Heavy snow may impact southern Quebec by Thursday

Clouds off to the southeast from the powerful storm off the New England coast, produced a spectacular sunset over the frozen St. Lawrence River on Île Perrot Saturday evening. The storm produced record amounts of snow for many along the east coast, but only high clouds and gusty north winds in Montreal. (Valley Weather Photo)

The weather is rather tranquil to start the work week in Montreal, with high pressure generally in control through Tuesday. We can expect some high clouds and perhaps a snowflake or two on Monday. Temperatures are warming up this week, and we may even nudge above the freezing point by Wednesday. It is another cold start to the day Monday however, with lows between -16C and -20C across the region. Daytime highs will warm up nicely, with highs expected around -10C (14F). We gain a few more degrees on Tuesday, with fair skies and a high of -2C (28F) in Montreal. 

The forecast will then become very interesting and somewhat complicated by Wednesday. A warm front will lift north of the St. Lawrence Valley, with some light mixed precipitation expected Wednesday afternoon. The temperature will finally rise above the freezing point to 2C (36F). Late Wednesday into Thursday, a potent cold front will slip south of the region, with arctic air quickly flowing back into southern Quebec. That front will settle somewhere across central New York State, with developing low pressure moving along it through Friday. The result will be a period of steady snow Thursday. Amounts are still up in the air and will depend greatly on how far south the cold front sinks. At this time the potential exists for snowfall amounts greater than 15cm in Montreal. There are sill a ton of details to work out, but plan for frozen precipitation from late Wednesday through Friday morning, along with blustery conditions and dropping temperatures.

Southern New England was blasted by a strong winter storm on Saturday. Snowfall rates of 5 to 10cm per hour occurred, along with winds in excess of 90km/h. (Photo: City of Dover, New Hampshire)

Over the weekend, a powerful nor'easter moved along the Atlantic coast and into Nova Scotia. The storm produced record amounts of snow, with close to 60cm in Boston. Winds gusted to hurricane strength in many locations. Coastal flooding and power outages were reported from New Jersey to Newfoundland. The storm also impacted the Maritimes and eastern Quebec. Moncton reported 40cm of snow along with 90km/h winds. In Quebec, winds gusted to 100km/h across the Gaspe Peninsula and 113km/h in Blanc Sablon on the Lower North Shore. The wind and snow closed several highways in eastern Quebec. In Newfoundland both heavy rain and snow occurred. A peak wind gust to 149km/h was observed at Wreckhouse. On Prince Edward Island, motorists needed rescue by the RCMP in absolute blizzard conditions, after 40cm of snow combined with winds gusting to 109km/h. Many roads became impassable.

Montreal to remain on the edge of large winter storm...again

Montreal has only measured 76.6cm of snow at Trudeau Airport since November 1st. In a typical winter, Montreal receives over 200cm of snow. I have only had to haul the snowblower out on two occasions.

The chatter among many weather enthusiasts lately is that Montreal has become the place where storms go to die. It certainly seems that way over the last two winters, as just about every winter storm has either passed to our east missing us or to our west, warming us above freezing. The void is obvious, Montreal has only measured 76.6cm of snow at Trudeau Airport since November 1st and as of Wednesday morning, was only registering 10cm of snow on the ground. Case in point, over the next week, two major systems will once again avoid southwestern Quebec.

Montreal will remain on the western edge of a large Nor'Easter this weekend. Heavy snow will fall from coastal New England into Atlantic Canada. (AccuWeather.com)

The first storm will become a newsmaker this weekend as it moves along the eastern seaboard. While the track is not set in stone, all indications are that the system will remain well offshore east of the New England coast thus sparing Montreal any major impacts Low pressure is expected to develop Friday off the North Carolina coast. The storm will deepen rapidly, bombing out, with the central pressure dropping more than 24mb in 24 hours. Blizzard conditions are expected, with more than 30cm of snow likely along the coast from New Jersey into Atlantic Canada. Coastal flooding and hurricane force wind are possible along and to the west of the track. Storm surge flooding is likely along portions of the New England and Nova Scotia coastlines.

Across Quebec, light snow will spread as far west as the Eastern Townships. Eastern Quebec and the Gaspe region are expecting heavy snow and strong winds Saturday. In Montreal, high clouds, gusty northerly winds and perhaps a snowflake or two will be the only weather we can expect at this time on Saturday.

The temperature will remain quite cold this weekend, from -17C to -20C overnight, and -10C to 14C for highs. A warming trend is expected next week, as a strengthening storm moves from Colorado towards the central Great Lakes. This system will pass to the northwest of Montreal placing us in the warm sector. The temperature is expected to rise above freezing for the first time since January 9.  Look for mixed precipitation changing to rain on Wednesday. A rapid refreeze is possible late Thursday or Friday. More details on that storm to follow.

Surge after surge of arctic air for Montreal

Frigid temperatures and occasional light snow have kept road crews busy across southern Quebec this month. There have been numerous accidents on Montreal area highways due to black ice. This is especially true on any elevated surface located close to water. Ice fog and mist have been reported on each of the last four mornings. (ValleyWeather Photo)

January has been one cold month in Montreal and across southern Quebec, with surge after surge of arctic air. To date this month, there have been 21 morning lows colder than -20C (-4F) at Trudeau Airport, as compared with one such morning during all of January 2021. This included Monday mornings low of -25C (-13F). Stating the obvious, temperatures have been much colder than normal this month. As of Sunday, the average high at Trudeau Airport for January was -7.4C (19F), with the average low -18C (0F). This compares to the long-term normal of -5.3C (22.5F) and -14C (7F) respectively.

In between the arctic air intrusions, we have had a few milder days as weak low pressure, Alberta Clippers, have traversed the Great Lakes and upstate New York. These systems are typically moisture starved for southern Quebec, dropping a few centimetres at best. After a cold day today, temperatures will take a slow upward trend as another such clipper system moves southwest of Montreal. Up to 10cm of snow is possible for parts of southern Ontario, but here in southern Quebec, just a few flurries is about all we can expect. The clouds overnight and early Tuesday will allow temperatures to slightly moderate, remaining steady tonight near -15C (5F) tonight, and rising to -10C (14F) on Tuesday.

Colder air will once again arrive late Tuesday, with temperatures dropping into the middle -20s by Wednesday morning.  The mercury will not move much in Montreal on Wednesday, remaining close to -20C (-4F) for a daytime high.

Weekend Storm?

We are watching a potential Nor'easter for the upcoming weekend, with several different scenarios on the table. Current thinking is that the heaviest precipitation will remain well east of Montreal over New England and into Atlantic Canada. However, there does remain a possibility of a more western track and perhaps heavier snow for southern Quebec. Regardless of the track, slightly warmer temperatures will prevail Friday and Saturday, before frigid air returns on gusty northwest winds for Sunday.

Extreme Cold Warning in effect for southern Quebec

An extreme cold warning has been issued for Montreal as the coldest air in decades settles into the region. Temperatures will remain in the minus 20s for many on Friday.

Extreme Cold Warning in effect for southern Quebec and eastern Ontario through Saturday. Frostbite can occur in minutes at these temperatures, so dress warmly.

Hydro-Québec is asking residents to cut back on their electric consumption during this cold snap in an effort to protect the grid. They suggest you drop the thermostat by a degree or two and refrain from using large appliances during peak hours.

The coldest air in decades has descended upon southern Quebec and Ontario Friday. Frigid temperatures are being observed across the Montreal region Friday morning, with minus 20s in the St. Lawrence Valley and minus 30s across the Townships and Laurentians. The low temperature at my on home on Île Perrot was -28.6C (-20F), the coldest morning since I moved there in 2009. The wind is light at the moment but will pick up to a slight breeze around 20km/h today making windchills unbearable, between -30C and -40C at times. An extreme cold warning is in effect for basically all of southern Ontario and Quebec through Saturday morning.

To find the last time it was this cold in Montreal, you have to go back to January 15, 2004 when the mercury dipped to -29.1C (-20.4F) at Trudeau Airport. The record low for Friday is -27.5C (-17.5C) set in 2005. We missed the record officially at the airport, but have a chance Saturday morning of breaking the 1976 record low of -28.3C (-19F). The forecast low for Montreal tonight is -30C (-22F).

Despite bright but ineffective sunshine, the high both days will struggle to reach -19C (-2F). A weak clipper system arrives from western Canada on Sunday, with some light snow and a much milder high of -6C (21F). The warm-up will be very brief as temperatures will plunge Sunday night to -23C (-9F) and only warm to -16C (4C) on Monday.

Montreal remained on the low end of historic winter storm

The cleanup is underway in Montreal after 15 to 20cm of snow fell on Monday. The heaviest snow with the storm, up to 50cm, fell across portions of Ontario from the Niagara region towards the Ottawa Valley. (ValleyWeather Photo) 

That was one nasty winter storm. The system developed over the prairies late last week before diving into the deep south this past weekend. Feeding off a combination of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and frigid arctic air from the far north, the storm intensified rapidly, becoming a big weather maker for millions of North Americans. Heavy snow, freezing rain, strong winds, tornadoes, pounding surf and coastal flooding were all part of this storm as it worked its way northward along the eastern seaboard. The storm moved across southeastern Quebec late Monday.

The system brought a significant winter storm to parts of southern Ontario and Quebec. Historic snow amounts fell in Ontario, with close to 50cm in Ottawa and 40 to 45cm in Toronto. The snow fell quickly Monday morning catching many commuters off guard. Several highways in both Toronto and Ottawa became snarled with cars and trucks bogged down in deep snow. Around the Niagara region, the snow was accompanied by thunder and lightning. Some locations, including Ottawa, reported snow accumulations of up to 10cm (4 inches) in an hour or less.

Schools were closed across many parts of both southern Ontario and Quebec, including here in metro Montreal. 

A Go Transit bus stuck in the snow along Highway 401 in Toronto on Monday. The heavy snow brought traffic to a standstill in the GTA during the morning commute. Some motorists were stuck in their vehicles for up to 8 hours. (CBC photo)

The snow amounts were much lighter on the Quebec side of the border as a result of dry air working its way into the center of the powerful storm. This is a common occurrence with strong cyclonic storms. As a result the heavy snow only lasted an hour or so in the Montreal region. In the end, Trudeau Airport reported 17cm of snow. Other observers in the Montreal region reported between 20 and 25cm of snow. I had close to 20cm at my home on Île Perrot. Strong wind gusts up to 70km/h produced blowing snow and reduced visibility.

Despite the lighter accumulations, there were numerous accidents reported on Quebec highways. Several multiple vehicle collisions on the South Shore Monday afternoon resulted in the closure of sections of Highways 20 and 30. The Sûreté du Québec blamed the collisions on poor visibility and excessive speed for the conditions. Thankfully only minor injuries were reported. In Ontario, hundreds of accidents occurred, with two fatalities reported including a tow truck operator struck along Highway 417 near the Town of Arnprior.

The same storm was responsible for very strong winds in Atlantic Canada. A peak wind gust to 170km/h was observed at Plateau, Nova Scotia. The onshore winds produced coastal flooding in Maine and New Hampshire.

Winter storm to impact southern Quebec Monday

A large winter storm will impact the entire eastern seaboard on Sunday and Monday. The storm will bring heavy snow and strong winds to metro Montreal and eastern Ontario on Monday, with 20 to 40cm expected across the entire region. The only exception will be the Eastern Townships where warmer air will cause the snow to change to sleet and rain.

Winter Storm Warning in effect for southwestern Quebec, eastern Ontario and northern New York.

It is another bitterly cold morning in Montreal, with temperatures in the middle minus 20s across the region. The low at my home on Ile Perrot so far is -26.4C (-15.5F), the coldest of the season to date. Sunday will be the calm ahead of the winter storm, with sunshine through increasing high clouds and a high warming to -15C (5F).

We are on track for the largest winter storm of the season here in the St. Lawrence Valley. Strengthening low pressure will lift from the deep southern US into Pennsylvania on Sunday and across Vermont on Monday. Heavy precipitation and strong winds will accompany the low as it moves northeast. Along and east of the track, a messy mix of snow, sleet and rain will occur, while in Montreal and points west, very heavy snow along with blowing snow is expected.

The snow will begin in Montreal during the pre-dawn hours Monday and taper off by the evening. The morning and afternoon commutes will be adversely affected, with snowfall rates of a few centimetres and hour possible during the morning hours especially. Storm accumulations will range from 20 to 30cm for metro Montreal, with 30 to 40cm possible across the Laurentians, eastern Ontario including the Ottawa Valley and Cornwall. Less snow is expected for Sherbrooke and the Eastern Townships, as temperatures may briefly warm above freezing on Monday. Up to 10cm is possible in those locations.

Strong winds up to 70km/h will produce blowing snow from Montreal west towards Kingston and Ottawa.

If you have any travel plans along Highway 401 on Monday, I would definitely cancel them. In fact only travel if necessary anywhere on Monday. If working from home is an option for you, I would definitely consider it.

Temperatures will warm briefly in Montreal on Monday, up to -4C (25F). Skies should clear behind the storm on Tuesday, with colder temperatures returning. Another system will bring us more snow on Wednesday followed by another surge of arctic air to end the work week.

Bitterly cold weekend followed by Monday snowstorm

Frigid air will move into Montreal on Friday, followed by the largest snowfall of the season so far on Monday, with 15-25cm anticipated for southern Quebec.

We have reached our high temperature for the day in Montreal at -7C (19F) early Friday morning. A frontal boundary that has been responsible for the clouds, freezing drizzle and light snow over the last 48 hours has finally drifted south into New York State. Much colder air is beginning to filter into southern Quebec on gusty northwest winds. Montreal will be sandwiched between a strong ocean storm that will bring Atlantic Canada heavy snow today and arctic high pressure over Ontario. The result will be a very strong push of arctic air on gusty northwest winds of 20-40km/h.

The temperature in Montreal on Friday will drop all day, reaching -18C (0F) by late afternoon. Wind speeds of up to 40km/h, will produce a biting windchill values in the minus 30s. The mercury will continue to fall, down to -25C (-13F) for lows by Saturday morning. Despite bright sunshine on Saturday, we will see very little upward movement on the temperature, possible reaching -20C for a high. Another cold night Saturday into Sunday at -22C (-8F), before slight moderation in temperatures on Sunday. The high will be near -10C (14F).

Heavy snow is forecast from the southern US into Quebec and Ontario on Sunday and Monday. (AccuWeather.com)

Major Snowstorm

Our attention will then turn to a developing winter storm along the US east coast. The energy that will become this storm is now located across the far western US and will dip into the southeastern part of the country. The system will then deepen as it lifts across the middle Atlantic and into New England by Monday. At this time, confidence is groining that we will see a swath of heavy snow across the St. Lawrence Valley, accompanied by strong northeast winds of 30 gusting to 70km/h at times. The combination of falling and blowing snow will create dangerous travel conditions on Monday across southern Quebec and eastern Ontario. At this time it appears a good 20 to 25cm is likely for Montreal, with 15 to 20cm across portions of the Ottawa Valley and 10 to 15cm in the Eastern Townships, where some sleet or freezing rain is possible as well. This is subject to change as the track of the storm becomes a little more clear over the next 24 hours. 

The snow will end Monday night followed by another surge of colder air for Tuesday. I anticipate weather watches and warnings will be required for this system and will provide updates throughout the weekend.

Potential snowstorm on the horizon for southern Quebec

Light snow is making roads slick across southwestern Quebec on Wednesday afternoon. (ValleyWeather Photo)

The coldest air of the season has shifted off to the east of Montreal on Wednesday afternoon, after a bone-chilling 36 hours. The high on Tuesday eventually reached -15.3C for Montreal, but only around midnight as clouds increased. Until that point, we had spent the daylight hours in the -20s, with windchill values in the -30s. The low Tuesday was -24.9C (-12.8F) at Trudeau Airport, the coldest morning since January 2018.

A weak weather system will bring much milder temperatures on Wednesday, along with a few centimetres of snow. The light snow will persist into the evening hours, along with warming temperatures. Expect 3-5cm of fluffy light snow. The next 36 hours will feature milder temperatures, as warm as -3C (27F) in Montreal.

A strong cold front arrives late in the day Thursday, bringing in the arctic airmass once again for the weekend. While it will be cold, with frigid windchills, temperatures should remain a few degrees "warmer" than Tuesday's arctic chill. The highs on Friday and into the weekend will range from -12C to -15C, with overnight lows of -20C to -25C across Southern Quebec.

Confidence is growing in the potential for a major snowstorm along the eastern seaboard by Monday. Heavy snow may extend northwest from the storm center into Montreal and the St. Lawrence Valley. Stay tuned. (AccuWeather Photo)

Potential Snowstorm

Our attention will then turn to a rapidly developing winter storm, expected to move from the southern US along the Atlantic Seaboard. This storm has been on and off again according to the various forecast models, but confidence is growing that we may see a big snowstorm for our region, possibly the biggest this season. We will have to wait another day or two for the forecast potential to become a little more clear, but for now it looks like a snowy, windy Monday, with in excess of 10cm of snow for Montreal, with much more south and east of the city.

Frigid cold for the next 36 hours in Montreal

Winter has been relatively tame to date in Montreal, with mainly mild weather and very little snow. That will make the next 48 hours seem even colder for most, as frigid arctic air settles over the province. Morning lows early Tuesday will be in the middle minus 20s, with windchill values approaching -40C in many locations.

Extreme cold warning for southern Quebec for Monday night and Tuesday. Expect temperatures in the -20s with windchill values approaching -40C. Exposed skin can freeze in minutes. Make sure your pets are indoors.

Arctic air will invade southern Quebec on Monday behind weak low pressure that brought Montreal a few centimetres of mixed precipitation on Sunday. The temperature briefly warmed above freezing late Sunday afternoon, but has since dropped considerably on gusty northwest winds. Trudeau Airport early Monday morning was -12C (10F), and I don't expect any movement on the mercury today, perhaps even dropping a few degrees by sunset.

Tonight, the coldest airmass of the season will settle over most of Quebec, with extreme cold warnings in effect across the province. The forecast low for metro Montreal is -26C (-15F), which if reached, would make it the coldest night in Montreal since January 14, 2018. To date the coldest low was -21C (-6F) on January 3. The coldest day last winter was -23C (-9.5F) on January 31.

Accompanying the cold will be a brisk northwest wind between 20 and 40km/h, producing windchill values close to -40C for many parts of the province. The temperature will slowly recover on Tuesday under partial sunshine, reaching -19C (-2F) by late in the day.

Much milder air arrives by Wednesday, with daytime highs reaching -5C (23F), along with just a few flurries. Colder air returns by the end of the week, but not as frigid as the next day or so. At this time, there are no major storms on the horizon. However, if your travels take you into southern Ontario or western New York, expect areas of snow squalls, with very heavy snow and near-blizzard conditions. This is especially true south of Watertown, New York, along Highway 401 near Kingston and southeast of Georgian Bay.

Brief arctic blast as major storms avoid Montreal

A Virginia Department of Transport traffic camera showing stranded motorists on a section of Interstate 95 south of Washington D.C. in Fredericksburg, Virginia on Monday, January 3. Some drivers were trapped in their vehicles for up to 27 hours. It was the largest storm is several years in the region. (VDOT Photo via Twitter)

In an all too familiar pattern, the worst of the winter weather continues to avoid the Montreal region. If you do not like snow, then that news is good. So far this season, Montreal has only measured  46.2cm of snow for the entire season at Trudeau Airport, with no major storms to speak of. Slightly more has fallen in the suburbs to the south and west. While we are missing the storms, large portions of both Canada and the US are not. This includes the British Columbia south coast that has had several major snowstorms already this winter. 

The first big snowstorm of the season moved across the middle Atlantic states this week, with up to 30cm of snow on Monday in places like Virginia and Maryland. The storm snarled traffic along the major north to south Interstate 95 corridor, stranding hundreds of motorists for up to 24 hours south of Washington D.C. in northern Virginia. A new storm is taking aim at southern New York and New England for Friday, with 20cm of snow forecast for Boston.

Lake effect snow hammering the New York State Thruway south of Buffalo on Thursday, January 6.

That same storm will deepen rapidly over the Atlantic, with blizzard conditions expected as 80km/h winds combine with up to 40cm of snow through parts of Atlantic Canada on Friday and Saturday. That storm will just brush southern Quebec, with clouds and perhaps a few flurries on Friday. Only a couple of centimetres of fresh snow are likely in southern Quebec between Thursday and Sunday.

On Thursday, a strong cold front moved across the Great Lakes turning on the lake effect snow machine. Waves of lake effect snow are expected southeast of Georgian Bay in Ontario as well as in the Buffalo and Watertown, New York metro regions from Lakes Erie and Ontario.

The next storm will also miss Montreal as well, dropping heavy snow across the Ohio Valley, southern New England and Atlantic Canada. (AccuWeather)

Arctic Blast

This weekend mild air will briefly invade southern Quebec, with a few flurries or spotty showers expected early Sunday. The temperature will rise close to the freezing point late Saturday and early Sunday in Montreal. Late in the day, an arctic cold front will introduce the coldest air of the season to southern Quebec, with lows dropping to -10C (14F) by Monday morning and continuing to drop all the way down to -26C (-15F) by Tuesday morning in the city. Highs will remain in the -20s on Tuesday along with frigid windchills. Some locations in southern Quebec may touch -30C (-22F) by Tuesday morning. The temperature will begin to slowly warm by Wednesday.

Messy winter storm for Ontario and Quebec to start 2022

Mixed precipitation will change to all snow late New Years Day, as a winter storm moves from the southern plains into New England. Expect 10 to 15cm of fresh snow in Montreal by noon Sunday. Much colder weather will follow the snow for Sunday and Monday. Temperatures will moderate by Tuesday.

Happy New Year!

It has been quite the year. It comes to an end Friday night, with just a few flurries and spotty freezing drizzle across southern Quebec. Temperatures will be very mild, within a degree or two of the freezing point.

On Saturday, a warm front will lift across the region, followed by a potent cold front late in the day. Along both fronts, spotty precipitation is expected, in the form of light rain or freezing rain. Low pressure is forecast to pass south of our region across New England into early Sunday, pushing deeper moisture into southern Quebec.

Mixed precipitation is expected to develop late in the afternoon, changing to all snow by 7pm or so in the Montreal region and across eastern Ontario. The heaviest snow will fall along the St. Lawrence Valley, towards the US border, with a good 10-15cm expected. Winds will become rather gusty out of the west up to 40km/h, and the temperature will fall from daytime highs of 3C (38F), down to -7C (19F) by Sunday morning. 

Winter weather advisories have been issued for eastern Ontario and all of northern New York and Vermont. They may be extended into southern Quebec on Saturday.

Travel will become difficult Saturday night, with rapidly accumulating snow and falling temperatures. Sunday will be breezy and cold, with dropping temperatures and scattered flurries. Monday morning will be the coldest morning of the season so far, with morning lows down to -18C (0F).

Stay safe and healthy and thank you kindly for reading as I say goodbye to my 42nd year writing and talking about the weather. 

Freezing rain to start the New Year in Montreal

Tuesday was a perfect day for a holiday stroll along the waterfront in Verdun. Temperatures were relatively mild for late December at -3C, along with very light snow falling. (ValleyWeather Photo)

A special weather statement has been posted for southern Quebec for a messy mix of snow, freezing rain and rain on Saturday. The storm will be followed by windy, frigid weather on Sunday.

We can expect a stormy start to the New Year in Montreal, as a messy weather system heads our way. The weather has been rather mundane this holiday season, with moderate temperatures and fairly light precipitation. The real weather story has been across western Canada, where an arctic outbreak has resulted in temperatures in the minus 30s and 40s, with windchill values in the minus 50s at times. The intense cold has pushed snow onto Vancouver Island and south into Seattle and Portland. Dozens of record-low temperatures have been established, including -42.1C at Edmonton, with a windchill of -55C.

Some of that cold will make into southern Quebec by late Sunday, but before then, we have another sloppy winter storm. Low pressure is expected to move from the southern plains into the Great Lakes, passing near Montreal Saturday night. Precipitation is expected to begin Saturday morning, with perhaps a few hours of freezing rain. The temperature is expected to eventually rise above freezing to 3C (38C) in Montreal by the afternoon New Years Day, with rain being the main precipitation. Snow and freezing rain will persist north of the city. An arctic boundary will move across the region late Saturday into the overnight hours, accompanied by a surge of cold air. Any precipitation will change back to snow and end on Sunday.

The temperature will drop all day Sunday in Montreal, down to -20C (-4F) by Monday morning. Monday will be fair but breezy and cold, with a high of -12C (10F).

The various computer models are having a difficult time nailing down the exact track of the storm. That will have a tremendous impact on the quantity and type of precipitation for Montreal. At this time, we can expect 15-20mm of mixed precipitation, falling in various forms. I will provide an update with more specific details and any weather warnings that might be issued as the forecast develops.

In the meantime, expect fairly docile weather today and New Years Eve, with just some light snow or freezing drizzle. Travel conditions will deteriorate in Saturday as the day progresses.

Messy Christmas Day forecast for Montreal

A spectacular sunrise along the St. Lawrence River in Pointe-Claire, taken on the shortest day of the year. Winter arrived at 10:58 am on Tuesday, December 21. Daylight will slowly begin increasing as the days get longer.

Winter weather advisories are in effect across eastern Ontario, northern New York and Vermont for a period of freezing rain and snow on Christmas Day. No weather warnings are in place for southern Quebec at this time, but the same weather can be expected here, with a light wintry mix of precipitation. Travel with great care on Saturday.

The coldest air of the season has been over southern Quebec for the last 48 hours. Thursdays high of -9.4C (15F) was the coldest since last winter. Early Friday morning, the temperature dropped to -16C (3F) here on Ile Perrot, and combined with the light breeze, it felt as cold as the -20s while walking the dog. But I must admit, the weather seems just perfect for me for December 24.

Friday will be partly cloudy and cold, with daytime highs remaining around -10C (14F). The weather turns rather messy on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day across Ontario and Quebec. Low pressure, not a particularly strong storm, will slide across the lower Great Lakes into New York and eventually off the east coast. A warm front will lift north into New York State. Along and well to the north of the front, here in southern Quebec, precipitation will fall in the form of light snow and freezing rain.

I expect precipitation to begin late Christmas Eve in eastern Ontario and move into southwestern Quebec overnight. A centimetre or two of snow is possible before changing to freezing rain from Montreal south and west. The cold air will be difficult to scour out of the St. Lawrence Valley so despite warning temperatures aloft, ground temperatures will remain well-below freezing in Montreal. As a result, we can expect a few hours of light freezing rain across the region. North and east of Montreal, any precipitation will remain in the form of snow. Any mixed precipitation will taper off to flurries by late Christmas night.

The mix of precipitation and colder temperatures in the minus 5C to -7C range, along with gusty northeast winds, will make travel slick and highly changeable on area highways. Travel with great care Christmas Day. As we have already witnessed this winter, it does not take much frozen precipitation to create treacherous driving conditions.

Precipitation will end by early Sunday, with lingering clouds and a high of -2C (29F) forecast for Montreal.

Winter returns to southern Quebec on Saturday

Our relatively mild December will come to an end on Saturday as winter returns to Montreal. A storm system will deliver 5 to 10cm of snow, followed by cold air through Christmas.

A light to moderate snowfall is forecast for southern Quebec on Saturday, just 48 hours after record warmth. Low pressure will move from the Ohio Valley across southern New England on Saturday spreading an area of snowfall north of the center. The snow should arrive in Montreal by 2pm and become steady into the evening hours. Precipitation will taper off after midnight.

Total accumulations of 5 to 8cm are possible from Laval into Montreal, with 5 to 10cm from Montreal to the US border. Across New England and northern New York, 15 to 25cm are possible. In eastern Ontario, along the St. Lawrence River, 5 to 15cm are forecast. In the Ottawa Valley, further from the storm center, les than 5cm is forecast.

Low pressure will move from Ohio across New England on Saturday delivering snow to southern Quebec. (AccuWeather.com)

Winter weather travel advisories are in effect for both sides of the St. Lawrence Valley in Ontario and New York, with winter storm warnings across parts of New York and New England. No warnings have been issued at this time for southern Quebec. Roads will become snow covered and slippery in Montreal this afternoon, so adjust your speed.

This will be an all snow event, unlike previous systems, as cold air is in place and will remain there right through the upcoming week. If snow for the holidays makes you happy, then you are in luck. What falls should remain for the foreseeable future guaranteeing a white Christmas for Montreal.

The high on Saturday will be -3C (27F) in Montreal, but it will feel colder with a northeast wind up to 40km/h. Temperatures will drop to -6C (21F) by Sunday morning, with some partial clearing. Sunday will be partly cloudy and cool, with highs remaining steady near -5C (23F). Skies will clear out Sunday night, with cold overnight lows near -12C (14F). There is a chance for more light snow Monday night.

Record Warmth

On Thursday, Montreal reached a very warm record-breaking 15.5C (60F), smashing the previous benchmark of 10.2C (50F) set in 1992. It was one of 8 new records set in the province. The day ended with another windy cold front, producing gusts up to 85km/h (52.8 mph) at Trudeau Airport. While there were scattered power outages reported by Hydro-Quebec, we managed to avoid the widespread damage experienced last Saturday night.

One more warm windy storm - then winter returns

Over 700 lineman helped to repair the damage from Saturday nights windstorm across Quebec. Another wind event is in our future, with 70 to 90km/h gusts possible late Thursday evening in Montreal. (Hydro-Québec Photo)

Freezing rain, record warmth and then strong winds expected across southern Quebec and Ontario Wednesday and Thursday.

We are awaiting yet another warm and windy winter storm. Low pressure over the central US will cross the Great Lakes and move into Quebec on Thursday. A very pronounced warm front will cross southern Quebec late Wednesday followed by a surge of record-breaking warm air.

Along and ahead of the front, portions of eastern Ontario and southern Quebec may experience a few hours of light mixed precipitation. Being overly cautious at this time, Environment Canada has posted freezing rain warnings for parts of southern Quebec, excluding the island of Montreal for now. The frozen precipitation will be very light and will not last long at any one location, however any ice can make driving very dangerous. The best chance for freezing rain will be between 3 and 7pm Wednesday before temperatures rise.

On Thursday expect a partly cloudy, windy and very warm day, with a record-breaking high of 13C (55F) forecast for Montreal. The record to beat is 10.2C (50F) set in 1992. This will be our second record high this week as Montreal reached 11.5C last Saturday during the windstorm.

Over 700 lineman from Hydro-Quebec, with help from their New Brunswick Power colleagues, brought over 400,000 customers back online over the last few days. As of Thursday morning there were still 693 customers scattered throughout the province without power. Unfortunately another potent cold front is on the way with strong winds expected.

More Strong Winds for Montreal

Winds will begin to ramp up on Thursday, as a strong cold front slides east across Quebec. In advance of the front, strong southwest winds will develop, gusting up to 90km/h at times into the evening hours in Montreal. While the winds will not be as strong as Saturday or last as long, they will be close to warning criteria once again.

Behind this storm, winter returns to Montreal. Much colder air will settle into the province on Saturday, along with a few centimetres of snow. The ground will remain white through Christmas Day in Montreal, with continuous below freezing temperatures forecast and another few opportunities for light snow.

Fierce winds leave nearly 400,000 Quebecers in the dark

Laval firefighters responded to call after call for downed trees, power lines and destroyed tempos Saturday evening. The same was true across the island of Montreal. (Association des Pompiers de Laval Photo)

A powerful wind storm swept across southern Quebec Saturday evening, associated with strong low pressure lifting across the Great Lakes. Strong winds arrived shortly after 7pm in metro Montreal, sustained at 70km/h gusting to well over 100km/h for several hours.  A peak gust to 105km/h (65mph) was observed at Trudeau Airport at 8:45pm Saturday. The wind wreaked havoc across southern Quebec, damaging trees and power lines and destroying many temporary winter garages (tempos) in the process. There are reports of roof damage as well.

Firefighters and first responders across southern Quebec were kept busy, with hundreds of calls for service. Hydro-Quebec reported nearly 400,000 customers without power at the height of the storm. That number has since fallen to 331,000 as of 9am Sunday morning. The utility has over 400 men and women on the ground and will work around the clock to restore service.

Another destroyed tempo sits outside a school in Chomedey-Laval Sunday morning. (Photo: T. Giotsalitis)

Winds have also eased somewhat Sunday, but the day will be blustery, with west winds up to 60km/h persisting during the daylight hours.

The same system also cut power to hundreds of thousands of homes from Michigan across Ontario and into New England. A peak wind gust in Ontario of 130km/h (8o mph) was recorded at Point Petre on the northeast shore of Lake Ontario.

The storm was the same one that produced the devastating and historic tornado outbreak across the mid-south US. Dozens of tornadoes took over one hundred lives and levelled numerous communities.

Power out to over 375,000 in Quebec after 100km/h winds

The temperature is slowly warming up this morning in Montreal, but surfaces remain very icy. By late this afternoon and this evening, a powerful cold front will bring with it 70 to 100km/h winds in the St. Lawrence Valley. Wind warnings are in effect across southern Ontario and Quebec.

Sunday Update 6:45AM: The fierce winds of Saturday evening are slowly diminishing Sunday morning, and all weather warnings have expired for Montreal. The airport recorded a peak wind gust of 105km/h last evening. Hydro-Quebec is reporting over 375,000 customers without power in the province. I will update the numbers on last nights storm shortly. Stay safe...SB

Previous Post: High wind warning in effect for southern Quebec. Expect gust to 100km/h this evening in Montreal. The core of the strongest winds should arrive in Montreal around 7PM.

Freezing rain warning for the next few hours for 5-10mm of frozen precipitation.

A strong winter storm located over the lower Great Lakes early Saturday morning will move northeast into western Quebec today. A warm front is currently crossing the St. Lawrence Valley accompanied by an area of freezing rain. Freezing rain has been falling for a couple of hours in Montreal, with 5mm expected. Outdoor surfaces are very icy, but temperatures should warm above freezing in the next couple of hours allowing some melting to occur.

The balance of the day will feature well-above freezing temperatures, up to 10C (50F), with showers and periods of heavier rainfall at times. By this evening, a very strong cold front will cross the island of Montreal. Winds are forecast to turn to the southwest and gust up to 100km/h (60 mph). Winds this strong are capable of damage to loose structures, power lines and trees. Secure any outdoor objects including removing inflatable Christmas decorations. Winds will ease overnight but remain gusty into Sunday.

Deadly, rare December tornadoes have taken several lives overnight in the southeastern and south central US. (CNN)

This storm is very strong, with very deep central pressure. While we are not anticipating any thunderstorm activity in our region, there was plenty of severe weather Friday night. A very rare nocturnal December tornado outbreak has killed dozens in the southern US. Numerous tornadoes were reported overnight, including one that was on the ground for over 330KM. That storm crossed 4 states. First responders are sifting through widespread debris Saturday morning, and sadly the death toll will climb. There are numerous structures destroyed.

Just one of dozens of deadly tornadoes that swept across the Mississippi Valley overnight. 

This one was on the ground near Hayti, Missouri. Posted via Twitter @LiveStormsMedia (Brett Adair @AlaStormTracker).

This is all part of the same weather system impacting Quebec, a very strong midlatitude storm with very warm, moist air for this time of year. This story will be updated later today. Stay safe.

Another warm, wet and windy storm on the way for Montreal

Crews remove standing water in Saint Laurent after last Mondays storm. Make sure your rain gutters and sewers are clear as another 25mm of precipitation is on the way for Montreal over the next 24 hours. Freezing rain overnight will change to rain on Saturday as temperatures soar to over 10C (50F). (ValleyWeather Photo)

Freezing rain warnings have been issued north of Montreal and may be extended into the city for the overnight period Friday night. Keep this in mind f your travels take you out and about. High wind warnings are in effect on the US side of the border and these may also be requires across parts of eastern Ontario and southern Quebec late Saturday.

There is no change to our current weather pattern, as yet another warm and windy winter storm is on our doorstep. After a couple of days of light snow showers and cooler temperatures across southern Quebec, we are in for another big warm-up on Saturday.

After morning flurries Friday, skies will clear by afternoon, with a daytime high close to the freezing point. Clouds will rapidly fill in once again this evening in advance of a warm front. Strong low pressure will lift form the central plains, across the Great Lakes and into western Quebec Saturday, following a similar path to last Mondays storm. Montreal once again will be on the warm side of the system, with a mix of precipitation changing over to rain and then back to a few flurries late Saturday.

Precipitation will begin in the wee hours Saturday morning, likely starting as a period of freezing rain in Montreal, with temperatures hovering just below the freezing point in the St. Lawrence Valley.

On Saturday, strong south winds will push temperatures up to 10C (50F), with all precipitation changing to rain. The rain may be heavy at times, especially late in the day, in advance of the trailing cold front. That front will be accompanied by very strong winds as it crosses the region, likely reaching warning criteria, with gusts up to 90km/h in Montreal. The wind will ease on Sunday morning along with clearing skies. Temperatures will drop to -2C (29F) by Sunday morning.

High pressure of Pacific origin will ensure a quiet start to the weather week on Monday, along with very mild temperatures for mid-December, well-above the freezing point. Any snow on the ground in Montreal should easily melt away over the next few days.

Strong winds, colder temperatures follow messy mix

Crews were busy Monday morning clearing away the 10 to 15cm of slush that accumulated overnight in Montreal. Freezing rain has left a glaze across most parking lots, but warmer temperatures on Monday should melt most of what fell. The mess will all freeze up tonight as the temperatures drops down to -6C by Tuesday morning. (ValleyWeather Photo)

I must admit that was one robust warm front, easily over performing in the moisture department. Snow started in Montreal around 8pm Sunday evening and changed over to freezing rain at about 5am. In that time, a decent 10 to 15cm of snow fell across the region, with close to 12cm at my home on Île Perrot. I really felt snow amounts would be much lower, but the cold air stubbornly remained in place, as it often does in the St. Lawrence Valley.

Plows are out this morning, but that has not stopped the usual rash of vehicles hitting the ditch or bouncing off the walls. Clean off your car and slow down, you will be fine. 

Temperatures are now above the freezing point across most of metro Montreal, with rain falling. However there are still a few pockets of freezing rain in Laval and northeast Montreal. A mix of snow and freezing rain will persist for several more hours across the Laurentians. Freezing rain warnings remain in effect. The biggest threat in Montreal for the next few hours will be slush and standing water on the highways.

Strong low pressure will move across Quebec and into Labrador by Tuesday, dragging a potent cold front across the region by late afternoon. Winds will become quite strong in advance of the front, with gusts from 40 to 70km/h possible. Temperatures will be very mild today across southern Quebec reaching 7C (45F) in Montreal, and all the way up to 12C (54F) in the Townships. Needless to say there will be plenty of melting today.

What is left of the sloppy mess will freeze up tonight as the aforementioned cold front arrives. The temperature will fall rapidly below freezing late this evening in Montreal, all the way down to -6C (21F) by Tuesday morning.

Tuesday will feature clearing skies but cold temperatures along with gusty northwest winds and a high will be -5C (23F).

Freezing rain warning posted for southern Quebec

Have your scraper and patience ready for the Monday morning commute across southern Quebec. Plan on leaving early or even better, work from home if you can. Definitely stay home if you do not have winter tires on yet. Freezing rain and winter storm warnings are currently in effect across the region.

• Freezing rain warning in effect for metro Montreal, southern Quebec and eastern Ontario.
• Winter storm warning in effect for the Laurentians including Mont Tremblant.
• Precipitation starting in southwestern Quebec by 6pm Sunday and moving northeast across the region.
• Expect a very messy morning commute Monday, especially from Laval north and east.

Weather warnings have been issued for large portion of Ontario and Quebec for the incoming winter storm. The expected track of the system has shifted a little south over the last 24 hours, but still passing north of Montreal while strengthening. This will result in colder air hanging around in the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Valleys for a little longer, increasing the threat for more frozen precipitation.

I still feel the amounts forecast by Environment Canada Sunday morning for Montreal are a little on the high side, but it is a difficult forecast. These storms that run along or just north of the St. Lawrence Valley introduce many forecasts challenges, with a few degrees or even a few kilomteres making all the difference in a forecast.

Low pressure will move from southern Ontario on Sunday into western Quebec early Monday. A warm front will lift across the region Sunday night accompanied by a period of steady snow and a surge of warm air. Snow should change to freezing rain by the early morning hours from south to north across the island of Montreal. All precipitation will change to rain from Montreal south early Monday morning as the temperature soars to 8C (48F). Precipitation will remain messy mix north and east of the city most of the day. A strong cold front will produce heavy rain and strong winds, up to 70km/h in the afternoon, along with rapidly dropping temperatures and a likely freeze-up for Montreal during the evening hours. The temperature will bottom out at -6C (21F) by Tuesday morning.

In terms of accumulations, that will be very dependent on where you are located in the greater Montreal region. From southern portion of Montreal, such as Ile Perrot where I am located, I am thinking 5cm of snow and perhaps 2mm of freezing rain before we transition over to rain on Monday. Other regions of southern Quebec and eastern Ontario can expect 5-20cm of snow along with 2-5mm of freezing rain. Look for another 10mm of rain along the cold front for those locations that are above freezing such as Montreal.

Skies will clear out Tuesday behind the storm. Briefly looking ahead, there are two more systems at this time set to deliver more mixed wintry weather to southern Quebec by the end of the week. But first, let's deal with this storm.