Montreal's winter weather forecast for January predicts a chaotic 'weather cocktail'

As snow blankets the city, it's hard not to wonder what Montreal's winter weather has in store for us in the coming months. While December promises to be absolute chaos, the holiday season typically offers a welcome distraction. So, what can we expect once the festivities end?

Well, the January forecasts for Quebec are in, and — while challenging conditions are inevitable — this season may not be as harsh as the quintessential Montreal winters many of us remember from the past.

According to MétéoMédia (Weather Network) meteorologist André Monette, December will be the coldest month of the season, with a strong likelihood of a white Christmas. From there, conditions are expected to improve as the winter unfolds.

It turns out that La Niña, the weather phenomenon that initially raised concerns over a brutal winter, is now projected to be "short-lived and relatively weak," MétéoMédia reports. As a result, Quebec's winter should be milder than normal, with Montreal seeing less snow than usual.

That said, these milder temperatures come with a twist. MétéoMédia warns that Quebecers could experience a chaotic-sounding "weather cocktail" of mixed precipitation, including rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow, throughout January and February.

"It's going to be a winter of all kinds of storms [in Quebec]," says meteorologist Réjean Ouimet in MétéoMédia's article. "Snow in the north and episodes of rain and wind are on the menu for the south. The snow will be less dense and frequent, as in recent winters, and will be combined with rain. This will eventually wipe out anything that might be on the ground."

Even though coastal systems may be less present this winter, disturbances from Colorado or the Gulf of Mexico remain possible. These could bring "good storms, but probably not those big ones of 60 cm or more," explains Monette.

The Farmers' Almanac supports these predictions, forecasting multiple periods of unseasonably mild and "tranquil" weather in Quebec throughout January.

While the affected parts of the province aren't specified, snowy and windy conditions are expected in Quebec between January 12 and 15, followed by moderate-to-heavy snow from January 20 to 23. There may also be a storm at the end of the month.

One lingering question is whether Quebec's milder winter will delay the arrival of spring. Current indicators suggest that the answer is no. Monette says January and February's mild trend should extend into March, and "winter will not be prolonged."

The takeaway? These first few weeks of December may bring their fair share of nightmarish weather conditions, but there's no need to panic. Monette predicts "this situation will be temporary," and the worst of it will soon pass. Until then, wrap up warm Montreal!

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