Storms miss Montreal so far - decent weekend ahead

It was another day of wild weather in many parts of North America on Thursday, but rather quiet across metro Montreal. A low pressure area over upstate New York produced showers and thunderstorms on Thursday from eastern Ontario into the Champlain Valley and then back north into southern Quebec south and east of Montreal. The odd movement of the thunderstorms circulating around the low pressure meant most of the storms stayed away from Montreal. While 25mm (1 inch) of rain or more fell towards the US border, I measured nothing at my home on L'Ile Perrot and only 1mm fell at Trudeau Airport. Storms south of the border dumped heavy rain in New York and Vermont (1-2 inches). Further south a tornado was reported near Albany, New York, and a severe hailstorm in southern Pennsylvania. The hail in Pennsylvania was the size of tennis balls at times near Lancaster and punched holes in car windows and the roof of a shopping mall. It also damaged the windshield on an inbound US Airways flight to Philadelphia forcing an emergency landing. Hail was several inches deep in may locations.

Deep hail covers the ground in southern Pennsylvania near Lancaster on Thursday. (The Weather Channel)

The same scenario will play out today with the upper level slow slowly spinning across New York with more showers and thunderstorms along the edge of the system. The greatest risk for showers in Montreal will be this afternoon with isolated thunderstorms. Like yesterday some of the storms may be strong with heavy rain and pea size hail possible. On Thursday a severe thunderstorm watch was posted for the region between Montreal and the US border east into the Townships. The only hail in our area on Thursday was reported near Newport, Vermont and along the US border near Stanstead. Temperatures will struggle to reach 20C with lots of clouds in Montreal today. Saturday looks a little better with more sunshine, a touch warmer at 22C, but still the risk of showers and thunderstorms. It should be sunny and dry on Sunday with temperatures up to 24C.