A video compilation of the island of Montreal’s first significant snowfall (i.e. 15.0+ cm event) of Fall-Winter 2020-2021.

A slow-moving and weakening double-barrelled area of low pressure yielded the first significant snowfall of this Fall-Winter. Lift was especially high across extreme S./SW Quebec North of a weakening occluded front, leading to the greatest snowfall rates there. During the morning hours, snowfall rates as high as 2-2.5 cm/hour were observed, and then remaining at 1-2 cm/hour thereafter. Owing to continued mild conditions as a result of some warm air advection wrapping at the Northern sector of this system, snow texture was fluffy/sticky, and so accumulations led to some power failures due to either too much weight on power lines, or because of snapped branches. In general, 18-35 cm of snowfall were observed across this general area, including 23 cm at YUL and Laval, and 24 cm at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. Farther East, about 20.0 cm were observed, in greater Montreal. Blowing and drifting snow were further observed in response to occasionally gusty NE/ENE winds. The snowfall intensity diminished considerably by 2:00 p.m. EST, January 16th, but mostly light snowfall continued to the early-afternoon of January 17th.

Footage was taken in SW Pierrefonds, located in Montreal’s West Island. Radar imagery is courtesy of Environment Canada.

~Trav.~