20 cm of Snowfall on November 11: Is This Normal?

On November 11, 2023, around 20 cm of snow fell in the Greater Montreal area, according to Environment Canada. This unusually early snowfall has raised questions about whether such precipitation is normal at this time of year.

Unusual Early Snowfall in Montreal

Meteorologist Julien Pellerin from Environment Canada noted that experiencing significant snowfall this early in the season is uncommon. Typically, Montrealers do not see the first substantial snowfall of 15 cm or more until December 26, while the first minor snowfalls of 5 cm are generally recorded after November 28.

Previous Snowfall Records

This recent snowfall, while noteworthy, did not set a record. The earliest recorded snowfall in Montreal dates back to October 22, 1988. Although more light snow flurries are expected throughout the week, they are unlikely to be significant, with temperatures hovering around 0°C ensuring that some snow may persist on the ground.

Power Outages Linked to Snowfall

The heavy snowfall caused considerable disruptions, particularly impacting Hydro-Québec. By 11 a.m. on November 11, around 350,000 households were affected by about 1,000 power outages. The Montérégie region faced the most significant issues, with over 100,000 addresses impacted.

• The heaviness of wet snow contributed to broken branches.
• Branches contacted the electrical grid, causing outages.

Hydro-Québec explained that the combination of wet leaves and dense snow contributed to the situation. In recent weeks, southern Quebec has experienced minimal wind and precipitation, leaving trees with many leaves, which increased the weight on their branches. Additionally, the snow that fell was particularly wet, leading to the formation of large snowflakes that further weighed down branches.

Climate Change Implications

The early snowfall raises questions about future weather patterns in the context of climate change. Angelica Alberti-Dufort, a climate change specialist at Ouranos, cautioned against assuming that this occurrence indicates a new trend. She emphasized that this snowfall is part of natural climate variability.

Predictions indicate that early snowfalls may become less common due to ongoing climate changes. According to models, there is an expected decrease in snowfall across all seasons, along with shorter snow cover durations. This shift may have significant implications for winter sports and tourism.

Future Weather Trends

Models also suggest increased liquid precipitation during winter. This could result in alternating snow and rain events, which may lead to challenges such as sewer overflows and slippery roads. The changing climate presents a range of potential impacts, though many remain difficult to predict.