Colder than normal April anticipated across southern Quebec

Strong winds swept across Quebec and Atlantic Canada on Wednesday and Thursday, gusting up to 80km/h in the Montreal region. The wind managed to flip a small aircraft on the tarmac in Saint-Lazare Thursday afternoon. No injuries were reported. (TVA News Photo)

The most recent computer guidance and forecast models are indicating a good chance of below normal temperatures for the duration of April. While that may seem like bad news at the onset, keep in mind that the average daytime high for April in Montreal, rises from 7C (45F) on the 1st of the month to 16C (61F) by the end. As a result, it may be colder than normal, but still well above freezing.

Pick up your garbage people! It amazes me how many people use the snow as their personal garbage can. The end result is a disgusting mess every spring. Not only is this an eyesore, but the tons of plastic and paper leaching into the snowmelt and running down the sewers creates an environmental danger. This embarrassing mess is located at the Mega Centre Côte-Vertu in Saint-Laurent. (ValleyWeather Photo)

That being said, there is always the chance for a surprise snowstorm or two, especially while temperatures are below normal. A look back at recent climatic data for Montreal shows some pretty impressive April snowfalls. On April 8/9, 2000, 38cm fell, while on April 27, 2010, 29.8cm was measured. During April 2007, an incredible 61.3cm fell for the month, for comparison, the normal is 12.9cm. One of the latest snowstorms on record in Montreal occurred on May 10, 1963, when 25.4cm fell over 36 hours. The message here, don't rush to remove your winter tires just yet, April is definitely a month of slow transition.

The first week of April has been true to form with daytime highs reaching nearly 10C on Tuesday and Wednesday, but struggling to reach 2C on Monday and Thursday. In addition to the mercury mood swings, the month has already produced some snow and winds up to 80km/h. Those winds even flipped a small aircraft parked on the tarmac in Saint-Lazare on Thursday. No injuries were reported. The 0.2cm of snow measured on Wednesday evening marks the 7th consecutive month with snowfall in Montreal.

Looking ahead we can expect more unsettled, moody weather. Friday will feature a sunny, cold start, followed by a mix of rain and wet snow across the entire region by evening. Warmer air will make an appearance for the weekend, under mostly sunny skies. The high temperature should reach at least 10C (50F) both days in Montreal. Looking briefly ahead to next week, we have a chance of more rain and snow Monday, along with cooler temperatures. That cooler weather may help to generate a larger storm by the end of next week, with plenty of details to work out at this time.

Montreal sandwiched between weather systems

A very impressive coastal storm explodes on satellite east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina late Tuesday. The storm will pass well east of Montreal today, impacting Atlantic Canada, Labrador and the Gaspe region of Quebec through Thursday. (NOAA)

A strong late season Nor'Easter is barreling up the coast towards Atlantic Canada today. The powerful ocean storm is producing hurricane force winds in the open waters of the Atlantic along with towering waves. Along the coast, high winds and rain are falling, with snow inland. The heaviest accumulations, as much as 30cm, are falling over northern Maine, eastern New Brunswick and the Gaspe region of Quebec. As the storm moves northeast, full blizzard conditions are expected across coastal Labrador and far western Newfoundland.

As the pressure gradient builds between the departing coastal storm and a cold front to our west, winds will increase up to 70km/h today over southern Quebec and Ontario. (AccuWeather.com)

We remain largely untouched by the storm here in Montreal, with the exception of strong winds developing as the pressure gradient tightens between the strengthening storm and a cold front to our west. Winds in Ontario are already approaching 80km/h in some locations, with a special weather statement now in effect. South of the border, a wind advisory has been posted for northern New York and the American side of the St. Lawrence Valley. The strong winds will spread into southern Quebec early this afternoon, with gusts expected up to 70km/h (43mph). The wind will remain gusty overnight and Thursday, up to 50km/h (31mph). The temperature will warm in advance of the front, up to 8C (48F) in Montreal, before falling quickly late in the day. The overnight low tonight will be a cold -5C (23F).

Accompanying the cold front this afternoon will be some isolated showers, with perhaps even a rumble or two of thunder along the US border. There is also the chance of scattered flurries tonight, but no accumulation is expected in Montreal. Just the sight of snow in April can be a little unsettling for most.

The good news is that warmer air will return this weekend, with temperatures close to 10C (50F) expected Saturday and Sunday.

Spring off to a slow start in Montreal

The snow is slowly melting in Montreal and across southern Quebec. Despite objections to the cold start to spring, this weather pattern has actually reduced the flood threat for the moment.

Colder than normal weather continues to dominate the landscape across southern Quebec and parts of Ontario, despite some warmth and sunshine this past week. The melting process has been very slow at best, which in the long run, will help with flooding concerns. For most people however, the continued cool weather and lack of sunshine has resulted in a rather depressing start to spring.

There has been plenty of warm air across North America, just not in Quebec or eastern Ontario. In Montreal, our average temperature for the month of March currently sits at -3.7C (25F), almost 2 degrees below the normal of -2C (29F). Our warmest temperature this month was only 9.9C (49F). Cold temperatures have been common during the overnight period, with an average low of -7.8C (18F), and an extreme low of -18.9C (-2F). It has been a windy, damp month with almost 30.4mm of rainfall. Snowfall has thankfully been below normal, with only 19.6cm falling at Trudeau Airport, 16cm of that on March 10th alone.

Weekend Storm

Temperatures will start to slowly warm up during the first week of April, but not before we get another messy storm this weekend. A cold front will sink south across southern Quebec late Thursday and then stall over northern New England. Several waves of low pressure will move along the front Saturday and Sunday, with precipitation developing over Ontario and moving into Quebec. Most of the precipitation will be in the form of rain, but there is a good chance for wet snow across the higher elevation of eastern Ontario and especially north of Montreal. On Sunday, even Montreal may see a a few hours of wet snow. Rainfall amounts will be in the 15 to 25mm range, along with a couple of centimetres of snow. It is possible that some locations north of the city, may see in excess of 10cm of wet snow.

The dividing line between rain and snow will be very close to Montreal late Saturday, depending on where the aforementioned front settles. This forecast is subject to change depending on the final track of the storm. 

Friday will be quite mild in Montreal, around 8C (47F). The weather will be much colder this weekend, with thick clouds and rain or snow keeping temperatures down around 2C (36F). Skies should clear early Monday, with an extended period of sunshine forecast next week, and high temperatures warming to near 10C (50F) to start April.

Spring snowstorm to impact southern Quebec

A late winter storm will produce heavy wet snow starting Friday afternoon over much of northern New England and southern Quebec. Some locations may see in excess of 30cm. Montreal is looking at a rain/snow mix, with 5cm to as much as 15cm locally. (AccuWeather.com)

Spring arrived at 5:58 pm on Wednesday afternoon, accompanied by bright sunshine and mild temperatures in the 7C to 10C (45 to 50F) range. It was a perfect day, but it is also March in Montreal. The month is full of surprises, and one will be delivered over the next 48 hours.

Coastal Storm
A frontal system advancing over the region Thursday, will produce clouds and scattered rain showers along with mild temperatures. Highs will be around 5C (41F) in Montreal. Low pressure currently developing over the Carolina's, is forecast to strengthen into a potent coastal storm, while moving towards New York City on Friday. This storm will move into Maine and Atlantic Canada on Saturday.

A wide swath of precipitation is expected across New England, southern Quebec and extreme eastern Ontario. Rain will develop late tonight or early Friday, and gradually change to wet snow from west to east on Friday afternoon. The snow may become heavy at times, especially across higher elevations. Snowfall accumulations will be highly dependent on when your community transitions from rain to snow, as well as elevation. At this time, 5 to 10cm is likely from Ottawa towards Montreal, with up to 30cm across the Townships and Quebec City region. The potential does exist for more snow in Montreal, depending on how quickly the region cools down on Friday. A winter storm watch has been posted for the US side of the St. Lawrence Valley, and warnings may be extended northward.

Winds will become quite strong as well late Friday, shifting from northeast to north and gusting over 50km/h. Some blowing snow is possible, especially off island towards the east and northeast. Travel will become difficult late Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. The high on Friday in Montreal will be around 4C (39F) very early in the day, dropping below freezing by afternoon.

Conditions will improve on Saturday, with clearing skies and mild highs near 3C (38F). Sunday will be fair and mild as well, before a strong cold front arrives late in the day. That front will produce flurries, with much colder weather to start next week. Remember, it is still March in Montreal!

Significant melting expected in Montreal

Warm weather to end the week will produce rapid melting of the snowpack in Montreal.

A powerful storm is slicing through the central portion of the US today on its way into Ontario after pounding the Rockies and plains with an intense blizzard. This storm was a beast, one of the strongest in years and certainly the most powerful this season. Along with heavy snow, strong thunderstorms and tornadoes, fierce winds occurred, in some cases gusting over 175km/h. Denver reported widespread blizzard conditions, with winds in excess of 125km/h. Thousands of flights were cancelled across the US, numerous highways closed and power out to over 200,000 residents across the region.

A fierce blizzard hit Denver, parts of the Rockies and the southern plains on Wednesday, quickly closing highways and stranding motorists. That same storm will bring warm, showery weather to Montreal and southern Quebec. (AccuWeather.com)

So what does this storm have to do with our weather here in Montreal? The broad circulation of the storm will push warm air across southern Ontario and Quebec over the next 48 hours. Temperatures will surge up to the warmest readings of the year so far, close to 10C (50F) on Friday. Accompanying the warm air will be gusty winds and some showers and perhaps even a thunderstorm in places. The warmth will begin to melt some of the deep snow and ice we have around the city. That, combined with any precipitation, will help to increase water levels on area rivers and lakes. This will likely result in the ice breaking up in many spots. It is time to stay off the ice and away from swift flowing water.

Some areas may also see flooding, caused specifically by snowmelt. While no weather warnings or advisories are in place at this time in southern Quebec, a flood watch has been posted for northern New York and Vermont. There is a concern for ice jam flooding along some smaller rivers and streams. The same conditions prompting that watch stateside, will exist here across the border in southern Quebec.

Cooler air will arrive this weekend behind a cold front, with a few flurries expected Saturday and daytime highs near 2C (36F). St. Patrick's Day Sunday will be sunny, but breezy and cooler, with a high of -3C (27F) for the parade in Montreal.

Mild weather finally on the way for Montreal

The weather this week has felt more like mid-January than March, with well below normal temperatures, strong winds, and occasional snow squalls. While only 1cm of snow has been reported at Trudeau Airport so far this month, several centimetres quickly fell last evening in Vaudreuil-Dorion. I took the photo above at 10pm Tuesday evening, adjacent to Highway 40 in Vaudreuil.

It has been a very cold week across southern Quebec, with high temperatures running well below the normal of 0C (32F). As of 3pm Wednesday afternoon, Montreal was reporting a cold -9C (16F). The overnight low tonight could reach -18C (0F). This cold weather will persist through the end of the work week, along with a few scattered flurries from time to time.

On Tuesday, numerous snow squalls moved northeast off of Lake Ontario and down the St. Lawrence Valley. The squalls produced areas of heavy snow and blowing snow along Highway 401 between Trenton and Cornwall. Dangerous travel conditions were reported. Last evening, what was left of the squalls, produced a 15 minute heavy burst of snow across Vaudreuil-Dorion and parts of the far western island around 10pm.

We can expect milder air to arrive this weekend, as low pressure develops over the southern plains and moves towards the Great Lakes. The system is forecast to pass west of Montreal on Sunday, with mixed precipitation expected across the region. A decent amount of moisture will accompany the storm, but the exact type and location of the heaviest precipitation is yet to be determined. I am thinking 5 to 10cm of snow for Montreal, before precipitation changes to rain. But those numbers may be adjusted up or down depending on the exact storm track. The good news is that the mild air that arrives with this storm, will stick around into next week. High temperatures will rise above freezing Sunday, with daytime highs remaining above freezing all next week.

Welcome to meteorological spring

March can be a very warm month, or a cruel reminder that it is still winter for a few more weeks. History has shown us here in Montreal, that our biggest storms of the year can occur, including the Storm of the Century, shown above, from March 3-5, 1971. You can read more about the 71 storm HERE.  (Meteo Media Photo)

It may not feel like spring, but the sun is getting brighter and the days are getting longer. From a weather standpoint, we are entering the spring season, although the calendar does not catch up for a few weeks. Unfortunately this year, the weather won't catch up either. We are in the middle of a cold snap that should prevail well into next week. Temperatures across southern Quebec have been well below the normal high/low for early March of -1C (30F) and -10C (14F) respectively.

March will come in lion like across parts of New England, but Montreal should remain on the northern edge of both storms this weekend. Expect only light snow, with perhaps 2 to 7cm total accumulation.

Before moving forward I will take a quick look back at the month of February, a month that was cold, but certainly not record breaking. The daily average high was -3.9C (24.9F), with an average low of -13.1C (8.4F). Those numbers are just slightly below normal, with the low being nudged down a little by our current cold spell. Montreal received 65.6cm of snow, powered by the 40cm snowstorm on the 12th. Normal February snow is 41.2cm. We managed 7 days above freezing, including a high of 6.4C on the 8th. An additional 24.4mm of rain fell in Montreal during February, that combined with the frequent freeze and thaw cycles, have left many parts of the city covered in a thick layer of ice.

As we look forward to March, we can expect a very cold start to the first month of spring. Temperatures are forecast to be well below normal through the first two weeks. After that we will see a pronounced pattern change, with above normal temperatures expected after the middle of the month.

In the short-term, two separate storm systems are expected to pass well south of Montreal, Saturday and again late Sunday. While a moderate snowfall is forecast across New England, Montreal should remain on the northern edge of both storms. Light snow will spread into southern Quebec on Saturday, accumulating 2 to 5cm along the St. Lawrence Valley. A stronger storm late Sunday will produce another 2 to 5cm as it moves along the New England coast. The morning commute Monday in Montreal may be a little tricky, but we are not expecting a big storm at this time.

A break from the stormy weather for Montreal

Several major, multi-vehicle collisions were reported across southern Quebec on Monday. The combination of snow and very strong winds, produced near-zero visibility. The accident above closed Highway 15 south of Montreal from Saint-Jacques-le-Mineur to the US Border. (Post Millennial Photo)

It was a wild 36 hours across eastern North America, as a strong storm system moved from the central US and Great Lakes, into Quebec. A messy mix of snow, freezing rain, rain and fierce winds dominated the weather. Montreal had several hours of freezing rain on Sunday, followed by heavy rain at times, with even a rumble or two of thunder on the south shore. A strong cold front late Sunday delivered violent winds, with a peak gust of 85km/h observed at Trudeau Airport and 89km/h at Saint Hubert. In Quebec, the top wind speed was 107km/h at Grand Bergeronnes. In Ontario, Port Colborne reported a gust to 128km/h, with 200km/h at Plateau, Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island. A February wind record was established on top of Mount Washington in northern New Hampshire, with a gust of 275km/h (171 mph) on Monday afternoon.

On Monday, the strong winds persisted, combining with falling temperatures and blowing snow to produce dangerous driving conditions. Major accidents closed dozens of roads across Ontario and Quebec, including Highway 15 south of Montreal to the US border, and Highway 40 at the Ontario/Quebec border. Other accidents also occurred on Routes 340 and 201 southwest of Montreal. Miraculously only minor injuries were reported, despite the fact hundreds of vehicles were involved. Similar multi-vehicle accidents occurred across central and eastern Ontario, including a 70 vehicle pile-up on Highway 400 near Barrie.

The good news is that conditions have improved significantly across the entire region Tuesday, with clear weather expected through the end of the week for Montreal. Winds do remain gusty on Tuesday, in the 30 to 50km/h range in Montreal, but they should diminish by Wednesday. High pressure will remain in control of our weather, with sunny skies and cold temperatures expected through Thursday. The morning low on Wednesday will be near -21C (-6F) in Montreal. A warming trend is expected by Friday into the upcoming weekend, but with increasing chances for snow by late Saturday.

Strong damaging winds forecast for Ontario & Quebec

Montreal can expect strong winds to develop on Sunday, persisting into Monday. Wind speeds in the deeper purple areas, may exceed 90km/h in some locations. (AccuWeather)

Deepening low pressure over southern Michigan Sunday morning, will lift into southern Quebec through Monday afternoon. The storm is forecast to bomb out to a 970mb low while entering Quebec. Freezing rain and sleet have already spread into Quebec on Sunday morning, with precipitation expected to change to rain in metro Montreal. Mixed precipitation, including heavy snow, will continue across other regions of Quebec, including Quebec City where 30cm of snow is forecast. Precipitation will become spotty at times in Montreal through the early afternoon, before the arrival of a strong cold front this evening.

Powerful Winds up to 100km/h

The cold front will be accompanied by bursts of heavy snow, along with very strong winds. Winds are forecast to increase out of the southwest up to 50km/h today in Montreal, and up to 90km/h this evening into Monday. Wind speeds will likely exceed 100km/h along the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario as well as portions of the St. Lawrence Valley. Winds of this strength are capable of producing damage to trees and power lines. Widespread weather warnings are in effect across the entire region for strong winds, blowing snow and freezing rain. Accompanying the wind will be 2 to 5cm of snow in eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. The snow, combined with rapidly dropping temperature and the gusty winds, will produce dangerous travel and low visibility through Monday morning.

The same storm bringing Montreal freezing rain and strong winds, produced multiple tornadoes across the southern US. The image above is from Columbus, Mississippi on Saturday evening. (AccuWeather Photo)

Temperatures will rise above freezing for a time today in Montreal, up to 3C (38F) early Sunday afternoon. After the passage of the cold front, the mercury will plunge down to -5C (23F) by morning, and continue to drop all day Monday, down to -10C (14F) by late in the day. Expect icy, extremely variable and difficult travel conditions across all regions of southern Quebec and eastern Ontario through Monday.

This same storm system has been responsible for major flash flooding across the southern US, along with strong thunderstorms and tornadoes. From the southern Rockies into the central Great Lakes, blizzard conditions have been reported along with multiple road closures.

New winter storm to bring snow, freezing rain and strong winds to southern Quebec

The continuous freeze and thaw cycle this winter has left many neighbourhoods across southern Quebec trapped under thick ice. Contractors, (above & below)) are putting in extra time trying to clear some of that ice from streets in Notre-Dame-de-L'Ile-Perrot. (Photos: Donna Dalton)

Southern Quebec and eastern Ontario are looking at another messy winter storm this weekend, with a mix of snow, freezing rain, rain and very strong winds. Special weather statements are currently in effect.

The calm before the next storm is expected to last through Saturday afternoon across southern Quebec. A small taste of spring is forecast for Montreal, with abundant sunshine and temperatures flirting with the freezing mark both Friday and Saturday. The good news ends rather abruptly after that. Low pressure is forecast to develop over northern Texas and deepen rapidly as it moves towards the central Great Lakes. Fuelled by tropical moisture on the east side and arctic cold on the backside of the system, the storm is forecast to become rather intense as it moves into Ontario and Quebec on Sunday afternoon.

The storm center will pass well west of Montreal, placing southern Quebec in the warm sector of the cyclone. Expect snow to develop along a warm front Saturday evening, changing quickly to freezing rain in Montreal and points south and west, and persisting into the overnight. Precipitation should change to rain on Sunday morning in Montreal. North and east of the city, as well as across far western Quebec, the dominant precipitation type will be snow, with 15 to 30cm forecast. Here in Montreal, we can expect a messy 10 to 20mm of freezing rain and rain.

As the storm moves east of Montreal, rain will change back to snow and blowing snow late Sunday evening, with 5 to 10cm possible by Monday morning. All this precipitation will be driven around by very strong winds, up to 90km/h on Sunday and Monday across eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. The temperature will rise to 0C (32F) Saturday, and 3C (38F) Sunday in Montreal. As the cold front crosses the area late Sunday, temperatures will fall rapidly in the snow and wind, down to -5C (23F) by Monday morning.

The combination of mixed precipitation and strong winds will make for difficult travel from late Saturday into Monday. In addition to falling precipitation, look for a flash freeze again in Montreal late Sunday.

Another round of snow and rain expected for Montreal

After last weeks 40cm storm, huge piles of snow tower into the sky in several neighbourhoods. This one is located in Saint-Laurent along Thimens Boulevard. (ValleyWeather)

Special Weather Statement in effect for southern Quebec and eastern Ontario for 5 to 20cm of snow mixed with freezing rain from late Wednesday into Thursday morning.

The calm and cold weather that southern Quebec has enjoyed since Saturday, will come to an end late Wednesday. Low pressure developing across the southwest US, is forecast to move across the Great Lakes and into central Quebec by Thursday. A second storm will move across the southeast US and along the east coast, eventually out to sea well south of Quebec. This track will place Montreal and southern Quebec in the warm sector, with mixed precipitation expected. Temperatures will start the day Wednesday around -10C (14F), rising throughout the day and into Thursday, to plus 4C (39F). This is not going to be a big storm, but will be problematic nonetheless due to the timing of the precipitation.

We are running out of place to put the snow this winter. Contractors attempt to widen the parking lot at an Ile Perrot business this past weekend. (ValleyWeather)

Another clear and cold night is forecast tonight, before clouds increase Wednesday, with snow developing very late in the day. Steady snow will develop from late Wednesday into early Thursday morning, with precipitation mixing with freezing rain and eventually rain from Montreal and eastern Ontario south to the US border. At this time, I am thinking 5 to 10cm of snow is likely for Montreal, with 10 to 15cm north of the city into the Laurentians. Isolated 20cm amounts are possible, where temperatures remain below freezing the longest. All precipitation will change back to flurries late Thursday before ending. Expect clearing skies and cooler temperatures for Friday, before we have a repeat performance this weekend. Another storm system will take a very similar track over the weekend with more snow and mixed precipitation expected.

Record breaking snowfall for Montreal approaching 40cm

The start of the storm on Ile Perrot late Tuesday. As of 7am this morning, I measured 35cm on Ile Perrot. (ValleyWeather Photo)

Winter Storm Warning in effect through noon for Montreal.

Montreal is closing in on 37cm of snow over the last 18 hours or so, a new record, breaking the previous record of 32.2cm in 1993. The result is exactly what you would expect, snow covered roads and a ton of school closings. As a matter of fact just about all the schools, Colleges and Universities have cancelled classes. The school closures combined with self-imposed snow days by many workers, have resulted in very light traffic in Montreal this morning. This has likely saved us from gridlock. There have still been numerous accidents reported, especially on off island highways.

The storm in question is moving across southern Quebec this morning, with the heaviest snow now off to the east of Montreal. Despite the delays and cancellations this morning, we have fared quite well in metro Montreal. The strong winds forecast never really materialized, at least so far, limiting the amount of blowing snow. Such is not the case northeast of Montreal in Quebec City, where winds have gusted to 80km/h. The severe blowing snow has resulted in several road closures.

Here in Montreal, delays are being reported with public transit, but it is still operating. The airport is a different story, with hundreds of flight cancellations, the message is clear, call ahead.

The balance of the day will feature light snow in Montreal, with another 5cm forecast. Winds are expected to increase this afternoon, up to 50km/h, producing areas of blowing snow. Temperatures will be mild today as you dig out, reaching -2C (29F).

Transport Quebec keeping us safe, plowing Highway 40 in Montreal early Tuesday morning. (Transport Quebec Photo)

Winter Storm Warning posted for Montreal and southern Quebec

A winter storm watch has been posted for southern Ontario and Quebec.

Winter Storm Warning posted for southern Quebec and eastern Ontario. The watch has been upgraded to a warning as of 3:45PM.

Here is the latest information on the upcoming winter storm. Strong low pressure developing over the southern plains is forecast to move towards the Great Lakes and then just south of Montreal on Wednesday. A second area of low pressure will move along the east coast. The combination of these two storm will produce a wide area of precipitation across our entire region. The snow is expected to spread across southern Ontario early Tuesday morning, reaching southwestern Quebec late in the day. The snow will become heavy at times overnight and through Wednesday morning in metro Montreal. Accumulations will range from 15 to 25cm across southern Ontario and new England, with 25 to 40cm in the St. Lawrence Valley from Cornwall to Quebec City.

In Montreal, we should receive close to 30cm of snow from about 4pm Tuesday through noon on Wednesday. The snow will be accompanied by strong, gusty winds which will produce widespread blowing snow. Expect very poor road conditions across the region, and consider postponing any unnecessary travel. The snow should taper off to flurries by Wednesday afternoon.

Stormy week ahead for winter weary Montreal

A winter storm will produce heavy snow in Montreal from Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning. Current indications are that 25 to 40cm of snow may fall in the St. Lawrence Valley. Strong winds will accompany the snow, greatly reducing visibility. Travel will become extremely challenging across the entire region. Adjust your plans if possible. (AccuWeather Photo)

Winter Storm Watch for Eastern Ontario.
Special Weather Statement for Southern Quebec.

A major winter storm is poised to impact southern Ontario and Quebec from Tuesday through Thursday this week. High pressure will remain in control of the weather in Montreal through early Tuesday, with clear and cold conditions. Clouds will increase on Tuesday morning as low pressure moves from the Ohio Valley into New York State. A second area of low pressure is expected to develop over Delaware and move towards southern New England on Wednesday.

The combination of these two storms will produce a wide area of heavy snow and sleet from southern Ontario across Quebec and New England. Current thinking is that the heaviest snow will fall in the St. Lawrence Valley from Kingston to Quebec City. In this corridor, amounts could easily exceed 30cm through Wednesday. Accompanying the snow will be gusty northeast winds in excess of 50km/h, producing areas of blowing and drifting snow. In Montreal, visibility will be severely reduced in falling and blowing snow through midday Wednesday. Travel across eastern Ontario and southwest Quebec will become extremely difficult Tuesday night.

A winter storm warning will likely be issued for Montreal early Monday morning. Look for additional updates on the storm beginning Monday morning.

Freeze & thaw winter weather wearing down Montreal

Highway 20, west of Montreal, was closed overnight after a fatal, multi-vehicle accident around 11:45pm. The collision, near the Ontario border, involved at least a dozen cars and 7 trucks. (Radio Canada Photo)

Freezing Drizzle Advisory posted for Montreal.

Accidents, school closures, huge potholes, damaged roofs and trips to the emergency room with broken bones have become the norm in Montreal this winter. The non-stop freeze and thaw cycle is taking a toll on the city and southwest portion of the province. Since the weekend, Montreal has recorded nearly 10cm of snow and an additional 10mm of rain or freezing rain.

Thick ice is literally everywhere in Montreal. This month alone, the highest temperature at Trudeau Airport was 6.4C (44F), while the coldest was -18C (0F). Keep in mind, it is only February 7th! Over the next 36 hours, Montreal will go from the current temperature of -6C (21F), up to 7C (45F) by tomorrow morning, and back down to -7C (19F) by Friday afternoon. Freezing drizzle today will transition into a steadier freezing rain/rain mixture this evening, before changing to plain rain overnight. On Friday, a strong cold front will sweep across the St. Lawrence Valley, with rain changing to light snow by the afternoon. As the temperatures drop, the city will freeze over once again. Winds will become very strong as well on Friday, gusting between 50 and 80km/h.

Major Accidents
The freezing rain late Wednesday afternoon started off island to the south and west of the city around the evening commute, and spread into Montreal by 7pm. The hardest hit area was from Ile Perrot into eastern Ontario and south into New York and northern Vermont. Travel quickly became dangerous, with several major multi-vehicle accidents reported by police. One occurred on Highway 30 near Beauharnois, closing the road for several hours. A more serious accident occurred at 11:45pm in the eastbound lanes of Highway 20 at Riviere-Beaudette near the Ontario border. In this case, one fatality and two serious injuries were reported in the collision, which involved at least a dozen cars  and 7 transport trucks. The highway was closed until 4:30am Thursday, forcing hundreds of motorists to spend the night in their vehicles. Traffic backed up into Ontario, with the Ontario Provincial Police helping their Quebec colleagues.

Briefly looking ahead, the pattern that has seen very cold air in western Canada, and highly variable weather here in the east, is expected to persist. This weekend will be sunny and cold in Montreal, however another winter storm is forecast early next week. Depending on the exact path of the system, we may be looking at another messy mix of rain and snow.

Warmer air will bring a round of freezing rain to Montreal

Frozen In Time...Saturday was Groundhog Day, with the various rodents across North America unable to agree on whether or not we will have an early Spring. It may be Springtime before this motorist is able to free their car in Saint-Laurent. More messy precipitation is on the way for Montreal this week. (Valley Weather Photo)

 A milder weather pattern will establish itself over the next 48 hours across eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. On Saturday, a weak clipper system proved to be quite the nuisance, producing between 5 and 15cm of snow, depending whose measurements you believe, and creating chaos on area roads. Despite the light amount of snowfall, several major accidents occurred, including a 200 vehicle pile-up on Highway 20 near Val-Alain, east of Montreal. There were scores of smaller accidents across the region as well.

Our attention today turns to a warm front moving north from southern New England. As the warmer air overrides the cold air at the surface, light snow will start late this afternoon in southern Quebec. The snow will mix with and change to freezing rain in the St. Lawrence Valley overnight and into early Monday. The freezing rain should be on the light side, so the hope is that any impacts will be minimal. However weather warnings may be required later today. The temperature will rise form early Sunday readings in the minus teens, up to -5C (23F) today. The weather will continue to warm overnight, approaching 0C (32F) in Montreal by noon on Monday. If all goes as planned, the city should warm above the freezing point Monday afternoon.

This weeks warming trend will be a welcome sight across the western counties of New York State. Over the last week, several regions, including Adams, New York, shown above, were buried under feet of lake effect snow. (Adams VFD Photo)

Right behind that batch of precipitation, a stronger system will cross the Great Lakes on Monday, bringing another round of freezing rain and eventually plain rain as the temperature continues to warm late in the day. On Tuesday, a cold front will bring a return to cooler temperatures, along with flurries. The weather will remain active through the balance of the week, with another storm system arriving by Thursday along a mix of snow and freezing rain once again.

In the near-term, the cold, arctic air that prevailed across Great Lakes, will retreat across western Canada. A winter storm will produce blizzard conditions today from extreme southern Saskatchewan across southern Manitoba, northern Montana and into the Dakotas. Extremely cold air and dangerous windchill values will prevail all week across western Canada.

Arctic outbreak to skirt southern Quebec

This very Canadian image of kids playing hockey on an icy Highway 40, east of Montreal, has gone viral. The children, along with hundreds of motorists, were forced into a long wait after a multiple vehicle accident closed the highway for several hours on Sunday. The video has been shared around the world by several major news organizations and on social media. I obtained the screenshot from CBC.ca

A fierce cold wave is underway across western and central Canada from southern Saskatchewan into Ontario. The extreme cold has forced the cancellation of schools and the closure of businesses across the upper Midwest, northern Plains and into the southern Prairies. Temperatures dropped into the -40s Wednesday morning, including -47C at Collins Bay, Saskatchewan. In Winnipeg, the temperature bottomed out near -40C, with windchill values in the -50s. The cold airmass is crossing over the much warmer Great Lakes, producing heavy snow in the lake effect snow-belts. In western New York, a blizzard warning has been issued for Jefferson and Lewis Counties, including Watertown, New York and the I-81 corridor. Interstate 81 is a well travelled route by Canadians heading south, but not in the next 48 hours. The forecast calls for as much as 3 feet of wind-driven snow, with temperatures near -18C (0F). Travel is not advised. Further west in Erie County, New York, a state of emergency and travel ban have been put in place. Some of that snow is drifting northeast this afternoon and affecting Highway 401 west of Cornwall towards Kington.

All across central Canada and the northern US, widespread cold and windchill warnings are in effect. Even locally windchill advisories are up for northern New York and Vermont. The arctic boundary will cross southern Quebec later today, with a few clouds, flurries and gusty west winds. The temperature will drop to -21C (-6F) in Montreal tonight, with windchills in the -30s. Sunshine is expected Thursday, along with strong west winds up to 50km/h, and a cold high of -15C (5F). The weather will remain cold into the start of the weekend, along with the chance for more light snow. Temperatures will warm up on Sunday and into early next week with the chance for snow, rain or freezing rain.

On Tuesday, the combination of a weakening clipper system and a coastal low, produced snow across southern Quebec. While amounts were less than expected, we still managed 10 to 25cm across the region. In Montreal, about 12cm fell, enough to create slow travel on slick roads.

New winter storm to impact southern Quebec & Ontario

Brief snow squalls on Sunday resulted in several major accidents in southern Quebec. The one above occurred on Highway 40 east of Montreal near L'Assomption. The crash involved over 50 vehicles. Thankfully only minor injuries were reported. (Photo: by Mario Labrecque via The Weather Network)

UPDATE: Special Weather Statement for 5-10cm of snow for metro Montreal.

The next in a series of winter storms is on the horizon for southern Ontario and Quebec. The storm will be followed by the coldest airmass of the season. First we have a very cold Monday on tap after the passage of an arctic boundary late Sunday afternoon. That front produced widespread snow squall activity, that brought zero visibility at times in bursts of heavy snow. The brief squalls resulted in two major accidents on area highways. The first occurred along Highway 640 near Rosemere. The second, involving at least 50 vehicles, occurred near L'Assomption on Highway 40. In the latter case, the road was closed for the entire afternoon while first responders helped the injured, and the damaged vehicles were removed.

After the skies cleared Sunday night, the temperature dropped rapidly in Montreal, down to -20C (-4F). As of late Monday morning, the temperature had only risen a degree to -19 (-2F). Our calm weather will be short-lived as another major storm is forecast to arrive early Tuesday. Low pressure will move across the Great Lakes, dumping steady snow from the upper Midwest into southern Ontario. A second storm is forecast to develop along the US east coast and move northeast towards Atlantic Canada. The combination of both lows will produce a wide swath of 10 to 20cm of snow across eastern Ontario and into southern Quebec. Gusty winds, up to 50km/h, will accompany the snow, producing areas of blowing and drifting. Travel will become difficult on Tuesday across a wide area including New England, New York, Ontario and Quebec. Numerous weather warnings and watches are in effect.

If that were not enough, once the snow ends on Wednesday morning, arctic air will pour into the region. Temperatures will drop into the minus 20s late Wednesday, with windchill readings in the minus 30s.

If you thought January has been rather difficult so far, you would be right. To date, Montreal has received 70cm of snow along with 40mm of rain and freezing rain. The wild temperature swings and thick ice have added to the miserable weather. In comparison, November and December combined only produced 55cm of snow.

Ice and snow create miserable January weather in Montreal

Heavy snow, freezing rain and rain have made a mess of Montreal roads this week. The latest problem on Thursday morning was massive amounts of standing water. Drivers had to negotiate the massive puddles on Cote-Vertu in Saint Laurent, shown above. Those giant lakes will freeze solid tonight as temperatures drop back below freezing. (Valley Weather Photo)

The second storm in less than a week has left Montreal under a layer of snow, ice and water. On Wednesday, 15cm of snow fell at Trudeau Airport, with over 20cm south of the St Lawrence from Ile Perrot to Cornwall. That brings the weekly accumulations up to 40 to 50cm of snow. On top of that, nearly 15mm of rain and freezing rain has fallen overnight. The snow on Wednesday created long commute times across the region as snow covered icy roads resulted in hundreds of accidents. Several roads were closed for a time, including Highway 20 near St. Zotique after two transports collided.

A dump truck took out a hydro pole in Pierrefonds early Thursday morning. Freezing rain and rain on top of 40cm of snow this week, have left roads in very poor condition. Motorists have had to deal with hundreds of accidents and many road closures. (Radio Canada Photo)

The snow changed to freezing rain overnight in southern Quebec, coating trees and power lines. Rain is falling this morning in Montreal, with the temperature just above freezing at 0.5C (33F). The heavy rain and melting snow has produced massive amounts of standing water, with flooding reported in many sections of the city. Freezing rain is still falling north of the city. The ice has created problems with the Hydro Quebec power grid, with over 20,000 customers in the dark from Montreal north into the Laurentians. The poor weather has also forced the cancelation of classes for most students across southern Quebec on Thursday. Most major school boards on the Island of Montreal have given students and staff the day off.

Colder weather returns
A cold front will cross metro Montreal this afternoon, changing any rain over to snow as the temperature drops below freezing. All this standing water will freeze solid overnight, creating new problems on area roads. The overnight low in Montreal will be a chilly -10C (14F), with a high on Friday of -5C (23F). The weather will remain windy and colder into the weekend, with scattered flurries. There is the chance for another storm early next week, but we will recover form this week first before we go into more details.

Warming trend brings heavy snow & freezing rain to Montreal

Another round of heavy snow across southern Quebec brought morning traffic to a standstill in Montreal. For the third consecutive day, area highways were snow packed with black ice everywhere. Transport Quebec reported dozens of accidents on and off the Island of Montreal. (Valley Weather Photo)

Snowfall Warning: Ile Perrot, Vaudreuil-Dorion & Valleyfield
Freezing Rain Warning: Southern Quebec
Winter Storm Warning: Ottawa Valley & Eastern Ontario

A strong warm front has been the focus for heavy snow this morning across southwestern Quebec. As of 11am, over 12cm had fallen here on Ile Perrot, with another 5 to 10cm possible this afternoon. The snow has made a mess of roads across metro Montreal, with many commuters taking over two hours to reach the city. Conditions continue to be very poor on area highways with Transport Quebec reporting numerous accidents across all regions of southern Quebec.

Precipitation will change over to freezing rain later this evening in Montreal and eventually rain overnight. The temperature has been rising very slowly here in the St. Lawrence Valley, up to our current reading of -10C (14F). If all goes as planned, the warm air should eventually win over, with temperatures rising above freezing late tonight here in the city. The high on Thursday will be near 5C (41F), reached early in the morning. A cold front will arrive in the afternoon accompanied by strong winds up to 60km/h. Any rain will change back to snow and continue into the evening hours. The temperature will fall to -1C (30F) by the evening commute.

Warming trend for Montreal but with more snow forecast

Road conditions were terrible across southwestern Quebec and eastern Ontario on Sunday. This snowplow hit the ditch along Highway 401 near Prescott, Ontario. (OPP East Region Photo)

The biggest snowstorm of the season to date is winding down across southern Quebec on Monday afternoon. The frigid, windy storm produced numerous accidents, some school closures, flight delays and power outages. The storm had far reaching effects, impacting Ontario to Atlantic Canada south into New York, New England and the US Midwest.

Light snow and blowing snow continues in Montreal Monday afternoon, along with bitterly cold temperatures. After a morning low of -22C (-8F), the best we have managed so far is -20C (-4F). The cold temperatures combined with a stiff northwest wind, are producing windchill values in the minus 30s. Sunday's snowstorm, while not the worst the city has seen, was the coldest in almost a century for Montreal. The last time is was this cold during a major snowstorm was on January 16, 1920. On that day, Montreal received 30.2cm of snow with a daytime high of -19.2C. The high on Sunday was only -15C. The city received 25cm of snow, with 30cm falling in the Eastern Townships and close to 50cm in the Gaspe region. In Ontario, 35cm fell in Cornwall, 27cm in Ottawa and 22cm in Kemptville.

Heavy equipment cleaning the streets of Montreal during the storm. (CTV News)

The snow created very dangerous travel conditions with widespread blowing and drifting snow and near zero visibility on highways to the south and east of Montreal. Transport Quebec closed several roads east of Quebec City. Dozens of accidents were reported in the Montreal region as well as across eastern Ontario. The poor road conditions continued during the Monday morning commute, with the temperature being too cold for salt to work. Roads remained snow packed, with reports of black ice, poor visibility and many more accidents.

Road conditions will not improve much over the next few days, with cold weather forecast, followed by another winter storm on Wednesday. The good news is that temperatures should moderate into Wednesday, and may even go above freezing for a period. The bad news is we can expect another 10cm of snow in Montreal, mixed at times with freezing rain. Cold weather will return to end the work week.

Winter Storm Warning in effect for Montreal

Widespread weather warnings for extreme cold and heavy snow stretch from central Canada to the Atlantic coast.

Winter Storm Warning in effect for Montreal, southern Quebec and the St. Lawrence Valley

A strong winter storm is forecast to impact the St. Lawrence Valley beginning late today and persisting though Sunday. A dangerous combination of heavy snow, strong winds and bitter cold will make for near-blizzard conditions at times. Travel is not recommend on Sunday anywhere in our region. Widespread weather warnings and advisories stretch form the US Midwest across Ontario and Quebec and into Atlantic Canada. Across New England and New York heavy snow will fall to the north, with a mix of snow and ice across the south.

Storm totals could easily exceed 60cm in several locations across eastern Canada and the US over the next 48 hours. Here in Montreal, we will remain on the northern edge of the storm, with 15 to 25cm expected. (AccuWeather)

Near blizzard conditions
For Montreal, the snow will begin after 5pm Saturday, and become heavy overnight. Winds will increase out of the northeast up to 40km/h today and 70km/h on Sunday. The wind will produce considerable blowing and drifting snow. Forecast accumulations will be in the range of 10cm for Ottawa and the lower Laurentians, 15-25cm for Montreal and the St. Lawrence Valley, and 30 to 60cm from the Townships into northern New England.

Dangerous windchill values
Temperatures will be dangerously cold. The overnight low this morning was the coldest of the season in Montreal at -21C (-7F). The high today in Montreal will only be -20C (-4F), that combined with a strengthening wind, will produce a windchill in the -30s. On Sunday, the high will only be -16C (4F), with windchill readings remaining in the minus 30s to near -40C locally.

The storm system in question will move from Washington D.C. tonight, across southeast New England and into New Brunswick on Sunday. Behind the storm on Monday, expect flurries with gusty northwest winds and very cold temperatures. Warmer weather returns by Wednesday, but with the threat for more snow.

Powerful winter storm to impact southern Quebec this weekend

Montreal has had a rather tame winter so far this year, with mostly nuisance snow falling. To date, only 77cm of snow has fallen at Trudeau Airport. That may change this weekend, as a major snowstorm crosses New England. Near-blizzard conditions are possible on Sunday. (ValleyWeather)

Cold air has surged back into southern Quebec on Thursday morning, with temperatures over 20 degrees colder than they were on Wednesday afternoon. The arctic front also produced scattered snow squalls as it moved across the region yesterday. Arctic high pressure in control of our weather today, will slide east of Montreal tonight, allowing for a weak storm system to bring light snow into the region. Snow will begin overnight, with 1 to 3cm expected for Montreal.

Depending on the track of the storm, parts of the St. Lawrence Valley could receive up to 30cm of wind driven snow on Sunday. (AccuWeather.com)

The big weather news will come this weekend, as a powerful winter storm takes shape over Kentucky, and moves towards southern New England. Computer models are in general agreement that a storm is on the way, what they can't agree on is the exact track. At this time, we can expect snow to start in Montreal during the evening hours Saturday and persist through Sunday. For Montreal and points south, 15 to 30cm is likely, with Montreal being on the lower end of the range. North and west of Montreal towards Ottawa and across eastern Ontario, 5 to 15cm is likely. South of the border across central New England, 30 to 50cm is possible. Snowfall amounts will become clearer as the storm develops. A final track difference of 50 to 100km north or south will have a tremendous impact on how much snow falls here in Montreal.

Near-blizzard conditions for Montreal
Regardless of the amount of snow that occurs, near blizzard conditions are expected in the St. Lawrence Valley. The combination of falling, blowing and drifting snow, bitter cold temperatures in the minus teens and 50 to 70km/h north and northeast winds will make travel dangerous on Sunday. Windchill values on Sunday with the storm will be in the minus 30s in Montreal. Travel on Sunday in southern Quebec, eastern Ontario and New England is not recommended. Travel will remain very poor in eastern Quebec and Atlantic Canada into Monday.

Conditions will improve Monday in Montreal, but the weather will remain windy and bitterly cold. Winter Storm Watches have been posted across all of New England and New York, with a special weather statement for southern Quebec. Warnings or advisories will likely be needed for Montreal as the event draws closer.

Major pattern change expected in Montreal to end January

The first snowstorm of the season impacted areas of the Middle Atlantic and southern US this past weekend. More snow and cold is forecast starting next weekend, which will likely cause major travel delays to and from the US east coast. The photo above was taken at a favourite location of many Montrealers, Cape May, New Jersey. (Photo David Paterno Weather Page)

With the exception of this past weekend, the winter so far has been rather docile in southern Quebec. Montreal has measured only 76.2cm of snow, 41cm of that falling in November. Until this weekend, the city had been blessed with frequent above freezing temperatures. The recent cold snap, that started Friday, has seen temperatures close to -20C, but even that is not too extreme for January in Montreal. On the weekend, we managed to miss a storm travelling across the southern US. Snow spread from the midwest across the Appalachians and into the middle Atlantic, including Washington D.C.

Changes are on the way for Quebec and Ontario. There are strong indications that frigid arctic air will flood into the eastern third of the country starting as early as next weekend. A marked pattern change is in our future, that would see well below normal temperatures through the start of February. The first taste of that will come later this week after the passage of an arctic front late Wednesday. The front will be accompanied by light snow and gusty winds. A second cold front arrives Friday, with another shot of snow, gusty winds and dropping temperatures. 

Next weekend, several computer models are hinting at a strong winter storm moving up the eastern seaboard. This storm may brush Montreal with more snow. The bigger story will be the arctic air that is pulled southward on the backside of the system. Temperatures may drop into the minus 20s by the end of the weekend, accompanied by strong winds and biting windchills.

A brief look towards the end of the month shows nothing but cold temperatures, with several chances for measurable snow. There are still lots of details to work out with each individual storm, but one thing is looking more and more certain, it will remain cold.

2018 was a year of extreme weather in Montreal

It was, to say the least, a wild weather year in Montreal, packed with extremes. The year started off on a frigid note, -23.3C (-10F) at midnight on January 1st, under an extreme cold advisory. The cold snap would dominate the first week of the month, with near-record electrical consumption under -40C windchill values.

Within 24 hours, Montreal went form a record setting 10C (50F), to the biggest single day snowstorm of 2018, 30.4cm on January 13th. (valley Weather Photo)

Record high to record snowstorm in 24 hours
The arctic weather however would take a rather sharp turn with a pronounced January thaw from the 10th to the 12th of the month. Montreal would observe a record high of 10C (50F) on January 12th, smashing the old record of 5.3C (41F) set in 1986. The warmth would be short-lived, with the temperature dropping to 0C by the end of the day. Over the following 24 hours, temperatures would plummet to -22C (-8F), along with the largest snowstorm of the year. On Saturday, January 13th, heavy snow would fall over southern Quebec, with 30.4cm blanketing the city in less than 24 hours. The snow was accompanied by 90km/h winds and rapidly dropping temperatures. The storm would destroy the previous record for the date of 12.8cm set in 1979. By the morning of January 15th, Montreal would record its coldest low for 2018 of -26.7C (-16F).

The May 4th windstorm caused widespread damage across southern Quebec. This sign toppled onto Hydro Quebec power lines on Ile Perrot. (Valley Weather Photo)

May Windstorm
On Friday, May 4th, a powerful cold front swept across Ontario and southern Quebec, producing hurricane force wind gusts. The strongest wind reported was in Hamilton, Ontario at 126km/h. Montreal was not too far behind, measuring a speed of 117km/h (72 mph) during the late evening. The wind had devastating effects on the power grid, with 350 poles severed in Ontario alone. Nearly 550,000 hydro customers were left without power across the two provinces, some would remain in the dark for days. The wind also toppled scores of trees, some onto cars and homes. Widespread damage to roofs, signs and anything not tied down was also reported. Sadly, 3 storm related fatalities were reported in Ontario. The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimated damages at $1 billion, the most expensive Canadian storm in nearly five years.

Tropical Heatwave
Montreal is accustomed to hot and humid weather in the summer, especially July, but the heatwave of 2018 was exceptional. The combination of heat and humidity would keep humidex values above 30C day and night for over a week. During the 7 day period between June 29th and July 5th, Montreal observed 4 record highs, including the warmest temperature of 2018 at 35.3C (96F) on July 2nd. Parts of the city were even warmer, including downtown and on Ile Perrot was I observed 36.2C (97F). That temperature would fall just short of the all-time record for the city of 37.6C (99F) set in 1975. The dangerous combination of heat and humidity resulted in at least 90 deaths in Quebec. In Montreal, 911 calls were up by 30 percent, and cooling centres were opened across the city. The heatwave was part of a very warm summer, with 20 daytime highs at or above 30C at Trudeau Airport, the normal is 9. The month of July would end with an average high temperature of 29.5C and low of 18.8C, both well above the long-term average of 26.3C and 16.1C respectively.

The searing heatwave of July 2018 was accompanied by a spectacular thunderstorm on Canada Day. The image above was taken by photographer Steve Walsh, along the St. Lawrence River in Verdun. 

Green Christmas
Our warm summer would persist into September and early October with summer-like weather occurring. It was a year without Autumn in southern Quebec with a very late frost and early snow. Montreal would seemingly go from our hot summer, straight into winter in mid-November. The early season snowstorm on November 16th created havoc on area highways, catching most motorists unprepared for winter driving. Despite the early snow, very mild weather in December would result in a green Christmas for Montreal. The year would end considerably milder than it started, with 0C and light rain just prior to midnight on December 31st.

Another mixed precipitation winter storm for Montreal

Low pressure and a strong warm front will produce a period of steady snow tonight in Montreal. We can expect 5 to 10cm in Montreal and across the Ottawa Valley, with more falling to the north of both cities. Strong winds will accompany the snow, producing areas of blowing snow and reduced visibility. (AccuWeather)

Snowfall Warning: Mont Tremblant, Sainte-Agathe, Sainte-Adele
Wind Warning: Richelieu Valley

The current weather pattern that has been well established since early December, will deal another mixed precipitation event to Montreal and the St. Lawrence Valley. A winter storm developing over the central US, will move towards the Great Lakes and just south of Montreal on Tuesday. A surge of warm, moist air is anticipated in advance of the low pressure. Snow will develop this evening in eastern Ontario and by midnight in Montreal. A decent swath of 5 to 10cm should be on the ground by the Tuesday morning commute, with 15 to 20cm expected north of the city across the Laurentians and into western Quebec.

The snow will mix with and gradually change over to freezing drizzle in Montreal tomorrow morning, and finally rain showers by noon on Tuesday. The temperature will do another wild roller coaster ride in Montreal, rising from this mornings low of -17C (2F), up to -5C (23F) by Tuesday morning and eventually above freezing to 2C (36F) by Tuesday afternoon. Accompanying the precipitation will be strong winds in excess of 50km/h in Montreal, and over 90km/h in the Richelieu Valley south and east of the city. As the low pressure moves east of Montreal, colder air will return, changing precipitation back to snow late Tuesday night. Further accumulations are likely into Wednesday. Much colder air will return by the end of the week, with daytime highs by Friday expected to be well below the normal of -6C.

Valley Weather - a way of life for 40 years

Happy New Year! 
It is hard for me to wrap my thoughts around the reality that we are in 2019. It was a bizarre weather year in Montreal to say the least, from the frigid cold snap in January, to the wicked May windstorm, the deadly record-breaking summer heatwave, and finally, our green Christmas. I will take a look at some of the big weather events from 2018 in my next post.

Valley Weather turns 40 years old

I want to share a personal milestone with you: 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of Valley Weather. I have been obsessed with the weather my entire life, a love affair that began innocently enough during the famed Montreal Blizzard of the Century, March 3-5, 1971. From there, a fear of thunderstorms eventually turned to curiosity and the desire to know what causes them. During Christmas 1979, my father bought me a desk calendar and encouraged me to start keeping track of the daily weather. I did and have continued for 40 consecutive years. At first, I recorded what I was seeing, which gave me a tremendous understanding of the mechanics that create weather in Montreal. Later I produced my own weather maps and dabbled in forecasting, while sharing my information with family, friends and eventually my co-workers at the Montreal Gazette.

What I first called the Verdun Amateur Weather Bureau back in January 1979, and later VAWB while I was living in southern Saskatchewan, became Valley Weather while writing for the Kemptville Advance in 2005. The name came from my joy of growing up in the St. Lawrence Valley, along the shores of the mighty river. Our region is one of the most challenging forecast locations in North America.

The science of weather has changed over the years and is now driven by advanced satellite, radar and super computers. But at its core, lies the simple task of observing and recording what you see outside.

Over the years, my interest has presented itself in many different formats, from my personal collection of weather data, to my time at the Dawson College student radio station, to finally writing for the Gravelbourg Tribune, Kemptville Advance and The Suburban here in Montreal. My first columns were in print only, but as social media grew, I made the jump onto the web. Now, thousands of maps, data entries and columns later, here we are in 2019!

I want to thank each and every one of you who have taken the time to chat with me about the weather, seek out my advice when travelling or simply read the blog. Please feel free to read more information about Valley Weather HERE.