Smoking-hot summer continues in Montreal

The sun rises on another 30C day in Montreal on Saturday, July 25. We have already tied the record for the most 30C days in any year and it is only July. (ValleyWeather Photo)

Saturday was the 21st day of 2020 that the mercury has surpassed 30C (86F) in Montreal. On average we can expect less than 10 such days, but that number has been on the rise in recent years. That mark ties us for the most 30C days in any given year set just two years ago in 2018. A record that was established in mid-September of that year, we are only in July. The record will be broken today, with a forecast high of 33C (92F) for Montreal. Along with the heat, we will see a spike in humidity levels Sunday. Afternoon humidex values are expected to surpass 40C across many locations in southwestern Quebec and eastern Ontario. Widespread heat warnings are in effect.

Sunday morning is windy and warm in Montreal, with southwest winds pulling in the moist, tropical air. Trudeau Airport is already at 23C (73F), our overnight low for the day. Winds will persist all day, in the 30-50km/h range. Expect hazy, hot and humid weather Sunday and Monday, with the risk of afternoon showers and thunderstorms both days. Any storms will be capable of very heavy rainfall, as the air is saturated with humidity.

By Tuesday, less oppressive conditions are expected, with lower humidity levels and cooler temperatures. There will still be a chance for afternoon showers, but the weather should be dry most of the time. The closer-to-normal weather will persist for most of this upcoming week, with highs in the upper 20s.

Flood waters from the Gulf of Mexico surge into Coastal Texas as Hurricane Hana moved inland on Saturday, July 25th. (Corpus Christie Caller-Times)

Hurricane Hana
The record-breaking 8th tropical system of the Atlantic hurricane season, became the first hurricane on Saturday as Hana moved across the Gulf of Mexico and into south Texas. The storm over performed, becoming a strong category 1 hurricane, with 90mph (150km/h) winds. The canter made landfall around 5pm Saturday on Padre Island, Texas. A surge of 3 to 5 feet produced coastal flooding, along with up to 250mm of rain. There was widespread minor to at times moderate damage reported along the coast. Over 250,000 homes and businesses lost power. Hana has weakened to a tropical storm while moving inland across northeast Mexico. Flash flooding is expected across the Rio Grand Valley today.

Hana is the earliest 8th named storm on record for the Atlantic basin. The season runs from June to November, typically peaking in September. The next storm is already on the horizon, beginning to develop across the far eastern Atlantic. Over the next few days, the wave is expected to become a tropical depression while heading west towards the Caribbean Sea.

Another surge of hot - humid air for Montreal this weekend

Very hot and humid weather will blanket the entire eastern seaboard this weekend, including Montreal. (AccuWeather Image)

We are expecting another surge of heat and humidity across southern Quebec this weekend, it what is quickly becoming a torrid summer. Early Friday morning, a warm front is lifting across the St. Lawrence Valley, accompanied by clouds and showers. There is even a rumble or two of thunder here on Ile Perrot. Even if I could not hear it myself, I know because my furry barometer is under my desk. The showers and storms will persist through the mid-morning before tapering off.

Total precipitation won't amount to much, perhaps 10mm, but we need the rain. Only 21mm has fallen at Trudeau Airport in July, well below normal for the third consecutive month.We have a general watering ban in place here on Ile Perrot, but that does not stop some neighbours on my street from running their sprinkler system all night, despite the rain. But I digress. There may be restrictions as well in other municipalities, so check with your city or town.

As the front clears southern Quebec by Friday afternoon, it will set the stage for a very hot, tropical weekend. We will likely reach 30C (86F) Friday, as the skies clear. On Saturday, expect hazy sunshine, elevated humidity levels, and highs approaching 32C (90F). The overnight period into Sunday will be hot, with temperatures only settling into the 23 to 25C (73-77F) range. Sunday will be hot and oppressively humid, with daytime highs into the middle 30s, perhaps reaching our third 36C (97F) temperature this summer here in Montreal. Humidex values will rise into the 40s. 

Some relief arrives Sunday night, as a cold front moves across the region. Strong thunderstorms are expected into early Monday morning. Slightly cooler air returns to start next week. Many readers will be on vacation next week, so if you are enjoy and be safe. Keep an eye to the sky if outside and remember when the thunder roars, go indoors.

Record-breaking heat expected in Montreal to end the week

A tropical airmass over Montreal is expected to prevail into the weekend, with hot and humid weather forecast. A heat warning is in effect for the city.

Strong thunderstorms are expected this afternoon in Montreal as a very hot and humid tropical air mass remains in place across eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. Many locations in Ontario and Quebec, including Toronto and Ottawa, have been above 30C for daily highs since July began. Montreal has exceeded 30C each day except once when we hit 29C.

The heat is expected to intensify as we end the week, with all-time July monthly records expected to be challenged on Friday. On Wednesday, a few pre-dawn thunderstorms rumbled around the Montreal region, before skies cleared somewhat and the heat and humidity built. Tropical humidity levels are present in Montreal Wednesday afternoon, and more thunderstorms are likely over the next few hours. Some of the storms may be rather strong, with heavy rain and gusty winds the main threat. High temperatures will reach into the low 30s once again.

Thursday and Friday will feature very warm, humid air, with hazy skies and temperatures into the middle 30s. The high on Friday is forecast to be 36C (97F), which would be the warmest July temperature on record for Montreal, surpassing the previous high of  35.6C (96F) set on July 17th, 1953.

The warmest temperature ever in the city was set on Friday, August 1, 1975, in the middle of a 5 day heatwave, at 37.6C (99.7F). We have an outside shot at the all-time record. I remember the 75 heatwave well, my dad finally gave in to the kids and mom, and we purchased our first pool. 

Relief will arrive in the form of showers and thunderstorms by Saturday. A tropical system is expected to develop along the eastern seaboard and move northeast towards New England. The system may push enough moisture northward for some decent rain over the weekend. If the storm develops it will be named Fay, the sixth system of the young hurricane season. Already, this is the earliest in any season on record that the Atlantic basin has reach the "E" named storm.

The heatwave is extensive, reaching from the middle portion of the US into the Great Lakes and northeast. Heat warnings and advisories are widespread, including a large portion of eastern Canada form central Ontario into Quebec.

From twitter, a spectacular shot of a wide tornado on the ground near Glenbain, Saskatchewan last Saturday. The storm was one of at least three tornadoes reported in the province. Damage occurred, but thankfully no injuries were reported.

Saskatchewan Tornado

One final note, on Saturday afternoon, strong thunderstorms produced several tornadoes in southern Saskatchewan, very close to where I lived from 1997 to 2000. The strongest tornado occurred south of Gravelbourg and east of Glenbain, damaging a farm and some silos as well as several vehicles. Two other tornadoes associated with the same supercell thunderstorm were reported near Kincaid and Assiniboia. Large hail also accompanied the storm. Environment Canada is still investigating the strength of the storms. Thankfully no injuries were reported.

Yet another heatwave on the horizon for Montreal

Enjoy the sunny, warm weather on this Canada Day in Montreal. Prepare for another long stretch of hot weather in southern Quebec, with daytime highs at or above 30C (86F) for at least the next week. Rainfall has been spotty at best and many municipalities are asking that you conserve water and avoid unnecessary use.

Happy Canada Day!

A stubborn upper-level low pressure system has been spinning from the Great Lakes into eastern New England since this past Saturday. It has been a repeat performance of weather on a daily basis with clouds, clear breaks, showers, thunderstorms and plenty of humidity. The bulk of the rain and storms Tuesday and again today Canada Day, are east and southeast of metro Montreal. Areas across Vermont and the Townships have had decent rainfall, upwards of 25mm, while Montreal has only reported spotty precipitation. The biggest storms in Montreal occurred last Sunday, when 5 to 10mm fell in parts of the city, including here on Ile Perrot.

Conserve Water
The rain was welcome, but conditions remain dry, with only 46.4mm of rain reported at Trudeau Airport for the month of June. That is a little more than half the normal amount of 87 mm. The region remains dry, as the precipitation has been highly variable from location to location. Unfortunately we are in for another long stretch of relatively dry, hot weather. The word is conserve. Most municipalities have issued watering bans or restrictions. We need to do our part as the next two weeks are looking dry and hot. Temperatures will rise into the low 30s from today through next Wednesday and perhaps longer. We may see an isolated thunderstorm Thursday afternoon and evening, but other than that threat, no appreciable rain is in our future. Strong hot high pressure building over the US plains will begin to nose into the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley over the coming days. Any rain will likely remain east of Montreal.

Hot June
Montreal reached the 30C (86F) plateau eight times in June, including seven days over 32C (90F). Normally the city reaches 30C only nine times over the course of the entire year. The long strech of 30C weather pushed the monthly mean temperature to 20.1C (68.2F), above the long-term average of 18.6C (67.3F).

Strong storms bring relief from heatwave - produce power outages

Lightning illuminates the night sky over Ile Perrot. Strong thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon and evening brought an end to our record-breaking heatwave. (ValleyWeather Photo)

Our remarkable seven day heatwave is over in Montreal. We manged six consecutive days of temperatures over 32C (90F) at Trudeau Airport. This was an extremely rare event for the city, and a first for the month of June. The heatwave ended Tuesday evening as strong thunderstorms developed well in advance of a cold front. Before that however, we managed to set yet another record high, the third in a week. The mercury soared to 33.1C (91.5F) by 1pm, surpassing the old record of 32.7C (91F) set in 1989. On Monday, the high was 34.8C (95F), also a record, the previous was 32.2C (90F) set in 1957. That mark of 34.8C was just two tenths of a degree below the all-time June record of 35C (95F) set in 1964. Montreal averages 9 days a year of temperatures in excess of 30C (86F), Tuesday was our 12th day already in 2020.

STRONG STORMS
The end of the heatwave did not come quietly, as strong thunderstorms swept across the city from south to north. The first batch affected areas off-island to the west around 1pm, with heavy rain and strong winds. The second pulse of storms was much stronger, sweeping across the Monteregie, Island of Montreal, Laval and the North Shore, knocking out power to over 70,000 Hydro-Quebec customers, and uprooting several trees. A wind gust to 96 km/h (59 mph) was recorded at Trudeau Airport at 6:50pm. The number of outages in the province is down to 229 Wednesday morning, affecting 21,000 customers.

Much need rainfall accompanied the storms, with 26.7mm falling here on Ile Perrot. Less fell at Trudeau Airport, with 13.6mm recorded. While the rainfall was greatly appreciated, conditions remain very dry in many parts of the province. At this time, numerous water restrictions remain in effect, check with your municipality for exact details. The normal rainfall for May is 81.2mm and June 87mm. To date we have only received 27.8mm at Trudeau Airport for June. May was dry as well, with only 34.2mm of rain falling along with a trace of snow.

Cooler, windy weather is expected for Wednesday, with a high of 25C (77F) and gusty southwest winds to 50km/h. Enjoy the relief over the next few days, hot and humid weather is expected to return by early next week, with perhaps another significant heatwave on tap to start July.

Quebec heatwave to persist through Tuesday

The first day of summer in Montreal was a hot one. Trudeau Airport reached a record breaking 33.4C (92F) as the heatwave stretched into a 4th day. No relief is in sight until Wednesday at the earliest.

Some of the warmest temperatures in North America are occurring right here across southern and eastern Quebec into New Brunswick. Over three dozen record highs occurred on Friday, followed by more record heat on Saturday. Montreal reached 33.9C (93F) Saturday afternoon, surpassing the previous high of 32.7C set in 2012. It was the fifth 32C (90F) day already this year and the fourth day of our current heatwave. The previous highs in Montreal have fallen just below the records, reaching 33.5C (92F) Thursday, and 32.9C (91F) Friday. That makes this an official heatwave, the first of the summer. Arguably, many locations had a heatwave back in late May, but Montreal fell short by one tenth of a degree!

The hot weather is expected to continue through at least Tuesday as strong high pressure remains anchored over the region. The air mass has become increasingly humid and stale to say the least, and a smog warning has been added to the heat advisory already in effect. Forest fire smoke is adding to the poor air quality. We need a soaking rain to scrub the atmosphere and save our lawns. A watering ban remains in effect in many southern Quebec municipalities, including here on Ile Perrot. Sadly many of my neigbours have lush green lawns and are ignoring the ban.

WATERING BAN
Any rain that has occurred has been spotty at best. A few scattered showers and thunderstorms developed over the Adirondacks on Friday and Saturday, drifting into extreme southern Quebec. The same is expected today and Monday, with perhaps a cell or two reaching metro Montreal. The real threat for widespread thunderstorms, some strong, will occur by Wednesday afternoon, as a cold front brings some relief from the heat. Until then, expect daytime highs in the low 30s and overnight lows in the low 20s. Humidex values will reach nearly 40C (104F) during the daylight hours.

SUMMER SOLSTICE
Spring came to an end on Saturday, with the summer solstice occurring at 5:43PM EDT. The spring season in Montreal and across many parts of North America was bizarre to say the least as winter and summer waged an epic battle. Montreal's spring featured record heat, record cold, severe thunderstorms, windstorms, May snow, widespread drought conditions and early forest fires all wrapped into three months. I can't wait to see what summer 2020 brings.

Heatwave to persist into early next week

Hot weather predicted for the balance of the week, may challenge some southern Quebec temperature records. The heatwave is forecast to persist through the weekend. The forecast high in Montreal of 34C (94F) on Thursday would break the record of 33.9C set in 1994. (AccuWeather.com)

Strong high pressure anchored over southern Quebec, will provide the entire region with a prolonged stretch of very warm and increasingly humid weather. An upper level low is spinning off the Carolina coast, forcing the high pressure to remain nearly stationary over the region. This is a similar set up to earlier late May when Montreal reached 36.6C (98F).

At the moment, we are forecasting daytime highs in excess of 30C from Wednesday through at least Sunday. As the upper level low begins to lift northward along the eastern seaboard, the St. Lawrence Valley will begin to see increasing dewpoints and humidity. The weather will become oppressive by Friday into the upcoming weekend. There is a risk of isolated showers and thunderstorms both Saturday and Sunday, but they will be widely scattered at best.

Conditions remain very dry across many parts of southern Quebec. SOPFEU is fighting a large forest fire in the Saquenay region that remains out of control, having burned over 3400 hectares.

Conditions remain very dry across souther Quebec. According to SOPFEU, the Montreal region is under extreme fire conditions. After only receiving one third the normal rainfall in May, the city has recorded just 14.2mm in June to date. The normal for the month is 87mm. The dry, hot conditions have increased the fire danger across Quebec. Fire bans are being issued once again for several regions of the province, and outdoor burning of any kind is strongly discouraged. Several municipalities including mine here in Notre-Dame-de-L'Ile Perrot, are banning any outdoor water use until further notice. This includes watering the lawn, washing your car and filling pools.

No appreciable rain is in the forecast at this time until perhaps early next week. The rounds of thunderstorms that occurred last week, largely missed the metro Montreal region.

The second warmest day on record for Montreal: 36.6C

A spectacular sunrise taken along the St. Lawrence River in Verdun on what would be the second hottest day in the history of Montreal. The temperature registered 36.6C at Trudeau Airport. It was even warmer, reaching 38C (100F) in other parts of the city. Daily weather recording dates back to 1880 in Montreal. Photo Debbie Ludgate-Biffin

Searing heat surged into southern Quebec on Wednesday, producing the warmest May day on record for the city and falling just shy of the all-time record high. The official high at Trudeau Airport was 36.6C (97.8F), crushing the previous daily high of 31.7C (89F) set in 2016 and the monthly May record of 34.7 (94.5F), set in 2010. The warmest day ever in Montreal occurred during the historic heatwave of 1975, with a temperature of 37.6C (99.6F) on August 1st.

The city of Montreal has opened some play fountains in select parks as well as cooling centres at several locations. A map of the locations can be found on the City of Montreal website HERE.

There were several parts of metro Montreal, including Beaconsfield, western Laval, the downtown core and Ile Perrot that hit the 100F mark, (38C). This was a truly remarkable weather event given the cold spring southern Quebec has experienced. The weather remains dry as well, with just a few scattered thunderstorms occurring in the Montreal region, mostly south of the city and across the Laurentians.  As the month draws to a close, we remain well below normal in the rain department, with just 26.4mm falling. An outdoor burn ban remains in effect and should be strictly followed until we receive some rainfall.

Montreal can expect another hot day Thursday, with a forecast high of 31C (88F). The record for today's date is 31C established in 1911 and again in 1978, so we have a legitimate shot at it.

A few showers and thunderstorms are expected tonight as the remains of Tropical Storm Bertha move into the Ohio Valley. I think most of the precipitation will remain west of Montreal. A better chance for showers and storms will be Friday afternoon as a cold front crosses southern Quebec. Some of the storms will be strong, with gusty winds, small hail and torrential downpours. The weather will remain hot and muggy Friday, with a daytime high of 29C (85F).

On Saturday, much colder air will filter into the region on gusty northwest winds. The weather will be cloudy and showery, with a high of only 18C (65F).

Hot and humid week ahead for Montreal with thunderstorms

The first heatwave of the season will see temperatures rise into the lower 30s in Montreal this week, with humidex values near 40C. Cooler weather and thunderstorms arrive by Friday.

Heat Warning in effect for southern Quebec and eastern Ontario

A very warm and humid airmass will surge into southern Quebec Tuesday, setting the stage for the first heatwave of 2020. A heatwave is defined as three consecutive days with the temperature at 30C or higher. The forecast high for Tuesday is 32C (90F), Wednesday 34C (94F) and Thursday, 31C (88F). The heat combined with high humidity levels will produce humidex readings close to 40C. Drink plenty of fluids, wear sunscreen and seek out cooler locations, especially during the afternoon hours.

While Tuesday's record maximum temperature of 34.7C set in 2010 seems out of reach for Montreal, we have a shot both Wednesday, (30.4C set in 1978), and Thursday (31C also set in 1978).

There is a chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms each of the three next days during the late afternoon and evening hours. A better chance for thunderstorms and heavy downpours is expected by Friday as a cold front arrives. The weekend is expected to be sunny and cooler with lower humidity.

It certainly has been a bizarre weather month across southern Quebec. We will likely end the month in Montreal, with both record highs and lows, widespread frost on multiple consecutive nights, snowfall and our first heatwave. All this weather against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic is just bizarre.

OUTDOOR BURN BAN CONTINUES
A reminder, the hot weather is not helping the fire situation at all in Quebec. There are currently 14 active forest fires in the province, with 333 fires reported so far this year according to SOPFEU. The 10 year average to date should be 162 fires. Conditions remain dangerously dry, and a burn ban remains in effect for all of southern Quebec. Despite the ban, I noticed several residents in my neighbourhood having open fires in their backyards this past weekend. Fires can spread very quickly at this time, with little in the way of rainfall observed over the last 10 days. Do your part and avoid outdoor burning all together, and watch those cigarettes. Stay cool and stay safe!

Long stretch of near-perfect Spring weather ahead for Montreal

Montreal and southern Quebec are finally enjoying some much needed Spring weather.

As the Quebec government begins to loosen some of the Covid-19 restrictions for parks, golf courses and marinas, the weather has finally decided to come along for the ride. We certainly deserve the beautiful late spring weather that is expected this week for southern Quebec. Strong high pressure anchored over eastern Canada will produce a long stretch of near-perfect weather. The daytime hours will feature abundant sunshine, light winds and warm temperatures, into the middle to upper 20s (75 to 80F). Nights will be clear and seasonably chilly, with lows between 9C and 13C (48-55F).

This stretch of calm weather will persist well into the upcoming weekend, with the the next chance for any precipitation in Montreal not likely until Tuesday at the earliest. The last precipitation in Montreal occurred last Friday when 20mm of rain fell. Overall the month has been drier than normal, with only 26mm of rainfall and a trace of snow measured at Trudeau Airport. The average rainfall for May is 81.2mm.

In stark contrast to the dreary start to May, the next week or so is expected to be sunny and very summer-like in Montreal. That was not the case when the photo above was taken on the morning of Friday, May 8. It shows the large and very dirty snow dump in Ville Saint-Laurent, under a dusting of unseasonable snowfall. (ValleyWeather Photo)

While southern Quebec and Ontario are benefiting from the strong high pressure, other regions have not been so lucky. A potent upper level low pressure system has been forced southward in response to the high pressure, creating a prolonged period of rain and gusty winds across the middle Atlantic states. Several states have reported heavy rain, thunderstorms and flash flooding. Strong winds in many coastal regions have exceeded 70km/h prompting high surf advisories. The weather has been colder in portions of New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland than here in Montreal.

Tropical Storm Arthur
Over the weekend, the first tropical system of the Atlantic Hurricane season formed east of Florida. Tropical Storm Arthur moved northeast clipping the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Arthur was about 30km east of Cape Hatteras on his closest approach to the US mainland midday Monday. Coastal North Carolina reported gusty winds and heavy surf, but little damage. Arthur has since lost its tropical characteristics well northeast of Bermuda. Arthur was an early storm, as the Atlantic Hurricane season only begins June 1st.

Historic cold snap slowly coming to an end

The seasons were in turmoil this past weekend across parts of Canada. Historic cold and snow occurred from Ontario into Atlantic Canada, with record warmth surging into portions of B.C.

If you thought it was stupid cold for May in Montreal, you would be right. The current cold snap is breaking records dating back over 100 years. Montreal has had a week of brutally cold weather for early May. Over the last week we have tied or broke low temperature records dating back to the turn of the last century. On Tuesday morning, the overnight low of -0.1C (31.8F) in Montreal broke the record of 0.8C set in 2005, and was the coldest low for the date since 1902. On Saturday morning, the low reached 0.0C (32F), matching a 113 year old record for the coldest May 9th, established in 1907. Montreal has been under a frost advisory since last Thursday morning, and it remains in effect through Wednesday morning, with forecast lows expected below freezing at -1C (30F).

The daytime hours have been no better, with limited sunshine and gusty northwest winds. Highs have struggled to say the least, remaining in the single digits, well below the normal of 19C (66F). We also had flurries on both Friday and Saturday. Winds speeds in the 30 to 50km/h range have produced windchills well below freezing.

The May snowstorm caught many motorists by surprise over the weekend. Between 15 and 30cm of snow fell across far eastern Quebec, New Brunswick (shown above) and northern New England. (Photo @VictoriaStar)

We have not been alone in this historic cold snap. Most of eastern North America has been shivering, with widespread records established. A strong storm produced heavy wet snow across New England this past weekend. The same system dumped over 30cm on sections of New Brunswick, including Woodstock where 33cm fell. In Toronto snow fell on four consecutive days, including 2.8cm Monday, bringing the monthly May total to 3.2cm. By contrast only 6.6cm fell in March and 0.4cm in April. Across Ontario, 17 new record lows occurred Monday, including -2.7C at Welland, breaking a 135 year old record of -2.2C set in 1885.

Manitoba had 14 record lows and Saskatchewan 9. Other provinces are still tallying up the new records. Meanwhile in stark contrast, temperatures were in the middle 20s to low 30s across interior B.C. where 18 record highs occurred on Sunday.

There is relief in sight for eastern Canada. After a couple of more cold mornings, temperatures will begin to moderate into the weekend. Montreal can expect temperatures approaching highs of 20C (68F) by Saturday. As we look ahead to the end of May, a swing in our fortunes is on the horizon. Several weather models are indicating above normal temperatures for southern Quebec heading from late May into June. Time will tell.

Record breaking cold to surge into southern Quebec

A little hope in the storm: an absolutely spectacular rainbow taken by a member of the Quebec Vortex team and posted on their Facebook page. The photo was taken after thunderstorms Sunday afternoon, near Varennes, Quebec. (Quebec Vortex)

Frost Advisory in effect for southern Quebec

Spring has been rather cold across most of eastern Canada, with little change expected for our immediate future. This past Sunday was the warmest day of the year so far, with an official high of 20.9C (69F) at Trudeau Airport. The brief warmth came after a very cold April in the city. The average temperature for the month was 5.1C well below the normal of 6.4C. Accompanying the cold has been plenty of cloud cover and gusty winds.

The sunny, warm weekend came to an abrupt end late Sunday, as a strong cold front swept across the region. The front was accompanied by strong winds and some very intense thunderstorms, especially northeast of Montreal.

The warm weather quickly became a memory as temperatures dropped to a high of only 11C (52F) on Monday. More very cold weather is on the way, as a surge of arctic air is expected into the upcoming weekend. Skies should clear out Tuesday evening in Montreal, setting the stage for frost. A frost advisory is in effect, with lows forecast at or slightly below freezing. The reality is that we may have frost on each of the next several mornings, right into the upcoming weekend.

Adding to the miserable cold weather heading into the Mother's Day weekend, will be a deepening upper level low. The system will slide across the Great Lakes and into the region Friday and Saturday. Expect plenty of cloud cover, gusty winds and near-record cold temperatures. There is even the risk of some light snow or flurries late Friday night into early Saturday morning.

Snow is May is unusual for Montreal, but not out of the question. Looking back briefly, snow fell in May as recently as 2017, with a trace measured. The biggest May snowstorm on record for Montreal occurred on 9th of the month in 1963, when 21.8cm fell.

As far as temperatures are concerned, the coldest May reading for Montreal was -4.4C (24F), set on May 2 in 1974. We have an outside shot at beating that record this upcoming weekend.

Record cold weather expected to ease this weekend

Snow flurries early Wednesday morning deposited a trace of snow along Highway 20 in the West Island. The light snow was enough to make roads a little slick in spots. The snow was part of an unseasonably cold airmass that produced record cold temperatures across eastern Canada. (ValleyWeather)

A strong cold front moved across southern Quebec late Tuesday ushering in record cold temperatures. The high on Wednesday was only 2C (35.6F) in Montreal, establishing a new record low maximum temperature for the date. The previous record was 3.1C (37.5F) set in 1993. The low early Thursday morning was -4.2C (24.4F), which was the second coldest April 23 on record dating back to 1945 when the mercury bottomed out at -5.6C (21.9F).

Overnight tonight into Friday morning, clear skies and calm winds should allow temperatures to reach record cold levels once again. The forecast low is -6C tonight in Montreal. The standing record for the date is -4.2C (24.4F) set in 1995. Ottawa also established a new record low this morning at -6.5C (20F), the previous low was -4.4C (24F) set in 1945.

Accompanying the cold air on Wednesday, were strong west winds gusting up to 70km/h. Windchill readings were as cold as -14C (7F) in Montreal. Snow flurries were also reported across southern Quebec, with minor accumulations occurring. A trace of snow was officially reported at Trudeau Airport, but the ground was white in a few suburbs around Montreal. More snow fell across the elevated sections of the Eastern Townships including Sherbrooke, where the high Wednesday was only -1.6C (29F).

Temperatures should begin to moderate slightly into the weekend with sunshine forecast Saturday and mix of clouds and sun on Sunday. The long-term average high for late April is 14C (56F) and the low 3C (38F).

April continues windy and chilly across southern Quebec

Snow showers on Thursday were part of an unseasonably cold and windy weather week in Montreal. The pattern of morning sun and afternoon snow flurries was repeated each day in southern Quebec from Tuesday through Friday. With the exception of Monday, temperatures were well below normal. (ValleyWeather Photo)

A cold and unstable air mass has settled over southern Quebec this week, with a similar daily cycle taking place. The early morning hours are sunny and cold, followed by thickening clouds and convective snow showers throughout the afternoon hours. The snow showers wane quickly after sunset, with the loss of daytime heating and instability. The pattern has been repeating itself daily since a strong cold front swept across Montreal late Monday. Temperatures have struggled to reach 6C (43F) each day, well below the normal high for mid-April of 12C (54F). Overnight lows have generally been below freezing, the normal low should be 2C (34F).

Accompanying the colder than normal weather has been decent snow showers, lowering the visibility at times. The snow has not amounted to more than a trace in the Montreal region, with a dusting at times north of the city. In addition to the the wintry precipitation, winds have been quite strong making it feel much colder. Peak wind gusts at Trudeau Airport this week were 102km/h on Monday, 76km/h on Tuesday, 61km/h on Wednesday and 63km/h Thursday. The snow showers have been less frequent Friday, but the weather remains blustery and cold, with west winds of 30 to 50km/h.

Friday night, Montreal will remain on the northern of a late season snowfall stretching from Chicago to Boston. Portions of southern New England are expecting 10-15cm of snow through Saturday morning. The low pressure causing the snow will move along the Pennsylvania/New York border and across southern New England.

High pressure will move into southern Quebec for the early portion of the weekend, with diminishing winds and slightly warmer temperatures. Highs both days should be near 10C (50F). The next chance for precipitation will be Sunday evening, as another potent cold front moves across Ontario and Quebec. Rain is forecast late Sunday, possibly ending as a period of snow early Monday morning. Cold temperatures will return to start the week.

Strong winds cut power to over 40,000 Quebec homes

A tree lies across Rue St. Denis in Montreal on Monday evening after powerful winds gusted over 100km/h. Over 40,000 Hydro-Quebec customers lost power as a result of the strong winds. Most were back online by the end of the day Tuesday. (Radio-Canada Photo)

A potent cold front swept across southern Quebec Monday afternoon, ushering in a few hours of strong west winds. Wind gusts reached 102km/h at Trudeau Airport during the evening hours Monday, with 96km/h recorded at Saint Hubert on the South Shore. The peak gust in Quebec was 124km/h at Riviere-La-Madeleine. In Ontario, winds gusted to 100km/h at Cove Island, with 81km/h in Toronto. The 102km/h wind gust at Trudeau Airport was very close to the all-time April record of 106km/h set in 1975.

All over Ontario and Quebec, the strong winds brought down tree branches and power lines. At the peak of the outages on Monday night, Hydro-Quebec reported over 40,000 customers without power. That amount was down to under 10,000 by Tuesday morning and near 3000 by the afternoon. Other minor structural damage was also reported across the city of Montreal.

The strong winds were preceded by heavy rainfall, with a record breaking 28.4mm falling at Trudeau Airport. The previous 24-hour daily record for April 13 was 23.6mm set in 2004. I measured 32.6mm on Ile Perrot. The rain was especially heavy along a late afternoon cold front, with some minor flooding observed.

Next storm on the horizon for southern Quebec

The most recent Nor'Easter produced tidal flooding in parts of Quebec City. The same storm dumped up to 30cm of heavy wet snow along the Maine border. (Journal de Quebec)

There is plenty to talk about in the weather department tonight, with another strong spring storm expected to impact Ontario and Quebec late Sunday into early Tuesday.

Strong low pressure will move across the Midwest and into the Great Lakes, passing just west of Montreal on Monday. Heavy rain is expected across the region, along with some isolated thunderstorms. At this time, 25 to 35mm of rain is possible starting late Sunday and persisting Monday. Accompanying the rain will be very strong winds. Winds are forecast to increase in speed Monday afternoon, possibly reaching 90 to 100km/h in the St. Lawrence Valley. Winds that strong are capable of tree and power line damage. Warnings may be required.

Thursday's storm dumped up to 40cm of wet snow in Maine, bringing down trees and power lines. Hydro-Quebec has responded, with 60 trucks and 40 lineman currently in Maine assisting with the repairs. (Emera Maine Photo)

The most recent storm on Thursday, was a little less intense than expected for Montreal, however other portions of the province and parts of New England were hit hard. Montreal received 3cm of wet snow, along with 8.4mm of rain. Portions of the Gaspe, Beauce and Eastern Townships measured between 15 and 30cm of heavy wet snow. South of the border in Maine, conditions were far worse, with as much as 40cm of snow falling, along with strong winds. That combination resulted in power outages to over 250,000 residents, nearly 30 percent of the state. Hydro Quebec has sent 60 trucks and 40 lineman down to help Central Maine Power and Emera Maine to repair downed lines and power poles. The outage has been made worse by the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic.

Parts of Quebec City received tidal flooding form the storm, with water several feet deep in sections of the Vieux-Port district of the city..

FLOOD POTENTIAL
The precipitation was enough to rise water levels slightly on Lake of Two Mountains and the St. Lawrence River. Lake of Two Mountains is sitting at 23.47 metres at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, minor flood stage begins at 23.30 metres. Several West Island municipalities have started flood preparations including Saine-Anne-de-Bellevue, Pierrefonds and Ile Bizard. Sainte-Anne's has made pallets of sandbags available, with delivery beginning on April 16th. Other suburbs have been staging pumps and sandbags. The situation will need to be carefully monitored in the coming days, especially with the added rainfall.

Spring storm to deliver rain and snow to southern Quebec

Low pressure will move across New York and New England on Thursday while deepening rapidly. The strong spring storm will produce heavy rain in the valleys, and a snowstorm for many higher elevations. (AccuWeather.com)

A rapidly strengthening spring storm is forecast to move across New England on Thursday and into the Gulf of Maine. A wide swath of precipitation is expected to impact Ontario and Quebec starting Thursday morning. Most regions, including Montreal, will receive a cold rain on Thursday, with amounts of 15 to 25mm possible. Daytime high temperatures will struggle to reach 5C (41F) in Montreal, along with increasing northeast winds. The rain will mix with and possibly change to wet snow Thursday night as temperature fall to the freezing point. At this time no major accumulations are forecast for the city of Montreal, but the situation will have to be monitored closely. Winds are forecast to increase up to 50km/h Thursday night into Friday morning.

Regions to the east of Montreal, including the Eastern Townships and Quebec City, will receive a mix of rain and snow Thursday, changing to all snow late in the day, especially across the higher elevations. Quebec City and portions of the lower North Shore and Gaspe regions may receive 15 to 20cm of heavy wet snow by Friday morning. Upper elevations of the Townships and Beauce close to the Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont border may receive more than as 30cm of snow. Special weather statements are in effect for those regions, but they may be upgraded to warnings on Thursday.

Many municipalities are planning and preparing for the possibility of spring flooding, including the Borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro. (Pierrefonds-Roxboro Photo)

The heavy wet snow could damage trees and power lines.The additional rainfall will also raise concerns for spring flooding.  Precautions are being taken in many southern Quebec municipalities, but no flood watch or warning is in place at this time. While water levels are stable at this time, they remain high due to spring runoff. Be vigilant near any waterways.

Unseasonably cold air will pour into southern Quebec behind the storm system for the Easter long weekend. Expect temperatures to be below normal through Sunday, with daytime highs near 5C (41F) and overnight lows around -1C (30F).

April begins as March ended in Montreal, warm and wet

An empty Highway 20 eastbound near the Dorval circle during the Thursday morning commute. Two rare observations to note, first there is absolutely no traffic due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Secondly, veiled sunshine, with clouds thickening and lowering from the east rather than the west, as a coastal storm system begins to impact the region. (Valley Weather Photo) 

Retrograding low pressure south of Nova Scotia will be responsible for increasing clouds and precipitation in Montreal on Thursday. Typically precipitation moves from west to east across the Montreal region, but every now and then we see it move up the Saint Lawrence Valley from the Atlantic Ocean. Rain will be the dominant form of precipitation in Montreal, but other parts of the province, including Quebec City, may see a little wet snow. The rain will begin this afternoon and persist into Friday. Winds will become gusty as well, from the northeast up to 50km/h. Temperatures will be relatively mild, with daytime highs in Montreal between 6C and 8C (43F to 47F) and overnight lows around 1C (33F).

MARCH SUMMARY

March was a very warm and wet month in Montreal, more springlike than anything. Typically we receive several major snowstorms over the course of the month in Montreal, but such was not the case this year. The city received a record breaking 129mm of precipitation, surpassing the previous benchmark of 115mm set way back in 1942. With the exception of a paltry 9cm of snow, the balance was rain. The reason most of the precipitation was in liquid form was due to the fact the temperatures ended the month well above normal. The average at Trudeau Airport was plus 0.7C (33.3F), significantly above the long-term monthly average of -2C (28.4F). We also experienced two thunderstorms in Montreal, not rare for March but certainly unusual. We started March with 20cm of snow on the ground at the airport, but most had melted away by the 15th.

The abundant rainfall combined with snowmelt has municipalities around metro Montreal on standby, and in preparation mode, but so far flooding has been minimal.

While southwestern Quebec was warm and wet, the eastern portion of the province was the exact opposite, cold and snowy. Temperatures in the Saguenay, Lower North Shore and Gaspe regions were actually below normal. Over 100cm of snow fell at Sept Iles during the month, with 114cm of snow still on the ground as of April 1st.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms for Montreal

The storm system impacting Montreal on Sunday, produced multiple tornadoes on Saturday. A strong tornado hit Jonesboro, Arkansas, shown above, destroying homes and businesses and injuring at least six. (The Weather Channel).

Heavy rain warning in effect for metro Montreal and southern Quebec, as well as eastern Ontario, including Ottawa.

An strong upper level low will move into the Great Lakes Sunday and then eastward across Ontario and Quebec. The system will provide abundant precipitation to the region, with heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms forecast for Montreal.

The rain will begin early Sunday and persist into Monday. The risk of thunderstorms will be mainly across eastern Ontario, but a few may wander into southern Quebec. In terms of amounts, up to 50mm (2 inches) of rain will be possible in Montreal. The rain, combined with melting snow, may produce some isolated flooding in low lying areas. According to Public Security Quebec, most rivers in southern Quebec are currently below flood stage but are being closely monitored. The only exception at this time is Lac St Louis at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, which is reported as being in minor flood stage. No flooding has been reported.

Strong winds will accompany the rain, gusting up to 60km/h in Montreal.Warm air will flood into parts of Ontario and New England, but a northeast flow will keep temperatures cooler in the St. Lawrence Valley. The high today will be around 6C (43F) in Montreal.

A small area of heavy wet snow will impact the St. Lawrence Valley northeast of Montreal, as well as adjacent portions of northern Maine and New Hampshire. (AccuWeather)

SPRING SNOW
Even colder air will move into the regions northeast of Montreal into Monday, with rain expected to change to wet snow. Quebec City and points north and east may receive between 10 and 20cm of snow. A special weather statement is in effect for Quebec City, with snowfall warnings in the Charlevoix region.

Colder air will eventually arrive in Montreal late Monday, with rain tapering off to a few flurries.

The same storm was responsible for severe weather across portions of the southern and central US on Saturday and early Sunday. Strong thunderstorms produced multiple tornadoes and hail in many locations from Arkansas to Illinois and points east. More thunderstorms are expected on Sunday from the Ohio Valley into the Northeast.

Spring snow on the way for southern Quebec

Strong winds accompanied a cold front on Friday afternoon, gusting up to 100km/h in southern Quebec. The wind knocked out power to more than 12,000 customers across the southern portion of the province. (Hydro Quebec Photo)

After a bright, sunny and cold weekend, milder temperatures are on the way for Monday, along with some wet snow. The snow should begin late Monday and end early Tuesday, with only 1 to 3cm expected for Montreal.

A strong cold front crossed southern Quebec on Friday, along with the first thunderstorms of the young season. The storms were fast moving, sweeping the Island of Montreal around 3pm, accompanied by heavy rain, lightning and wind gusts to 90km/h. Rainfall was decent, but not as much as I had anticipated, with 16mm falling in Montreal. Friday was the warmest day of 2020 to date, reaching 16.4C (61.5F) in Montreal.

Behind the front, strong west winds persisted well into Saturday, accompanied by rapidly dropping temperatures. Saturday and Sunday were bright and sunny, but blustery and cold. It has been a rather mild March, which made daytime highs below freezing this weekend seem rather frigid. Overnight lows were down into the minus teens, with windchill values approaching -18C (0F).

Montreal will remain on the extreme northern edge of a a quick moving spring coastal storm that will dump as much as 25cm of wet snow on interior southern New England. (AccuWeather.com)

Warmer air is on the way as two low pressure systems slide south of our region. The first will bring a period of wet snow to parts of Ontario tonight and Monday. This system will then be absorbed by a stronger storm moving up the eastern seaboard. The low pressure will pass east of New England before impacting Atlantic Canada. Montreal will remain on the northern of the storm, with a few centimetres of wet snow possible from late Monday into the overnight hours Tuesday. Further south across New England, 5 to 15cm is possible, with 2 to 4cm in eastern Ontario. Most of the snow should melt on contact during the daylight hours, but some slick spots may develop late Monday night.

Skies will clear out Tuesday, along with mild daytime highs of 5 to 7C.