Montreal Weather Could Plunge Back Into The Depths Of Winter This Month

Just when you probably thought Montreal was getting a break from harsh winter, the weather is taking a sharp turn back to the cold. Mild temperatures across Canada in December were just a teaser. January will show its true colours with a colder, more typical winter grip.

A strong El Niño kept things warmer at the start of the year, so the weather has been milder than usual. But The Weather Network reports that the polar vortex — that big swirl of cold air up in the Arctic — is splitting in two. One part of it is heading for Northern Canada in the coming weeks.

The cold air is heading down across Western and Central Canada and even dipping into the United States. Montreal and the rest of Quebec are likely going to feel that Arctic chill soon after.

Météomédia points out that around January 11, we should really start to feel winter kick back in. That means the warm spell we've been enjoying is about to take a hike.

The second half of January looks like it'll be more of what we expect from winter in Canada. We're talking about regular doses of cold weather. But there's a silver lining — later in the month, we might get a break with some milder temperatures. It's what they call a "January thaw," a brief warm-up before the cold sets back in.

Let's talk snow, or the lack of it. Environment Canada notes that December 2023 had way less snow than usual in Quebec. Quebec City and the eastern regions saw around 60 cm less snow than usual. The Greater Montreal Area, however, received a fair amount of snow due to a storm early in the month, recording snowfalls of 41 cm in Montreal, 14 cm in Quebec City, and 8 cm in Gaspé.

Now, what's the immediate forecast for Montreal? It's looking cloudy with a 30 percent chance of flurries and temperatures staying around 1 C. Over the next few days, expect a mix of sun and clouds with temperatures dropping. On Tuesday, flurries should clear up in the morning, leading to a sunny and colder afternoon with a high of -7 C. The nights are going to get colder too, dropping to minus 14 degrees.

In the days ahead, Montreal will see a consistent pattern of sun and clouds. Daytime temperatures are expected to range between -5 C to -8 C, while nighttime temperatures are likely to dip to around -10 C. Keep an eye out for some snow on January 7, and be prepared for additional snow showers on January 9.

So, Montreal, it's time to bundle up again. Winter's making a comeback, and it's bringing the cold.