Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Snow and rain

Ice pellets are slamming the window this morning here on the west end of metro Montreal. Precipitation is slowly lifting north along a warm front into the region. Low pressure over Michigan is forecast to move down the St. Lawrence Valley today and into northern Maine tonight. Heavy precipitation will spread along the northern flank of the storm along with very gusty winds. Montreal was relatively mild most of the night at around 5C but the temperature has since lowered to 3C as the precipitation begins. Winds are gusting to 50 and 60km/h out of the northeast across the region adding to the unseasonable chill.

Look for snow and freezing rain to change to rain today and taper off tonight. Storm totals of 25-40mm are forecast with most of that falling as rain south of the St. Lawrence and snow to the north. Warnings are in effect for most of the region for the variety of weather. The Laurentians and Townships as well as Quebec City can expect between 15-20cm of wet snow. Meanwhile it is at the freezing point in the Ottawa Valley with freezing rain. If you are travelling today expect difficult road conditions anywhere northeast and northwest of the city. To the south it will be a windy, rainy day across New England. Skies should slowly clear out late Thursday.

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