Wintry weather returns to Montreal

Wintry weather returns to Montreal 

The first true winter weather of the season is upon us this week, with a series of low pressure systems and progressively colder air for southern Quebec. The first threat will arrive early Tuesday morning as rain falls across the region. Some locations, especially in the Ottawa Valley and north of Montreal will be cold enough for freezing rain and even snow. Prepare for the onset of winter travel conditions this week.

A Freezing Rain Warning now has been issued for Tuesday for the entire metro Montreal region as well as the Ottawa Valley.

Winter Weather Advisory for parts of upstate New York and northern Vermont.

As expected, slightly colder air has returned to southern Quebec after our very warm fall. The result was a brisk weekend, with temperatures in the lower single digits and overnight lows below freezing. The outdoors felt quite a bit colder, with west winds gusting over 60km/h at times.

Monday will be the calm before the stormy weather, as an active weather pattern is upon us. We can expect partly cloudy skies, stiff winds and highs near 5C (41F). Our weather will begin to change this evening and for the duration of the forecast period. Clouds will increase tonight, with lows of -2C (29F).

On Tuesday, strengthening low pressure will lift across the Ohio Valley, passing to the northwest of Montreal. A warm front will approach the St. Lawrence Valley Tuesday morning, accompanied by rain and freezing rain. Depending on the surface temperatures at your location when the precipitation begins, a few hours of freezing rain will be possible. My thinking at this time is that the greatest threat will be across the Ottawa Valley, as well as north of Montreal. Some regions may even start out with a period of snow, perhaps as much as 5-10cm in the Laurentians and upper Ottawa Valley.