to deepen near New York City this morning and will move across eastern New England today. It is a mild 0C on L'Ile Perrot this morning but colder air will spill back into the area late this afternoon with any rain changing back to snow. Winds will also increase to 60km/h and temperatures will plummet to -7C tonight. All this water will freeze up, keep this in mind.

POSSIBLE METEORITE
At around 8pm last evening a loud rumble along with a bright flash was observed from the West Island across Vaudreuil/Hudson and as far west as Ottawa and south into New York State. It rattled windows and startled thousands. After all the usual suspects were ruled out, including weather, earthquakes or explosion, it appears a meteorite may have entered the atmosphere, exploding high above the earth's surface.

Winter Storm Warning for Montreal

Heavy snow is moving north across central New York State at 3:45pm. Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for Montreal as we have seen a little nudge to the right of the expected track. This will keep more snow falling over Montreal with less rain mixing. Look for between 15-25cm of wet snow beginning after 7pm and lasting until late Wednesday. Winds will be strong as well, up to 60km/h. The heavy wet nature of the snow could create power outages and downed trees. Travel will be very poor by the Wednesday morning commute. Travel with great care.

Winter storm to impact Ontario & Quebec

This is the current snowfall forecast map from Accu Weather for the entire region. Montreal will be right on the dividing line between rain and snow with the metro region cut in half. Northwest of the city 25cm, southeast of the city less than 10cm.

The much anticipated first winter storm of the season is upon here in Montreal this morning. Winter storm warnings have been posted across a wide area from eastern Ontario, Kingston to Ottawa and east into metro Montreal and towards Quebec City. Low pressure in the Gulf of Mexico will race northeast towards New Jersey on Wednesday, and then across New Hampshire into Thursday morning. This places the St. Lawrence Valley in the sweet spot for snow with freezing rain and rain mixed in from Montreal eastward. Accumulations will be very dependent on the temperature in your backyard, but best estimated are for 10-20cm in Montreal with 20-30cm from Lachute across the Ottawa Valley, Kemptville and into Brockville. This is a good size storm at any time of the year, but especially for the first one, so the Wednesday commute should be interesting in Montreal.

Snow will start late this evening and mix with rain tomorrow morning in Montreal. It then goes back to a steady snow late Wednesday with strong winds developing and dropping temperatures. Thursday looks windy with some blowing snow and colder. Temperatures will be either side of 0C for the next 24 hours in Montreal before dropping off late Wednesday to overnight lows of -6C. There will be lots of ice around and roads will be snow covered so plan your travel accordingly.

The same forecast holds true for New York and Vermont with the rain/snow line setting up across the Champlain Valley. Warnings are in place for those regions as well with the busy Thanksgiving travel period starting tomorrow.

Winter Storm Update

This past weekend over 50cm of snow piled up in the lee of the Great Lakes near London, Ontario. (TWC)

We continue to monitor a nasty weather system that has brought heavy rain and snow to portions of the southern Plains over this past weekend. The storm is expected to merge with a weaker clipper system off the east coast and form quite a strong low pressure area near the Outer Banks. This storm will then lift north into New England.

What this means for Montreal is a good chance of steady precipitation from late Tuesday into late Wednesday night. We could be looking at in excess of 25mm (1 inch) of precipitation in various forms of frozen and liquid. The freezing line will be right through metro Montreal making for a very tricky forecast. The best guess at this time is about 15cm of wet snow split between the start and end of precipitation with about 10mm of rain or freezing rain in between. It will all be blown around by strong winds
of 50km/h in the St. Lawrence Valley.

So far the only mention on this side of the border is a Special Weather Statement by Environment Canada. South of the border in New York and Vermont, winter storm watches have been hoisted. A watch means that there is still considerable uncertainty in the forecast, but prepare and wait until a warning is posted for a more specific geographical region along with amounts and type of precip.

Temperatures are frigid this morning around -13C here in Montreal with wind chill reading to -20C. They will warm to near 0C today along with some light snow from the clipper by tonight. Tuesday will be cloudy as we wait for snow to develop by late in the day. Temperatures will warm to 2 or 3C Wednesday before plummeting again by Thursday.

Snow or rain? Storm this week for Montreal

Models agree on a storm but not on the precipitation type. A snow to rain event in Montreal is likely.

It is looking more and more likely that a major east coast storm will affect Montreal and eastern Ontario this week. Computer models are depicting a strong low pressure area developing off the North Carolina coast and moving northeast towards New York City. After that the storm either moves inland or just off the coast. Either way a large amount of precipitation, up to 25mm, and very strong winds are likely for Montreal and southern Quebec as well as eastern Ontario.

The problem currently lies in where the snow/rain line will fall. The GFS model has rain on the South Shore of Montreal with snow across the Ottawa River and points north like Laval and Hudson. One thing is certain we will have quite a bit of precipitation and wind starting late Tuesday and into Wednesday night. Travel for a large portion of our area will become difficult Wednesday morning. This includes of course New York and Vermont where Thanksgiving travel will be underway. Already this week snow squalls produced major accidents in Vermont with a fatality and multiple injures. Plan ahead for winter driving.

I will post another update early Monday morning and also on my Twitter feed.

Coldest air of season moves into Montreal tonight

A strong arctic front over Ontario this morning will arrive in the St. Lawrence Valley by late this afternoon accompanied by a quick burst of snow and strong winds. Some localities may receive as much as 5cm of snow from Ottawa to Montreal as the front moves through. Roads may be icy and visibility lowered during the frontal passage. Temperatures are cold this morning around -3C, we may gain a degree or two but not much more. Tonight the mercury will drop to -7C with strong west winds over 50km/h and cold windchill readings. On Sunday it will be windy and cold with some of the coldest November air in the last 20 years in place. It will stay around -7C and drop to -14C overnight into Monday. That is a full 10 degrees Celsius below normal. Snow squalls are likely around the Great Lakes from Ontario into New York. Warnings are in place.

Wednesday Snowstorm?
Our concerns then will turn towards a US system that is expected to move across the Gulf Coast states and US Southeast before moving into the Atlantic Ocean near Virginia Beach. Both the European and Global models both pick up this feature but do very different things with it. One scenario has it hugging the coast northward into New England as a very strong coastal storm. This would of course mean a storm with lots of precipitation and wind for Montreal. The other has a track further out into the Atlantic with no precipitation for Montreal. I am watching this closely this weekend and will provide further updates.

What role did the weather play in the Kennedy assassination?

The front page of  The Montreal Gazette from Saturday, November 23, 1963.

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy, assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas, Texas on Friday, November 22, 1963. There was a chance that the horrific events of  that day might not have happened at all had the weather forecast been right. The day was grey and gloomy as the President arrived at the Airport in Dallas earlier that morning. Weather records indicate that 0.06" of rain had fallen with more forecast for the day. This would likely mean a plexiglass bubble would have been used on the Presidents 1961 midnight blue Lincoln Convertible to keep him and the First Lady dry. Unfortunately as the motorcade was set to leave for the cross town journey at 11:50am the weather turned bright and sunny and even warm for late November. The mercury at Love Field in Dallas would reach 70F (21C) after a cool overnight low of 55F (13C). Other sources I checked had the overnight lows as cool as the 40's. But the warm Texas sun and southerly winds between 15-30mph would push temperatures up and with the unexpected sunshine, the President decided not to go with the plexiglas covering. Shots would ring out at Dealey Plaza at 12:30pm killing the 35th President of the United States and seriously injuring Texas Governor John Connally.

By all accounts the 60's were a turbulent decade that seemed to start that fateful day back in 1963. The death of  JFK greatly shocked and saddened Americans and Canadians alike including my mother, who was 33 at the time and decided to keep scrapbooks of every news clipping surrounding the assassination and aftermath. The books she kept were a wealth of information when I decided to take a peek through them somewhere around my 10th birthday. I actually read each and every article, sparking my interest in newspapers. It is hard to believe 50 years has passed and yet the pain and loss continue for many, as well as the questions and theories as to how it all played out. One thing was certain, the world lost a courageous leader that day, far too early.

Welcome to winter - snow by Sunday in Montreal

Well it really feels like mid-winter this morning in Montreal and clear across the country. Temperatures this morning are in the -7C to -10C range across the metro region. Thankfully the wind has finally dropped off after two days of gusts over 50km/h. It will be sunny today but chilly with highs only around 0C for Montreal. A frontal system will approach the region Friday with a warm front crossing southern Quebec. The front will produce some showers and slightly milder highs of 4C. By the weekend a strong arctic cold front will cross Ontario and Quebec with the coldest air of the season arriving by Sunday. The cold air will be accompanied by snow squalls and wind with driving conditions likely being very winter like by Sunday from the Great Lakes into Montreal. High temperatures by Sunday will be no better than -3. More details will follow on that scenario as the event draws closer, but prepare for winter driving now.

Maggie the dog survived 30 hours buried in the rubble after the Washington, Illinois tornado on Sunday. (TWC Photo)

TORNADO SURVIVOR STORY
By now most of my regular readers of this blog know how much I love dogs. I often feature or speak of my little 22 pound Terrier rescue Bella, who actually saved me. She is a gem who would give her life to save mine, that I have no doubt. Over the weekend a series of just devastating tornadoes swept across the upper Midwest US from Illinois to Kentucky. Some of the most destructive damage was done in Washington, Illinois. One of the victims, John Byler Dann, survived the fierce EF-4 storm with his four young children in a safe room in their 5 year old home in Washington. The house was all but destroyed but the family survived, all but their 11 year old family dog Maggie, or so they thought. Nearly 30 hours later, in the rubble that was once their home, they found Maggie, wrapped in a carpet with a displaced hip, but otherwise alive. It is just a tremendous story of  the will to survive along with just how much joy a dog brings to our lives. You can read the entire story with photos here at The Weather Channel.

Massive late season tornadoes hit Midwest

A house blocks a road in Kokomo, Indiana after a tornado on Sunday. AP Photo.

A strong storm system moved into northeast Ontario overnight trailing a potent cold front that has caused widespread damage. The front generated some rare November severe weather on Sunday, with 81 tornadoes reported in six US states. Included in those storms was a likely EF-4 tornado capable of winds approaching 200 mph. That storm leveled the town of Washington, Illinois, and with other storms, claimed six lives and injured hundreds more. It was the first EF-4 tornado ever recorded in Illinois in November. The late season thunderstorms also produced major damage from Ontario and Michigan into Indiana and Kentucky. This morning the thunderstorms have weakened but the wind continues. Strong gusts along and behind the cold front could reach 80km/h in metro Montreal. The wind has knocked out power to nearly 20,000 Quebec homes.

The damage is unimaginable and complete in Washington, Illinois after a likley EF-4 tornado on Sunday afternoon. AP Photo.

The cold front is ushering in much cooler air with temperatures in Montreal falling from 15C at 4am this morning down to 6C by this afternoon. The wind will ease gradually overnight tonight as the storm pulls into central Quebec. About 15mm of rain has fallen since late Sunday here on L'Ile Perrot.

High Winds expected for St. Lawrence Valley

Strong low pressure will move from the Great Lakes today into southern Quebec overnight. An area of very strong winds will develop by midnight tonight and last a good 12 hours for Montreal. Winds of 30-50km/h will develop today ahead of a cold front associated with the storm. Those winds will increase to 50-90km/h tonight and into Monday morning with some gusts to 100km/h possible along the north shore of Lake Ontario. High Wind Warnings are in place from the southwest St. Lawrence Valley towards southwest Ontario as well as the Richelieu Valley of southern Quebec. They may be extended later today into metro Montreal. Heavy rain will also develop with the frontal passage with 15-25mm possible along with a rubble of thunder. Highs today will be warm around 13C (55F) and remain steady overnight before falling on Monday to around 5C (41F) by late in the day. It will be windy and cold Monday night with lows below freeing and a few flurries in Montreal. The cooler air is here for some time with snow even possible by next Saturday.

Warm & windy weekend for Montreal

Enjoy this final shot of warm air for the year as the forecast looks cold beyond next Tuesday right to the end of 2013. We have another surge of warm air from the south today with highs up to 10C (50F) in Montreal. Winds will be lighter than they have been this week, so it will be quite pleasant outdoors. The weekend looks great with mild air well established pushing temperatures unto the low teens Saturday and Sunday. It should remain dry for most of the weekend. The leading edge of cloud cover from a strengthening Great Lakes storm will not arrive until late Sunday.

That storm will move into Quebec on Monday with a very windy and rainy day in the south and turning colder with snow in the central regions. Rainfall may be in excess of 25mm here in Montreal along with winds easily over 50km/h. That will be followed by and Arctic front introducing the coldest air thus far this season. Highs for the balance of next week will remain below freezing with some flurries. Low temperatures will drop to as cold as -10C in southern Quebec. My suggestion is that you wrap up outdoor preparations for winter this weekend, get those snow tires on and put the patio furniture away. This may well be the last real nice warm weekend for some time.

Desperate for help in the Phillipines

While aid continues to pour into the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan, the situation on the ground remains desperate. Bodies and debris are hindering efforts to distribute the relief and many have gone days without food and water. The US already has troops on the ground and Canada has deployed our DART team which specializes in helping after major disasters. The last time the team was deployed was to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. A Canadian Forces C-17 left Trenton early this week with about 50 of the 200 member team. The rest are following with more supplies and equipment. The DART team has four specific areas of specialty, basic medical care, water purification, infrastructure repair and communications. The death toll currently stands at 2200 but as many as 10,000 are feared dead, trapped in the rubble. Please help if you can, relief agencies in Canada say they need financial help the most so they can allocate the funds quickly. The Federal Government will match donations made in Canada until December 8. You can click on the Red Cross logo above right to donate quickly and safely.

Numerous injuries occurred yesterday in snow squalls near Barrie, Ontario. CTV News.

COLD MONTREAL
We have been sent into mid-winter conditions this morning with lows at -8C and windchills down to -13C currently on L'Ile Perrot. It will be cold today with highs only near -1C, but dry with some sunshine. Flurries are possible as well especially away from the city. Yesterday was an icy commute for many in Ontario and Quebec, the first of the year with light snow and icy patches leading to accidents. Please slow down as winter driving is here and get those tires on. Snow, as much as 10cm, also fell around the Great Lakes with Highway 400 north of Toronto towards Barrie closed for a time yesterday after several multiple vehicle crashes. It will warm up to end the week with temperatures into the low teens on the weekend before another arctic surge next week. Rain is likely this weekend from both a warm front and the trailing cold front by Monday night.

Take time to Remember

My father told me from a very young age just how important it was to wear a Poppy and observe a moment of silence on November 11 to pay respect to those who fought and continue to protect our rights and freedoms. It is not taken lightly in my home as I am fully aware of how great Canada is and how much freedom we enjoy as a result of the many who died in the terrible wars of our past. It seems so easy to do, simply wear a poppy and say thank you. As per usual it will be a chilly and blustery day in Ottawa and Montreal for the ceremonies which start at 10:30 am at various locations including Parliament Hill and here in Montreal on the McGill Campus. Skies will be mostly cloudy with temperatures around 3C and a biting west wind.

That wind and cloud cover will be a hint of a strong cold front in the Great Lakes this morning that will enter the St. Lawrence Valley early this afternoon. Showers and strong winds will transition into some snow flurries after dark this evening. Wide areas of southwest Ontario and portions of Quebec, north of Montreal have snow squall watches in effect. Up to 10cm of snow is possible in the most persistent squalls, especially south and east of Lake Huron. In Montreal light rain will mix with snow before ending by midnight. It will turn windy and cold tonight with lows of -5C. Keep this in mind if driving this evening, there will likely be icy spots around. The balance of the week will be fair and dry with moderating temperatures. Highs will not making it above 0C on Tuesday, but should warm to 6 or 7C by Friday.

TYPHOON HAIYAN
One of the strongest storms ever to hit land on earth is weakening over Vietnam this morning after nearly leveling portions of the Philippines on Friday. Haiyan produced winds over 200mph with a storm surge over 20 feet high across the southern island nation. Tsunami like waves destroyed entire villages and most of Tacloban City. Relief efforts our underway but the scope of the disaster and the loss of infrastructure is making it very difficult. The death toll is at 1200 but estimates are that it could reach over 10,000. The Canadian Government is already committed $5 million in relief aid and is matching donations made to relief agencies. Please help if you can at redcross.ca

Cold weekend with some snow for Quebec

Chibougamau: Snow fell in portions of central Quebec on Thursday with more expected this weekend.

Winter is on our doorstep this morning as snow is falling in portions of Quebec and Ontario as well as western Canada. Cold air is pretty well established across the country with the exception of both coasts. Montreal is currently 1C (33F) and that will likely be the high today perhaps a degree warmer. Clouds will dominate along with a stray snowflake or two. Heavier bursts of snow have fallen across central Quebec with Chibougamau reporting several centimetres along with cold temperatures. That portion of Quebec along with the regions just north of Montreal including Tremblant will see more snow this weekend as a clipper system moves from the Prairies across Ontario. Another 5cm of snow is expected this weekend from late Saturday into Sunday. After a dry day today Montreal can expect clouds to increase Saturday morning followed by rain and snow showers. It will be cold Saturday but warm slightly Sunday. An arctic front will cross the region late Monday with a burst of heavier precipitation that could be in the form of snow. The balance of next week looks dry and cold at this time.

A spectacular image of  the well defined eye of  Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) making landfall south of Manilla in the Philippines late yesterday.

SUPER TYPHOON HAIYAN
Quite possibly the strongest storm ever on this planet is racing across the Philippines this morning. Haiyan or Yolanda as it is called locally, is one of the strongest storms ever observed at landfall on the planet. This morning the storms well defined center core is reporting 195 mph winds with gusts to 235mph (Category 5). A tremendous storm surge has flooded coastal regions with widespread destruction reported. Nearly 1 million were evacuated from the storms path. So far 4 deaths have been reported but it is very early in the aftermath with Haiyan still affecting portions of the country and communications down.

Swift moving Typhoon Haiyan has produced a major storm surge such as this one in the Albay region. (CTV NEWS)

Cold weather returns to Montreal - snow next week?

The back edge of a cold front is nearly through Montreal this morning with winds increasing out of the southwest and light rain falling. About 5mm of rain fell since late Wednesday with just a few more sprinkles expected. Skies will slowly clear out today with gusty winds up to 60km/h. The high was reached in the wee hours this morning at nearly 15C (59F), we currently sit at 11C and will drop to 4C by late this afternoon. Look for lows around -1C tonight with perhaps a stray snowflake. The weekend at this time from Friday to Sunday looks quite variable with colder temperatures and the chance of some rain or snow showers late Saturday. There may be more snow by next Tuesday as colder air filters into the east with temperatures running well below normal. Any precipitation at this time would be light, but it could be snow. Stay tuned!

Calm and cold Monday

Hydro crews remove a tree from a crushed car in Montreal on Saturday. (CTV)

It is the coldest morning of the season so far in Montreal with -6C at the Airport and -5C here on L'Ile Perrot. I twill be a calm, dry day after the major windstorm on Friday. Look for sunshine through Wednesday along with a gradual warming trend. Highs today will be only around 2 or 3C (35-40F) with lows back well below freezing tonight. It will warm to 8C (48F) on Tuesday.

It took the better part of the weekend along with utility crews from Vermont and New Brunswick for all the power to be restored after that wild wind on Friday put over half a million Ontario and Quebec homes in the dark. Gusts out of the southwest ahead of a cold front reached 100-110km/h (60-65 mph) from Lake Ontario towards northern Maine. Hundreds of thousands of Quebec homes and businesses were plunged into the dark after trees fell on power lines and even some power poles came down. Damage was widespread with many trees falling on homes and cars, damage to roofs and other infrastructure being reported. Sadly one tree crushed a woman in her car in Port Colborne, Ontario.

Meanwhile winter is well established across western Canada with portions of Alberta and Saskatchewan reporting 10-30cm of snow on the ground. This morning temperatures are very cold with blowing snow reported in both Regina and Saskatoon. Edmonton is -9C after 10cm of snow and Calagry is -6C. Over 30cm fell in Red Deer with travel very poor over the weekend. It will remain cold this week.

Numerous accidents were reported along Highway 2 in Alberta after heavy snow and strong winds this past weekend.  Get ready now folks across the rest of Canada and slow down to avoid this. We all have the power.(Alberta RCMP)

Fierce winds pound province

Strong winds generated by a powerful storm produced lots of damage in southern Quebec today. The low with a central pressure of 962mb, equivalent to a category two hurricane, moved from the Great Lakes towards Ottawa. Winds have gusted between 90-100km/h in Montreal since the noon hour. Widespread damage has been reported with numerous trees down some on cars and power out to over 300,000 homes according to Hydro Quebec. Thousands more are without power in Ontario and New York. One fatality was reported near Port Colborne after a tree fell on a motorist. Warnings remain in effect with winds expected to drop after midnight. The images below are of a tree down on a car in NDG as well as waves being whipped up on the St. Lawrence River in Lachine.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

High Wind Warnings

High wind warnings have been posted for the entire region including metro Montreal, the St. Lawrence Valley, Eastern Ontario and northern New England & NY. Winds ahead of a strong cold front and strengthening fall storm will increase out of the southwest to 100km/h (60 mph) in gusts on Friday. Winds of this strength could cause damage as well as power outages. Rain continues this Halloween night with 14mm so far today on L'Ile Perrot. More showers tonight and Friday with warm air pouring into the region. Highs could reach 16C Friday. Colder air will rapidly move in behind the storm over the weekend with flurries possible.

Scarey Halloween forecast

The 2013 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox celebrate last night along with all of us across Red Sox Nation.

First of all this morning, thank you, thank you, thank you to the Boston Red Sox. What a run from last to first. After not having won a World Series title since 1918, they have now won three since 2004. I am glad they took this time to shake off the curse. What a thrilling team to watch this year, the cardiac kids, never say die, from last in 2012 to champs in 2013.

HALLOWEEN 2013
It is not shaping up to be a great forecast for Montreal and most of us here in the east for Halloween tonight. Strong low pressure has moved from the central plains towards the Great Lakes while intensifying. This storm will lift a warm front across Montreal and southern Quebec tonight with lots of showers and rain likely. It won`t be a washout but it will be wet most of the time. The rain should get going by noon today. The only good news is that is will be much milder, close to 12C today and strengthening southwest winds. It will remain mild tonight and downright warm on Friday, as the warm front clears the region. Temperatures will rise to nearly 16C (61F) on Friday. As this storm strengthens to a 972mb low, it will move across the Ottawa Valley, with a strong cold front trailing behind. Winds on Friday will increase to strong across the St. Lawrence Valley with gusts likely to 100km/h. Wind Warnings have been issued along the US side of the Valley, and I expect they will be moved north and east into Montreal and our southwest regions. After a mild and windy Friday the weekend looks much cooler with showers and perhaps a few flurries by late Saturday behind the storm.

Remember to put your clocks back 1 hour on Saturday night.
Happy Halloween...be safe.

Boston Strong!

Coldest night of the season

Snow and cold greeted Calgary on Sunday after highs of nearly 20C on Friday. Over 10cm of snow fell on southern Alberta. (CTV)

The growing season will come to an end tonight as the coldest air mass of the fall settles into Ontario and Quebec. L'Ile Perrot this morning is wet with showers around and chilly 5C temperatures.Out west temperatures are as cold as -10C in Alberta and Saskatchewan with snow on the ground. Over the weekend a strong storm moved from Alberta into Montana with an area of heavy snow. Over 20cm was reported in Bow Valley with as much as 10cm in Calgary. This storm is diving south into the US plains with snow and cold temperatures. Some of that cold air will filter into our regions tonight after some showers and windy conditions today. Look for lows to be as cold as -5C in Montreal, but all the way below -10C in the Laurentians and Townships.

Skies will be clear tonight but clouds will be on the increase late Tuesday and Wednesday as that US storm starts to move northeast towards the Great Lakes. It will push an area of showers and much milder air into the region by Halloween. At this time Halloween looks wet but warm in Montreal for tricks and treats. I am hopeful the heaviest of the rain will hold off until after the kids return home. Temperatures will be near or above 10C (50F) on Halloween night.

It also snowed in the east this weekend with the observers at the Mount Washington Observatory in New Hampshire sending out a clear message to all.

Cold - rainy weekend for Montreal

Low pressure is moving from Lake Superior across Ontario and into southern Quebec today. In advance of the system cold rain and snow showers have overspread the region this morning. It is very chilly and raw here on L'Ile Perrot with about 1mm of rain since 7am. Current temperatures are 4C (39F) at my home. You don't have to go far north to have snow falling. Transport Quebec traffic cameras from the Laurentian Autoroute as close as St. Jerome show snow accumulating on the roadsides. Some areas of southern Quebec may see as much as 10cm of wet snow today. The system is also expected to produce strong winds later today. Winds will be 40-70km/h with gusts as high as 90km/h along the shores of Lake Ontario. Wind warnings have been posted on both the Canadian and US shores. Temperatures today will do no better than 6C (43F) in Montreal. Tonight the precipitation will continue with a windy and cold overnight low of 5C (41F). Montreal will stay at 5C on Sunday with more showers.

As with the last storm that came across the Great Lakes this past Thursday, some regions will see lake effect snow once again later tonight and on Sunday. On Thursday, 10-15cm of wet snow fell in places like Barrie, and Flesherton, Ontario (photos above & below) with roads snow covered and icy. Snow also fell in Ohio and western New York. As I have already said this week, now is the time to get ready.

Cold & unsettled for Montreal

Beautiful Fleming Mill on the shores of the St. Lawrence River in LaSalle on Wednesday. (ValleyWX Pic) 

Cold air is well established in Ontario and Quebec this morning with -1C (30F) here on L'Ile Perrot with a general frost. Frost and below freezing temperatures are widespread across southern Ontario and Quebec including -3C in Ottawa. Some icy spots are being reported on bridges and elevated surfaces so begin to sharpen those winter driving skills.

SNOW TIRES
As always my snow tires went on yesterday, before Halloween. During the fall of 1992 I was working for the Gazette in Lorraine north of Montreal, and got caught in a November 1 snowstorm with the wrong tires. It was terrible and since that day I always put them on before Halloween. Actually most experts will tell you that under 7C (45F), regular tires begin to lose grip. So snow or not it is a good idea to start thinking about the change. Of course you do not have to have them installed until December 15 by law, but that to me is ridiculously late.

Some early snow tire customers including my Saturn (in stall 1) at Gordons Goodyear on Cavendish and St. Jacques Wednesday morning. Time to do it and avoid the rush.

Speaking of snow, several centimetres of lake effect snow has fallen across the lee of Georgian Bay near Barrie this morning. Some icy spots on bridges and roads are causing isolated travel issues. The precipitation should change over to showers later this morning. The weather in Montreal will remain unsettled and cold right up to Halloween. A series of fronts will deliver lots of clouds with occasional showers starting late this afternoon and lasting well into early next week. Temperatures will be cold with highs of around 7C (45F) and lows near 0C. It will be even colder next week with overnight lows below freezing for Montreal. Some snowflakes are even likely in the lower elevations with perhaps a coating to a few centimetres in the mountains of the Townships, Vermont and New York.

Colder weather with a snowflake or two by weeks end

A warmer and windy Monday is on tap for Montreal and the St. Lawrence Valley as a warm front slowly lifts from southern Ontario into southern Quebec today. We start the day on the cold side at 2C (36F) here on L'Ile Perrot. There was even some spotty frost overnight. As the front comes north freezing drizzle is being reported in the Adirondacks of New York, certainly a sign of things to come.

The warm front comes into Montreal mid morning, with clouds rapidly increase along with showers. Gusty southwest winds are also likely later today. Tonight a cold front will bring more showers along with much colder air. After a high of 15C (60F) today, perhaps our last warm day for some time, lows will drop to 10C (50F) tonight. On Tuesday temperatures will remain steady or even fall a degree or two. The balance of the week looks unsettled with showers and perhaps snow flurries, windy and much colder with lows near freezing and high around 7C (45F).

Partial clearing for a partial lunar eclipse

It has been slowly cooling down this week with temperatures finally acting like October. Add to that about 17mm of rain in the last day or so and it actually feels like fall. It appears at least for the short term that we have turned the corner with much cooler weather now expected into next week. As a matter of fact looking ahead into early November it looks like much below normal temperatures with perhaps some snowflakes by Halloween, but that is way out there. To start with this morning, we have rain ending followed by partial clearing here in Montreal and across the St. Lawrence Valley. That should allow us to view the partial lunar eclipse of the full Hunter moon this evening. The eclipse will peak around 7:50 ET and last several hours. It will only be partial but still worth a peek. Temperatures today will remain where they are currently around 11 or 12C, dropping to 9C tonight.

What to expect tonight as the full Hunter moon, earth and sun get tangled in each others path, at least partially.

Looking ahead into the weekend more showers should develop by Saturday afternoon as low pressure arrives from the Great Lakes. The showers and cooler weather will start Sunday and last well into next week. Highs this weekend will be in the 12 to 15C range with lows of 7 to 9C, By early next week high temperatures will struggle to reach 8 or 9C.

Colder weather on the horizon for Montreal

A ghostly reminder that despite the warm sunshine this weekend, it is October and the days are getting shorter and cooler. Halloween is just around the corner followed by you know what! (ValleyWX)

Most of eastern Ontario and southern Quebec have been enjoying a near perfect fall weather with abundant sunshine and many days of above normal temperatures. This past holiday weekend felt more like late August than October. Highs were in the low 20's with very warm nights in the teens. A front crossed the region on Monday with some light showers, just a few millimetres of rain on L'Ile Perrot and with no apparent change in temperatures. This morning it is still mild at 12C with lots of fog around. A dense fog advisory is in effect for most of northern New York and Vermont with visibility under 1 mile (1.6km). If you are heading off island to the south of Montreal be aware of this fog, which should burn off by 10am or so. Otherwise look for one more sunny warm day before changes begin. A major pattern change is anticipated between now and months end with much cooler and wet weather on the way. The showers will arrive on Wednesday and be with us for the remainder of the week. The cooler air will arrive be the weekend.

Forecast models are hinting at a very cold end to October and start to November for most of the country. Snow is even possible across the Prairies with a hint of some snowflakes by the 10th of November here in the east. Time will tell, until then enjoy the weather and get your winter plans firmed up. My snow tires go on as always next week.

Perfect Thanksgiving Weekend for Montreal

More incredible fall weather is forecast for Montreal and southern Quebec heading into the upcoming holiday weekend. It is chilly to start this morning, 5C (41F) here on L'Ile Perrot, but the sunshine will warm temperatures to well above normal highs of 20C. That sunshine will be with us right into the weekend as strong high pressure remains anchored over Quebec. Along with the sun will be well above normal highs of 19 to 21C.

Coastal flooding affected portions of Virginia and North Carolina on Wednesday, including the above picture from Norfolk. (The Virginia-Pilot)

A nasty coastal storm is affecting portions of the Carolina's north towards southern New England. Strong winds, coastal flooding and heavy rain is forecast from New York to Norfolk. Yesterday nearly a foot of rain fell on Hatteras Island, North Carolina. Along with the freshwater flooding, high surf  and ocean overwash occurred along Highway 12 and flooded parts of the Island. Winds gusting to 50mph caused sporadic power outages from Maryland to North Carolina. That system will not affect southern Quebec with the exception of a gusty northeast wind later Friday.

Strong winds disrupt power in Montreal

High winds toppled power lines and trees in southern Quebec on Monday.
 (CBC News)

Strong winds helped push temperatures soar to 24C (76F) in Montreal on Monday with even some low 80's creeping into the border areas with Vermont and New York. The front also brought some potent showers and thunderstorms along with strong and gusty winds. Winds were in the 70-90km/h range most of the day and have since lowered to 20-40km/h this morning. The wind took out some trees and power lines, especially south of Montreal. Hydro Quebec is reporting about 7000 customer still without power across the province this morning down from around 32,000 on Monday evening. Power outages were also reported across northern New England and eastern Ontario. As the front passed through Montreal at 3pm, around 15mm of rain fell on the city. Unfortunately it occurred during the evening commute making it a slow and difficult one. Other regions of southern Quebec had as much as 25-30mm of rain along the frontal passage. Temperatures dropped rapidly behind the front from 24C (76F) down to 16C (60F) in a matter of minutes. This morning L'Ile Perrot is a chilly 6C (43F) with Ottawa down to 3C (38F).

A spectacular double rainbow appeared behind the cold front late Monday afternoon, visible across most of the island of Montreal. (ValleyWX Photo)

The good news is that our tremendous stretch of fall weather will continue with nothing but sunshine and warming temperatures right into the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend. For the record Montreal has had rain on only four of the last 21 days, remarkable at anytime of the year but especially during typically wet fall.

Finally some moisture for Montreal - incredible South Dakota snow

Streets in Rapid City, South Dakota clogged with snow. (CNN)

Rain finally moved into Montreal this afternoon, 14 days after the last measurable precipitation. Around 7mm fell on L'Ile Perrot, it has since ended with the showers moving off to the northeast as a warm front crossed the region. Temperatures will rise to 23C by midday Monday, well above the normal October 7 high of 14C. The afternoon will feature a strong cold front trailing from the same system the brought South Dakota its massive snowstorm Friday. This front will produce heavy rain and thunderstorms in southern Quebec, along with winds gusting to 70km/h in the afternoon. Rainfall along the front could be significant with up to 40mm possible in some locations. Temperatures will cool to 7C Monday night behind the front. Tuesday will be windy and cooler with highs near 15C.

Several tornadoes including this one in Nebraska, occurred on the warm side of the storm.

SOUTH DAKOTA BLIZZARD
Friday's snowstorm across the plains of South Dakota and Wyoming was legendary with several snow rerecords being smashed. The Black Hills received as much as 50 inches of heavy wet snow accompanied by 70 mph winds. The storm was big by any standards but especially for October. Drifts piled up the sides of many buildings while trees and power lines were down across the region. Highways were jammed with stranded motorists, several had to be rescued by snowmobile. The snow was accompanied by thunder and lightning in Rapid City and Lead. Meanwhile on the warm side of the system, strong thunderstorms and tornadoes raced across Nebraska with an F-4 tornado reported in Wayne. Damage was extensive across the region. Flooding is now a concern in South Dakota as the record snowfall begins to melt.

Tropical Storm Karen heads for Florida - Blizzard in Dakotas

Tropical storm Karen (lower center of image) and a blizzard (upper left) on the map at the same time. You have to love October. 

Two very distinct weather features are on this mornings map, a blizzard over the Dakotas and a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico all at the same time. Both will have an impact on our weather by Monday, finally bringing an end to this stretch of incredible sunshine and warmth. We managed another sunny day on Thursday with temperatures in the low 20's. Today clouds and a few sprinkles along a very weak cold front this morning, but otherwise partly cloudy, mild and dry through Saturday.

Meanwhile Tropical Storm Karen has prompted warnings for the central Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida this morning with the center about 300 miles from the mouth of the Mississippi River. Maximum winds are at 60mph and some strengthening is possible before landfall late Saturday, likely in the Florida panhandle. Karen will produce a 3-5 foot storm surge along with 4 to 8 inches or rain. This system will then move inland towards the Carolina's and become absorbed by a larger storm that is affecting the northern plains and Rockies this morning. A record breaking snowstorm is forecast for the Black Hills of South Dakota with one to two feet of snow and 40-70mph winds possible over the next 24 hours. It is already down to 32F and snowing at the Black Hills Airport near Sturgis this morning.

This large upper level low will spin into the Great Lakes by Sunday, tapping into the Gulf moisture from Karen and bringing an end to our dry weather. Rainfall amounts could be modest Sunday and Monday here in Montreal and across Eastern Ontario into northern New England. There could even be some thunderstorms. Temperatures will however remain mild into next week for Montreal
.

Big snowstorm for western Plains - warm in the east

A potent low pressure area will develop today across the northern Rockies and swing into the central plains tonight. This system has already produced 3-7cm of wet snow over portions of southwest Alberta into northwest Montana. The storm will ramp up later today and tonight with rain changing to heavy wet snow across the Black Hills of South Dakota west into Wyoming as well as portions of North Dakota. Forecasters expect 12-24 inches (30-60cm) of wet snow by the end of Friday with strong northerly winds producing blowing and drifting snow. Power lines and trees will be subject to the heavy weight of the snow as well as the wind.

The storm will lift into the western Great Lakes by the weekend with a chance of some snow over northwest Ontario. Meanwhile here in southern Quebec and Ontario, today is day 11 of sunshine and above normal temperatures. We hit 25C (77F) in Montreal on Wednesday, and should do 22C today. Some showers are likely by late Friday into Saturday. Wet weather can also be expected to start next week, but it will remain warm for October.

We should have the development of tropical storm Karen at some point today. The National Hurricane Center is giving an area of disturbed weather and thunderstorms near the Yucatan an 80 per cent chance of development. Karen will then threaten the Yucatan as she moves into the southern Gulf. All interest along the Gulf Coast should monitor the progress of this system today and into the weekend.

Active Northern Lights - spectacular fall weather

This incredible photo of the Northern Lights was taken by an observer on top of Mount Washington last evening. It was posted to their Facebook page, you can purchase your own copy and support the Observatory HERE.

What more can you say about this weather, simply spectacular for this time of year. Today is the 10th consecutive sunny day with no precipitation in Montreal, a feat difficult at anytime of the year, let alone late September into October. It appears today will be the warmest day of them all, with strong southwest winds up to 50km/h ahead of a weak cold front. Temperatures will match or exceed the high of 24C recorded on Tuesday. That is a full 8 degrees above normal. Today we are already at 16C, usually the normal high for today's date. There is an end in sight, but not a drastic one. A frontal system will bring showers and slightly cooler weather into the weekend.

Big changes are expected in the west where a deep dip in the jet stream will allow cold air to plummet into the Rockies and western Great Plains. Winter Storm Watches may be hoisted for the Black Hills of South Dakota into Wyoming by late Thursday. Strong winds and snow are forecast on the west side of a developing storm, while severe weather is likely across Missouri and Illinois. This system will bring rain and cooler weather into Ontario and Quebec by next week.

NORTHERN LIGHTS
Last night the Aurora Boriealis or northern lights were quite active across a wide region from the Prairies across the far north and into Quebec and northern New England. Sadly I slept through them after two 12 hour workdays, I think we also had a little cloud cover overnight. I have posted a spectacular picture taken from the top of Mount Washington in central New Hampshire last night. I invite you to click on the link on the right side of my blog and explore the observatory atop the mountain. I have been a member for three years now, every penny worth it when you see the research and spectacular photos and observations taken form this unique weatherscape. I have visited once, and plan a return trip next year, perhaps for a longer stay to volunteer, one never knows.