Tuesday, December 14, 2010

More snow on the way

More heavy snow in Montreal today. It is 15 degrees colder than yesterday morning at this time with lots of ice around. ValleyWX pic

Lots to talk about this morning as an upper level low continues to spin just southeast of Montreal. Moderate snow is falling across eastern Ontario and into western Quebec. Traffic is crawling again this morning in metro Montreal with nearly 2 dozen accidents reported. Between 7 and 10cm of snow fell overnight and it continues this morning. It will taper slightly this afternoon. Winds will remain strong out of the northwest from 20-40km/h and with cold temperatures below -10C lots of snow is blowing around. Atlantic moisture will be drawn into the system overnight with a period of enhanced snowfall Wednesday. Winds will increase as well to 60km/h with lots of blowing and drifting snow Wednesday. Conservative estimates are for around 5-10cm but that could easily go beyond warning criteria of 15cm. The same holds true for upstate New York and Vermont with a little less in eastern Ontario.

Speaking of Ontario, more heavy lake effect snow and 70km/h winds have shut down the 402 between London and Sarina trapping more than 350 drivers in their cars. The heavy snow will continue today with slight improvement by late Wednesday. OPP on snowmobiles and quads have been bringing the stranded drivers provisions. So far everybody is safe.

One last note on this busy Tuesday, the arctic air has plunged all the way into the deep south with hard freezes in Florida and Georgia. It is -2C in Orlando this morning and -9C in Atlanta. The south will slowly begin to warm later today and tomorrow.

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