Potential first measurable snow for Montreal this weekend

The tale of two Montreal's. Montreal, Wisconsin (The Weather Channel) above, measured over 125cm (50 inches) of snow this week as a record cold outbreak swept over North America. Meanwhile the first snow of the season, just a trace, fell on Montreal, Quebec, below. It remains cold with more snow expected this weekend.

 The early season cold snap has been one for the record books. While the snow and extreme cold has manged to evade Montreal, such has not been the case across a wide swath of the country.  Nearly 60 record lows were established across the Prairies on Friday morning alone. That being said, it is the coldest morning of the season in southern Quebec with -4C (25F) here on L'Ile Perrot. It is as cold as -10C in other parts of eastern Ontario and across the Laurentians. It will warm today to near 0C. Clouds will increase as that persistent southwest flow off the Great Lakes continues. Occasional flurries are also possible from time to time. That flow has generated signifcant lake effect snow downwind of the Great Lakes. Many regions have reported 10-20cm of snow. Incredibly 125cm (50 inches) fell this week at Montreal, Wisconsin near the Michigan border in the northern portion of the state. The amount will likely establish a new state record for a single event.

St Laurent, Quebec, Friday. (ValleyWX)

Montreal Snow
Once again Montreal is looking at the possibility of a measurable snowfall. A few flurries are possible late today into early Sunday with perhaps a dusting to 2cm to whiten the ground. Temperatures will be cold with highs near 0C (32F) and lows around -4C (25F). Low pressure will then move from the lower Great Lakes off the coast near New York City while deepening late Sunday. This will not be a monster storm, but it does have the potential to put down between 5 and 15cm (2-6 inches) of snow across a wide area from the Ohio Valley into New England and likely southern Quebec. The snow would start late Sunday or early Monday and taper Tuesday in the overnight hours. There is still some question as to the track of the system and Montreal may be just on the northern edge. Cold air will wrap in behind the storm with temperatures well below normal all next week and significant lake effect snow in western New York and even the southwest St. Lawrence Valley west of Brockville.