Two winter storms to deliver significant snow to Montreal

The long commute home westbound on Highway 40 in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue during last Thursday's snowstorm. Expect very difficult driving conditions on Thursday across the entire region, with heavy snow, blowing snow and even some freezing rain along and south of the St. Lawrence River. (Valley Weather Photo)

Winter Storm Warning in effect for southern Quebec and eastern Ontario. Winter weather advisory for adjacent upstate New York.

Expect very difficult travel conditions tonight and Thursday across the entire region, with low visibility in heavy snow and blowing snow.

Two winter storms are set to deliver significant precipitation to southern Quebec and eastern Ontario. The first storm arrives Wednesday evening, persisting into Thursday. There is still some uncertainty with the final snow totals, especially along and south of the St. Lawrence River, where warmer air arrives on Thursday. For now, snow is forecast to start late this evening and become heavy overnight. Accumulations of 15cm are expected in the Montreal area by the morning commute on Thursday. The snow will continue all day, mixing with freezing rain or sleet at times along the river and points south to the international border.

Total storm accumulations will be in the 20-35cm range from south to north across our region, including the Ottawa Valley, Laurentians and Quebec City. Less snow is forecast along the New York and Vermont border and across the Eastern Townships. 

Low pressure will move from the Ohio Valley down the St. Lawrence Valley and eastward into northern Maine on Friday. Temperatures will be cold on Wednesday, but rise through the night to high near 0C (32F) on Thursday in Montreal. Winds will become gusty up to 50km/h out of the northeast tonight and early Thursday, before backing to the northwest up to 60km/h Thursday afternoon. These winds will produce areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Skies clear out Friday before another strong winter storm takes aim at southern Quebec for late Saturday and Sunday. This storm will be colder for Montreal, with all snow expected at this time. More details to follow once we clear up our current storm.

Significant winter storm to impact Montreal

The message is clear from Transport Quebec, don't crowd the plow. There will be plenty of plowing and salting to be done over the next week as back-to-back storms will impact southern Quebec. A winter storm watch in now in effect for Montreal, with 20 to 35cm of snow possible from late Wednesday into Thursday. (Transport Québec)

Winter Storm watch in effect for Montreal, Southern Quebec and the Ottawa Valley.

The watch will likely be upgraded to a warning for several regions once a a more definitive storm track is determined.

A cold front will sweep across southern Quebec on Tuesday, accompanied by some gusty winds and perhaps a few snow squalls and flurries. The front will move south of the region, with Arctic high pressure building into Quebec for a few hours Wednesday.  Wednesday will start off cold, with lows down to -20C (-4F).

On Wednesday, clouds will thicken and lower as strengthening low pressure moves from Texas into the Ohio Valley and eventually down the St. Lawrence Valley. Snow will move into eastern Ontario on Wednesday afternoon,  and the Montreal region during the evening hours. The snow will become very heavy at times, especially during the Thursday morning commute in Montreal. Sleet or freezing rain may mix in south of the St. Lawrence River, but most of the precipitation will fall as snow. At this time, accumulations are expected in the 20-30cm range, with 40cm possible north of Montreal.

Expect very difficult driving conditions region wide on Thursday, if you can work from home. The snow will be accompanied by northeast winds of 20-40km/h creating areas of blowing snow. The high on Thursday will be -3C (27F) in Montreal.

Enjoy Friday as skies clear out and we have partly cloudy but cold wether. Another strong area of low pressure will take aim at our region over the weekend, with more snow forecast. More on that once we get this system out of the way.

Stormy weather pattern expected to continue for Montreal through February

With some amount of snow falling in Montreal on 28 of 31 days in January, and 7 of 9 days so far in February, the region has experienced several challenging driving days. Add in gusty winds and areas of blowing snow, and the result has been long commute times, closed roads and several serious accidents. Sadly more snow is in the forecast. (Valley Weather)

A fast-moving winter storm delivered a swath of heavy snow Saturday afternoon and evening across southwestern Ontario into New York and New England, remaining just south of Montreal. Southern Quebec experienced a period of light snow, with just a couple of centimetres for most locations.

This continued the pattern of wintry weather that has resulted in nearly 20cm of snow since the start of the month in Montreal. We have had numerous difficult driving days in the region, with poor road conditions and several serious accidents. Highway 15 on the South Shore in Brossard and La Prairie was closed Friday due to blowing snow and poor visibility. On Thursday, at least three separate accidents involving more than 50 cars, closed sections of Highway 10 near Rougemont.

Unfortunately the snowy trend is expected to persist. As early a Sunday evening, a cold front will sweep southeast across the St. Lawrence Valley, accompanied by some heavier snow showers. Colder air arrives Monday as brief high pressure builds over the region. Highs will be near -8C with lows down to -10C.

The fair weather will be short-lived, with another front producing snow showers and potential squalls on Tuesday. Wednesday will be a calm day before our next potential significant storm arrives on Thursday. Low pressure is expected to lift northeast from Louisiana into upstate New York. The system is expected to pass close to Montreal, and depending on the final track, we could be looking at 15-20cm of snow during the day Thursday.

Another break in the weather is expected Friday into Saturday before yet another significant storm develops and moves along the New England coast. This could produce another major snowfall for the region.

Keep in mind that with most storm systems that impact the St. Lawrence Valley and Montreal, the final track determines all. A difference in as a little as 100 kilometres, such as with Saturday nights storm, can mean just a dusting versus a major snowstorm. The devil is in the details and we will need to wait until the event draws closer to determine a more precise track and final snow amounts for the city.

One thing seems certain, throughout the forecast period, we expect temperatures to remain below freezing, so any precipitation would most likely be in the form of snow or perhaps a mix along the US border.

Two more winter storms on the horizon for Montreal

Monday's quick hitting storm dumped up to 10cm of snow on Montreal in just a few hours. The snow iced roads and lowered visibility significantly during the evening commute, making for a long drive home for many. Similar conditions can be expected Thursday, with a quick 5-10cm of snow forecast for Montreal. A winter weather travel advisory has been posted for the region. (Valley Weather Photo)

A winter weather travel advisory has been issued once again for a wide swath of southern Quebec and Ontario, as well as adjacent areas of New York and New England. If you have any travel plans over the next 12 to 18 hours, especially along the busy 401 corridor, you may want to postpone them.

A fast moving area of low pressure will skirt form the Midwest across the Great Lakes and north of Montreal on Thursday. After a frigid morning in Montreal, as cold as -20C (-4F), temperatures are on the rise as clouds quickly stream in from the southwest. Snow should start late morning and could become heavy at times, in a situation very similar to Monday's storm. Accumulations will generally be in the 5-10cm range, with a risk of freezing drizzle, especially along the St. Lawrence River.

Temperatures will warm to -2C (28F) today, dropping to -5C (23F) tonight and remaining there on Friday. The snow today will taper to flurries tonight as winds increase out of the southwest up to 50km/h. A strong cold front overnight will back winds to the northwest at 40-60km/h along with some snow squalls. Another 2-4cm of fresh snow is possible along with blowing snow. Conditions will slowly improve on Friday, but winds will remain gusty.

This same storm has been producing significant freezing rain across the plains states and into the Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes. Freezing rain is snarling traffic across southwestern Ontario on Thursday morning. There has even been thunder and lightning with the precipitation.

Saturday will be fair and cold as high pressure briefly builds into the region. The fair weather will be short-lived, as clouds quickly stream northward ahead of another winter storm expected to move across New England on Sunday. Depending on the final track of this system, we may be looking at another significant snowfall. At this time, 5cm is expected but that may change if the storm tracks closer to our region. Stay tuned!

Winter weather travel advisory in effect for Montreal

Shubenacadie Sam getting ready to deliver his forecast for six more weeks of winter weather, on this Groundhog Day 2025. (Nova Scotia Communications Photo)

A Winter Weather Travel Advisory is in effect for southern Quebec for 5 to 15cm of snow Monday afternoon and evening. Travel will be impacted as a result of snow covered roads and reduced visibility for the evening commute Monday across eastern Ontario, southern Quebec into northern New York. Dropping temperatures during the evening hours will likely result in very icy roads.

The various groundhogs were split in their forecast across Canada on Sunday, with Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia, seeing his shadow and predicting 6 more weeks of winter. Meanwhile Wiarton Willie in Ontario did not see his shadow, predicting and early Spring. Here in Quebec, Fred la marmotte saw his shadow, sadly agreeing with Sam.

From what I am seeing this coming week and beyond in the weather models, I would lean towards Sam's prediction. We have a very active weather week ahead once again, with plenty of precipitation, as well as a roller coaster ride for temperatures.

After a frigid Sunday that featured morning lows as cold as -22C in Montreal, temperatures will moderate through the overnight hours and into Monday as a warm front lifts across the region. Highs on Monday will be very close to the freezing point, if not above for some locations. The front will produce some light snow Sunday night, with less than 5cm forecast. Late Monday our winter weather advisory goes into effect as a strong cold front brings moderate snow and gusty winds. Between 5 and 15cm is possible over southern Quebec into the early morning hours Tuesday.

At this time Tuesday and Wednesday look breezy and cold, but dry as arctic high pressure settles into Quebec. On Thursday, a stronger low pressure system will pass through the St. Lawrence Valley, with warming temperatures and mixed precipitation. Another 5 to 10cm of snow is possible. A stronger storm may take aim at the region next weekend, but there is still plenty of uncertainty with the forecast track. Stay tuned!

Either way, winter will persist for the foreseeable future across the Montreal region.

Groundhog Day snow forecast for Montreal

The 7 to 14cm of snow that fell Wednesday across southwestern Quebec created very dangerous driving conditions, especially when combined with northeast winds and frigid arctic air. There were long delays and numerous accidents reported during the morning commute in metro Montreal. (Valley Weather)

Regardless as to whether or not the Groundhog see's his shadow this Sunday, our active weather and in many case wintry weather pattern will persist. It was another frigid morning in Montreal on Thursday, with morning lows close to -20C (-4F). The 7-14cm of fresh snow that fell across southern Quebec on Wednesday, along with light winds, made for ideal radiational cooling overnight. Wednesday's snow created treacherous driving conditions for the commute, with another round of accidents and long delays in thick traffic reported across the Montreal region.

The weather remains chilly Thursday afternoon, with the temperature struggling to climb in Montreal as I write, with a current reading of -14C (7F). Clouds are already on the increase as our next system moves into Ontario. It is just one of many that will move quickly across the region over the next week, bringing us more snow and big fluctuations in temperature.

The clouds will produce light snow this evening and into the overnight, with only 2-4cm expected from the moisture starved Alberta clipper. Warmer air will arrive from the southwest, with the temperature rising overnight to a high of -5C (23F) Friday. Partly sunny skies are forecast for Friday into Saturday, along with dropping temperatures once again. The low into Saturday drops to -16C (4F), with a cold high of -12C (14F) on Saturday. 

Traffic crawls into Montreal from Ile Perrot on Wednesday morning.

We can expect another cold night into Sunday, with the low close to -20C in Montreal. Another storm system arrives on Groundhog Day Sunday, with more snow forecast. At this time another 5cm looks possible for Montreal. Temperatures will warm into Monday, likely going above freezing for a few hours, before another strong cold front arrives late in the day, with plummeting temperatures into Monday morning.

Precipitation, mostly snow, has fallen in Montreal on 26 of the 29 days so far this month. To date 37.5cm has officially fallen at Trudeau Airport, with well over 40cm in may other locations in southern Quebec during the moth of January. The recent cold temperatures has meant most of that has remained on the ground. As well, the cold temperatures have built up quite a bit of ice on area rivers. The ice road on the Ottawa River between Hudson and Oka officially opened last week, after failing to due so as a result of mild conditions in both 2023 and 2024. 

Another round of wind and snow on the way for Montreal

A much calmer start to the day early Tuesday morning on Ile Perrot, after snow squalls and fierce winds created dangerous travel conditions across the St. Lawrence Valley Monday afternoon and evening. The squalls hit the Montreal region around midnight putting down a quick 5cm or so of wind-driven snow. The Tuesday morning commute was slick and slow.

The active weather pattern currently in place will continue on Wednesday as another low pressure area skirts just to the south of Montreal, accompanied by snow and gusty winds. After a sunny, but very cold and windy day Tuesday behind our most recent storm, clouds will increase late in the day.

Light snow is forecast to develop overnight and persist into Wednesday. Accumulations should be in the 5-10cm range across most of southern Quebec and eastern Ontario, with 15cm locally. Much lighter but still gusty northeast winds of up to 30km/h will make for a rather raw day, as highs should be around -10C (14F) on Wednesday.

More snow is expected to end the week, with several more storm systems on the horizon.

Hydro-Quebec reported over 100,000 customers without power Monday night as temperatures plummeted behind an arctic front, down to -15C (5F) in Montreal Tuesday morning. (Hydro-Quebec) 

The windstorm that swept across the St. Lawrence Valley on Monday, produced gusts up to 100km/h across southern Quebec. A peak gust of 105km/h (65 mph) was recorded at Saint Hubert, with 96km/h (59.6 mph) at Trudeau Airport and 89km/h (55 mph) on Ile Perrot.

The strong winds were produced by an arctic cold front trailing from a powerful winter storm moving across northern Quebec. The central pressure of that storm was 965mb just east of James Bay, equivalent to that of a category two hurricane. Strong winds and snow squalls occurred over a large portion of the province as a result.

The strong winds were responsible for significant power outages, with over 108,000 Hydro-Quebec customers in the dark at the height of the storm. That number is down to under 6500 Tuesday afternoon. Across eastern Ontario, an additional 20,000 residents were without power. 

In Sainte-Barbe southwest of Montreal,  seven hydro poles were snapped in half. The same fate occurred near Iroquois in eastern Ontario. Several roads were closed as blowing and drifting snow made travel treacherous, with near-blizzard conditions reported off island Monday afternoon. There were multiple crashes including one that closed Highway 40 near Pointe-Fortune on the Ontario border. North to south rural routes were impacted the most, with both the SQ and OPP closing several highways into the evening hours.

The front moved through Montreal around midnight, dumping a quick 2 to 5cm of wind-driven snow, resulting in a slick and slow Tuesday morning commute.

High wind warning for Montreal with snow squalls possible

Red sky in morning usually means a strong front or storm is advancing from the west. Such is the case Monday morning in Montreal, as clouds are thickening up from the west in advance of a strong arctic front. That front will produce winds of up to 90km/h and snow squalls this afternoon and evening. Temperatures will drop quickly behind the front resulting in a cold and blustery Tuesday.

UPDATED 11:45AM

High Wind Warning remains in effect for Montreal for southwest winds 50-90km/h from late afternoon towards midnight.

A high wind warning is in effect for the St. Lawrence Valley of southern Quebec, eastern Ontario and New York State. Strong low pressure passing well north of our region will drag a strong arctic cold front through Montreal late this evening. In advance of the front, strong southwest winds are picking up this morning, already in the 30-50km/h range. The winds will continue to increase, reaching speeds of 50-90km/h, with gusts to 100km/h (60 MPH). The wind will ease overnight, backing to the northwest at speeds of 40-60km/h and persisting Tuesday.

Winds of this speed are capable of producing power outages as well as some damage. In addition to the strong winds, snow squalls may develop along the front from late afternoon towards midnight. The squalls will be capable of brief heavy snow, with reduced visibilities and near-blizzard conditions at times. Accumulations should be light, with less than 5cm expected for most locations.

Temperatures will start the day off mild, as warm as 0C (32F) for some locations, but fall rapidly behind the front, down to -10C (14F) by Tuesday morning, remaining steady on Tuesday. Another round of light snow is possible for Montreal on Wednesday.

The active weather pattern will continue all week and into the first few days of February, with several chances for snow and wind as well as highly changeable temperatures. Stay tuned!

Active weather week ahead for Montréal - snowy & windy

Saturday was crisp and cold across southern Quebec, with the coldest morning low observed in nearly two years. The temperatures dropped to between -20 and -25C across the region, with -20.7C at Trudeau Airport. We can expect more cold, snow and wind this week, with dangerous travel conditions at times.

Strong winds, snow and blowing snow, reduced visibility and dropping temperatures are forecast from late Monday into Tuesday morning across the region. Weather warnings may be needed.

The last week of January will be quite active across southern Quebec and eastern Ontario. Several clipper systems along with associated fronts will cross the region, each with snow, strong winds and dropping temperatures. Monday afternoons front will be strong, with wind gusts anticipated in the 40-70km/h range, with the potential to reach 100km/h (650 MPH) locally. Winds that strong are capable of producing power outages. In addition to the wind, we can expect a burst of moderate to heavy snow along the front, with as much as 5cm falling. Combined with the strong winds, some area outside the metro regions may experience near-blizzard conditions.

The blowing snow will make for very dangerous travel conditions on Monday afternoon and evening. The front is expected in the Montreal region during the late afternoon, and may coincide unfortunately with the evening commute.

The mild weather of Sunday and Monday, will be replaced by rapidly dropping temperatures behind the front, from highs of 0C to -3C (27-32F) down to -15C (5F) by Tuesday morning. The aforementioned strong winds will also produce brutal windchill values, down into the -20's on Tuesday.

Temperatures will remain cold through Friday, along with more wind and snow as several more clippers cross the region in a very fast moving zonal flow. Each front will be capable of producing snowfall and gusty winds. We are looking at a system Wednesday and another by Friday.

Weather warnings may be needed for the wind event on Monday afternoon, and a high wind watch is already in effect for the US side of the St. Lawrence Valley.

On Saturday morning, Montreal recorded our coldest overnight low in nearly two years, with the temperature dropping to -20.7C (-5.3F). It was the first -18C (sub zero F) low for the city since February 2023.

Historic Gulf Coast snowstorm

The Sunshine State? Walton County in the Florida Panhandle was just one of many regions hit by an historic snowstorm on Tuesday, that had snow falling along the Gulf Coast beaches. Some parts of Florida have more snow on the ground Wednesday morning than we have here in Montreal. (Walton County Sheriff Photo)

Many parts of the Interstate 10 corridor from Houston to the Florida Panhandle had more snow on Tuesday than any single storm that has affected Montreal this winter. The snow fell right down to the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, including the barrier islands. It was a once-in-a-lifetime event, with snowfall records shattered  in several communities.

In Texas, 4 inches (10cm) of snow fell in Houston, closing every major highway in the city. In New Orleans, 8 inches (20cm) was measured, with snow on Canal Street and in the French Quarter. That crushed the record of 2.7 inches (6cm) set on December 31, 1963. It was the most snow in over 100 years for many Louisiana locations. The entire state was covered with snow right down to Grand Island on the Gulf. The snow spread east and north into Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Mobile, Alabama measured 7.5 inches (18cm) surpassing the 1985 record of  6 inches (15cm). Records date back to 1881 at that location. The sunshine state set an all-time record, with 9.8 inches (24.5cm) falling at Milton in the Panhandle. This broke the record of 4 inches (10cm), set back in 1954 at the same location. Snow blanketed the beaches from Pensacola to Panama City.

Record breaking snowfall at Orange Beach, Alabama right on the Gulf of Mexico. (Orange Beach Police Department Photo)

On Wednesday, the snow is spreading northeast into Georgia and the Carolinas. The entire region is being affected by arctic high pressure that has moved south into the Ohio Valley, taking the coldest of the arctic air into the Untied States. Meanwhile low pressure developed in the Gulf of Mexico, and move northeast into central Florida and eventually the Atlantic Ocean. The low was responsible for all the snow and ice.

The Gulf Coast storm will be followed by dangerously cold air across the deep south, which will begin to warm by the weekend. For now travel remains very dangerous, with snow covered and icy roads in places that do not have the equipment to deal with it.

For comparison, the biggest one-day snowfall in Montreal so far this winter was 7.8cm (3 inches) on December 8. Montreal still has not officially recorded a -18C (0F) or colder temperature at Trudeau Airport in nearly 2 years. Wednesday mornings low was the coldest of the winter to date, -17.7C.

The Arctic airmass moderated before arriving in Southern Quebec, the coldest temperature I recorded at my home was -19C (-2F) on Monday evening. Cloud cover and light southwest winds have actually maintained milder air in our region.

Sherbrooke overnight into Wednesday morning dropped to -27C, while other parts of Quebec were as cold as -40C. Temperatures will begin to slowly warm over the next few days in Montreal. After sunshine on Wednesday, several weak weather systems will bring some light snow into the weekend. No major storms are on the horizon for southern Quebec at this time.

Arctic air settles across eastern North America

A snowy scene in Senneville last week. Mild temperatures on Saturday dropped 3.2mm of rain on Montreal, melting away some of the snow that has accumulated this month. Officially, only 2cm of snow remain on the ground at Trudeau Airport. Many parts of the US have more snowfall this winter. (Valley Weather Photo)  

Skies have cleared out Monday morning across southern Quebec, with temperatures dropping close to -18C (0F) at many locations. Ottawa is down to -20C (-4F). Monday will be cold and blustery in Montreal, as a winter storm pulls into Atlantic Canada and arctic high pressure surges across the Great Lakes.

We can expect temperatures to remain pretty much where they are for highs today, perhaps -15C (5F). Tonight, depending on how much cloud cover moves into the St. Lawrence Valley from lake effect snow, we may drop as cold as -20C. The official forecast calls for a low of -17C (2F). Both Tuesday and Wednesday will be cold, with partly cloudy skies at times and perhaps a stray snow shower or two. Highs will range from -12C to -15C, with lows -17C to -21C. Gusty northwest winds, especially on Tuesday, will result in windchill values in the minus 20s. 

A clipper system will bring 1-3cm of snow late Wednesday, along with moderating temperatures.

Montreal is once again in the middle of a rather snowless winter, with officially only 2cm on the ground at Trudeau Airport. The seasonal total sits at 53.8cm. The last time Montreal had a 20cm snowfall was April 4, 2024, which was the largest storm last winter. The last time Montreal had a significant storm was December 3, 2023, when 21.8cm fell, with a two day total of 35.4cm.

Snow and freezing rain will spread across the deep southern US this week from Texas to North Carolina, including Florida. (AccuWeather Image)

Once in a generation Southern Snowstorm

The cold air will spread south all the way to the Gulf of Mexico early this week, while lo pressure develops in the Gulf and moves northeast. On Tuesday, snow and freezing rain will sweep across regions that have not had winter weather in decades. Forecasters are expecting a swath of 10-15cm (4-6 inches) of snow from Houston to New Orleans to Mobile northeast into Georgia and the Carolinas. A significant ice storm is also expected with 5-15mm if freezing rain possible across the Mississippi and Florida Gulf Coasts. This includes parts of the Florida Panhandle as far east as Jacksonville. Winter storm warnings stretch from Texas to North Carolina including Florida.

This may be a once in a generation storm for many. The last snowfall of 2.5cm (1 inch) in New Orleans was over 15 years ago. The record for that city is 6cm (2.7 inches) set on December 31, 1962. Many southern cities are set to break there all time snow and ice records.

Coldest air of the season set to move into southern Quebec

We had more snow again this week in Montreal. So far this January, between 20 and 30cm of fresh snow has fallen across the metro region. We have had at least a trace of snow measured each day this month through January 16, with the exception of Friday, January 10. (Valley Weather Photo)

An arctic airmass will invade southern Quebec late this upcoming weekend, ushering in the coldest air so far this season, and likely colder than anything we experienced last winter.

Temperatures were very mild during the winter of 2023-2024, with no readings below -18C (0F) for the entire season in Montreal. So far this winter, I managed to just sneak below the -18C threshold at my home on Ile Perrot, down to -18.3C (-1F) on December 26. In general you need to go back to February 2023 for the last significant cold snap in the city. Montreal dropped to -29.3C (-21F) on February 4. That brief cold spell closed schools and strained Hydro resources for a day or two.

The upcoming arctic weather will not be that drastic, but will certainly feel much colder than most of us are accustomed to with the recent warmer-than-normal winters.

Before the cold air arrives, we are looking at yet another clipper system Thursday, that will be responsible for some nuisance snow, perhaps a dusting to 1cm. The flurries will end Thursday night, with partly cloudy skies expected on Friday. Expect very mild temperatures, with highs between 0C and -3C (27 to 32F) through Saturday and lows not falling far from those readings.

On Saturday, low pressure passing well north of Montreal will give us a shot of mild air on gusty south winds just in advance of a strong cold front. That front will cross the region late Saturday, accompanied by snow and gusty winds. Another front arrives late Sunday, with light snow and a reinforcing shot of cold air. By Monday, highs will struggle into the minus teens, with overnight lows through Wednesday morning colder than -20C (-4F) in Montreal. Windchill readings will drop into the minus 30s.

Arctic high pressure will settle over southern Quebec on Monday, with clear and frigid conditions forecast.

I will post further updates as the details become a little more clear. Plan for some very cold temperatures, dangerous windchills and more snow through the end of this month.

Critical fire weather remains across southern California

One of four Quebec Super Scoopers battling the flames in southern California over the past week. The CL-415 Aircraft is capable of scooping up 6000 litres of water in seconds. The battle from the air has been crucial in slowing the spread of the fires. The incredible photo was taken by @FIREPHOTOGIRL and posted on X.

Gusty Santa Ana winds continue to blow across southern California, along with critically low humidity readings. These conditions are expected to persist through Thursday before easing on Friday as winds turn more onshore bringing in a moist marine layer.

California is reeling from days of severe wildfires that have claimed at least 24 lives, resulted in evacuations of over 150,000 residents and destroyed over 15,000 dwellings. Many historic buildings have been lost, with entire neighbourhoods incinerated, including the picturesque Pacific Palisades.

According to Cal Fire, the Eaton Fire has consumed 14,000 acres and is 33 percent contained as of Tuesday morning. The Palisades Fire has scorched over 24,000 acres and is only 14 percent contained. The 2025 fire season is off to a fast start, well ahead of the 5-year average of 46 fires consuming 13 acres. To date there have been over 100 fires burning 39,000 acres.

Early estimates on damage are exceeding $250 billion, making the California Fires the costliest natural disaster in US history. Those amounts are only expected to rise.

The wildfires were the result of a perfect storm. Since October 1st, Los Angeles has recorded less than 1mm of rainfall, with only 4-7mm since May 1st. The tinder dry region was primed for a severe wildfire. Once started, they were driven by fierce Santa Ana winds that gusted over 120km/h. These winds are hot, dry winds the blow from the desert, howling through the mountain canyons to the Pacific Ocean. High pressure to the north, in this case over Idaho and low pressure to the south, squeezes the winds through the mountain passes, while drying out the atmosphere even more. The offshore winds easily spread any fire that may start. 

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire, which can range from electrical, such as in Maui, to lightning as is often the case here in Quebec, this was not the case in L.A., or by humans either in error or by arson. Once started, the powerful winds spread the fire quickly, at one point the Palisades fire was consuming as much as 5 football fields every minute. Embers can travel miles away igniting homes far from the fire source and creating new wildfires.

Canadian Help

Canada continues to help California, with aircraft from Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Colombia down south. This includes four CL-415 Super Scoopers from Quebec. One was damaged in a collision with a drone late last week, but landed safely. The plane remains grounded, but has been replaced along with additional crews. We have also sent at least 250 firefighters. Help has also arrived from 9 US States and Mexico.

More snow this week along with milder temperatures

Snow has fallen in Montreal on 12 of the 13 days so far this month. Amounts have not been all that impressive, with only 17.4cm falling at Trudeau Airport. Despite the light amounts, roads have often been icy and snow covered, with numerous accidents occurring across the region. You do not need a large accumulation of snow for dangerous travel conditions. Light amounts of snow often create very slippery roads and black ice. (Valley Weather Photo)

The active weather pattern will persist this week across southern Ontario and Quebec, with several weak systems impacting our weather. Monday morning features a clipper type low pressure moving across the region, accompanied by occasional light snow. The snow will make the roads greasy and messy as it did over the weekend, but will only amount to a couple of centimetres at best.

The one concern will be Monday afternoon along a trailing cold front. There is the chance for a few isolated snow squalls, that could produce brief heavy snow and gusty winds, reducing visibility. The best chance in the Montreal region will be between 3-6pm this afternoon. Along and behind the cold front, winds will back to the northwest and gust up to 40km/h.

Temperatures will be mild today, just below the freezing point in Montreal, and remain above normal for most of the upcoming week. Highs will be in the 0C to -4C (25 to 32F) range, with overnight lows around -8C (18F). If we manage any clearing overnight this week, with fresh snow cover, we may see some minus teens.

The week will remain unsettled, with several areas of weak low pressure moving rapidly from west to east. While precipitation amounts have been below normal so far in January, we have received at least a trace of snow everyday since the start of the month, with the exception of last Friday. As a result, 17.4cm of fresh snow has fallen at Trudeau Airport, with as much as 25cm in other parts of southern Quebec.

A stronger storm system is possible by next Saturday, followed by a significant push of arctic air. I will post more on that later, as well as an update on the devastating fires in southern California.

Cold snowy week for Montreal

Crews have been kept busy across southern Quebec, with snow falling each day so far this month. As of Wednesday morning, between 10 and 15cm has fallen across the Montreal region, with more east and southeast of the city. Another 5-10cm of likely over the next 24 hours, along with gusty west winds up to 50km/h and bitter windchills. (Valley Weather Photo)

Frigid air has settled over southern Quebec on Wednesday as stubborn low pressure northeast of the region draws down cold air. The upper low is also producing gusty northwest winds and occasional snow. Close to 5cm fell on the Montreal area on Tuesday, and another 5 to 10cm is likely over the next 24 hours. Blowing and drifting snow can be expected as well, due to the strong northwest winds.

The snow and very cold temperatures have left roads very slippery across the region. Winds have been gusting between 30 and 50km/h at Trudeau Airport, producing wind-chill values as cold as -25C (-13C) in Montreal. Temperatures will struggle to rise today and into the overnight period to around -10C (14F) by Thursday morning. Winds will remain gusty throughout the period, so conditions will be rather uncomfortable outdoors. Cloudy skies will persist on Thursday, along with few flurries. We may see a few peaks of sunshine on Friday, but temperatures will remain at or below normal for January for the foreseeable future.

FIRE & ICE

Winter weather has also been occurring across wide portions of the United States. A new storm this week will deliver snow and freezing rain across the deep south from Texas to the Carolinas. Meanwhile powerful Santa Ana winds have been driving fierce wildfires across the Los Angeles County region of southern California, pushing first responders to the limit. Nearly 1000 dwellings have been destroyed by the raging fires, that are being driven by winds in excess of 160km/h (100 mph). Two main fires, the Palisades and Hurst fires continue out of control on Wednesday. The Palisades alone fire has consumed over 3000 acres and is zero percent contained at this time.

Santa Ana winds have been howling across Southern California, driving fire storms that have destroyed entire neighbourhoods over the last 24 hours. Many fires are burning, stretching the limits of first responders. Fire conditions remain very dangerous Wednesday afternoon across LA County.

Chilly start to 2025 in Montreal

A major thaw resulted in all our snow melting away just prior to New Year's Day. Since then, we have had almost daily flurries and snow showers that have made roads slippery at times, and accumulated a general 5-10cm of snow across southern Quebec., More light snow and cold temperatures can be expected for the upcoming week. (Valley Weather Photo)

High pressure has been trying to nose into southern Quebec over the last few days, but a stubborn low pressure located well to the north of our region has been producing a cold northwest flow, along with occasional flurries and snow showers. The result has been cold blustery conditions of the last 48 hours, with nearly steady temperatures between -10C (14F) and -12C (10F). Winds have been between 20-40km/h, with a gust to 79km/h at Trudeau Airport on Thursday.

Most of the snow has been very light, but some isolated bands produced moderate snow briefly overnight into Sunday morning. Since January 1, between 5 and 10cm of snow has fallen across most of southern Quebec. Further west across the Great Lakes, very heavy lake effect snow fell in isolated bands, reducing visibility to zero at times, closing several highways immediately adjacent to the lakes in central and southern Ontario.

The same was true south of the border in western New York. Further south a strong winter storm was spreading snow and ice form the central plains, across the Ohio and Tennessee Valley and into the Middle Atlantic states. Freezing rain created havoc on roads across Kansas on Saturday, with hundreds of miles of interstates closed down after several multi-vehicle accidents.

In Montreal, we can expect cold temperatures to persist this week, but nothing exceptional, just January weather. Some light snow is possible on Monday evening into Tuesday morning, along with flurries through Thursday. We may briefly see the sun next Friday before another chance for snow arrives next weekend. At this time, none of the systems look particularly strong, with just a few centimetres expected.

Highs will range from -6C to -10C, with overnight lows between -10C and -17C. It is worth noting that if skies can manage to clear out and winds ease Sunday evening, some locations across the Montreal region may drop close to -20C (-4F). This would be the coldest night in the last two years. As I write, skies are clear in Montreal and the current temperature is -13C (7F).

Happy New Year!

With just a couple of hours to go in 2024, the year will end above freezing. The current temperature is 3.1C (38F) on Ile Perrot, we will not drop below 0C (32F) before midnight. A fitting end to what will likely be one of the warmest years on record for southern Quebec once the numbers are processed.

Precipitation is moving east across central Ontario currently and should arrive in the Montreal region during the pre-dawn hours New Years Day. Expect a messy mix of rain and snow throughout the day, along with dropping temperatures and increasing winds.

Have a very safe and happy new year, be kind to each other. Thank you for reading Valley Weather for the last 20 years...Stephen

Snow and cold return to Montreal to start 2025

While Christmas Eve was snowy and cold in Montreal, New Year's Eve looks more like early November. The record warmth of Monday has virtually eliminated all our snow in just a few hours. More snow is on the way however, as the weather pattern turns much colder and stormy to start 2025.

Happy New Year! 2025 will mark the 20th Anniversary of the Valley Weather Blog and the 46th year for Valley Weather. There was plenty of weather to talk about in 2024, none bigger than the billions of dollars in flood damage that occurred in Quebec from the remains of both hurricanes Beryl and Debby.

The year will end on a very mild note, we are currently 6C (43F) here on Ile Perrot, warm, but far from the 1875 record of 12.2C (54F). We did have a significant record high on Monday, reaching 11.4C (53F) at Trudeau Airport shattering the 2022 record of 8.6C (48F). Most of the snow cover has melted away, with the exception of a few patches here and there.

Winter will return however as we have a major pattern change on the way to begin 2025. It starts with deepening low pressure passing to our south across New England on New Year's Day, delivering steady precipitation across southern and eastern Ontario and Quebec. The storm will then head into Atlantic Canada.

The precipitation will start off as a messy mix of rain and snow, but as temperatures drop on Wednesday afternoon, all precipitation will change to snow. The snow will persist into Thursday morning, along with increasing winds out of the northwest and dropping temperatures. Accumulations will range from 5-10cm in valley locations to more than 15cm across the mountains of the Townships, Beauce, New York and New England. If you have travel plans on New Year's Day, expect highly changeable conditions with mixed precipitation and reduced visibility at times.

Look for windy, cold weather along with isolated flurries into the first weekend of the new year. Lows will drop into the minus teens, with daytimes highs struggling to rise above -10C (14F). The cold air will be with us well into the month of January.

Record warmth to end 2024 - winter will return this week

Before temperatures warmed Sunday evening, motorists were greeted with icy and foggy conditions late Saturday into Sunday morning. Since then however, temperatures have surged into the low teens in southern Quebec, and most of the snow on the ground has melted. Much colder weather returns by Thursday. (Valley Weather Photo)

A warm front finally lifted north of the St. Lawrence Valley early Monday morning, allowing very warm air to surge into southwestern Quebec. Granby reached 14C (58F), the warmest location in Canada, while Montreal settled in at 11C (52F), a new record high for the date, surpassing the previous of 8.6C (48F) set in 2022. Temperatures will slowly fall through the rest of the day Monday. Gusty winds are expected to develop, up to 50km/h at times.

After what was a very warm year, it is no surprise that we will end 2024 above freezing. While a cool front is on our doorstep this morning, temperatures are expected to remain well-above normal, right into New Year's Day. The weekend freezing rain and fog has dissipated, and now warm southwest winds and rain are eating away whatever snowpack was left in Montreal. Over the last few hours, we have recorded close to 10mm of rain.

This is a good time to remind everyone to stay away from area lakes and rivers. The ice is thin, unstable and dangerous, and the water is frigid and moving quickly.

As far as practical weather goes, we can expect showers to persist off and on through New Year's Eve, along with dropping temperatures. Temperatures should remain above freezing through Wednesday. By mid week, low pressure will develop along the east coast and draw in much colder air into Montreal, along with a swath of snow across our region. Depending on how fast we cool down here in the St. Lawrence Valley, we may be looking at 5-10cm of snow on the ground by Thursday morning.

The snow will be followed by an arctic blast that will plunge temperatures below freezing across much of eastern North America. The extended forecast for January across most of southern Ontario, Quebec and New England, is for cold and snowy conditions, perhaps a more typical Montreal January for a change.

Time will tell...

Wet and warm weather forecast to end 2024 in Montreal

Boxing Day morning was spectacular but chilly in Montreal, with frost painted trees against a vivid blue sky here in the St. Lawrence Valley. (Valley Weather) 

Happy Holidays to everyone no matter what you are celebrating this week. For me, it has been a perfect Christmas holiday so far, with nearly ideal weather conditions for anyone who loves snow at this time of year. The fresh 10-20cm that fell on on Christmas Eve was followed by cold conditions, allowing for outdoor activates such as skating, skiing or sledding for the first time during the holidays in a few years.

At the same time, driving conditions have been good over the last 48 hours, with the exception of some isolated valley fog as well as a few slick spots on bridges and elevated surfaces especially late overnight and during the early morning hours.

We have had a temperature inversion here in the St. Lawrence Valley, which has meant colder air has been trapped at the surface while it warm air streams aloft at higher elevations. This has resulted in poor air quality here in Montreal at times, with a smog warning in effect for the city. Temperatures have dropped into the minus teens overnight, only rising to around -8C (18F) during the day.

We have one more day of these wintry conditions, before high pressure drifts east and is replaced by a series of warm fronts and low pressure systems. The first system on Saturday will produce warmer temperatures along with spotty freezing rain. By Sunday and into New Years Eve, temperatures will rise well above freezing, perhaps as warm as 6C (43F), accompanied by a decent amount of rainfall. Amounts may exceed 25mm (1 inch) here in Montreal.

By New Years Day and the start of 2025, colder air returns along with mixed precipitation at times. More details to follow. For now, you may want to clear downspouts of snow and ice in anticipation of the heavy rain expected Sunday and Monday.

White Christmas for southern Quebec and eastern Ontario

It was a perfect Christmas Eve morning walk with my pup here on Ile Perrot this December 24. Light snow was falling, adding to the 10cm or so that already accumulated overnight. The snow has now ended, and we can expect a dry and chilly end to the week for any holiday travel plans. Precipitation returns by the weekend, along with much warmer temperatures. (Valley Weather)

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, or just nostalgic for snow at this time of year, then you will be happy with the 12 to 15cm of fresh snow that fell across southern Quebec over the last 12 hours. Ottawa reported 17cm with Mirabel measuring 7cm. The snow was fairly light in nature, but still enough to cover roads and make travel slippery overnight. There were numerous incidents reported by police along the 417/40 corridor to Ottawa.

The low pressure responsible for the snow has moved rapidly into the Gulf of Maine Tuesday afternoon, with all warnings now dropped and precipitation over. Skies will remain mostly cloudy this afternoon and into Christmas Day, with a few breaks and light northerly winds. The high today will be close to -6C (21F), dropping to -16C (3F) overnight, and remaining chilly on Wednesday, at -10C (14F).

High pressure will move across the region, but an inversion will keep plenty of cloud cover in the valleys. By the weekend, we expect our next weather system to arrive in southern Quebec, along with warming temperatures and the threat for mixed precipitation.

If you have travel plans for Christmas or Hanukkah over the next 24 to 36 hours, roads should be in good shape. There me be a few icy spots around, especially secondary roads. Please travel with care and be courteous to fellow drivers.

Have a safe and happy holiday.

Winter weather travel advisory in effect for Montreal

Environment Canada has issued a winter weather travel advisory for the St. Lawrence Valley, including metro Montreal for 10 to 15cm of snow Monday night. The snow will make for very poor travel conditions, with snow covered roads and lowered visibility. Conditions will improve during the daylight hours on Tuesday. Christmas Day is forecast to be sunny and cold. (Transport Quebec)

Widespread winter weather advisories have been issued for portions of Ontario and southern Quebec. Those weather warnings include the St. Lawrence Valley and metro Montreal. An Alberta Clipper low pressure system is expected to cross the Great Lakes and travel south of Montreal on Monday night. A swath of steady snow will spread southeast across eastern Ontario on Monday, and reach Montreal after 8pm. The snow will be moderate at times, persisting into Tuesday morning.

We can expect a decent 10 to 15cm of snow from late Monday evening into the Tuesday morning commute in Montreal, with 5 to 10cm expected elsewhere across southern Quebec. As much as 20cm could fall in the Ottawa Valley. For that reason and the fact the snow is coming during the start of the busy holiday travel period, the advisories were issued. Roads will become slippery and in many cases snow covered. Temperatures will remain cold with this system, so the precipitation will remain as snow for the duration of the event. Highs will be -5C to -7C Monday and Tuesday, with morning lows in the minus teens on Christmas Day. 

Travel conditions will be poor areawide Monday night, but will improve rapidly from west to east on Christmas Eve Tuesday.

Winter arrived in the pre-dawn hours Saturday, and along with it came the coldest air of the season. The morning low in Montreal on Saturday was -15.9C (4F), dropping to -17C (2F) Sunday morning. Gusty west winds produced wind chill values in the minus 20s at times Saturday.

We expect another cold night Sunday into Monday morning, as arctic high pressure crests over the region. If we reach -18C (0F) or colder Monday morning, it will be the lowest temperature recorded since February 25, 2023 when Trudeau Airport dropped to -20.4C. During the entire winter of 2023/2024, Trudeau Airport did not report one low temperature at or below -18C (0F).

Skies should clear out on Christmas Day, with sunshine forecast, but cold highs near -10C (14F). Temperatures will moderate for the balance of the week, reaching the freezing point by the weekend.

Winter weather returns to Montreal to start the holidays

A clipper system brought a slushy 1-3cm of snow to southern Quebec on Wednesday evening. Another shot of snow Friday, followed by the coldest air of the season, will likely result in a white Christmas for Montreal. This has been rather difficult to obtain in recent years, with six of the last ten years officially green at Trudeau Airport. Environment Canada defines a white Christmas as at least 2cm of snow on the ground at 7AM on December 25.

Expect another shot of light snow for Montreal late Friday into early Saturday, followed by the coldest air of the season to date this weekend.

With Christmas and the holidays right around the corner, colder weather is on the way as early as Thursday. But will it last?

The reality of the fall and winter season this year as it was in 2023, is that we cannot sustain cold air for very long. The result has been above to well-above normal temperatures, interrupted by a day or two of cold weather.

We experienced that this week, with the coldest air of the season to date arriving last weekend, followed by temperatures soaring to nearly 8C (48F) on Tuesday, with rain. So far this month, as a result of the mild temperatures, we have had 46.8mm of rain, with only 24.2cm of snow falling at Trudeau. Only a trace of snow fell in the city in November. Very little remains on the ground.

That brings us to the current forecast and any hopes for a whiter Christmas. A clipper system moved south of the province on Tuesday, with a messy mix of rain and snow in Montreal. In the end, a slushy 1-3cm of snow fell, that has since frozen Thursday morning as temperatures fall quickly behind the system. We will drop to -8C (17F) late Thursday afternoon, and -12C (10F) by Friday morning.

WINTER SOLSTICE

Winter officially arrives at 4:21 AM Saturday morning, and with it will be coldest air of the season so far as temperatures drop to -18C (0F) or colder for morning lows and struggle into the minus teens for daytime highs. The cold will be accompanied by gusty northwest winds and biting windchill values. On Friday, we can expect another 2-4cm of snow as a second clipper system slides to the south of Montréal.

This low will eventually merge with a developing coastal low bringing Atlantic Canada a significant storm.

For Christmas and the holidays, southern Quebec can expect a warming trend once again, with highs approaching the freezing point in Montreal by Boxing Day. While no major storms are on the horizon currently, there will be some nuisance precipitation for most of next week.

Heavy rainfall warning posted for southern Quebec

An icy glaze coats the trees and roads early Tuesday morning after close to 9mm of mixed precipitation fell on the Montréal region overnight. More rain is on the way over the next 24-36 hours. (Valley Weather Photo)

Freezing Rain Warning through 11AM.

Heavy Rain Warning Wednesday.

Storm one is nearly done for Montreal, storm two is on the way.

We still have some very light freezing rain and drizzle around southern Quebec Tuesday morning, making for a slippery commute. Late Monday and overnight, close to 9mm of precipitation fell on the city, first as snow and blowing snow, followed by freezing rain since midnight. Temperatures remain stubbornly below freezing in the St. Lawrence Valley, currently -2C (29F) here on Ile Perrot. The freezing rain should end by noon as temperatures warm to a high of 4C (39F).

A heavy rainfall warning goes into effect this evening for Montreal and the Eastern Townships, with flood watches across Vermont and parts of New England. Deepening low pressure will lift from the middle Atlantic states across New Hampshire and into southern Quebec on Wednesday. The storm will draw in deep Atlantic moisture, producing heavy rain across our regions. The combination of heavy rain, melting snow and frozen ground, will create significant runoff and rises in area lakes and rivers. At this time 25-50mm is forecast through early Thursday. As the storm moves north of our region, cold air will filter in chaning any leftover rain to snow. A few centimetres are possible.

As temperatures drop on Thursday, we can expect very icy conditions. In addition to the heavy rain, winds will begin to increase, especially on Thursday, gusting up to 70km/h at times.

Stormy weather week ahead for the St. Lawrence Valley

Between 10 and 20cm of snow fell across the Montreal region Saturday night and early Sunday morning as the first widespread storm of the season moved across southern Québec. After a breezy, cold Monday, more snow, freezing rain and rain is on the way for the balance of the work week.

Expect difficult driving conditions at times this week, with a wide variety of precipitation and highly changeable temperatures across the region.

We can expect a brief break on Monday between the 10 and 20cm of snow that fell over the weekend and our next storm system rapidly on the horizon. It will be a very stormy week here in southern Quebec. The temperature roller coaster will persist as warm and cold air continues to battle over our region. After a cold, windy day Monday, with a high of -5C (23F), temperatures will rise on Tuesday, well-above freezing to 4C (39F).

Before then however, we can expect a burst of moderate snow right around the evening commute Monday, as a warm front lifts northeast across the region. The snow will certainly have an impact on the rush hour drive in Montreal, with as much as 5cm of snow this evening. As temperatures rise overnight, the snow will mix with and change to freezing rain in the St. Lawrence Valley, with a couple of millimetres of ice accretion possible. The freezing rain will taper off to showers Tuesday morning. Expect icy roads for the Tuesday morning commute.

Streets were snow covered across the Montreal region in the pre-dawn hours Sunday morning, but quick work by Transport Quebec and contractors, as well as milder temperatures Sunday, quickly melted the snow from most roads.

On Wednesday, a more impactful storm system is forecast to develop along the eastern seaboard and deepen rapidly as it moves north across New England and into Quebec. Heavy rain is forecast, with as much as 25mm for many locations in southern Quebec including Montreal. Temperatures will be very mild with the system, up to 5C (41F), so expect lots of melting and ponding of water. Some minor flooding is possible, especially south and east of the city and across Vermont and parts of New York State.

Further west in the Ottawa Valley, less rain is expected, but more snow may fall as that region drops below freezing earlier on Wednesday.

Another component of the storm will be strong winds, gusting up to 70km/h at times. As the storm moves northeast of Montreal, a strong cold front will sweep east bringing much colder temperatures along with a rapid freeze as any leftover rain changes to snow Wednesday night.

Thursday will be windy and colder with clearing skies, a brief break again before yet another storm arrives next weekend with more precipitation.

Another round of snow for Montreal & southern Quebec

Winter driving conditions are back across southern Quebec and the Montreal region, with another 10-15cm of snow forecast Saturday night, followed by more snow and freezing rain for the week ahead.

Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Valley, with snowfall warnings for the Laurentians and Gatineau regions.

A potent Alberta Clipper will move across southern Quebec late Saturday into Sunday morning, with a quick burst of moderate snow. The snow is already spreading across eastern Ontario and should arrive in southern Quebec over the next few hours. Expect a quick 10cm of snow for most locations, including Montreal, with as much as 15cm across the Laurentians and Ottawa Valley.

Roads will become snow covered and slippery Saturday night, and visibility will lower to under a kilometre or two in moderate snow at times. Expect conditions to improve Sunday morning as temperatures rise close to the freezing point and precipitation tapers off to drizzle. 

The weather will remain very active this week, as several storm systems and frontal boundaries traverse the region. We are looking at a messy mix of precipitation across the area, with more snow, freezing rain and rain likely. The time frame to watch for mixed precipitation will be late Monday and again Wednesday evening. The entire mess will freeze up Thursday behind a cold front as temperatures drop.

Winter driving is certainly back so plan for a slippery week ahead at times, starting Saturday evening.

Finally the first snow of the season for Montreal

A snowy scene along Senneville Road after the first snowfall of the season on Thursday morning.

Snow has finally fallen across the Montreal region, with between 5 and 10cm accumulating for most locations in southern Quebec since late Wednesday. The snow was wet in nature, mostly falling overnight and into the Thursday morning commute. This guaranteed long travel times to work for many, with it taking no less than 45 minutes for me just to leave Ile Perrot this morning.

Plows and salters have done the job, and mild temperatures are helping melt the snow on most primary roads. However as temperatures drop this evening and winds increase, I expect we will have some slick spots around southern Quebec for the afternoon commute into the evening hours.

The snow has tapered off for the moment, as low pressure skirts along the international border and towards Atlantic Canada today. Temperatures are rather mild in Montreal, and should remain close to the freezing point for most of the day. A potent arctic boundary will arrive later this afternoon, accompanied by some snow squall activity. While the precipitation should be brief in nature, there may be some moderate snow falling along the front.

The commute was long for many Thursday morning as the first snow of the season fell across the Montreal region.

Winds will also increase along and behind the front, gusting in excess of 50km/h at times in Montreal. Temperatures are expected to fall quickly behind the boundary, down to -7C (19F) tonight, and remaining there on Friday. The end of the week will be cold and blustery, feeling like mid-winter, but it will be short-lived, with milder weather and even some mixed precipitation or rain returning by Monday.

The aforementioned arctic front is creating havoc across the Great Lakes region Thursday morning. Winds are gusting close to 100km/h across parts of northeast Ohio, Michigan, New York and Ontario, along with heavy snow and near-blizzard conditions at times for some.

Another round of lake effect snow will ramp up today into Friday, making travel difficult, if not impossible across several regions. This will impact Highways 401 and 403 in Ontario, as well as Interstates 81 and 90 in New York. Keep this in mind if you have travel plans south and west of Montreal. Some of the same locations that received over 100cm last weekend will be impacted again. The weight of the snow has caused damage to structures and trees across the lake effect zones.

Winter trying to return to Montreal - epic Great Lakes storm hammers NY & Ontario

A New York State Police vehicle blocks the entrance to a snow covered road in western New York, after an epic lake effect snowstorm dumped feet of snow on the region over the weekend. Montreal was left with only a few flakes around and little more. (New York State Police)

An Alberta Clipper type storm will skirt along the International border Wednesday into Thursday bringing gusty winds and the first significant snowfall of the season to Montreal.

While we are counting snowfall in flakes, parts of the Great Lakes were counting in metres! Over the weekend, arctic air flowing over the wide open and warm Great Lakes, produced epic amounts of snowfall to the south and east of the lakes. Off Lake Huron, close to 140cm of snow fell along provincial highway 11, stranding hundreds of motorists. The highway is slowly being reopened this morning after OPP and crews removed the abandoned vehicles. The weight of the snow also caused problems with power lines, trees and in some cases roofs of homes.

A dusting of snow on Ile Perrot Monday morning, as most of the lake effect remained well to our south and west over New York and Ontario.

Meanwhile south of the border it was much of the same from northwest Pennsylvania into western New York where 4 to 6 feet of lake effect snow piled up from Erie, towards Buffalo and along Interstate 81 in Watertown. There as well, thousands of cars and trucks were stuck for hours along the New York State Thruway.

More lake effect snow is on the way this week. While here in southern Québec, a few weak frontal boundaries, such as the one early Tuesday morning, have resulted in scattered snow showers. Depending where you are on the Island of Montreal, the ground may be white. The net result has been just a trace to perhaps a centimetre. Despite the light amounts, the nature of the snow falling on relatively warm surfaces, has created lots of black ice and the typical response from drivers. There have been many accidents across both eastern Ontario and southwestern Quebec since Sunday.

The bottom line, slow down, make sure you have winter tires on and that your windows are clear of snow and ice. Prepare for winter driving as we can expect accumulating snow Wednesday.

A quick moving low pressure system will move across the Great lakes and into southern Quebec on Wednesday. Mild, moist air flowing north along the track will result in a period of snow for the city starting late Wednesday. Montreal and most of southern Quebec can expect 5-10cm, with perhaps lose to 15cm locally. Accompanying the system will be gusty winds, up to 50km/h, producing some blowing snow, especially Thursday as temperatures drop behind the storm. Expect snow covered rods and slow commute times for Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning.