Some very erratic weather occuring out over America - From the eastern Seaboard experiencing sub-tropical hurricane Sandy last week to a nor-easter snowstorm this week!? Yet in a few days time they're expecting highs in the high teens or even low 20's (70F - 72F) by Monday temperatures in the big apple could hit 21'C!? How erratic!?

Meanwhile we have so snow out across Montana and most of the southern Canadian Prairies! - Seems to have taken an interesting shape, don't you think?!!

"What is it son!?" - "I don't know sir, but it looks like a giant..." 
"DICK"
"Yaa"
"Take a look out at starboard" 
"OH ma God, it looks like a huge..." 
"PECKER, wait, that's not a wood pecker, it looks like someone's..." 
"PRIVATES, we have reports of an Unidentified Flying Object, it is a long smooth shaft, complete with..." 
"TWO BALLS, what is that? That looks just like an enormous..." 
"WANG, pay attention" 
"I was distracted by that enormous flying..." 
"WILLIE, what's that?" 
"Well it looks like a giant..." 
"JOHNSON"
"Yes Sir"
"Get on the hold of the British intelligence and let them know about this"
........Ha ha ha ha ha h ah ah........................ Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha hah ahah aha...........
"Did we get Dr. Evil?"
"No Sir, he got away on that Rocket that looks like a huge..."
"PENIS, the male reproductive organ, also known as TALLY WACKER, SHLONG or..."
"WIENER, any of you kids want another WIENER?"
"Dad, what's that?"
"I don't know son, but it's got a great, big..."
"NUTS, Hot, Salty NUTS, who wants some... Lord almighty.."
"That looks just like my husbands..."
"ONE EYED MONSTER, step right up and see the ONE EYED MONSTER"
"AArrrggggg..!!! Hey what's that? it looks like a big..."
"WOODY, WOODY Harilson? Can i have your Authograph"
"Sure, No problem.. OH my lord, look at that thing?"
"It's so Big"- "I've seen bigger, that's..." - "Just a little PRICK, it's a flu shot........."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As they would say in a hilarious scene from the "Spy who shagged me!"  

---

Yes, there's certainly a lot of snow about in Calgary right now.  Some was forecast, but nowhere near this much.  Went out for a walk earlier and almost 5" on the ground (11cm).  They are predicting another 20cm or so over the next 24 hours, which really would be a record for us - I have never seen  a foot of snow lying in Calgary since we arrived here in 2003 (11" being the max).  Poorly forecast - but it will be quite something if we do get the amounts they are predicting!  I guess it is the juxtaposition of an arctic blast and a large dump of moisture coming over the Rockies and pushing north.

 

 4:15 PM MST Thursday 08 November 2012
Snowfall warning for
City of Calgary continued

    Up to 25 centimetres of snow expected by Saturday morning.

A storm system located over the central American Rockies has spread an area of snow into Southern Alberta this afternoon. Snow will become heavy tonight as the storm system intensifies. At this time the axis of the heaviest snow is expected to be situated over the Okotoks, Crowsnest Pass, Cardston, Brooks, and Lethbridge regions where up to 40 centimetres is possible. Other warned regions can expect between 15 to 25 centimeters of snow before the storm system pulls away on Saturday.

Areas of local blowing snow in combination with falling snow will produce poor visibilities at times so motorists should be prepared for very poor driving conditions across much of Southern Alberta tonight through to Saturday morning.

We'd just got through our 5' dump of snow from last week, had a couple of snow-free days, but that's all changing now!

Temperatures are the story too, with a brisk N wind blowing we are expected to get down to -17c by Saturday.  Currently a balmy -10c right now....

 

Peter

 

July 2012 - June 2013 Stats
Elevation: 1084m
Latitude: 51° 6' N
Warmest Temperature: 30.5c 09/07/12
Coldest Temperature: -8.6c 27/10/12
Days with thunderstorms: 8
Days with rain falling: 23
Days with snow falling: 16
Days with snow lying: 19
Maximum snow depth: 5" (12cm)
Current snow depth 5" (12cm)

It's certainly quite a storm: some nice images from Montana http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/photos-hefty-snow-comes-down-i/1311240 There seems to have been 14.5" of snowfall in Helena, Montana.

I also read reports of up to 45cm (18") across the border in Alberta. The storm is now affecting the southern Prairies/northern Plains states, in particular North Dakota, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Winnipeg looks to get clobbered with at least 20cm later today. Indeed snow has already broken out: http://members.shaw.ca/wpgwx/robsobs/ywgcams.htm

Farther south with warm air being dragged up from the Gulf there's severe weather to look out for in parts of the Midwest and Central Plains. Very mild too with highs in the mid-70s f for the likes of Kansas City and St Louis, with 60s as far north as Chicago and Detroit. Toronto will get in on the warmth too with a projected high of 15c tomorrow and 17c Monday before a marked cool off next week.

Looking further ahead the 6Z GFS looks mild for virtually all the US by next weekend with mild air reaching well into the Canadian Prairies. The snow cover from this weekend's storm will go if that verifies!

Enjoy the weekend.

---

It's been an unusually quiet week in North American weather terms, though given recent events I'm sure that's most welcome. It's a 'superb Saturday for most' in the US as TWC puts it: http://www.weather.com/newscenter/nationalforecast/index.html 

'Only' the west coast is seeing stormy weather with rain and mountain snow from Washington through southern California - the start of a stormy period which will last well into next week for those areas.

For now arctic air remains bottled up in northern Canada. The forecast for Whitehorse in the Yukon tells the story with temps around 5-10c below average for mid-November: http://weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/yt-16_metric_e.html It's a chilly -39c at Old Crow this morning.

However it looks as if by next weekend some of this arctic chill will start to work its way south...the latest GFS takes a shot of cold air through the Great Lakes. Brett goes through the latest long range ECM which has had a bit of a turnaround: http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-blogs/anderson/signs-of-a-cold-start-to-december-in-the-east/1619732

It'll be very interesting to see how it pans out - pretty much a mirror of the model situation this side of the Atlantic - with all to play for.

Anyway, winter must be coming. Hudson Bay is beginning to freeze over: http://www.natice.noaa.gov/pub/ims/ims_gif/DATA/cursnow_usa.gif

Enjoy the weekend!

---

Quick update for you - after the dump of snow a couple of weeks ago (which was large, but not quite as much as they had been predicting), we're getting another dump tonight.  Proceeded by a little freezing rain, but I think we were only on the northern edge of that - it's not usual to get freezing rain here.  I guess it was due, as we'd had a warmer week with plenty of Chinooks which had melted most of the snowpacks.

We did drop into the -20's briefly last week, before the warmup.  Shouldn't hit that this time, temps look solid in the -10 to -15 range.  Have to remember it is just November!

 3:35 PM MST Wednesday 21 November 2012
Snowfall warning for
City of Calgary continued

    10 to 15 cm expected tonight.

A weather system will move through Southern Alberta tonight bringing snow. Heavy snow is spreading into portions of Southern Alberta and will bring close to 10 cm by Thursday morning. Local accumulations of 15 cm are possible under the heaviest bands. Most snow will end by Thursday morning.

Peter

 

July 2012 - June 2013 Stats
Elevation: 1084m
Latitude: 51° 6' N
Warmest Temperature: 30.5c 09/07/12
Coldest Temperature: -20.4c 11/11/12
Days with thunderstorms: 8
Days with rain falling: 23
Days with snow falling: 19
Days with snow lying: 33
Maximum snow depth: 6.5" (16cm)
Current snow depth 3" (9cm)

Hello folks, been a wee while since i posted. We were up at a friends lodge in Barrie last week for a few days, a certain someone had a semi-special birthday  was great to get away from the office for more than a couple of days. This year also, i'm staying in Ontario for the xmas and new year period something i've not done since i moved here in 2006, so looking forward to sampling the bells Canadian style, you may find me at Yonge/Dundas in T.O. on the 31st but it's a wee way off just yet!

Since i last posted, the weather has been fairly well behaved. Quite mild too, reaching 15c last week and no real sign of winter arriving with any menace. However, things are gradually turning and the first Artic blast of the season has brought widespread lake-effect snow showers/flurries to the GTA and other parts of Southern Ontario. Here in Dundas, we got some overnight flurries and temps have just barely crept into positive terrotory. Indeed with -9c w/c and a current temp of 0c, it's the coldest day this season which is now late Fall here.

Other parts of Ontario have seen enough snow to make it worthwhile though and these include the usual lake-effect snowbelt regions including those across the border in Northern OH and NY state. Here's the latest King City radar, showing the distinct bands of light lake effect flurries this afternoon affecting Southern Ontario :

http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/radar/index_e.html?id=WKR

And CTV camera crews were out in Uxbridge, ON this morning to capture these fantastic pics i thought :

Longer term looking at next week, things look like staying cold, not amazingly so but much colder than most of November has been with temps between 0-3c. Still debate as to whether any potential storm that might affect the U.S. East Coast this coming week could impact Ontario. EC originally had a forecast for Heavy Snow for the GTA on Tuesday but this has since been amended. Definately one to watch as the week comes in with December starting next Saturday, winter it appears is ready to start too.

Graeme, hope all is well back in Fife. What did you make of John Gibbons return to the Jays? Was a tiny bit surprised initially, he done fairly well with Halliday around the last time he was here and i guess performance wise excluding injuries 2012 could have been deemed as going in the right direction. Guess time will tell. Torontorians are lost as a side not at the minute as with the current NHL lock-out continuing thru most of December including the all-star game, they've only got basketball and local league hockey to get their teeth into. The CFL Grey Cup is in the Skydome i believe tomorrow night between the Toronto Argunots and Calgary, once that's finished it's a cold long winter at the moment for the die-hards!!

Have a great weekend everyone

Some great pics, Stewart! Hoping to have some similar scenes here by next weekend...or maybe not

A definite change to cooler conditions in the east as you point out Stewart. I always note the earlier arrival of winter in Ottawa as compared to Toronto (natural enough given their locations) and it's illustrated nicely this week. Highs in Toronto above freezing in the low single digits, highs in Ottawa generally just below freezing. Showers and flurries widespread throughout southern Ontario.

The colder air also makes it all the way to the Maritimes where it's been reasonably mild of late. It will start to feel more like winter this week with flurries and chilly temps.

Looks like a warm up for much of the east next weekend or early the following week before the next shot of cold air arrives. Be very interesting to see how December pans out in terms of pattern...will the cold and stormy pattern take hold for the eastern Great Lakes and New England?

Farther west it's cool across the Prairies into Alberta. While Calgary (unusually) is looking at temps not too far from the norm this week it will certainly start off more like mid-winter in the Pariries. Highs in Saskatoon, SK of -18c Tuesday and Wednesday!

In terms of the Blue Jays...well what a couple of weeks it's been. One of the biggest trades in franchise history (Reyes, Johnson, Buerhle) then the reappointment of Gibbons (like you this took me by surprise). All in all the  rest of MLB has been forced to suddenly take notice of Canada's only team. There's been major investment to try and put a contending side together. Doesn't always translate to wins of course but I'm more excited about the 2013 season than any in recent years (and I expect attendance will be through the roof at the RC!).

---

Swings and roundabouts for eastern Canada, NE States. After a colder spell last week, much milder air is seeping east. High today in Toronto of +11c, so well above average for early December. It's still chilly in Atlantic Canada at the moment but this cold air will be displaced by tomorrow and the rest of the week looks pretty benign.

Signs are by next weekend the cold air bottled over western and northern Canada (particularly the Yukon and into Alaska) will start to head southwards - bound to happen at some point!

And, wow is it cold. Current readings in the Yukon:

Mayo -47c
Faro -46c
Dawson -43c
Whitehorse -32c

Alaska:
Fairbanks -32f/-36c
Northway -47f/-44c 

 

---

Incredible warmth over parts of the midwest and NE States into eastern Canada today. Currently 69f/20c in Washington DC and +17c in Ottawa, Ontario - the latter reading about 18c above average!

---

Hello folks, it's been a couple of weeks since i posted and winter this side of the big pond has so far failed to fire. We had a couple of cm's of snow (not even noticeable by Canadian standards!) about 10 days ago before it was replaced with exceptionally mild weather as Graeme reported on above.

Surfice to say that the medium term lrf that Brett Anderson on Accuweather posted in Mid-Nov couldn't have been further off in terms of temps or storm activity. Temps by day have been generally between 2-6c and by night although there has been some night frosts nothing out the ordinary between 0 & -6c.

Rain showers and not flurries either just disappointing for snow lovers. Things are trying to change into the weekend and especially next week the way the charts show today with possible snow for areas North of Toronto next Mon-Tue and into NY State, IF this comes further south then the GTA may get into some of the snow action.

Someone unhit winter's pause button please!

Have a great weekend when it comes everyone!

I think it due to northern blocking that keeping them milder than normal as in zonality times Toronto get very cold and snowy with very little in the way of mild weather from time to time.  Most of the deep cold had been sucked to Central to East Europe and Russia recently.

Storm Draco sweeping across USA, looks like many states will see white christmas.

I must say I am not a fan of TWC's new policy of naming winter storms! But anyway yes, winter has finally arrived for many through the Midwest, Great Lakes and into the NE/eastern Canada. The snow is starting to wind down for the likes of Ottawa and Quebec City, after leaving 30cm in the capital. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa/Storm+arrives+School+buses+some+flights+cancelled+roads/7731562/story.html

Cooler air behind the storm is bringing some lake-effect flurries to the Golden Horseshoe - currently -3c in T.O. with light snow.

It looks like staying chilly through the coming week with the chance at more significant snow for southern Ontario on Boxing Day: http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-blogs/anderson/updated-lakeeffect-snow-map-also-more-storms/3005053  It will be the usual winter challenge of guess the storm track but Toronto (and of course Hamilton) are certainly due a decent snowstorm!

Meanwhile no doubt it will be a white Christmas for Peter out in Calgary. -20c and snowing there at the moment and with temps unlikely to rise above -15c through Tuesday I think a white Christmas is a safe call!

A bit of a trickier call out in Atlantic Canada where there is some heavy rain right now, washing away any lying snow for many. It will turn colder tomorrow so it will then be case of where the flurries and squalls hit to provide snowcover for the big day. I still fancy the likes of Charlottetown, PEI to have some snow on the ground come Tuesday.

For anyone interested in the statistical likelihood of a white Christmas (defined as snowcover of 2 cm or more on Christmas morning at 7 a.m.) in major Canadian cities, this will make interesting reading: http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=642F4B39-1#label1 

Now I'm on holiday  I should have the chance to post more frequently on here over the Christmas/New Year period. It certainly beats looking out the window at the Fife gloom!

 

---

The lake effect snows for NE Ohio, NW PA and NW NY are always a bit hit and miss, the media reports generalize the potential - Yesterdays predictions ranged from 3 inches to 12+ inches, with a further 5 to 10 inches forecast for today.

The variability is huge as to wether an area will get anything at all or pummeled for 16 hours of heavy snow, most areas often receive less than an inch (we have no more than a dusting) although we were in the 6+ inch category.

The big questions (for NE US and SE Can anyway) is the storm track of the next three storms. Each one has the potential to deposit a swathe of 3 - 6 inches, on one side it will always be rain and too far NE of the storm will just be cold and dry.

There's not a lot of really cold air across North America at the moment, the upper air is unseasonably warm - so while its going to stay below freezing across most of Canada, and the Northern US states - it doesn't look like there is any arctic express due anytime soon. So the chances of a severe NorEaster' on the Atlantic seaboard is probably limited, if the storm brings in the Atlantic moisture, it will probably overwhelm the cold air and be more of a heavy rain storm.

Here in Western PA, we're more on the cold side, so while it's currently -2c, with very light snow, it looks like we could be just too far NE to get any decent snow from the next couple of event.

Im enjoying the "mood" snow - its enough to make it look christmassy, but not enough for sledging, snowmen etc...

If we do get a good 12+ inch storm over Christmas, I'll try and get some good photos too.

PS Happy Christmas 🙂

Good Saturday afternoon to all and a warm welcome to Western PA on the NA Thread, interesting read and i'm looking forward to those pics, something i'd love to do also....maybe if Graeme and I could do a snowdance, we'd attract the big storm to these parts, 'cause as Graeme pointed out the GTA is well overdue on that front.

All the more jealously reading of the fairly big snows that visited the Ottawa valley yesterday, here are some of the reporting stations according to EC data :

Location                  snow amount (cm)

Sudbury Airport           36
Timmins Airport           23
North Bay Airport         24
Chapleau Airport          17
Sault Ste Marie Airport   14
Kapukasing airport        14
Ottawa Airport            44
Gatineau Airport          14
Algonquin Park east gate  25
Kaladar                   20  (climate station)
Brockville                16

That figure for Ottawa Airport is a foot and a half from one storm, that's about the total snowfall amount for the whole of the GTA in the last winter 2011/12! This storm also brought widely scattered flurries to most parts of the GTA yesterday and also introduced a much colder airmass to Ontario. Current temp is 0c, and right thru xmas we are expecting values at or slightly below freezing. As Western PA points out, not overly cold but it's a start considering the UK like muck we have had for most of December.

No lying snow in the City of Hamilton area though, but it feels xmas'sy and fluries especially overnight the next few nights could leave a dusting or two. As for the storm express that has been talked about and then delayed, the pattern is changing and as always we could be in the bullseye zone but whether that is for rain, freezing rain, sleet or snow - time will tell. Looking forward to seeing how it all pans out for my first Ontarian xmas holiday. Hoping the stay and home policy brings it's rewards!

P.S. Graeme, it ain't half wet and depression back in your neck of the woods right now, some atrocious driving conditions from what i read and hear from family and friends back in Scotland and Fife being the ground zero for the worst of it. Hopefully this will pave the way for a colder January for you guys!

Will try and post on xmas eve with an update on the storm situation. Have a great weekend everyone!

It's been miserable, Stewart, flooding not as bad locally as it was in October but in general terms just plain grim. December as a whole has not been mild here in Scotland though, and many areas have seen lying snow for a few days (though not here, I hasten to add - I'll have my 'two years since lying snow anniversary' just after Christmas!)

I too welcome Western PA - interesting post, and interesting location. That storm ended up an absolute snowfest for Ottawa, with 44cm as Stewart reports. Looking at the latest GFS run the most noticeable change in the next week or so is the bleeding out of the very cold air out of western Canada/Alaska where it has been locked away for a couple of months and the establishment of colder conditions in central and eastern areas, including the Great Lakes and even into the Ohio Valley.

Toronto, for example, is forecast to have 850s below -10c from next weekend, for at least 5 or 6 days. While, as mentioned, that's nothing remarkable, it is a lot colder than it has been so far this winter. The end result may be that from Christmas Day onwards Toronto remains subzero for the rest of the year (though never exceptionally cold). The chances of seeing a decent storm in that period would seem quite high.

The post-Christmas storm tracks just south of Lake Ontario on the GFS 0z. Let's give it a few more runs before you get too excited Stewart!  I favour a mixed precip event for T.O. & Hamilton at this stage, snow>ice pellets>freezing rain>snow perhaps...but let's wait and see.

---

How's this for a Christmas Eve forecast for you Stewart:

Monday night Cloudy. Snow beginning early in the evening. Amount 5 cm. Wind northeast 20 km/h. Low minus 1. 

Tuesday A mix of sun and cloud. High minus 1.

http://weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/on-77_metric_e.html  

Oh, and:

http://weatheroffice.gc.ca/warnings/SWS_bulletins_e.html?prov=on 

---

That will do nicely Graeme for starters, it 'could' look very xmas'sy outside this time tomorrow!

However,  it's that second link that has the mouth watering even more! Usual dose of salt etc etc onto it and i would like to be accused of ramping at all,  but the current charts do show the perfect set up for a Major snowstorm for the Golden Horseshoe overnight Wed into Thursday. The kind of snowevent that we just haven't seen here for a good few years. It's the NEasterly section of the advisory that particulary grabbed my attention. As regulars will note, anything blowing from the E or NE down Lake Ontario gets funnelled into a very small and tight corner of the Lakeshore area, erm....it's called Hamilton!

So, the complete opposite of what usually happens where snow piles up in lake-effect situations on the coasts of Huron, Erie and Ontario in a NW pattern. This rare event dumped the infamous 71cm of snow around these parts in what was affectionately known as the Valentine's Day Blizzard of 2007.

Now, remember i ain't ramping (honest!)

To everyone on TWO and to the regulars, Graeme and Peter on here have a fantastic christmas.

I echo those sentiments! Here's to ramping for all in the near future!

---

Really quick update before christmas dinner, still looking very good for a significant snowfall event across the GTA and Golden Horseshoe region for tomorrow and into Thursday. Here is the latest EC update, which they should be adding to anytime in the next hour :

Special weather statement
Updated by Environment Canada
At 2:09 PM EST Tuesday 25 December 2012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Special weather statement for:
      City of Toronto
      Windsor - Essex - Chatham-Kent
      Sarnia - Lambton
      Elgin
      London - Middlesex
      Simcoe - Delhi - Norfolk
      Dunnville - Caledonia - Haldimand
      Oxford - Brant
      Niagara
      City of Hamilton
      Halton - Peel
      York - Durham
      Huron - Perth
      Waterloo - Wellington
      Dufferin - Innisfil
      Belleville - Quinte - Northumberland
      Kingston - Prince Edward
      Peterborough - Kawartha Lakes
      Stirling - Tweed - South Frontenac
      Bancroft - Bon Echo Park
      Brockville - Leeds and Grenville
      City of Ottawa
      Gatineau
      Prescott and Russell
      Cornwall - Morrisburg
      Smiths Falls - Lanark - Sharbot Lake.

      Significant bout of winter weather arriving on boxing day and
      Persisting into Thursday.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Special weather statement ended for:
      Haliburton
      Renfrew - Pembroke - Barry's Bay.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
==discussion==
A centre of low pressure currently intensifying over Louisiana is
forecast to track northeastwards and pass well south of the Great
Lakes region Wednesday into Thursday. This will place Southern
Ontario on the northern fringe of the large snow area associated with
the storm. Appreciable snowfall accumulations are likely for parts
Of Southern Ontario, although the heaviest snows are expected in New
York State and Ohio where winter storm warnings are in effect and
will impact travellers driving south over the holidays.

Present indications suggest that the snow will start over the
southwest Wednesday morning, and then spread eastward to reach
Eastern Ontario late in the evening or overnight. Conditions will
improve from west to east on Thursday.

Current indications suggest that areas from Windsor to Niagara and
Hamilton, as well as along the St Lawrence Valley, will see the
highest total snow amounts with 10 to possibly 15 cm. The highest
amount approaching 15 cm appears more likely in Niagara. In fact, a
winter storm watch will likely be issued for the Niagara area with
the next forecast update at 3:30 PM EST. It may be upgraded to a
winter storm warning if the warning criteria of 15 cm in 12 hours is
exceeded and combined with significant blowing snow.

Further north from Sarnia to Toronto to Ottawa snowfall amounts will
probably be in the 5 to locally 10 cm range. The reason why more snow
is not expected in this swath is the shorter duration of snow on the
outer fringe of the snow area.

Impacts may be significant for travellers. It is a widespread event
and the region has not experienced a significant snowy event for some
time. The falling snow combined with northeast winds to 50 or 60 km/h
will create blowing snow and reduced visibilities. This will be
especially true in the Niagara region where snowfall amounts will
likely be highest. Also, holiday rush hour Thursday morning may be
problematic since much of the snow is falling Wednesday night.

The public is advised to monitor future forecasts and warnings as
warnings may be required or extended.

The weather network going for 10-20cm for Hamilton to Niagara. The track is a little further east than yesterday and this may impact possible lake effect stuff, but who cares, it's miles better than anything we have seen recently and to emphasize this - if more than 5cm falls at Toronto Pearson, it will be the highest single-day snowfall total there since March 2011!

As for a white xmas, statistically yes as snowfell. However, none of the 2-5cm that was once predicted - just the odd flurry so no lying snow this xmas in Dundas.

Hope your having a good xmas, will check back in tomorrow with a storm update!

 

There no snow in Ajax, east of Toronto today as I spoke to my relatives to wish them Merry Christmas.  It been lacking of snow in Toronto due to northern blocking which does not fare well for those regions but with zonal pattern set in for here would benefit Toronto getting all the snowy and cold weather.

I'm actually surprised that Goose Bay only comes in at 95 percent.

Yes you would definitely feel cheated if you were spending Christmas there and it wasn't white!

Well, Stewart, it's a knife-edge scenario isn't it? Major snowstorm or 'just' a decent snowfall...if anything things looks to be trending back towards the former but let's take a quick look at the forecasts as things stand (for Hamilton, Ont):

EC 10-15cm (just below warning criteria) http://weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/on-77_metric_e.html

TWN close to 20 cm of snow from Wednesday Morning to Thursday Morning http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/caon0289 

Brett Anderson (as of yesterday) was going for 15 to 25cm - he's not usually given to hype snowstorms: http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-blogs/anderson/wedthur-snowstorm-forecast/3177834

It will be interesting to see what the morning updates bring!

In any case I'm sure somewhere in eastern Quebac or northern New England will see over 18"/45cm of snow from this, and freezing rain may be significant in parts of interior NY state and southern New England.

More later!

---

Western Pennsylvania now being impacted by "Euclid", snow has started to fall in the last hours or so - its expected to vary from snow /sleet / rain thru the day before becoming all snow by late evening.

Forecasted to get between 8 - 10 inches today / tonight with temperatures staying below freezing all day. We're not in the heaviest snow zone, the cities along the SE shore of lake Erie, and into upstate new york look like they could get in excess of 2ft as some of the Atlantic moisture gets drawn in over the current storm.

The south side of the storm is still generating a Tornado risk - South Carolina has a TorCon of 7 (a 70% chance of tornado)

After the storm, it looks like we're getting cold and dry weather - should be fun to enjoy the snow, before another, but weaker storm, comes in at the weekend.

1 o'clock in the afternoon -4c, blowing winds 3" of snow lying and heavy frozen rain (all good except the frozen rain) - looks like we have the dry sector passing over at the moment, before its starts to snow again later this afternoon.

Buffalo looks favourite to get a decent snow fall amount, with temperatures staying well below freezing there.