Another coastal miss for Montreal - cold week ahead

Heavy snow is falling this morning from New Jersey (above) into coastal New England. For many it i the first snow of the season.(Photo via Twitter @justinhfd126)

In what has been an all too familiar pattern this winter, another coastal storm will pass by southern Quebec to the southeast and move into Atlantic Canada Sunday. Low pressure east of New Jersey this morning will deepen rapidly as it lifts towards Nova Scotia tonight. Heavy wet snow and rain along with strong winds are occurring from the middle Atlantic region towards eastern Massachusetts this morning. The snow will spread into Maine and eventually New Brunswick later this afternoon. Decent amounts of snow are forecast in a narrow band with 15-30cm (6-12 inches) expected from New England into New Brunswick. There is a sharp cutoff of precipitation west of the storm track with just light snow across southern New Hampshire and Vermont. As the storm deepens rapidly tonight, winds will increase along the coast with some coastal flooding possible. The snow, and rain for Nova Scotia, will spread into Newfoundland on Sunday. A wide range of warnings are in effect including a winter storm warning for the Gaspe region of Quebec as well as the lower north shore. Winds will gust over 100km/h in eastern Quebec with the snow.

MONTREAL WEATHER
Meanwhile an arctic cold front will bring an end to the mild temperatures in Ontario and Quebec. Montreal was 0C (32F) Friday and can expect a high of -1C (30F) today under cloudy skies. The cold front will cross the region late this afternoon and this evening with some light snow possible. At best 1-3cm may fall locally across southern Quebec and eastern Ontario. Temperatures will fall quickly overnight under gusty northwest winds of 20-40km/h, down to -14C (7F), along with cold wind chill values. Sunshine returns Sunday, but it will be breezy and cold. For most of this upcoming week arctic high pressure remains in control, temperatures will be cold with lows around -18C (0F) and highs no better than -10C (14F). The next chance for snow in Montreal will come along yet another arctic front late in the week.