Monday, May 02, 2011

Prairie snowstorm

Southern Manitoba yesterday. CTV News

While Quebec and Ontario were enjoying a sunny and warm weekend, strong low pressure was lifting across the northern plains and into Manitoba. The storm borough strong cold northerly winds over 80km/h and heavy snow to western Manitoba and extreme eastern Saskatchewan. The result was a spring blizzard that closed highways and led to hundreds of accidents claiming 5 lives. Over 20cm of snow blanketed the Trans Canada corridor west of Winnipeg towards eastern Saskatchewan. Police were forced to close the highway for several hours.

ELECTION DAY
Today is election day here in Canada. The weather from coast to coast looks decent with the exception of the southern Prairies where cool winds and snow covered roads may slow travel. The other rough area is the far north in Quebec where blizzard warnings are in effect. Otherwise it is a pretty seasonable day across the country. In Montreal some light showers are forecast, but it will be mild at 18C. Look for low pressure in the southern US to lift towards New England mid week and bring us more heavy rain by late Tuesday. Some regions may see 25-50mm of rainfall which will only add to the severe flooding across Lake Champlain and the Richelieu Valley. Flood warnings remain posted in those areas.

It is a good day to be living in North America - get out and vote today!

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