Large hail pounds the Saguenay region of Quebec

Widespread damage occurred in the Saguenay region of Quebec on Wednesday, after baseball-size hail pounded the area. (TWN Photo courtesy Anne-Julie Belley)

 A fierce hailstorm caused widespread damage across the Saguenay region of Quebec on Wednesday, July 27. Hail as large as 8cm in diameter fell in L'Anse-Saint-Jean, 2 to 5cm in La Baie and 2 to 4cm in Bagotville. The hail was part of a series of severe thunderstorms that swept across most of central and eastern Quebec, as well as northern Maine and New Brunswick. The storms were fueled by persistent hot and humid weather. Strong winds also accompanied the thunderstorm cells, knocking down trees and power lines. Widespread damage to homes and cars was reported as a result of the hail.

HOW DOES HAIL FORM?
Hail develops when strong updrafts in thunderstorms carry raindrops high into extremely cold regions of the atmosphere. Typically the storms in question are towering in nature, with cloud heights in excess of 30,000 feet. The raindrops freeze into balls of ice. The hailstone grows by colliding with super-cooled water droplets in the cloud. These freeze on contact with the evolving hailstone. The hail will be lifted multiple times into the upper portion of the thunderstorm, adding a layer of ice each time. Hail falls to the ground when the ice becomes too heavy for the updraft to maintain it, or the updraft weakens. Hail can be driven into the ground, cars, homes and people, by very strong winds that accompany the thunderstorm. The more severe the storm, the larger the hail. The hail can also merge with other stones, creating awkward and dangerous shapes. Hail has been know to cause widespread million-dollar damage. The largest hailstone reported in the US was in Vivian, South Dakota on June 23, 2010. It was 8 inches (20cm) in diameter, weighing in at 1 pound 15 ounces (878 grams). In Canada, the largest stone fell at Cedoux, Saskatchewan, on August 27, 1973. The hailstone was 11.4cm in diameter (4.5 inches), and weighed 290 grams (0.6 pounds).

Hail can damage windows and rip the siding from homes. (NOAA Photo)

Montreal often records small hail during summer storms. However, on May 29th, 1986, and on the same date in 1987, the city had major hailstorms. The hail measured up to 8cm (3 inches) in diameter and destroyed numerous trees and gardens. Damage was reported to homes and cars as well. The 1986 storm alone produced estimated insurable losses in excess of $70 million. I lived in southern Saskatchewan from 1997 to 2000 and witnessed many large hailstorms. One particular storm in 1998, left the roads covered in deep hail, and also damaged my car. It was before the digital era, so the photo lives in a box somewhere... and I will find it someday.

Lightning really does strike the same place twice

Like a giant lightning rod, the CN Tower in Toronto is struck 75 to 80 times each year. (blogTO Photo)

6:30 AM: Another warm and humid day is forecast for Montreal today, with a high of 28C (83F), along with scattered thunderstorms.

It is often said that lightning will not strike the same place twice. This is a rather important and life- threatening myth. Over the weekend, a picture of the Empire State Building in New York City being struck by lightning was circulating on social media. It got me thinking, how often does such a tall building get struck? The answer is 25 lightning strikes, on average, each year, up to as many as 100 times. The CN Tower in Toronto, being taller, is struck an incredible 75 to 80 times each year. A series of 52 grounding rods, running the length of the building and six metres below the surface, prevents the structure from being damaged. Each rod is 56cm thick. For the most part, the strikes are spread out over the thunderstorm season. However, on August 24, 2011, the CN Tower was struck 52 times in less than 90 minutes. So as you can very well see, lightning can and does strike the same location often.

This video-still of the Empire State Building being struck by lightning was taken by a tourist on July 23. (Weather.com)

Several weeks ago, I wrote about lightning safety so I won't go into that here. Simply put, there is no safe place outdoors. When thunder roars, go indoors. We are half-way through what has been a hot and humid summer across most of North America, with frequent thunderstorms. Lightning-strike data is rather difficult to come by in Canada, but the United States has already recorded 21 fatalities. Sadly, this puts them on a pace to achieving a much higher total than that of the last few years. Since 2008, the message had been getting out, with fatalities down from nearly 50 annually to under 30. Here in Canada, we average 10 fatalities a year, along with multiple injuries. The problem is a global concern. Just last month, within a few days, over 80 people were killed from lightning strikes during monsoon rains across India.

Another round of thunderstorms for Montreal

Rapidly developing thunderstorms produced torrential rain and flooding on L'Ile Perrot, Saturday, July 23. (ValleyWX)

Hot and humid weather took a one-day break on Sunday after Saturday's wicked weather. Strong thunderstorms rapidly developed on Saturday afternoon north of Montreal, and moved southeast across southern Quebec and into upstate New York and Vermont. The storms produced 25mm (1 inch) of rain here on L'Ile Perrot in under one hour. The result was flooding on numerous roads. Such was the case as well across other parts of Montreal. Some roads, especially ramps and viaducts on and off Highway 40, had to be closed until the water receded. The same cluster of storms dropped hail up to 2cm and produced winds in excess of 100km/h across Valleyfield and Vaudreuil and south of the city into the Townships. Tornado warnings were even issued southeast of Montreal, with several of the storms showing signs of rotation. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down. South of the border, strong winds left several boaters requiring rescue on Lake Champlain. The wind also knocked out power to thousands in Vermont, some still in the dark this morning. One fatality was reported in Vermont.

Searing heat and humidity across a wide portion of Canada this July has resulted in numerous rounds of severe thunderstorms. The photo above is from my good friend in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (Dayna Smith-Short)

This morning, the heat and humidity are building once again, as a warm front approaches from Ontario. Showers and isolated thunder will give way to partly sunny and muggy weather through mid-afternoon. Temperatures will rise rapidly to around 30C (86F). A cold front will cross the area late in the day, with another round of robust thunderstorms. Some of the storms, like Saturday, may have heavy rain and small hail. Skies should clear after midnight, with a warm and dry Tuesday expected. The low tonight will be around 20C (68F), with the high Tuesday near 27C (81F).

Another sultry summer day for Montreal and Ottawa Valley

The heatwave in the central portion of the United States continues to periodically spill into Ontario and Quebec.

Heat warnings and special weather statements remain in effect from Environment Canada for southern Ontario and Quebec today. The combination of very warm temperatures, along with the high humidity, is creating rather steamy weather from Montreal to Ottawa and Toronto. Temperatures on Thursday reached the low to middle 30's across many location of eastern Canada including 31C (88F), here in Montreal, and 34C (94F) in Toronto. A few showers and thunderstorms overnight in Quebec only added to the elevated humidity. The temperature dropped no lower than 22C (72F) early Friday morning in Montreal, and we are already up to 27C (80F) as of 9:30 here on L'Ile Perrot.

Giant baseball size hailstones fell in central Saskatchewan this past week. A tornado was also reported near Davidson, Saskatchewan on Tuesday, July 19. (CBC Saskatchewan)

What you see is pretty much what you get, as southern Quebec will remain on the northern edge of a ring of fire in the central US. A massive dome of hot high pressure remains centered over the Midwest, with a rather strong and prolonged heatwave underway there. Temperatures in those regions have been in the 90's to 100F (34 to 37C). Along the edge of this system are periodic ripples of low pressure and frontal boundaries giving a break from the heat, but also showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms have been very strong, with large hail and even tornadoes reported in Saskatchewan and Manitoba this week. Some thunderstorm activity is possible in Montreal later today and Saturday. Sunday is expected to be fair at this time, and a touch cooler. We can expect more heat and humidity next week with daytime highs very close to 30C (86F) each day for Montreal and southern Quebec.

Hot and stormy July continues

More strong thunderstorms are expected Monday afternoon across extreme eastern Ontario and southern Quebec.

Strong thunderstorms are possible in eastern Ontario and southwest Quebec today from 12 noon through 8pm. A severe thunderstorm watch may be needed later this morning.

Temperatures are on the upswing today following a dry and cooler weekend. A warm front has already lifted north across the St. Lawrence Valley this morning with scattered showers. The humidity will build in quickly, with high temperatures near 28C (83F). The humidex reading will rise into the upper 30's. The air mass will quickly become unstable, with strong thunderstorms likely in Montreal by mid to late afternoon. Some of the storms could produce very strong winds, small hail and heavy downpours. The storms will develop by late morning in Ontario, ahead of a trough and cold front, before moving into Quebec and New York State.

A strong gust front and thunderstorm approach L'Ile Perrot around 6pm Friday night. The storm produced winds in excess of 90km/h, knocking down trees and power lines in several west end suburbs. (Valley Weather Photo)

The setup is very similar to Friday when L'Ile Perrot and the southern portion of Montreal island were hit by a rather strong storm around 6pm. Sweeping from west to east, the storm produced winds up to 90km/h. Numerous tress were brought down, especially along south facing shorelines. Power outages were widespread, adding to the workload of Hydro Quebec, still trying to restore power from Thursdays thunderstorms.

Today's front front clears the region overnight Monday, with a partly cloudy, less humid, and cool day Tuesday. The high temperature will be near 22C (72F). After the one day break, the heat will begin building again Wednesday, reaching into the low 30's (up to 90F) by next weekend. We can also expect an increase once again in the humidity and the likelihood of more thunderstorms.

More storms to end the week

Hot and humid weather generated thunderstorms this week. As a result widespread tree damage and power outages occurred in many portions of Quebec, including Quebec City, shown above.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect for southern and western Quebec through sunset Friday.

Montreal is under a set of new severe thunderstorm watches late this afternoon as a second cold front approaches the region. Strong storms are flaring up across the Ottawa Valley and moving into western Quebec. These storms come on the heels of those Thursday evening that downed trees and cut power to thousands of Quebec homes. Particularly hard hit was the region of Vaudreuil/Soulanges west of Montreal. A strong storm near midnight produced winds in excess of 70km/h in Vaudreuil and on L'Ile Perrot. Hydro Quebec crews have been working since then to restore power, with 15,000 clients still in the dark.

Once the thunderstorms end this evening, we can expect cooler weather into Saturday with a few showers. The temperature approached 30C (86F) once again Friday, but will lower to 23C (73F) Saturday, and 26C (79F) Sunday. Sunday will be the better of the two days with nothing but sunshine forecast.

Record heat for Montreal - strong storms today

The Dairy Queen along Highway 20 on L'Ile Perrot provides the foreground to developing thunderstorms on the horizon. (ValleyWX)

A heat warning remains in effect today. We have an elevated risk of strong thunderstorms as well.

Searing heat surged into southern Quebec on Wednesday, with Montreal squeezing out a record high of 33.7C (93F). (The previous record was 33.6C, set in 1987, the heatwave just prior to the famous Decarie Expressway flood). The warm temperatures lasted into the overnight, with the 6am temperature already at 24C (76F) in Montreal. Other parts of the region were also warm on Wednesday, with 35C (95F) in Vaudreuil and here on L'Ile Perrot. Ontario was hot as well, with Toronto being the warmest in the country at a record-setting 36C (97F). This broke the previous record of 34.9C set in 2005. The 35C I recorded on my Davis Vantage Vue is the warmest reading I've observed on L'Ile Perrot, since moving here in 2009.

The heat, combined with elevated humidity readings, produced humidex temperatures into the low 40s. It was oppressive for any outdoor activities. Relief is on the way today in the form of a cold front, which is draped across Ontario this morning. The front will generate some drenching, slow-moving thunderstorms today. The storms are expected to reach southern Quebec early this afternoon. Some of the storms may produce flooding rains and strong winds. Overnight, the same cold front produced a line of thunderstorms that brought winds in excess of 90km/h to Toronto.

Today will be warm once again for southern Quebec, with highs near 30C (86F). It will remain muggy overnight, with lows near 21C (70F). Friday will be a touch cooler at 27C (81F), with some showers around. As of now the weekend looks decent, with some spotty showers Saturday, but clearing out late in the day and a high near 25C (77F). Expect sunshine on Sunday, with a daytime high near 27C (81F).

Heat and humidity build into eastern Canada this week

A surge of hot and humid air will move into southern Ontario and Quebec this week, with forecast high temperatures over 32C (90F) in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.

After a dismal weekend, with solid cloud cover and occasional rain, the region is looking at clearing skies this morning. Around 20mm of rain fell in southern Quebec on Saturday and early Sunday, as low pressure skirted down the St. Lawrence Valley and into New Brunswick. Skies are clearing this morning, with patchy fog and warming temperatures. The clouds and rain kept temperatures cool, near 20C (68F) all weekend, well below the normal high of 26C (79F).

Heatwave?
In Montreal, a heatwave is usually declared when high temperatures reach or exceed 30C (86F) over three consecutive days. However, the official Environment Canada definition is three days over 32C (90F). A heat advisory is posted when the humidex value, the combination of heat and humidity, is expected to be near 40C or higher. It's all relative. However you want to look at it, it will be a very hot and sticky week. High pressure will build into Quebec today, cresting over us tonight and sliding to our east on Tuesday. As the center moves east, a rather potent surge of heat and humidity will move into the Great Lakes Basin and St. Lawrence Valley. High temperatures will be on the rise in Montreal, from 26C (79F) today, up to the low 30s (near 90F) by Wednesday. The humidity will build as well, with humidex readings approaching 40C (104F) in southern Ontario and Quebec by Wednesday afternoon. Environment Canada has posted a special weather statement for Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto regarding the potential heatwave this week. Heat warnings or advisories may be needed for several metropolitan areas by mid-week. Overnight low temperatures will become rather uncomfortable as well, remaining in the low 20s (low 70s). The heat will also provide the fuel for pop-up thunderstorms each afternoon from Wednesday to Friday. Some storms may be on the strong to severe side, especially Friday. Relief will come from the heat in the form of a cold front by late in the week. Next weekend at this time looks ideal, with low humidity, sunshine and warm temperatures.

Wet weekend ahead for Ontario and Quebec

Southwestern Quebec, along with southern Ontario, continues to be exceptionally dry. The Environment Canada map above shows that some areas had as much as 75 to 90 percent less precipitation than normal for June 2016.

We need the rain. That being said, the timing is less than perfect with the weekend approaching. Montreal continues to run at a significant deficit as far as precipitation is concerned. Officially, only 6.6mm of rain has fallen in Montreal for July. This follows a very dry spring with precipitation amounts running at 25 to 50 percent of the normal in southwestern Quebec. The effects of the limited rainfall can be seen on lawns all over the region. Additionally, water levels are very low on area lakes and rivers. As well several trees are beginning to lose leaves, a sure sign of loss of water and heat stress. The only saving grace has been the cooler nights. It has been an odd summer so far. As far as high temperatures go, Montreal has already reached 30C (86F) or higher on 8 occasions in 2016. We managed this only 11 times during the entire summer of 2015. The heat however has been punctuated by days of very cold weather for summer in Montreal. On Thursday, a weak frontal boundary, located just south of Montreal, resulted in the city having light northeast winds and a high of only 25C (77F). Areas just off-island to the south and west of the city were in the upper 20s, even into the low 30s in some cases. Strong thunderstorms affected northeast New York and northern Vermont, with hail, downed trees and power outages during the afternoon and evening.

That brings us to this weekend. Multiple areas of low pressure will impact Ontario and Quebec, as they slowly move northeast into Atlantic Canada. After a partly cloudy and humid Friday, with a high near 26C (79F), clouds will be on the increase tonight. Showers and thunderstorms will develop overnight and continue intermittently on Saturday. Gusty winds up to 50km/h will help keep temperatures cooler Saturday and Sunday, around 20C (68F) in Montreal. The weekend rainfall is expected to drop 25-35mm (1 to 1.5 inches) on the region. On Monday, skies will slowly clear out. We are expecting a return to very warm and increasingly humid weather by early next week, with high temperatures once again approaching 30C.

Unsettled and humid week ahead for Montreal

We can expect a spike in the humidity through the middle portion of this week. Temperatures will feel like the middle 30's in Montreal.

High pressure is in control of the weather this morning in Montreal and across New England and eastern Ontario. Temperatures cooled rapidly last evening after sunset but are already warming up this morning. The overnight low here on L'Ile Perrot was 14C (56F), after a daytime high Monday of 29C (85F). We can expect similar weather today, with bright sunshine, perhaps some afternoon cloudy periods and a high near 31C (88F).

On Wednesday, there will be a noticeable increase in humidity, that will likely be with us for the balance of the week. The temperature will be warm once again to 30C (86F). As a result of the spike in humidity, conditions will be a little uncomfortable with humidex readings in the upper 30's for Montreal and close to 40C over southern New England. Showers and thunderstorms will develop late Wednesday and especially Thursday as the front and low pressure system move east across southern Quebec. Some of the thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall as they develop in Ontario and spread east into Quebec. Unfortunately at this time, it looks like the clouds and showers will be with us into the upcoming weekend, along with a drop in temperatures into the middle 20's.

Mother Nature provides the fireworks for Canada Day

Happy Canada Day. Clouds will increase across southern Quebec today with thunderstorms likely this evening. 

High pressure is in control of the weather across southern Quebec this morning. After a very pleasant Thursday, Canada Day Friday is shaping up to be sunny and warm with a high temperature near 28C (83F) for Montreal. A rather vigorous cold front over the Great Lakes will sweep into the St. Lawrence Valley this afternoon and evening along with showers and thunderstorms. Like Tuesday afternoon, some of the storms may be locally severe with gusty winds, small hail and heavy rain possible. The thunderstorms on Tuesday produced severe weather in extreme southern Quebec with 100km/h winds reported along the US border in Huntingdon. Strong storms also affected Morin Heights where trees were toppled, and 17,000 Hydro Quebec customers left without power. In Montreal, and here on L'Ile Perrot, we had lots of lightning and much needed rainfall, with 12 to 20mm reported.

Today's storms will develop over Eastern Ontario and the Adirondacks of New York early in the afternoon and move rapidly northeast into southern Quebec by 4 or 5pm. Severe thunderstorm watches may be likely for part of the region late today, so have an eye on the sky as you take part in the many scheduled Canada Day activities. The showers will taper off after midnight as cooler air arrives from the west. Overnight lows will drop into the upper teens, with a high on Saturday near 21C (70F). Saturday  will be partly cloudy, with some showers still around. High pressure arrives Sunday with sunshine and dry weather expected to last well into next week. Temperatures will warm daily from 26C (79F) Sunday, up to 30C (86F) by the middle of next week.

Funnel cloud and possible tornado near Ponoka, Alberta late Thursday afternoon (CBC News)

Alberta Tornado
Strong thunderstorms swept across central Alberta on Thursday, with hail, fierce winds and possible tornadoes. One funnel clouds produced damage near Ponoka, Alberta south of Edmonton, just missing a packed fairground. No injuries were reported. Environment Canada will be investigating the damage today to determine if a tornado did touch down.

Strong thunderstorms possible for southern Quebec

Montreal remains abnormally dry, with most vegetation now showing some signs of heat stress and lack of water. Southern Ontario and parts of the Northeast US are in a moderate drought. (AccuWeather)

Our current stretch of warm and humid weather is about to come to an end. Twin cold fronts lie just to the northwest of Montreal this morning, with showers and thunderstorms expected to develop along them today. Some of the storms may be strong to locally severe, with heavy rain, gusty winds and small hail possible, especially from Montreal south and east into the Townships and New England. Thunderstorms are forecast to develop around noon in Montreal and last through sunset.

Montreal is very warm this morning, with a mild overnight low of 22C (72F). Limited sunshine today should keep the temperature down to 25C (77F). We managed a high of 28C (83F) Monday, despite the clouds and early showers. Montreal has already recorded five 30C-or-warmer days at Trudeau Airport. We did not record a 30C high in Montreal until July 7 during the summer of 2015. Today's cold front will usher in a slightly cooler air mass for Wednesday, with expected high temperatures in the low 20's accompanied by a shower or two. High pressure will clear skies along with a warming trend for Thursday and Canada Day. Look for wall-to-wall sunshine to start the holiday weekend, with highs near 27C (81F). At this time, a few showers are forecast on Saturday, but I am not overly confident with that forecast.

Conditions remain very dry across the region, with slight-to-moderate drought being reported from southern Ontario into Quebec and New England. According to the United States Drought Monitor, many Northeast and southern St. Lawrence Valley locations are reporting only 25 to 50 percent of normal rainfall.

EF2 Tornado
Environment Canada has confirmed the second tornado of the year for Quebec. It occurred on a very warm and humid June 20th in Lac Verne. The EF2 tornado, with an estimated 190km/h winds, destroyed a cottage and knocked down a strand of trees. Two people were seriously injured in the storm. Quebec records an average of 6 tornadoes a year. (The Enhance Fujita Scale rates tornadoes from EF0, the weakest, to EF5, the strongest).

Perfect weather weekend for Quebec and Ontario - historic West Virginia flooding

Catastrophic flash flooding in West Virginia has resulted in at least 23 deaths. 
(NBC News)

For the second weekend in a row, high pressure is in control of our weather across southern Quebec, Ontario and New England. Sunshine will dominate, with just a few afternoon clouds. Temperatures will be very warm once again, rising up to 30C (86F). Overnight lows will be comfortable, around 17C (63F). A frontal system will bring us some showers on Monday, along with slightly cooler weather. More showers and thunderstorms are expected Tuesday, before skies clear Wednesday. Temperatures will warm up again as we approach the Canada Day long weekend.

MODERATE DROUGHT
Speaking of rain showers, moisture is badly needed. Moderate drought conditions prevail across the entire region. Most locations have reported consecutive months of less than 50 percent of the normal precipitation. Stream flows and water levels are dropping. The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is reporting the Rideau River in eastern Ontario is flowing at only 15 percent of normal for this time of year. Fire conditions remain elevated across southern Quebec and Ontario. Several grass fires were reported in Eastern Ontario last week. Even with rain in the forecast early next week, conditions are expected to remain excessively dry. Vegetation is beginning to show signs of drought as well. Water conservation is strongly suggested in eastern Ontario and southern Quebec, but has not been formally ordered at this time.

WEST VIRGINIA FLOODING
The high pressure giving Montreal our beautiful weather, has deflected a potent area of showers and thunderstorms south of the Great Lakes into the Ohio Valley. Violent weather with tornadoes and powerful thunderstorms swept across portions of Illinois and Indiana, into the central Appalachians Thursday and Friday. In West Virginia, three month`s worth of rain fell in just a few hours. Some locations in the state received over 250mm (10 inches) of rain. Widespread, severe flash flooding occurred with swollen rives and creeks washing away homes and cars. This is the worst flooding in over a century in that state, with reports of at least 23 fatalities. Over 500,000 utility customers were without power at the height of the storms. The West Virginia National Guard has been deployed, with numerous water rescues and evacuations required. The rain has stopped for the time being, with water levels slowly receding. This has allowed the clean-up to begin, and the search for more victims to continue.

Record warmth for Montreal

Hydro Quebec is currently restoring power to more than 200,000 customers, down from 300,000 last evening. The utility said most of the outages were caused by trees making contact with lines and a few others by lightning. (Hydro Quebec Photo)

The sweltering heat of Monday has been replaced by natural air conditioning this morning, as temperatures have settled back into the high teens in Quebec. Montreal at 7:00 am was 19C (66F), after a record high of 32.9C (91F) on Monday afternoon. Numerous other record-high temperatures were tied or broken from Ontario to Newfoundland. The cooler weather this morning is thanks to a cold front that moved across Ontario and Quebec last evening. The front generated widespread severe thunderstorms. The fast-moving line of storms produced hail, wind gusts to 90km/h, as well as some tornadic rotation. Tornado warnings were issued by Environment Canada around 7:00 pm for portions of eastern Ontario, including Ottawa. No tornadoes were observed.

The storms skipped my location here on L'Ile Perrot, moving just to the north. We had several hours of vivid lightning, but no rain. Strong winds produced by the storms cut power to nearly 300,000 Hydro Quebec customers, most of those in the Quebec City region. Power outages were also reported in Ontario, New York and Vermont. A number of trees and branches were down as well, several on cars and homes in both Ontario and Quebec. All this on the first official day of summer.

Record warmth provided the fuel for late afternoon and evening thunderstorms in Ontario and Quebec. (Valley Weather Photo)

The cooler and less humid air mass will be with us for a couple of days here in Montreal, before temperatures begin to climb again into the upcoming long weekend. Highs today through Thursday will be around 24C (76F), with pleasant lows near 15C (59F). There is a risk of some showers late today and again Wednesday. By the weekend, Montreal can expect an increase in humidity, along with highs nearing 30C (86F) once again.

Summer arrives today, with heat and thunderstorms

The annual car show in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue benefited from spectacular weather on Saturday. Huge crowds viewed hundreds of classic cars. Sunshine with near record high temperatures occurred all weekend across southern Quebec.
(Valley Weather Photo)

It is a hot morning across southern Quebec and Ontario on this last day of spring, first day of summer. The solstice, accompanied by a full strawberry moon, occurs today, with summer officially arriving at 6:34 pm. Today will feature almost 16 hours of daylight. We also have very active weather expected today, as a strong cold front pierces through the heat and humidity. We started very warm this morning, 9am temperatures were already pushing 27C (80F) around the region. Highs should settle into the 32C (90F) range, with humidex values approaching 40C (104F) this afternoon. Montreal has an outside shot at the record high for the date, 32.7C (91F) set in 2012. Environment Canada has posted a heat advisory for much of eastern Ontario and southwest Quebec, including metro Montreal.

Gusty southwest winds will be a factor today. Winds are already increasing this morning, with forecast speeds up to 60km/h expected this afternoon, and 80km/h this evening. In addition to the wind, we can expect thunderstorms to develop along a potent cold front after 5pm in Montreal. Some of the storms may become severe, with strong damaging winds and possibly hail. Once the front clears the St. Lawrence Valley overnight, we can expect cooler weather, with lows dropping to 18C (65F), and highs near 23C (73F) on Tuesday, under partly cloudy skies.

Searing heat in the southwestern US has lead to widespread brush fires in Arizona and California, along with multiple weather-related fatalities. (AP Photo)

SOUTHWEST US HEATWAVE
While Montreal basked in near-perfect summer weather over the weekend, strong thunderstorms occurred over western Canada. Several tornadoes were reported in Saskatchewan, with minor damage but no injuries. Searing heat impacted the southwest US, with high temperatures in Phoenix and Las Vegas rising into the middle 40's. Phoenix recorded that city's 5th all-time warmest temperature on Saturday, establishing a new record high at 47C (118F). Four deaths were blamed on the heat, along with widespread wildfires.

Warm, dry weather increases fire risk in Quebec

According to SOPFEU, extreme fire conditions (in red) cover most of the province of Quebec. A fire ban has been put in place for those regions, and may be extended south into Montreal and extreme southwest Quebec (yellow).

Southern Quebec is into a prolonged stretch of warm and dry weather, after a cool start to June. Temperatures across the southern portion of the province have been in the high 20s and are expected to rise into the low 30s this weekend. With low humidity forecast, the forest fire risk in on the rise. According to SOPFEU, the provincial forest fire-fighting agency, two thirds of Quebec, excluding Montreal and the US border regions at this time, is under extreme fire conditions. SOPFEU announced earlier Friday that all outdoor burning is prohibited, including campfires, until further notice.

The burn ban could likely be extended to Montreal this weekend. Rainfall has been sparse this spring, with only half the normal precipitation since May 1st. Montreal has recorded 46.4mm of rain to date for June, but 32mm of that occurred on one day.

Strong high pressure continues to dominate the weather in Montreal, with sunshine, warm days and cool nights. High temperatures will range from 29C to 32C  (80-85F) this weekend. Overnight lows will be seasonable, down to 13C to 15C (55-60F). No precipitation is expected at this time. Monday will be sunny and hot, with an increase in southerly winds driving up the humidity. A cold front arrives late in the day, with showers and thunderstorms overnight into Tuesday. Expect sunshine and seasonable weather to return by Wednesday.

Lightning 101

A late afternoon lightning strike in Kemptville, Ontario. (ValleyWeather Photo)

June 13 -19 is lightning safety week in Canada.

Summer weather means heat and humidity in Montreal, and along with that comes the ever-present risk of thunderstorms. Thunderstorms produce a variety of nasty by-products including hail, high winds, flooding and even tornadoes. However one of the biggest killers during thunderstorms in North America is lightning. On average, a lighting strike occurs every three seconds in Canada during the summer months of June trough August. At any given second, lightning is striking the earth somewhere. Nearly 2000 thunderstorms are active around the earth every minute! Lightning is responsible for numerous deaths and injuries, and significant damage to homes, electrical devices and power grids. Nearly 45 percent of forest fires in Canada are started by lightning.

You should know that there is no safe place outdoors during a thunderstorm; your best defence is to get inside. While your chances of being struck by lightning are statistically slim, in an average year, ten Canadians pay the ultimate price for taking the gamble. Another 150 to 160 are injured, some with injuries that will have lifelong repercussions. The average bolt of lightning contains 300 million volts, enough energy to light a 100-watt incandescent light bulb for about three months. The air displaced by lightning is heated to nearly 28,000C (50,000F), a temperature five times that of the sun and hot enough to melt car tires and burn skin. If you are stuck outside, get as low as you can, make yourself as small as possible.

One of the myths about lightning is that it never strikes the same place twice. The Empire State building in New York City is struck an average of over 100 times each year. Likewise, the CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario is struck several times each year. Lightning likes tall objects. Stay away from trees. Most thunderstorm-related deaths across North America are from those who seek shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm. It is one of the worst places
you can put yourself, another being anywhere on or near water. Head ashore as soon as threatening weather approaches. You should always know the risk of thunderstorms when boating or at the beach. Keep a weatheradio with you at all times. They are inexpensive and could be a lifesaver.  Alternately, you can download one of the weather apps for your smartphone. Environment Canada monitors lightning strikes across Canada, and displays the information at http://weather.gc.ca/lightning/ updated every 10 minutes. Know the risks, plan and prepare to take shelter. This is especially true during outdoor events including baseball, soccer and concerts.

Lightning can strike more than 5km from the parent storm, so as soon as you hear thunder, head indoors. Refrain from outdoor activities such as swimming, soccer or golfing for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder occurs. A recent study by Environment Canada indicated that as little as 3-5% of individuals injured or killed by lightning in Canada are victims of a direct hit. Most hits occur by ground current (40-50%) or side flash (20-30%). That is why it is so important to refrain from using electrical appliances such as phones or computers that are hardwired directly to your home. Cordless items are fine to use.

You are relatively safe inside a car. However, if a car is directly hit, significant damage, including fire and blown out windows can occur. Another popular myth is that people struck by lightning can’t be touched. A person struck by lightning is safe to handle immediately after the hit. They may need CPR or other medical attention. You should call 911 without delay.

Showers for the Grand Prix weekend in Montreal

Rain in 2011 made for a very exciting Canadian Grand Prix, if you were watching from the comfort of your couch. It will be showery and cool at the drop of the green flag this year, but it should not be a washout.

The Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix is this weekend at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal. Tens of thousands of race fans and team members will pour into the city for the annual event, all hoping for good weather. There is some good news and bad news for the upcoming race weekend.

Thursday morning, deep low pressure, along with the remains of tropical storm Colin, continues to pull away to the northeast out into the Atlantic. The broad circulation around these features will continue to pull down unseasonably cold and unstable air into southern Quebec and New England. The result is an October-like morning in Montreal, with a low temperature of 8C (48F) along with gusty northwest winds. The weather will remain cloudy and cool today, with gusty unpleasant winds up to 60km/h and occasional showers. The temperature will struggle to reach 16C (60F). At present, Friday looks much better, as the aforementioned low releases its grip and high pressure arrives from the Great Lakes. Sunshine will prevail and the mercury will respond, rising into the middle 20's (24C/75F). So far Saturday looks decent in the morning, before clouds and perhaps some showers and thunderstorms arrive for the afternoon, as yet another cold front moves in. The high will be 21C (70F). The front will leave behind a cool and blustery race day Sunday in Montreal. Expect mostly cloudy conditions, some showers, and temperatures well below normal at 16C (60F). If the rain stays away, the cooler weather will actually be better for race fans and drivers alike.

A veiled view of Mount Washington in New Hampshire this morning showing a wintry landscape in June. (MWOBS via Twitter)

JUNE SNOW
How cold is it this morning across our region? The current temperature is only 4C (39F) in St Agathe, north of Montreal, with most other locations in the 6C to 10C (43 to 50F) range. On the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire, the current temperature is -4C (25F), along with snow and sleet and a northwest wind of 122km/h gusting to 135km/h (76mph gusts to 84mph). The windchill is -17C (1F). It certainly does not feel like June!

Cool wet week ahead for southern Quebec

A deluge of rain fell quickly on Sunday, with 25 to 50mm (1 to 2 inches) occurring in eastern Ontario (Cornwall shown above), as well as southern Quebec and New England. Most of the rain fell between 11am and midnight.

More rain fell in the last 24 hours in southern Quebec than in the entire month of May. The rain was desperately needed, as most regions were well below normal, with some areas reporting less than 50 percent of the normal precipitation this spring. At Trudeau Airport, 32mm of rain fell, with close to 30mm here on L'Ile Perrot. The rain was quite heavy at times and accompanied by thunder and lightning, especially overnight. In Ottawa, and across eastern Ontario, the weather was much the same, with 36.4mm falling in the nation's capital in less than 12 hours. Ottawa had only received 26.2mm of rain in May. Unfortunately, the rain fell on a busy summer weekend, which included a soggy Tour de L'Ile here in Montreal. The 20,000 cyclists started off the 65 to 100km route in cloudy but dry weather. That quickly changed by mid-morning, as heavy rain arrived from the southwest. The event still concluded as scheduled, with no incidents reported.

This morning, Montreal is mild but damp, with lots of moisture left over. Some sunshine today will help to generate afternoon clouds and perhaps a shower or thunderstorm. Temperatures will be mild, near 24C (76F). Tuesday through Thursday will be quite unsettled, with plenty of clouds and showers, along with much cooler temperatures. After the low 20's on Tuesday, Montreal will only reach 15C (59F) Wednesday and Thursday, before temperatures slowly moderate late in the week. If you don't like the heat, then enjoy this respite from the hot weather, as we expect it to return by the third week of June.

TROPICAL STORM COLIN
The third tropical system of this young 2016 season formed late Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico. Tropical storm Colin was located 580 km (360 miles) west southwest of Tampa, Florida at 5am, with 85 km/h (50 mph) winds. The storm will rapidly move northeast today and reach the coast of Florida, in the Big Bend region, by Monday evening. The biggest threat from Colin will be torrential rains falling on the saturated southeast US. Flooding is likely, especially across the coastal Carolina's, which were impacted by Bonnie last week.

Pattern change ahead for Montreal and eastern Ontario

A 50/50 weekend is expected in Montreal and eastern Ontario. Sunny and warm on Saturday, followed by a rainy Sunday.

Southern Quebec received some much-needed rainfall on Thursday, as a slow-moving cold front crossed the St. Lawrence Valley. Close to 8mm of rain fell across the city, the most on any one day since May 8. Sunshine returns today, along with warm temperatures which will remain through Saturday. Expect high temperatures near 27C (80F) and overnight lows around 16C (60F).

Our great stretch of weather will come to an end on Sunday, as high pressure builds in western Canada and a trough develops over the Great Lakes. Low pressure will move across the region Sunday, with a soaking rain. At this time, it looks like 15-25mm, or up to one inch, of rain is possible in Montreal. Temperatures will be cooler, but still near normal, 22C (72F). Cloudy skies and cooler temperatures will remain in southern Quebec to start the week, likely lasting through Wednesday. Sunshine is expected to return by next Thursday.

Major flooding continues to unfold in Texas. Massive evacuations have been necessary, with widespread damage in and around Houston. At least six fatalities occurred on Thursday alone. Above, record flooding in Fort Bend County, Texas. (AP Photo)

The weather remains very wet across the southern US, with historic flooding in Texas. At the same time, the remnants of tropical storm Bonnie crossed eastern North Carolina with flooding there as well. Here at home, much warmer temperatures will be developing over western Canada, with a return to the upper 20's and low 30's expected in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Winter cold is holding on in parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, where a widespread frost occurred Thursday. A new record low of -6.9C (19F) was set at Churchill Falls, Labrador. The previous low was -4.1 (24F) set in 1992.